The last page of the minor prophets gives the floor to Malachi who takes a while in front of a strong image with a short text: “the Lord’s day” which it will be like “an oven” in which the history of humanity will be tested and purified. The apostle Paul speaks to us of the bread that cannot be fruit idleness, but which must be earned by “working with peace of mind” e industriousness. Luke warns us first of all from an easy vision of the spiritual life nurtured and flattened by false messiahs and false prophets whose vain hopes deceive you to be able to lighten the demanding and continuous work interior of “perseverance”. Confidence confirmed by the Lord, a lot that not even “a hair” will be lost, does not spare us the trouble of carry the weight of misunderstanding that can come to the point of being “hated” even, and even more painfully, by one’s “brothers, relatives, friends”. The space of evangelical hope involves a wide range of combat and inner willingness to pay the price of his own intimate conviction that Jesus is the Lord of history that we hope e let’s wait. The words with which the Lord Jesus accompanies us towards the end this liturgical year may surprise, but in reality they do not surprise at all.
In fact, what the Lord speaks of is nothing new, the things he presents to his listeners, they are terribly ordinary realities in the life of ours humanity, both externally and catastrophic as earthquakes can be, both as regards the relational tragedies that take place in the context of our dearest relationships. In this way the Lord asks us not to be distracted by the events that seem extraordinary for remain attentive, vigilant and deeply centered on the center of our own interiority, understanding what our place is, and not leaving it – for no reason – until the last. The delivery leaves no doubt: “With the your perseverance will save your life”.

Commentary by b. Michael David, osb Novalesa Abbey

Translation by f. Mark Hargreaves, Prinknash Abbey