Tuesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 504
Lectionary: 504
I, John, looked and
there was a white cloud,
and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man,
with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.
Another angel came out of the temple,
crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud,
“Use your sickle and reap the harvest,
for the time to reap has come,
because the earth’s harvest is fully ripe.”
So the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth,
and the earth was harvested.
Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven
who also had a sharp sickle.
Then another angel came from the altar, who was in charge of the fire,
and cried out in a loud voice
to the one who had the sharp sickle,
“Use your sharp sickle and cut the clusters from the earth’s vines,
for its grapes are ripe.”
So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage.
He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury.
and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man,
with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.
Another angel came out of the temple,
crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud,
“Use your sickle and reap the harvest,
for the time to reap has come,
because the earth’s harvest is fully ripe.”
So the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth,
and the earth was harvested.
Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven
who also had a sharp sickle.
Then another angel came from the altar, who was in charge of the fire,
and cried out in a loud voice
to the one who had the sharp sickle,
“Use your sharp sickle and cut the clusters from the earth’s vines,
for its grapes are ripe.”
So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage.
He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury.
Responsorial Psalm PS 96:10, 11-12, 13
R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Gospel LK 21:5-11
While some people
were speaking about
how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said, “All that you see here–
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”
Then they asked him,
“Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”
He answered,
“See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’
Do not follow them!
When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end.”
Then he said to them,
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
from place to place;
and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”
how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said, “All that you see here–
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”
Then they asked him,
“Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”
He answered,
“See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’
Do not follow them!
When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end.”
Then he said to them,
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
from place to place;
and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”
Meditation: "Take heed that you are
not led astray"
How would you respond
if someone prophesied that your home, land, or place of worship would be
destroyed? Jesus foretold many signs that would shake peoples and nations. The
signs which God uses are meant to point us to a higher spiritual truth and
reality of his kingdom which does not perish or fade away, but endures for all
eternity. God works through many events and signs to purify and renew us in hope
and to help us set our hearts more firmly on him and him alone.
First signs of
the end times
To the great consternation of the Jews, Jesus prophesied the destruction of their great temple at Jerusalem. The Jewish people took great pride in their temple, a marvel of the ancient world. The foretelling of this destruction was a dire warning of spiritual judgment in itself. They asked Jesus for a sign that would indicate when this disastrous event would occur. Jesus admonished them to not look for signs that would indicate the exact timing of impending destruction, but rather to pray for God's intervention of grace and mercy.
To the great consternation of the Jews, Jesus prophesied the destruction of their great temple at Jerusalem. The Jewish people took great pride in their temple, a marvel of the ancient world. The foretelling of this destruction was a dire warning of spiritual judgment in itself. They asked Jesus for a sign that would indicate when this disastrous event would occur. Jesus admonished them to not look for signs that would indicate the exact timing of impending destruction, but rather to pray for God's intervention of grace and mercy.
Jesus said there would
be many signs of impending conflicts and disasters - such as wars, famines,
diseases, tidal waves, and earthquakes - which would precede the struggles of
the last days when God's anointed King would return to usher in the full reign
of God over the earth. In that day when the Lord returns there will be a final
judgement of the living and the dead when the secrets of every heart will be
brought to light (Luke 12:2-3; Romans 2:16).
Jesus foretells
the destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem
Jesus' prophecy of the destruction of the temple at Jerusalem was a two-edged sword, because it pointed not only to God's judgment, but also to his saving action and mercy. Jesus foretold the destruction of Jerusalem and the dire consequences for all who would reject him and his saving message. While the destruction of Jerusalem's temple was determined (it was razed by the Romans in 70 A.D.), there remained for its inhabitants a narrow open door leading to deliverance. Jesus said: "I am the door; whoever enters by me will be saved" (John 10:9). Jesus willingly set his face toward Jerusalem, knowing that he would meet betrayal, rejection, and death on a cross. His death on the cross, however, brought about true freedom, peace, and victory over the powers of sin, evil, and death - not only for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, but for all - both Jew and Gentile alike -– who would accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Do you know the peace and security of a life submitted to the lordship of Jesus Christ?
Jesus' prophecy of the destruction of the temple at Jerusalem was a two-edged sword, because it pointed not only to God's judgment, but also to his saving action and mercy. Jesus foretold the destruction of Jerusalem and the dire consequences for all who would reject him and his saving message. While the destruction of Jerusalem's temple was determined (it was razed by the Romans in 70 A.D.), there remained for its inhabitants a narrow open door leading to deliverance. Jesus said: "I am the door; whoever enters by me will be saved" (John 10:9). Jesus willingly set his face toward Jerusalem, knowing that he would meet betrayal, rejection, and death on a cross. His death on the cross, however, brought about true freedom, peace, and victory over the powers of sin, evil, and death - not only for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, but for all - both Jew and Gentile alike -– who would accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Do you know the peace and security of a life submitted to the lordship of Jesus Christ?
We need to
recognize the signs of God's judgment, mercy, and grace to save us
Sometimes we don't recognize the moral crisis and spiritual conflict of the age in which we live, until something "shakes us up" to the reality of this present condition. God reminds us that a future judgment and outcome awaits every individual who has lived on this earth. The reward for doing what is right and pleasing to God and the penalty for sinful rebellion and rejection of God are not always experienced in this present life - but they are sure to come in the God's day of final judgment.
Sometimes we don't recognize the moral crisis and spiritual conflict of the age in which we live, until something "shakes us up" to the reality of this present condition. God reminds us that a future judgment and outcome awaits every individual who has lived on this earth. The reward for doing what is right and pleasing to God and the penalty for sinful rebellion and rejection of God are not always experienced in this present life - but they are sure to come in the God's day of final judgment.
The Lord Jesus tells
us that there will be trials, suffering, and persecution in this present age
until he comes again at the end of the world. God intends our anticipation of
his final judgment to be a powerful deterrent to unfaithfulness and wrongdoing.
God extends grace and mercy to all who will heed his call and his warning. Do
not pass up, even for one day, God's invitation of grace and mercy to seek
first his kingdom of righteousness and peace. This day may be your only chance
before that final day comes.
"Lord Jesus, your
grace and mercy abounds even in the midst of trails and difficulties. Help me
to seek your kingdom first and to reject whatever would hinder me from pursuing
your way of righteousness and holiness. Fill me with the joy and hope of your
everlasting kingdom."
 Why So Glum? |
|
November 25,
2014. Tuesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
|
|
Luke 21:1-4
When Jesus looked up
he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he
noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, "I tell you
truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have
all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has
offered her whole livelihood."
Introductory
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I believe
that you have blessed me with life and with a vibrant faith. Thank you. I
dedicate this time and prayer to you. I love you, and I offer you all that I
am and all that I have with the desire of becoming a joyful gift to you.
Petition: Lord, teach me to share joyfully all that I have
received!
1. Some Wealthy
People: Jesus sat before the
temple treasury. What did Jesus see as he looked on? He saw more than we do.
He saw the heart. Wealth tends to captivate us with desire and enslave us
with concerns and worries. Jesus saw many hearts squeeze out just a couple
drops of their abundant security, a gesture that was neither painful nor
difficult. The act of fulfilling, or thinking they were fulfilling a duty to
God, caused them to glow with self-satisfaction. Some even were bloated with
pride for having given so much, and yet their act was empty of real
self-giving. They gave with routine indifference. Their giving lacked love.
What does Jesus see in my daily or weekly gifts? Do I generously give God my
all when I see him on the altar? Do I generously give him my all when I am on
my knees in prayer? Do I give him my all on my feet at work?
2. A Poor
Widow: Only Jesus could have seen
that this widow was now reduced to total dependence on family or friends. She
gave more because she gave herself with a heart full of surrender. Is there
anything we can give God that he has not already given us? We can give God
our trustful surrender. The poor widow gave to God with trust since she knew
that he would continue to care for her. She had no other real desire but to
be with him and be enriched by him. Her giving was serene and resigned, not
despairing, but rather full of hope. She had the hope of one who knows deep
down how much God loves her. How much do I trust and depend on him,
particularly when other securities begin to disappear?
3. Offering My
Whole Life: Jesus shows the great
importance of how we give—not only of what we give. What we have—our
possessions and those, which in some way we have made our own—are not for us.
We have them so that we might give them, and we should give them back to God,
for they are his. We give them as an expression of our love for God. I give
my life when I work diligently, practice charity, pray, or sacrifice for love
of Christ. All these acts of love, if not made explicit before, are made into
an intentional gift to Jesus, when I mentally place them upon the paten along
with the hosts to be consecrated during the Offertory at Mass. Do I give him
my whole life?
Conversation with
Christ: Lord Jesus, awaken me to
all you are for me, and let me realize all that you have given me. May I
never cease to thank you through my own self-giving. You are my living and
constant invitation to be more generous, to give more often and with more
love. Open my heart, Lord, to your work!
Resolution: In prayer, I will make a list of all that I can do for
Jesus this week and offer this to him. Then, on Sunday during the Offertory,
I will mentally place before him on the paten all the sacrifices I have made
during the week—my real gift to him, given with faith and love.
By Father Edward
McIlmail, LC
|
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, LUKE 21:5-11
(Revelation 14:14-19; Psalm 96)
(Revelation 14:14-19; Psalm 96)
KEY VERSE: "The days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down" (v 6).
READING: Luke wrote his gospel after the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple by the Romans in 70 CE. The Temple was the center of Jewish religious life, and the Jews believed that as long as it stood they were secure. Like the prophet Jeremiah, Jesus warned against putting faith in an earthly edifice (Jer 7:4-7). Jesus told the people who were admiring the magnificent Temple that one day it would be reduced to rubble. Many believed that the destruction of the Temple would be a sign portending the end of the age. Jesus told his disciples that they must not be misled by this false teaching, nor by those who pointed to wars and cosmic signs as proof that the final age had come. Jesus' followers were not to fear the end of time, but were to put their faith and trust in the one who has dominion over all time.
REFLECTING: Do I stand firm in faith despite the world's upheavals?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, give me confidence in God's plan in these stress-filled times.
Optional Memorial of Catherine of Alexandria,
virgin and martyr
Catherine is believed to have been born in Alexandria of a noble family. She converted to Christianity after receiving a vision. When she was 18 years old, during the persecution of Maximus in A.D. 235, she offered to debate the pagan philosophers. Many were converted by her arguments, but Maximus had her scourged, imprisoned and martyred. Devotion to Catherine was immensely popular during the Middle Ages. There were many chapels and churches dedicated to her throughout Western Europe, and she was reported to be one of the divine advisors to St Joan of Arc. Her reputation for learning and wisdom led to her patronage of libraries, teachers, archivists, and anyone associated with wisdom or teaching. Her debating skill and persuasive language has led to her patronage of lawyers. She is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, a group of saints revered in early times as particularly aiding Christians. They are: Acacius, Barbara, Blaise, Catherine of Alexandria, Christopher, Cyriacus, Dionysius of Paris, Erasmus, Eustace, George, Margaret, Pantaleon, Vitus and Giles.
Tuesday 25 November 2014
St Catherine of Alexandria.
Apocalypse 14:14-19. The
Lord comes to judge the earth—Ps
95(96):10-13. Luke 21:5-11.
‘The time is near at hand.’
The psalmist speaks of God
coming to judge the earth, but judgment isn’t always condemning. After all, the
seas thunder praise, the trees shout for joy. Is this because they have
fulfilled the purpose for which they were created?
We have been created to
love. How well have we loved during the last year? It may be fruitful to
reflect on this year nearly gone: times of joy and sorrow, times of death and
resurrection, times of meetings and partings.
Loving God, help me to
judge myself honestly as I look back on the past year and see how I responded
to all the events and encounters you bring to my mind.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
|
Live Charitably
|
To live charitably means not looking out for our own interests,
but carrying the burdens of the weakest and poorest among us. –Pope Francis
November
25
St. Catherine of Alexandria
(c. 310)
St. Catherine of Alexandria
(c. 310)
According to the Legend of St. Catherine, this young
woman converted to Christianity after receiving a vision. At the age of 18, she
debated 50 pagan philosophers. Amazed at her wisdom and debating skills, they
became Christians—as did about 200 soldiers and members of the emperor’s
family. All of them were martyred.
Sentenced
to be executed on a spiked wheel, Catherine touched the wheel and it shattered.
She was beheaded. Centuries later, angels are said to have carried the body of
St. Catherine to a monastery at the foot of Mt. Sinai.
Devotion to
her spread as a result of the Crusades. She was invoked as the patroness of
students, teachers, librarians and lawyers. Catherine is one of the 14 Holy
Helpers, venerated especially in Germany and Hungary.
Comment:
The pursuit of God's wisdom may not lead to riches or earthly honors. In Catherine's case, this pursuit contributed to her martyrdom. She was not, however, foolish in preferring to die for Jesus rather than live only by denying him. All the rewards that her tormenters offered her would rust, lose their beauty or in some other way become a poor exchange for Catherine's honesty and integrity in following Jesus Christ.
The pursuit of God's wisdom may not lead to riches or earthly honors. In Catherine's case, this pursuit contributed to her martyrdom. She was not, however, foolish in preferring to die for Jesus rather than live only by denying him. All the rewards that her tormenters offered her would rust, lose their beauty or in some other way become a poor exchange for Catherine's honesty and integrity in following Jesus Christ.
Quote:
“Therefore I [King Solomon] prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepter and throne, and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, nor did I liken any priceless gem to her; Because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire. Beyond health and comeliness I loved her, and I chose to have her rather than the light, because the splendor of her never yields to sleep. Yet all good things together came to me in her company, and countless riches at her hands; and I rejoiced in them all, because Wisdom is their leader, though I had not known that she is the mother of these” (Wisdom 7:7-12).
“Therefore I [King Solomon] prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepter and throne, and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, nor did I liken any priceless gem to her; Because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire. Beyond health and comeliness I loved her, and I chose to have her rather than the light, because the splendor of her never yields to sleep. Yet all good things together came to me in her company, and countless riches at her hands; and I rejoiced in them all, because Wisdom is their leader, though I had not known that she is the mother of these” (Wisdom 7:7-12).
Patron Saint of:
Philosophers
Students
Philosophers
Students
LECTIO DIVINA:
LUKE 21,5-11
Lectio:
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Lord,
increase our eagerness to do your will
and help us to know the saving power of your love.
You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
increase our eagerness to do your will
and help us to know the saving power of your love.
You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel reading - Luke 21,5-11
When some were talking about the Temple, remarking how it was
adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings, Jesus said, 'All these things
you are staring at now -- the time will come when not a single stone will be
left on another; everything will be destroyed.'
And they put to him this question, 'Master,' they said, 'when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that it is about to take place?'
But he said, 'Take care not to be deceived, because many will come using my name and saying, "I am the one" and "The time is near at hand." Refuse to join them. And when you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be terrified, for this is something that must happen first, but the end will not come at once.' Then he said to them, 'Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines in various places; there will be terrifying events and great signs from heaven.
And they put to him this question, 'Master,' they said, 'when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that it is about to take place?'
But he said, 'Take care not to be deceived, because many will come using my name and saying, "I am the one" and "The time is near at hand." Refuse to join them. And when you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be terrified, for this is something that must happen first, but the end will not come at once.' Then he said to them, 'Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines in various places; there will be terrifying events and great signs from heaven.
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today begins with the discourse of Jesus called the
Apocalyptic Discourse. It is a long discourse, which will be the theme of the
Gospels in the next days up to the last week of the ecclesial year. For us of
the XXI century, the apocalyptic language is strange and confused. But for the
poor and persecuted people of the Christian communities of that time these were
the words that everybody understood and the principal purpose of which was to
animate the faith and the hope of the poor and of the oppressed. The
apocalyptic language is the fruit of the witness of faith of these poor people,
who, in spite of the persecution and against all contrary appearances,
continued to believe that God was with them and that he continued to be the
Lord of history.
• Luke 21, 5-7: Introduction to the Apocalyptic Discourse. In the days previous to the Apocalyptic Discourse, Jesus had broken away from the Temple (Lk 19, 45-48), with the priests and the elders (Lk 20,1-26), with the Sadducees (Lk 20, 27-40), with the Scribes who exploited the widows (Lk 20, 41-47) and at the end, as we have seen in yesterday’s Gospel, he ends by praising the widow who gave as alms all she possessed (Lk 21,1-4). Now, in today’s Gospel, listening that “while some were talking about the Temple, remarking how it was adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings, Jesus said: “The time will come when not a single stone will be left on another everything will be destroyed”. In listening to this comment of Jesus, the disciples asked: “Master, when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that it is about to take place?” They ask for more information. The Apocalyptic Discourse which follows is the response of Jesus to this question of the disciples on when and on how the destruction of the Temple will take place. The Gospel of Mark informs the following on the context in which Jesus pronounces this discourse. He says that Jesus had left the city and was now sitting on the Mount of Olives (Mk 13, 2-4). There, from the top of the mountain he had a majestic view of the Temple. Mark also says that there were only four disciples who listened to his last discourse. At the beginning of his preaching, three years before, there in Galilee, the crowds followed Jesus to listen to his words. Now, in the last discourse, there are only four who listen: Peter, James, John and Andrew (Mk 13, 3). Efficiency and a good result are not always measured by the quantity!
• Luke 21, 8: Objective of the discourse: "Take care not to be deceived!” The disciples had asked: “Master, when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that it is about to take place?” Jesus begins his response with a warning: “Take care not to be deceived. Many will come using my name and saying, ‘I am the one’ and ‘the time is near at hand’; refuse to join them”. At a time of changes and of confusion there are always persons who want to draw advantage from the situation deceiving the others. This happens today and it also happened in the years 80’s, at the time when Luke wrote his Gospel. In the face of the disasters and the wars of those years, in the face of the destruction of Jerusalem of the year 70 and of the persecution of the Christians on the part of the Roman Empire, many thought that the end of time was close at hand. There were people who said: “God no longer controls the events! We are lost!” This is why the main concern of the Apocalyptic Discourses is always the same: to help the communities to discern better the signs of the times so as not to be deceived by the conversation of people concerning the end of the world: "Take care not to be deceived”. Then follows the discourse which offers signs to help them discern and thus, increases their hope.
• Luke 21, 9-11: Signs to help them to read the facts. After this brief introduction, begins the discourse properly so called: “When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be terrified, for this is something that must happen first, but the end will not come at once” Then he said to them: “Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines in various places, there will be terrifying events and great signs from heaven”. To understand these words well, it is well to recall what follows: Jesus lives and speaks in the year 33. The readers of Luke live and listen in the year 85. Now, in the 5o years between the year 33 and the year 85, the majority of things, mentioned by Jesus, had already taken place and were known by everybody. For example, in diverse parts of the world there were wars, false prophets arose, there were sicknesses and plagues and, in Asia Minor, the earthquakes were frequent. According to the apocalyptic style, the discourse lists all these events, one after the other, as signs or stages of the project of God in the history of the People of God, from the time of Jesus down to our time:
1st sign: the false Messiahs (Lk 21, 8);
2nd sign: war and revolutions (Lk 21, 9);
3rd sign: nations which fight against other nations, one kingdom against another kingdom (Lk 21, 10);
4th sign: earthquakes in different parts (Lk 21, 11);
5th sign: hunger, plagues and signs in the sky (Lk 21, 11).
Here ends the Gospel for today. That of tomorrow presents another sign: the persecution of the Christian communities (Lk 21, 12). The Gospel for day after tomorrow two signs: the destruction of Jerusalem and the beginning of the disintegration of creation. Thus, by means of these signs of the Apocalyptic Discourse, the communities of the years 80, the time when Luke wrote his Gospel, could calculate at what level the execution of God’s plan was, and discover that history had not escaped from the hands of God. Everything happened according to what was foretold and announced by Jesus in the Apocalyptic Discourse.
• Luke 21, 5-7: Introduction to the Apocalyptic Discourse. In the days previous to the Apocalyptic Discourse, Jesus had broken away from the Temple (Lk 19, 45-48), with the priests and the elders (Lk 20,1-26), with the Sadducees (Lk 20, 27-40), with the Scribes who exploited the widows (Lk 20, 41-47) and at the end, as we have seen in yesterday’s Gospel, he ends by praising the widow who gave as alms all she possessed (Lk 21,1-4). Now, in today’s Gospel, listening that “while some were talking about the Temple, remarking how it was adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings, Jesus said: “The time will come when not a single stone will be left on another everything will be destroyed”. In listening to this comment of Jesus, the disciples asked: “Master, when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that it is about to take place?” They ask for more information. The Apocalyptic Discourse which follows is the response of Jesus to this question of the disciples on when and on how the destruction of the Temple will take place. The Gospel of Mark informs the following on the context in which Jesus pronounces this discourse. He says that Jesus had left the city and was now sitting on the Mount of Olives (Mk 13, 2-4). There, from the top of the mountain he had a majestic view of the Temple. Mark also says that there were only four disciples who listened to his last discourse. At the beginning of his preaching, three years before, there in Galilee, the crowds followed Jesus to listen to his words. Now, in the last discourse, there are only four who listen: Peter, James, John and Andrew (Mk 13, 3). Efficiency and a good result are not always measured by the quantity!
• Luke 21, 8: Objective of the discourse: "Take care not to be deceived!” The disciples had asked: “Master, when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that it is about to take place?” Jesus begins his response with a warning: “Take care not to be deceived. Many will come using my name and saying, ‘I am the one’ and ‘the time is near at hand’; refuse to join them”. At a time of changes and of confusion there are always persons who want to draw advantage from the situation deceiving the others. This happens today and it also happened in the years 80’s, at the time when Luke wrote his Gospel. In the face of the disasters and the wars of those years, in the face of the destruction of Jerusalem of the year 70 and of the persecution of the Christians on the part of the Roman Empire, many thought that the end of time was close at hand. There were people who said: “God no longer controls the events! We are lost!” This is why the main concern of the Apocalyptic Discourses is always the same: to help the communities to discern better the signs of the times so as not to be deceived by the conversation of people concerning the end of the world: "Take care not to be deceived”. Then follows the discourse which offers signs to help them discern and thus, increases their hope.
• Luke 21, 9-11: Signs to help them to read the facts. After this brief introduction, begins the discourse properly so called: “When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be terrified, for this is something that must happen first, but the end will not come at once” Then he said to them: “Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines in various places, there will be terrifying events and great signs from heaven”. To understand these words well, it is well to recall what follows: Jesus lives and speaks in the year 33. The readers of Luke live and listen in the year 85. Now, in the 5o years between the year 33 and the year 85, the majority of things, mentioned by Jesus, had already taken place and were known by everybody. For example, in diverse parts of the world there were wars, false prophets arose, there were sicknesses and plagues and, in Asia Minor, the earthquakes were frequent. According to the apocalyptic style, the discourse lists all these events, one after the other, as signs or stages of the project of God in the history of the People of God, from the time of Jesus down to our time:
1st sign: the false Messiahs (Lk 21, 8);
2nd sign: war and revolutions (Lk 21, 9);
3rd sign: nations which fight against other nations, one kingdom against another kingdom (Lk 21, 10);
4th sign: earthquakes in different parts (Lk 21, 11);
5th sign: hunger, plagues and signs in the sky (Lk 21, 11).
Here ends the Gospel for today. That of tomorrow presents another sign: the persecution of the Christian communities (Lk 21, 12). The Gospel for day after tomorrow two signs: the destruction of Jerusalem and the beginning of the disintegration of creation. Thus, by means of these signs of the Apocalyptic Discourse, the communities of the years 80, the time when Luke wrote his Gospel, could calculate at what level the execution of God’s plan was, and discover that history had not escaped from the hands of God. Everything happened according to what was foretold and announced by Jesus in the Apocalyptic Discourse.
4) Personal questions
• What sentiment or feeling did you experience during the
reading of today’s Gospel? Peace or fear?
• Do you think that the end of the world is close at hand? What can we answer to those who say that the end of the world is close at hand? How can we encourage people today to resist and to have hope?
• Do you think that the end of the world is close at hand? What can we answer to those who say that the end of the world is close at hand? How can we encourage people today to resist and to have hope?
5) Concluding prayer
Let the countryside exult, and all that is in it,
and all the trees of the forest cry out for joy,
at Yahweh's approach, for he is coming,
coming to judge the earth;
he will judge the world with saving justice,
and the nations with constancy. (Ps 96,12-13)
and all the trees of the forest cry out for joy,
at Yahweh's approach, for he is coming,
coming to judge the earth;
he will judge the world with saving justice,
and the nations with constancy. (Ps 96,12-13)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét