Thursday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 506
Lectionary: 506
I, John, saw
another angel coming down from heaven,
having great authority,
and the earth became illumined by his splendor.
He cried out in a mighty voice:
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great.
She has become a haunt for demons.
She is a cage for every unclean spirit,
a cage for every unclean bird,
a cage for every unclean and disgusting beast.”
A mighty angel picked up a stone like a huge millstone
and threw it into the sea and said:
“With such force will Babylon the great city be thrown down,
and will never be found again.
No melodies of harpists and musicians,
flutists and trumpeters,
will ever be heard in you again.
No craftsmen in any trade
will ever be found in you again.
No sound of the millstone
will ever be heard in you again.
No light from a lamp
will ever be seen in you again.
No voices of bride and groom
will ever be heard in you again.
Because your merchants were the great ones of the world,
all nations were led astray by your magic potion.”
After this I heard what sounded like
the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying:
“Alleluia!
Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God,
for true and just are his judgments.
He has condemned the great harlot
who corrupted the earth with her harlotry.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
They said a second time:
“Alleluia! Smoke will rise from her forever and ever.”
Then the angel said to me, “Write this:
Blessed are those who have been called
to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”
having great authority,
and the earth became illumined by his splendor.
He cried out in a mighty voice:
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great.
She has become a haunt for demons.
She is a cage for every unclean spirit,
a cage for every unclean bird,
a cage for every unclean and disgusting beast.”
A mighty angel picked up a stone like a huge millstone
and threw it into the sea and said:
“With such force will Babylon the great city be thrown down,
and will never be found again.
No melodies of harpists and musicians,
flutists and trumpeters,
will ever be heard in you again.
No craftsmen in any trade
will ever be found in you again.
No sound of the millstone
will ever be heard in you again.
No light from a lamp
will ever be seen in you again.
No voices of bride and groom
will ever be heard in you again.
Because your merchants were the great ones of the world,
all nations were led astray by your magic potion.”
After this I heard what sounded like
the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying:
“Alleluia!
Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God,
for true and just are his judgments.
He has condemned the great harlot
who corrupted the earth with her harlotry.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
They said a second time:
“Alleluia! Smoke will rise from her forever and ever.”
Then the angel said to me, “Write this:
Blessed are those who have been called
to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”
Responsorial Psalm PS 100:1B-2, 3, 4, 5
R. (Rev. 19: 9a) Blessed are they who are called to the wedding
feast of the Lamb.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
For he is good:
the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
For he is good:
the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Gospel LK 21:20-28
Jesus said to his
disciples:
“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies,
know that its desolation is at hand.
Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.
Let those within the city escape from it,
and let those in the countryside not enter the city,
for these days are the time of punishment
when all the Scriptures are fulfilled.
Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days,
for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth
and a wrathful judgment upon this people.
They will fall by the edge of the sword
and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles;
and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles
until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.”
“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies,
know that its desolation is at hand.
Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.
Let those within the city escape from it,
and let those in the countryside not enter the city,
for these days are the time of punishment
when all the Scriptures are fulfilled.
Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days,
for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth
and a wrathful judgment upon this people.
They will fall by the edge of the sword
and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles;
and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles
until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.”
Meditation: "The
Son of man coming with great glory"
Do
you believe that the world as we know it is going to end just as Jesus
foretold? Jesus' prophetic description of the destruction of the holy city
Jerusalem, the destruction of the world, and the day of final judgment, was not
new to the people of Israel. The prophets had foretold these events many
centuries before. Behold the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath
and fierce anger to make the earth a desolation and to destroy its sinners from
it (Isaiah 13:9-13; see also Joel 2:1-2; Amos 5:18-20; Zephaniah
1:14-18).
Jesus
warns of the imminent destruction of Jerusalem as a consequence of the
rejection of the Gospel. According the historian Josephus, over a million
inhabitants died when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem with its temple in 70 A.D.
Jerusalem's vengeance resulted from her indifference to the visitation of God
in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 19:44).
Jesus
also speaks about the judgment at the end of the world. Only spiritual
blindness can keep us from recognizing the obvious signs of approaching
disaster which awaits the day of judgment for those who refuse to heed God's
word of grace and salvation. Jesus was completely honest. He told his disciples
what it would cost to follow him. And he promised that he would never leave
them alone, even in their time of tribulation. The saints and martyrs who
underwent torment and death made their prisons a temple of praise and their
scaffolds a throne to the glory of God. They knew the saving presence of Jesus
Christ with them in all circumstances. Jesus offers us safety in the face of
earth's threats. Not a hair of your head will perish (Luke
21:18). The disciple who walks with Christ may lose their body but not their
soul.
The
greatest gift which no one can take from us and which we can be most thankful
for is our redemption through the precious blood of Jesus, which was shed on
the cross for our sins, and our adoption through Christ as children of God our
heavenly Father. Jesus Christ has redeemed us from slavery to sin, from fear of
death, and from final destruction. We can be eternally thankful because our
hope is anchored in heaven and in the promise that Jesus will return to fully
establish his reign of peace and righteousness.
Jesus
speaks of his second coming as a known fact, a for certain event which we can
confidently expect to take place in the Lord's time of choosing. This coming
will be marked by signs that all will recognize - signs which will strike
terror and grief in those who are unprepared and wonder and joy in those who
are ready to meet the Lord. When the Lord Jesus returns he will fully establish
his kingdom of justice and righteousness and he will vindicate all who have
been faithful to him. His judgment is a sign of hope for those who have placed
their trust in him. Do you hope in God and in the promise of Christ to return
again to establish his reign of righteousness and peace?
"Lord
Jesus, fill me with gratitude for the gift of redemption and increase my hope
and longing for your return again in glory. May that day bring joy to my heart
rather than sorrow. Help me to serve you faithfully and to make the best use of
my time now in the light of your coming again."
Thanksgiving Day
Lectionary: 943
Lectionary: 943
The following are a selection
of the readings that may be used on this day.
Reading 1SIR 50:22-24
And now, bless the
God of all,
who has done wondrous things on earth;
Who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb,
and fashions them according to his will!
May he grant you joy of heart
and may peace abide among you;
May his goodness toward us endure in Israel
to deliver us in our days.
who has done wondrous things on earth;
Who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb,
and fashions them according to his will!
May he grant you joy of heart
and may peace abide among you;
May his goodness toward us endure in Israel
to deliver us in our days.
Responsorial Psalm PS 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11
R. (see 1) I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds
and declare your greatness.
They publish the fame of your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds
and declare your greatness.
They publish the fame of your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord
Reading 21 COR 1:3-9
Brothers and
sisters:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Gospel LK 17:11-19
As Jesus continued
his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,
“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
And when he saw them, he said,
“Go show yourselves to the priests.”
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
“Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”
Then he said to him, “Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you.”
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,
“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
And when he saw them, he said,
“Go show yourselves to the priests.”
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
“Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”
Then he said to him, “Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you.”
Meditation: "He fell at Jesus' feet giving
thanks"
What can adversity teach us
about the blessing of thanksgiving and the healing power of love and
mercy? Proverbs states: A friend loves at all times; and a
brother is born for adversity(Proverbs 17:17). When adversity strikes you
find out who truly is your brother, sister, and friend. The Gospel records an
unusual encounter between people who had been divided for centuries. The Jews
and Samaritans had no dealings with one another. And they were openly hostile
whenever their paths crossed. In this Gospel narrative we see one rare
exception - a Samaritan leper in company with nine Jewish lepers. Sometimes
adversity forces us to drop our barriers or to forget our prejudices. When this
band of lepers saw Jesus they made a bold request. They didn't ask for healing,
but instead asked for mercy.
The word mercy literally
means "sorrowful at heart". But mercy is something more
than compassion, or heartfelt sorrow at another's misfortune. Compassion
empathizes with the sufferer. But mercy goes further; it removes suffering. A
merciful person shares in another's misfortune and suffering as if it were his
own. And he will do everything in his power to dispel that misery. Mercy
is also connected with justice. Thomas Aquinas said that mercy "does
not destroy justice, but is a certain kind of fulfillment of justice. ..Mercy
without justice is the mother of dissolution; (and) justice without mercy is
cruelty." Pardon without repentance negates justice. So what is
the significance of these ten lepers asking for mercy? They know they are
in need of healing, not just physical, but spiritual healing as well.
They approach Jesus with contrition and faith because they believe that he can
release the burden of guilt and suffering and make restoration of body and soul
possible. Their request for mercy is both a plea for pardon and release from
suffering. Jesus gives mercy to all who ask with faith and contrition.
Why did only one leper out
of ten return to show gratitude? Gratefulness is related to grace -
which means the release of loveliness. Gratitude is the homage of
the heart which responds with graciousness in expressing an act of
thanksgiving. The Samaritan approached Jesus reverently and gave praise to God.
If we do not recognize and appreciate the mercy shown us we will be ungrateful.
Ingratitude is forgetfulness or a poor return for kindness received.
Ingratitude easily leads to lack of charity and intolerance towards others. It
easily leads to lack of charity and intolerance towards others, as well as to
other sins, such as discontent, dissatisfaction, complaining, grumbling, pride
and presumption. How often have we been ungrateful to our parents, pastors,
teachers, and neighbors? Do you express gratitude to God for his abundant grace
and mercy and are you gracious and merciful towards your neighbor?
"Lord Jesus, may I
never fail to recognize your love and mercy. Fill my heart with gratitude and
thanksgiving and free me from pride, discontentment, and ingratitude. Help me
to count my blessings with gratefulness and to give thanks in all
circumstances."
Blessing for
Thanksgiving Day
God most provident, we join all creation in raising to you a
hymn of thanksgiving, through Jesus Christ, your Son. For generation upon
generation peoples of this land have sung of your bounty; we too offer you
praise for the rich harvest we have received at your hands.
Bless us and this food which we share with grateful hearts.
Continue to make our land fruitful and let our love for you be seen in our
pursuit of peace and justice and in generous response to those in need.
Praise and glory to you, Lord God, now and forever.
Amen.
From the Book of Blessings
 Scary Times |
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November 27,
2014. Thursday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
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Luke 21:20-28
Jesus said to his
disciples: "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its
desolation is at hand. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let
those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not
enter the city, for these days are the time of punishment when all the
scriptures are fulfilled. Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those
days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful
judgment upon this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be
taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled
underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth
nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son
of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs
begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is
at hand."
Introductory
Prayer: Jesus my Savior, thank
you for another day and another chance to grow in holiness with your grace. I
love you and wish to make you the true center of my thoughts, desires and
actions.
Petition: Lord, give me a healthy but realistic Christian
optimism.
1. Desolation at
Hand: What a grim Gospel passage!
Lots of talk of armies and calamity and roaring seas. Jesus is speaking of the
coming destruction of Jerusalem (in A.D. 70) as well as images of the end
times In our day we can think of wars, terrorism, floods and wonder why the
world is such a nasty place sometimes. Why can´t life be easier? Why do so
many innocent people suffer? Alas, Our Lord asked the same questions. All the
evil we see springs from original sin, from the fall of Adam. It wasn´t God´s
plan to have all this suffering--but he allows it. He allows it because he
respects our freedom. He allows it too because he knows he can bring good out
of it. How do I use my freedom? Do I have enough faith in Christ to be
optimistic?
2. Trampled
Underfoot: The fall of Jerusalem
didn´t mean that God abandoned the world. True, the focus of religion would
no longer be the Temple; rather, it would be a new focus: Christ, truly
present in the Eucharist. The tabernacle would be the new center of
attention. How few souls grasp that truth! After 2,000 years, Jesus is still
humble, allowing himself to be kept in a tabernacle. Does that fact influence
the way I act in a church? Does it affect the way I dress when going to
church? Do I try to enter church with the proper state of heart and mind?
3. Redemption at
Hand: Faithful following of
Christ gives us the best assurance that our lives have meaning. Christ will
make sense of everything at the end of our lives. All our struggles to live
the Gospel will be worth it. On the last day we might regret many things, but
we will never regret the things we did for Christ. Does that truth guide our
lives each day? Do we live each day as if it were our last? What is there in
my life that I would be ashamed of on the last day? Why not weed it out of my
life now?
Conversation with
Christ: Lord, help me to judge
the things of my daily life against eternity. Let me see things with your
eyes. Let me see what is really valuable and what is fleeting. And help me to
act accordingly.
Resolution: I will make a fresh effort to get rid of the biggest
vice in my life
By Father Edward
McIlmail, LC
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Thursday 27 November 2014
Apocalypse 18:1-2, 21-23;
19:1-3, 9. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb—Ps
99(100):2-5. Luke 21:20-28.
‘When these things begin to
take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near
at hand.’
Today’s readings speak of
the impending destruction of Jerusalem and of ‘Babylon’, the name given to the
Roman Empire by its persecuted Christians.
As Jesus’ followers, we are
aware of the reality of evil and our world’s self-destructiveness in turning
from God. The agony of the nations reflects the agony in each human soul when
evil is chosen in things small or great.
Despair or indifference is
not the Christian response. Our God cares: the Son suffers and dies with us and
in us for our redemption.
Lord, help me to understand
the promise and hope of the paschal Lamb. Give me the grace to reject evil and
to do my bit as your disciple for the life of the world.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
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Sharing God’s Word
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As people of faith, we wake up with a purpose. We have a sense of
mission, and this gives our lives enduring meaning. We can share with
confidence the Word of God, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in.
There are no chance encounters!
Wednesday,
November 26, 2014
St. Columban
(543?-615)
St. Columban
(543?-615)
Columban was the greatest of the Irish missionaries who worked on
the European continent. As a young man who was greatly tormented by
temptations of the flesh, he sought the advice of a religious woman who
had lived a hermit’s life for years. He saw in her answer a call to leave the
world. He went first to a monk on an island in Lough Erne, then to the great
monastic seat of learning at Bangor.
After
many years of seclusion and prayer, he traveled to Gaul (modern-day France)
with 12 companion missionaries. They won wide respect for the rigor of their
discipline, their preaching, and their commitment to charity and religious life
in a time characterized by clerical laxity and civil strife. Columban
established several monasteries in Europe which became centers of religion and
culture.
Like all
saints, he met opposition. Ultimately he had to appeal to the pope against
complaints of Frankish bishops, for vindication of his orthodoxy and approval
of Irish customs. He reproved the king for his licentious life, insisting that
he marry. Since this threatened the power of the queen mother, Columban was
deported to Ireland. His ship ran aground in a storm, and he continued his work
in Europe, ultimately arriving in Italy, where he found favor with the king of
the Lombards. In his last years he established the famous monastery of Bobbio,
where he died. His writings include a treatise on penance and against Arianism,
sermons, poetry and his monastic rule.
Comment:
Now that public sexual license is becoming extreme, we need the Church's jolting memory of a young man as concerned about chastity as Columban. And now that the comfort-captured Western world stands in tragic contrast to starving millions, we need the challenge to austerity and discipline of a group of Irish monks. They were too strict, we say; they went too far. How far shall we go?
Now that public sexual license is becoming extreme, we need the Church's jolting memory of a young man as concerned about chastity as Columban. And now that the comfort-captured Western world stands in tragic contrast to starving millions, we need the challenge to austerity and discipline of a group of Irish monks. They were too strict, we say; they went too far. How far shall we go?
Quote:
Writing to the pope about a doctrinal controversy in Lombardy, Columban said: “We Irish, living in the farthest parts of the earth, are followers of St. Peter and St. Paul and of the disciples who wrote down the sacred canon under the Holy Spirit. We accept nothing outside this evangelical and apostolic teaching.... I confess I am grieved by the bad repute of the chair of St. Peter in this country.... Though Rome is great and known afar, she is great and honored with us only because of this chair.... Look after the peace of the Church, stand between your sheep and the wolves.”
Writing to the pope about a doctrinal controversy in Lombardy, Columban said: “We Irish, living in the farthest parts of the earth, are followers of St. Peter and St. Paul and of the disciples who wrote down the sacred canon under the Holy Spirit. We accept nothing outside this evangelical and apostolic teaching.... I confess I am grieved by the bad repute of the chair of St. Peter in this country.... Though Rome is great and known afar, she is great and honored with us only because of this chair.... Look after the peace of the Church, stand between your sheep and the wolves.”
LECTIO DIVINA:
LUKE 21,20-28
Lectio:
Thursday, November 27, 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 21,20-28
Jesus said to his disciples: 'When you see Jerusalem surrounded
by armies, then you must realise that it will soon be laid desolate. Then those
in Judaea must escape to the mountains, those inside the city must leave it,
and those in country districts must not take refuge in it. For this is the time
of retribution when all that scripture says must be fulfilled.
Alas for those with child, or with babies at the breast, when those days come! 'For great misery will descend on the land and retribution on this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive to every gentile country; and Jerusalem will be trampled down by the gentiles until their time is complete.
'There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the turmoil of the ocean and its waves; men fainting away with terror and fear at what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.'
Alas for those with child, or with babies at the breast, when those days come! 'For great misery will descend on the land and retribution on this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive to every gentile country; and Jerusalem will be trampled down by the gentiles until their time is complete.
'There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the turmoil of the ocean and its waves; men fainting away with terror and fear at what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.'
3) Reflection
• In today’s Gospel we have the continuation of the Apocalyptic
Discourse which gives two signs, the 7th and the 8th, which should take place
before the end of time or better before the coming of the end of this world in
order to give place to the new world, to the “new Heavens and the New Earth”
(Is 65, 17). The seventh sign is the destruction of Jerusalem and the eighth is
the upsetting of the old creation.
• Luke 21, 20-24. The seventh sign: the destruction of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was for them the Eternal City. And now it was destroyed! How can this fact be explained? Is it possible that God is not aware of this? It is difficult for us to imagine the trauma and the crisis of faith that the destruction of Jerusalem caused in the communities both of the Jews and of the Christians. Here it is possible to make an observation on the composition of the Gospel of Luke and of Mark. Luke writes in the year 85. He uses the Gospel of Mark to compose his narrative on Jesus. Mark writes in the year 70, the same year in which Jerusalem was surrounded and destroyed by the Roman armies. This is why Mark writes giving an indication to the reader: “When you see the appalling abomination set up where it ought not to be – (and here he opens a parenthesis and says) “let the reader understand!”) (he closes the parenthesis) - then those in Judaea must escape to the mountains” (Mk 13, 14). When Luke mentions the destruction of Jerusalem, for the past fifteen years Jerusalem was in ruins. This is why he omits the parenthesis of Mark and Luke says: “When you will see Jerusalem surrounded by the army, then you must realize that it will soon be laid desolate. Then those in Judaea must escape to the mountains, those inside the city must leave it, and those in country districts must not take refuge in it; for this is the time of retribution when all that Scripture says must be fulfilled. Alas for those with child, or with babies at the breast, when those days come. For great misery will descend on the land and retribution on this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive to every gentile country; and Jerusalem will be trampled down by gentiles until their time is complete”. Hearing Jesus who announces persecution (6th sign) and the destruction of Jerusalem (7th sign), the readers of the persecuted communities in the time of Luke concluded saying: “This is our day! We are in the 6th and 7th signs!”
• Luke 21, 25-26: The eighth sign: changes in the sun and in the moon. When will the end come? At the end, after having spoken about all these signs which had already been realized, there was still the following question: “God’s project is very much advanced and the stages foreseen by Jesus are already being realized. We are in the sixth and the seventh stages, how many stages or signs are still lacking until the end arrives? Is there much lacking?” The response is now given in the 8th sign: "There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the turmoil of the ocean and its waves; men fainting away with terror and fear at what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken”. The 8th sign is different from the other signs. The signs in heaven and on earth are an indication of what is taking place, at the same time, at the end of the old world, of the ancient creation, it is the beginning of the coming of the new Heaven and the new earth. When the shell of the egg begins to crack it is a sign that the novelty is about to appear. It is the coming of a New World which is provoking the disintegration of the ancient world. Conclusion: very little is lacking! The Kingdom of God is arriving already!
• Luke 21, 27-28: The coming of the Kingdom of God and the appearance of the Son of Man. “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect; hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand”. In this announcement, Jesus describes the coming of the Kingdom with images taken from the prophecy of Daniel (Dn 7, 1-14). Daniel says that, after the misfortunes caused by the kingdoms of this world, the Kingdom of God will come. The kingdoms of this world, all of them, had the figure of an animal: lion, panther, bear, and ferocious beast (Dn 7, 3-7). These are animal signs which dehumanize life, like it happens with the neo-liberal kingdom, today! The Kingdom of God then appears with the aspect of the Son of Man, that is, with a human aspect (Dn 7, 13). It is a human kingdom. To construct this kingdom which humanizes is the task of the persons of the community. It is the new history that we have to take to fulfilment and which brings together people from the four corners of the earth. The title Son of Man is the name that Jesus liked to use. In the four Gospels this name appears more than 80 times (eighty)! Any pain which we bear from now, any struggle in behalf of life, any persecution for the sake of justice, any birth pangs, are a seed of the Kingdom which will come in the 8th sign.
• Luke 21, 20-24. The seventh sign: the destruction of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was for them the Eternal City. And now it was destroyed! How can this fact be explained? Is it possible that God is not aware of this? It is difficult for us to imagine the trauma and the crisis of faith that the destruction of Jerusalem caused in the communities both of the Jews and of the Christians. Here it is possible to make an observation on the composition of the Gospel of Luke and of Mark. Luke writes in the year 85. He uses the Gospel of Mark to compose his narrative on Jesus. Mark writes in the year 70, the same year in which Jerusalem was surrounded and destroyed by the Roman armies. This is why Mark writes giving an indication to the reader: “When you see the appalling abomination set up where it ought not to be – (and here he opens a parenthesis and says) “let the reader understand!”) (he closes the parenthesis) - then those in Judaea must escape to the mountains” (Mk 13, 14). When Luke mentions the destruction of Jerusalem, for the past fifteen years Jerusalem was in ruins. This is why he omits the parenthesis of Mark and Luke says: “When you will see Jerusalem surrounded by the army, then you must realize that it will soon be laid desolate. Then those in Judaea must escape to the mountains, those inside the city must leave it, and those in country districts must not take refuge in it; for this is the time of retribution when all that Scripture says must be fulfilled. Alas for those with child, or with babies at the breast, when those days come. For great misery will descend on the land and retribution on this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive to every gentile country; and Jerusalem will be trampled down by gentiles until their time is complete”. Hearing Jesus who announces persecution (6th sign) and the destruction of Jerusalem (7th sign), the readers of the persecuted communities in the time of Luke concluded saying: “This is our day! We are in the 6th and 7th signs!”
• Luke 21, 25-26: The eighth sign: changes in the sun and in the moon. When will the end come? At the end, after having spoken about all these signs which had already been realized, there was still the following question: “God’s project is very much advanced and the stages foreseen by Jesus are already being realized. We are in the sixth and the seventh stages, how many stages or signs are still lacking until the end arrives? Is there much lacking?” The response is now given in the 8th sign: "There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the turmoil of the ocean and its waves; men fainting away with terror and fear at what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken”. The 8th sign is different from the other signs. The signs in heaven and on earth are an indication of what is taking place, at the same time, at the end of the old world, of the ancient creation, it is the beginning of the coming of the new Heaven and the new earth. When the shell of the egg begins to crack it is a sign that the novelty is about to appear. It is the coming of a New World which is provoking the disintegration of the ancient world. Conclusion: very little is lacking! The Kingdom of God is arriving already!
• Luke 21, 27-28: The coming of the Kingdom of God and the appearance of the Son of Man. “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect; hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand”. In this announcement, Jesus describes the coming of the Kingdom with images taken from the prophecy of Daniel (Dn 7, 1-14). Daniel says that, after the misfortunes caused by the kingdoms of this world, the Kingdom of God will come. The kingdoms of this world, all of them, had the figure of an animal: lion, panther, bear, and ferocious beast (Dn 7, 3-7). These are animal signs which dehumanize life, like it happens with the neo-liberal kingdom, today! The Kingdom of God then appears with the aspect of the Son of Man, that is, with a human aspect (Dn 7, 13). It is a human kingdom. To construct this kingdom which humanizes is the task of the persons of the community. It is the new history that we have to take to fulfilment and which brings together people from the four corners of the earth. The title Son of Man is the name that Jesus liked to use. In the four Gospels this name appears more than 80 times (eighty)! Any pain which we bear from now, any struggle in behalf of life, any persecution for the sake of justice, any birth pangs, are a seed of the Kingdom which will come in the 8th sign.
4) Personal questions
• Persecution of the communities, destruction of Jerusalem. Lack
of hope. Before the events which today make people suffer, do I despair? Which
is the source of my hope?
• Son of Man is the title which Jesus liked to use. He wants to humanize life. The more human it is the more divine as Pope Leo the Great said. Am I human in my relationships with others? Do I humanize?
• Son of Man is the title which Jesus liked to use. He wants to humanize life. The more human it is the more divine as Pope Leo the Great said. Am I human in my relationships with others? Do I humanize?
5) Concluding prayer
For Yahweh is good,
his faithful love is everlasting,
his constancy from age to age. (Ps 100,5)
his faithful love is everlasting,
his constancy from age to age. (Ps 100,5)
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