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As we near the end of our liturgical calendar, we think of the time of the end toward which the history of salvation is heading. The apocalyptic evangelical reading (Mark 13: 24-32) provides us with the proper perspective regarding the final intervention of God in human history, his coming at the end of times the "day of the Lord".
The splendor of the son of man
The classic apocalyptic language of the darkening sun and stars falling from the sky should not be interpreted as a detail of cosmic upheaval, as in a disaster or disaster film. When the sun, the moon and the stars no longer illuminate the Earth as references marking a fixed time, it simply means that the order of things we know is no longer operational. Something else of radically different is in place.
The focus is on the coming of the Son of Man (Daniel 7: 13-14), the title that Jesus applies, before which all our sources of light on Earth would fade. The image of a glorious king coming on the clouds of heaven is linked to the good news that Jesus preached on the Kingdom of God. the Second ComingThe return of Jesus Christ to the end "with much power and glory" means the fulfillment of the reign of God. Rather than terrifying, they allude to the highly anticipated Day of the Lord, which we joyfully await with the certainty of faith. There may be previous tribulations and troubles, but it will not be chaos. A new world, a new creation will be the setting of the splendor of the Son of Man when he comes. No wonder from the beginning that the cry of Christians is Maranatha! – "Come Lord!"
Gather the elected
The glorious coming of the Son of Man is to bring together His elect from all over the Earth. This good news, this accomplishment of the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" is meant to encourage and strengthen the faith of Christians who can at any time be subjected to terrible trials and tribulations. There are always enough reasons in the world to feel pessimistic and terrified. But the message to the faithful is this: do not lose heart, do not panic, do not forget that the Lord has just inaugurated a new world, a new order of things and gather all his chosen ones around him.
People are naturally curious about when this will happen, often to no avail. It's a secret that no one except the Father knows. So whoever says that he knows is a suitor. This does not mean we have to be nonchalant or complacent. On the contrary, Jesus with his little parable on the fig tree actually tells us that the coming is always near, inasmuch as there are always signs of the urgent need of the world for the Son of Man , the tender leaves that grow from the approaching summer or labor pains that presage an imminent birth (Mark 13: 8). And so, if the Son of Man is already "at the gates", we do well to stay alert and awake. We must seek the Lord whom we long for.
Alálaong bagá, faith includes the attitude of vigilance that allows us to read the signs of the times and to discern in our personal lives and in the life of the Church, such as Katipunan of the elect, the presence and the comings of the Lord. This takes place with special intensity every Sunday, the Lord's weekly day, when we are already and truly gathered around our Lord Jesus Christ for the celebration of the Eucharist, participating in this fullness in communion with the Trinity God. . For this reason, Jesus comes to us each time in his word and his sacrament, in his assembly and in his ordained minister.
Join me to meditate on the Word of God every Sunday from 5 pm to 6 pm on DWIZ 882, or streaming audio on www.dwiz882.com.
