The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary near the end of the liturgical year challenge us to address the anxiety we may experience with the assurance of the Presence of God as our answer to evil and trouble.
The reading from the Book of Revelation describes reaping the Earth’s Harvest.
* [14:14–20] The reaping of the harvest symbolizes the gathering of the elect in the final judgment, while the reaping and treading of the grapes symbolizes the doom of the ungodly (cf. Jl 4:12–13; Is 63:1–6) that will come in Rev 19:11–21.
* [14:18] Altar: there was only one altar in the heavenly temple; see notes above on Rev 6:9; 8:3; 11:1. (Revelation, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 96 praises God, Who Comes in Judgement.
* [Psalm 96] A hymn inviting all humanity to praise the glories of Israel’s God (Ps 96:1–3), who is the sole God (Ps 96:4–6). To the just ruler of all belongs worship (Ps 96:7–10); even inanimate creation is to offer praise (Ps 96:11–13). This Psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Is 40–55, as does Ps 98. Another version of the Psalm is 1 Chr 16:23–33. (Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus foretells the Destruction of the Temple and Signs and Persecutions.
* [21:5–36] Jesus’ eschatological discourse in Luke is inspired by Mk 13 but Luke has made some significant alterations to the words of Jesus found there. Luke maintains, though in a modified form, the belief in the early expectation of the end of the age (see Lk 21:27, 28, 31, 32, 36), but, by focusing attention throughout the gospel on the importance of the day-to-day following of Jesus and by reinterpreting the meaning of some of the signs of the end from Mk 13 he has come to terms with what seemed to the early Christian community to be a delay of the parousia. Mark, for example, described the desecration of the Jerusalem temple by the Romans (Mk 13:14) as the apocalyptic symbol (see Dn 9:27; 12:11) accompanying the end of the age and the coming of the Son of Man. Luke (Lk 21:20–24), however, removes the apocalyptic setting and separates the historical destruction of Jerusalem from the signs of the coming of the Son of Man by a period that he refers to as “the times of the Gentiles” (Lk 21:24). See also notes on Mt 24:1–36 and Mk 13:1–37. (Luke, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB, n.d.)
Joan Blandin Howard asks “Are these days “end times”?” At times, it may feel that way. Hope, faith and trust in God are being shaken by fear, greed, hate and discontent. Yet, in the darkness there is the light of compassion.
There is more, much more. Those words can be unsettling, disconcerting, but let’s listen to what Jesus says: “Do not be afraid” “Come follow Me”, “I am the way, the truth and the life” “Come to Me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. The beautiful encouraging words in the Beatitudes: “Blessed are you – individually and as a community. Those who bring words and gestures of compassion as well as the tangibles of food, shelter and medicine. We are a blessed community – all of us. All the “we’s” and the “them’s”. We may speak and hear words of spiteful condemnation. However, Jesus speaks only words loving encouragement to each one of us. Our God, our Creator and Redeemer of all, has built his tent among us, walks with us and will abide with us always. (Blandin Howard, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “First signs of the end times,” by Maximus of Turin (died between 408-423 AD).
"Perhaps you are anxious, brothers and sisters, at the fact that we hear constantly of the tumult of wars and the onsets of battles. Perhaps your love is still more anxious since these are taking place in our times. The reason is the closer we are to the destruction of the world, the closer we are to the kingdom of the Savior. The Lord himself says, 'In the last days nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. When you see wars, earthquakes and famines, know that the kingdom of God is at hand.'This nearness of wars shows us that Christ is near." (excerpt from SERMON 85.1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 21:5-11 comments that such calamities might make us question whether there is anything stable or permanent in this world. And that’s a good question to ask. Because events like these have the potential—paradoxically—to point us toward some very good news. Yes, created things are passing away. Cathedrals, temples, political stability, even simple comforts—none of them will last forever.
So when things around you don’t seem so stable, remember that your horizon extends far beyond this passing earthly realm. When people or possessions that you thought you could trust let you down, know that Jesus is completely trustworthy because he never changes. He holds you in the palm of his hand, and he will never let you go. And when you start to worry about your security, realize that no matter what happens, Jesus has already prepared a place for you in his Father’s house (John 14:2). You belong to him!
“Jesus, I trust in you. When I am distressed by instability, help me to sink my roots deeper into you.” (Meditation on Luke 21:5-11, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that the passage from Revelation presents images of the collection of the good and the evil who will receive God’s fury. The rabbinic slogan that “As the sin so the punishment” underlines receiving the punishment of our choices. Friar Jude reminds us that only the Father knows the timing of the end so we must always be ready.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, teaches on parables of things that are lost and found and introduces author Debie Thomas who reflects on what these “lost and found” parables reveal about God.
If Jesus’s parables are true, then God isn’t in the fold with the ninety-nine insiders. God isn’t curled up on her couch polishing the nine coins she’s already sure of. God is where the lost things are. God is in the wilderness, God is in the remotest corners of the house, God is where the search is at its fiercest. If I want to find God, I have to seek the lost. I have to get lost. I have to leave the safety of the inside and venture out. I have to recognize my own lostness and consent to be found….
God looks for us when our lostness is so convoluted and so profound, we can’t even pretend to look for God. But even in such bleak and hopeless places, God finds us. This is amazing grace. And it is ours. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)
We may be concerned and confused by the world that brings us such anxiety and we contemplate the urging of the Spirit to trust in the Way God will providentially address our need for answers.
References
Blandin Howard, J. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112624.html
Luke, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 26, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/21?5
Meditation on Luke 21:5-11. (n.d.). Word Among Us. https://wau.org/meditations/2024/11/26/1137150/
Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 26, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/96?10
Revelation, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 26, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/14?14
Rohr, R. (n.d.). To Be Lost and Found. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 26, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/to-be-lost-and-found/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Take Heed That You Are Not Led Astray. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 26, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=nov26
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