Anticipating Judgement

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to ponder the images of the Final Judgement prior to the vision of the New Heaven and the New Earth to increase our awareness of the signs on our journey of truth, love, and compassion.

Our Journey to Life

The reading from the Book of Revelation presents a vision of the “Thousand Years” before the Dead are judged and the New Heaven and the New Earth are realized.

* [20:1–6] Like the other numerical values in this book, the thousand years are not to be taken literally; they symbolize the long period of time between the chaining up of Satan (a symbol for Christ’s resurrection-victory over death and the forces of evil) and the end of the world. During this time God’s people share in the glorious reign of God that is present to them by virtue of their baptismal victory over death and sin; cf. Rom 6:1–8; Jn 5:24–25; 16:33; 1 Jn 3:14; Eph 2:1.

* [20:11–15] A description of the final judgment. After the intermediate reign of Christ, all the dead are raised and judged, thus inaugurating the new age.

(Revelation, CHAPTER 20 | USCCB, n.d.)

* [21:1–22:5] A description of God’s eternal kingdom in heaven under the symbols of a new heaven and a new earth; cf. Is 65:17–25; 66:22; Mt 19:28.

 

* [21:1] Sea,no more: because as home of the dragon it was doomed to disappear; cf. Jb 7:12.

* [21:2] New Jerusalem,bride: symbol of the church (Gal 4:26); see note on Rev 19:7 (Revelation, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 84 praises the Joy of Worship in the Temple.

* [Psalm 84] Israelites celebrated three pilgrimage feasts in Jerusalem annually. The Psalm expresses the sentiments of the pilgrims eager to enjoy the divine presence. (Psalms, PSALM 84|USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke presents the Lesson of the Fig Tree.

x. [21:29–33] Mt 24:32–35; Mk 13:28–31.

y. [21:32] 9:27; Mt 16:28.

z. [21:33] 16:17. (Luke, CHAPTER 21| USCCB, n.d.)

Mirielle Mason brought these quotes together to say that when faced with biblical apocalypse or “unprecedented times” Christ is the hope we can cling to. This is especially pertinent as we approach Advent, where we will prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ and all the hope that He represents for the world.

This state of mind is easier on paper than it is in practice. I can tell myself to follow Christ’s example and to believe in the hope He represents. It is simple to say that I will lay my anxiety at His feet, but oh how difficult it is in practice. Every day I fight to pray and place my trust in God and His word. I know there are those who find this easy, and to them I say I am happy for their good fortune. To me, this is something I must work for every day. In closing, I would like to pray for all those who feel like Frodo in the above quote. That we may remain steadfast in the fight to lay our troubles at the feet of our Lord, and do our best each and every day to embody the hope Christ represents and let it be shown in our world. (Mason, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “My words will not pass away,” by an anonymous early author from the early Greek fathers.

"'This generation' refers both to those who suffer temptation and to those who cause it. It refers to sinners among men and to the demons who are at work in them. For neither group will cease being in the world until its consummation. For Christ said, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels' (Matthew 25:41). Moreover, it is necessary that the source of temptation be preserved as long as there is faith which needs testing. It is also possible, however, that 'this generation' refers to those mortal Christians who would not pass over into eternal life and be made immortal and impassible 'until' all the events about which Christ was speaking had taken place.

"'Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away' because heaven and earth were created to serve you, but my words were uttered to govern you. Both heaven and earth are subject to vanity, as the apostle said, 'Creation is subject to vanity' (Romans 8:20). Truth, however, is by nature unable to deceive and can never die." (excerpt from INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 49, the Greek fathers). (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Revelation 20:1-4, 11–21:2 comments on why Jesus died, and why he rose. It was so the ancient powers of sin and death could be destroyed and their hold over us could be dissolved forever.

Spend time in prayer today marveling that the One who conquered death itself is with you. Marvel that he has written your name in his book of life!

“Jesus, I rejoice that by your cross and resurrection, you have raised me to new, eternal life!” (Meditation on Revelation 20:1-4, 11–21:2, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the visions of Revelation as Satan is definitely defeated after the symbolic “1000 years” after Jesus Resurrection. The understanding of “rapture” by some is contrasted with Friar Jude’s explanation. Friar Jude reminds us to be aware of the signs of our invitation to convert prior to our “End Time”.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, considers how Jesus’ parables reveal the realm of God. Fr. Richard can think of many contemporary examples of how people have risked security to share lives and seek God’s realm: prayer groups, peace and justice ministries, social agencies and shelters, communities of contemplation and action. Living in this sacred dimension may be spiritual, but it’s also very real, and it’s very attractive when we discover it. 

In the seventh parable, (Chapter 13 of Matthew’s Gospel) Jesus reiterates the idea that the realm of God has little to do with the ego-based expectations of our culture or religion (13:47–50). No church, community, or individual is perfect. We humans are always turning away from the realm of God and then undergoing a new conversion to return. To turn toward the kingdom, we must turn away from our smaller selves. To say, “Thy kingdom come,” we must say in the next breath, “My kingdom go.” [3] (Rohr, n.d.)

We reflect on the struggles that accompany our journey and take hope in the vision of the “New Heaven and the New Earth” that Christ is inviting us to celebrate.

References

Luke, CHAPTER 21| USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB Daily Bible Readings. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/21?29 

Mason, M. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112924.html 

Meditation on Revelation 20:1-4, 11–21:2. (n.d.). Word Among Us. https://wau.org/meditations/2024/11/29/1139142/ 

Psalms, PSALM 84|USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB Daily Bible Readings. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/84?3 

Revelation, CHAPTER 20 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 29, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/20 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Parables of the Kingdom of God. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 29, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/parables-of-the-kingdom-of-god/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). My Words Will Not Pass Away. Daily Scripture net. https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=nov29 

Prepared for the End

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to seek signs of Divine Presence as we ponder our path in life.

Seeing the Signs

The reading from the Book of Revelation is a vision of Thousand Years prior to when the Dead Are Judged.

* [20:1–6] Like the other numerical values in this book, the thousand years are not to be taken literally; they symbolize the long period of time between the chaining up of Satan (a symbol for Christ’s resurrection-victory over death and the forces of evil) and the end of the world. During this time God’s people share in the glorious reign of God that is present to them by virtue of their baptismal victory over death and sin; cf. Rom 6:1–8; Jn 5:24–25; 16:33; 1 Jn 3:14; Eph 2:1. (Revelation, CHAPTER 20, n.d.)

Psalm 84 praises the Joy of Worship in the Temple.

* [Psalm 84] Israelites celebrated three pilgrimage feasts in Jerusalem annually. The Psalm expresses the sentiments of the pilgrims eager to enjoy the divine presence. (Psalms, PSALM 84, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke shares the Lesson of the Fig Tree.

* [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, n.d.)

Jay Carney comments that as the responsorial psalm reminds us today, “God lives among his people,” and ultimately God will reign. Why, then, is such a message couched in such violent language? Perhaps because the principalities and powers are eternally in rebellion against God’s loving will. Nearly two millennia after the apocalyptic revelation to John of Patmos, we too live in a world marked by destructive war, refugee displacement, disregard for human dignity, religious persecution, political corruption and deceit, and an unprecedented climate crisis. If our souls are not “yearning and pining for the courts of the Lord,” we must not be paying attention.

Advent gives us a chance to wake up. This liturgical season, so often overlooked in the rush to Christmas, is marked by a fervent spirit of eschatological longing, hope, and expectation. And to echo today’s gospel, this season is now near! May today’s readings help us prepare our hearts for Advent and for the coming of Jesus, for our redemption really is at hand. (Carney, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “My words will not pass away,” by an anonymous early author from the early Greek fathers

"'This generation' refers both to those who suffer temptation and to those who cause it. It refers to sinners among men and to the demons who are at work in them. For neither group will cease being in the world until its consummation. For Christ said, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels' (Matthew 25:41). Moreover, it is necessary that the source of temptation be preserved as long as there is faith which needs testing. It is also possible, however, that 'this generation' refers to those mortal Christians who would not pass over into eternal life and be made immortal and impassible 'until' all the events about which Christ was speaking had taken place.

"'Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away' because heaven and earth were created to serve you, but my words were uttered to govern you. Both heaven and earth are subject to vanity, as the apostle said, 'Creation is subject to vanity' (Romans 8:20). Truth, however, is by nature unable to deceive and can never die." (excerpt from INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 49, the Greek fathers). (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Revelation 20:1-4, 11–21:2 asserts that God is with us, even while we wait for his Second Coming. So how does God dwell with us now—and how can we experience it?

First, God dwells with us by the Holy Spirit. When we were baptized, the Spirit took up residence within us. …

Second, God dwells with us in the sacraments. …

Finally, God dwells with us in our ordinary human interactions. He reveals his faithful love to us through our families. He demonstrates his closeness through the kindness of a friend who listens to our worries. And he shows us his mercy when someone forgives us for having sinned against them.

One day, we will see God face-to-face in the new heaven and earth. But until that day, God mercifully lives among us. Right here. Right now.

“Thank you, Lord, that you are with me.” (Meditation on Revelation 20:1-4, 11–21:2, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the thousand year interval in Revelation that is sometimes connected with the idea of “rapture” and symbolically the time between the Cross and the End Time. The names of all people are written in the Book of Life, yet we are capable of rejection that cancels our name. Friar Jude reminds us of Karl Rahner SJ ‘s quote “Without a body you are nobody.”

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Kristi Nelson,director of A Network for Grateful Living, founded by Benedictine Brother David Steindl-Rast and friends. She shares her own story of learning to embrace gratitude as a way of life.

“Being grateful the first few years was relatively easy and revelatory. I would wake up in a room bathed in light, hear birds singing, and notice I was still breathing. . . . I could put both feet on the floor and walk freely to a kitchen where I could make a cup of tea. It was enough to make me start each day with tears of joy. Being alive was enough.”

Perhaps like many of us, as her health stabilized, Nelson became “immune” to spontaneous daily gratitude:

“But over time, all those amazing reasons to feel grateful joined the ranks of the taken-for-granted. I got healthy and busy. I began chasing goals and the fulfillment they promised. I martyred myself to a job, complained about things like traffic, my weight, and colds. I ruthlessly compared myself to others, succumbed to retail therapy and debt, and suffered from stress. Each year that passed, I built up a kind of gratitude tolerance—what used to be enough got left in the dust in the pursuit of having more. Having cheated death, I began cheating life.

After some challenging years, dramatic wake-up calls, and my share of spiritual suffering, I came to realize that maintaining a grateful perspective is a true practice. . . . This capacity for grateful perspective is a muscle I needed to build and use, and it is still something I need to nurture and tend daily. . . . The practice of looking at the world through grateful eyes and with a grateful heart is an exquisite end in itself.” (Rohr, n.d.)

We are easily made aware of the disasters and evil events in the world even as the Spirit prompts us to live in love and gratitude.

References

Carney, J. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved November 25, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112522.html 

Home. (n.d.). YouTube. Retrieved November 25, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/

Luke, CHAPTER 21. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 25, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/21?29 

Meditation on Revelation 20:1-4, 11–21:2. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved November 25, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/11/25/543346/ 

Psalms, PSALM 84. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 25, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/84?3 

Revelation, CHAPTER 20. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 25, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/20?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 25, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/gratitude-is-a-practice-2022-11-25/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). My Words Will Not Pass Away. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 25, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=nov25