Mark 13:31
Sunday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
©️2021 by Gloria M. Chang
Jesus said to his disciples: “In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.
“Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
“But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Mark 13:24-32
The sun, moon, and stars, symbolizing earthly powers, shine for a time but eventually fade. Throughout human history, rulers and regimes have risen and fallen—the fruit of social and political experimentation—but the Son of Man lives forever.
When the inner compass is attuned to personal and collective events as to a fig tree, wisdom about our alignment or misalignment with the mind of God can be discerned. Sacred Scripture provides an objective measure and standard for human decisions and events: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
The future is in the hands of the Father. The task of the children of God is to seek wisdom here and now, and lead others to tsedeq (righteousness, justice).
“But the wise shall shine brightly
Daniel 12:3
like the splendor of the firmament,
and those who lead the many to justice
shall be like the stars forever.”
The fig tree branches becomes tender
Leaves sprout; summer is near.
When you see these things happening,
know that God is near, at the gates.
Thinking of end times can cause fear.
God’s Word makes everything clear.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will last beyond that day.
May our gates be open to live love.
Today and each day we are given.
Happy Sunday! Thank you for your reflection, cenaclemary12.
Dear GMC, The priest at the Vigil Mass yesterday said we should think about the end times every day, and ask ourselves, “where will I be?” And if we fear, he went on to say, we should examine ourselves! Like your reflection, he imparted, not fear, but Truth and Justice into our hearts.