Mark 13:31
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
©️2021 Gloria M. Chang
Readings
Daniel 12:1-3
Hebrews 10:11-14, 18
Mark 13:24-32
Who is the “Son of Man”?
The sun, moon, and stars, symbolizing earthly powers, shine for a time but eventually fade (Mark 13:24-25). Throughout human history, rulers and regimes rise and fall—the fruit of social and political experimentation—but the Son of Man lives forever.
Identifying with the apocalyptic figure in Daniel’s prophecy (7:13-14), Jesus declares that the “Son of Man,” coming in the clouds, will receive a kingdom of everlasting power, glory, and dominion over all peoples “from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.” With “one sacrifice,” Christ, the High Priest, consummates the cosmos in his body—the temple of God—rendering obsolete the earthly temple with its animal sacrifices in Jerusalem (Hebrews 10:12-18).
The Father’s Secret
When the inner compass is attuned to personal and universal 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 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. “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32). 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.”
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.
Traditional Chinese Translation
《我的話不會消失》
天地要廢去，
我的話卻不能廢去。
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.