Sunday, November 15, 2009: Daniel 12:1-3; Hebrew 10:11-14, 18; Mark 13:24-32

As we come toward the end of the liturgical year, we hear these readings that focus on the end time. Both the book of Daniel and the gospel of Mark which we read today tell us about the cataclysmic events that would occur before the Day of the Lord. The Jews saw the day of the Lord as a time in which God will intervene in history. Although they were the chosen people of God, their history was marked with many years of persecution. Between the time of the Old Testament and the time of the New Testament, they went through many years of suffering in the hands of oppressors. The Apocalyptic literature which we already see in Daniel even became more central and vivid in their lives. This literature continued to develop as they encounter new situations. To understand this literature, we must keep in mind that it is metaphorical, poetic and visionary. These visions are not to be taken literarily as some have done in the past, predicting the exact day that the Lord will intervene in history. To focus on these earth shattering events that must precede God’s intervention in history is to miss the whole point of the readings of today. What is important in these readings is the invitation to remain faithful because God would intervene in history and give us victory.

As God’s chosen people, we need not be afraid of the end time, we must live in hope. We can live in hope because, as the second reading of today from the book of Hebrews tells us, by the one offering of Jesus Christ, he has made perfect forever all of us who have been consecrated in him. We received our consecration at baptism and we were given the privilege to be partakers in the three-fold ministry of Jesus Christ as priest, prophet and king. If we live in hope and hold on to Jesus Christ, we need to do nothing special if we hear of his coming. Every now and then, there are rumors of the end of the world and people are all freaked out. Christians should not have such fears. The reason is because as the gospel says, God himself will send out his angels and gather his elect from the end of the earth. This is his promise to his people and it is his promise to us. The important thing for us is to live in such a way that it wouldn’t matter to us when he comes because whenever he comes, he will find us ready to meet him.

In today’s first reading, Daniel speaks of hope to those who are the elect. All those whose names are written in the book shall be saved from the unsurpassed distress that would occur. There is a promise of the resurrection for those who have died and whose names are written in the book. Those whose names are written in the book are those who are wise to lead many to justice. They are those who did not allow the pleasures of the world to corrupt them, but strived everyday to be righteous. Those who allowed themselves to be corrupted by the world and did not lead others to justice would experience an everlasting horror and disgrace.

In today’s gospel, Jesus Christ exhorts us to stay in this hope. In our lives, we are going to suffer tribulations and difficulties. We will feel like we are expecting our own end time. You will come close to your own breaking point where given the choice, you may choose death over life. This may be an extended period of time in your life and you may even feel God completely absent. This was the feeling the people of Israel had those many years. Do not let these horrendous sufferings keep you away from Jesus Christ. The example of the fig tree Jesus Christ uses in the gospel teaches us that we may go through all these things and heaven and earth may pass away but God’s words “will not pass away.” His words to us are that good would be victorious over evil; life would be victorious over death. Again as the second reading tells us, his enemies would be made his footstool. Any forces or persons that act against the children of God are the enemies of God. God is going to destroy all that act against us and he is going to give us victory. Not only that he will give us victory, he will give us new beginnings. Like the tender and sprouts leaves of the fig tree, the coming of Jesus Christ brings us new life and growth in the spirit. As Christians, we should anxiously await the coming of Jesus Christ. As we approach Advent where we shall begin preparing specially for the coming of Jesus Christ at Christmas, I want to beckon on you to make this year’s advent special. Do not allow yourself to be carried away by the shopping and the preparations for Christmas parties. Make this year’s advent truly a retreat. Pray daily through the season, asking Jesus Christ to come be part of your life in a special way.

Your challenge for the next two weeks is to share with someone why your Christian faith is important. This does not have to be very formal. You do not have to go in search of people to do that with. When opportunities come your way, do not be shy to share your Christian faith. I will pray for you this week that God will give you opportunities so that you may witness your faith as a Christian.

PRAYER REQUEST:
I also want to ask you to pray specially for our young students here at the University who would be prayed over on Monday night for a baptism of the Holy Spirit. They have been undergoing preparations in the last few weeks preparing for this special day in their lives. Pray for them that they may experience a second Pentecost in their lives.