GOSPEL POWER - NOVEMBER 24, 2020 - 34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Gospel: Lk 21:5-11

 5When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus said,  “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”  They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.  “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.” What we have in this scary apocalyptic scenario is not simply a warning about the end but a promise of transformation, which is what the awaited return of the Son of Man is all about. Jesus deliberately remains silent about the exact time of its occurrence, because it is already happening to some degree in every age, but only the Father knows its point of culmination. Disasters and cosmic upheavals are phenomena that always accompany the end of an old world order and signals the beginning of a new one. The Spirit is already renewing the face of the earth as we experience the disasters being described in the Gospel. When people unite to come to the aid of the victims of such disasters, do we not see the transformation of hearts incited by the Spirit? Vigilance means being conscious of these dynamics so as to participate fully in this divine project of transformation. 

Lord Jesus, help us to turn our dread of cosmic disasters into trust that God has a purpose for them, which is ultimately for our good. Amen.