GOSPEL POWER - NOVEMBER 26, 2020 - 34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Gospel: Lk 21:20-28 

Jesus said to his disciples, “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it; for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that is written. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people; they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” 

REFLECTION:

Jesus follows the tradition of Israel’s prophets in viewing history in terms of repeated patterns, where later events mirror earlier ones. In today’s Gospel, Jesus looks back to past events and looks forward to future happenings to call attention to these patterns. The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem in 587 B.C. The city’s later destruction by the Romans in 70 A.D. fits that pattern. In a similar way, the time of Jesus’ return will be signalled by the repetition of this pattern, and will thus be recognized through the recurrence of similar cosmic chaos. Like pangs of childbirth, these happenings are not meant to destroy us but to prepare us for the great moment of our deliverance. 

Lord Jesus, we entrust the future to you, as we pray, “Maràna thà... Come among us.” Amen.