Delivered by Fiona from the Parish of Mary Queen of the Rosary in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Daniel 6: 12-28; Rs psalm: Add. Dan 3: 68.69.70.71.72.73.74; Luke 21: 20-28.

PASSING THE NEEDLE'SHOLE

Our meditation today isentitled: Passing the Needle's Hole. The experience of exile and captivity isvery unpleasant. Living in a strange place and you do not have anyone near by,it is greatly sad. For anyone who wants to endure and survive, he must gothrough all challenges and difficulties. He must rely on God he believes in.His life like having to go through a needle's hole. This is a reality should befaced with patience and struggle.

The young Danielexperienced captivity and exile as narrated to us by today's first reading.This Jewish youth is an all-out enemy by haters who wanted to destroy him. ButKing Darius, who respected God, was the one on the Daniel's side. After it wasproven that Daniel's punishment being destroyed in the lion's den wasunsuccessful, Daniel was finally released and the recognition of the just andtrue God was made by the King and his entire kingdom, while the criminals andhaters were put to death.

In these days leadingus to the end of our liturgical year, the proclamation of God's word about theend of time illustrates a frightening and trembling emotion. This situation canbe understood as a transitional or a shift moment. Every transition or shifthas more critical situation compared to calm and pleasant condition. Peoplehave to go certain extent to prepare everything. People must decide to leavethe unnecessary, and they are filled with shadows about the next steps that arenot certain.

A transition periodcan be seen as a state such as having to pass through a needle's hole. Indifficult situation and seemingly only little hope of release, the call tofreedom and salvation becomes so important. There, one's faith is tested sothat it becomes stronger and able to survive. One's hope also becomes strongerfor the promise of beautiful and extraordinary achievement will come true. Thisis the characteristic of our Christian faith which comes from the way of thecross of Jesus Christ.

The cross of the LordJesus Christ is the principle sign of victory. In the cross the Lord institutesa total destruction of life on earth and death. But God at the same timecreates victory and new life as a divine gift that will never again destroyedor perished. All the horrifying images in transition, as portrayed in theGospel passage today as an event of the fulfillment of time, are opportunitiesthat we must face and pass through in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O Lord truth and wisdom, in a needle's hole and difficult situation, may wealways see and find You. Our Father who art in heaven... In the name of theFather ...