There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars…When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. – Luke 21:25, 28

       There are more than 200 predictions of the end of the world. The latest one predicted that it would happen on December 21, 2012, according to theories based on an ancient Mayan and Aztec calendar. Just like the earlier predictions, the “end of the world” came and went.

       How do people react whenever a prediction of the end of the world is announced? Some cower in fear, get depressed or even commit suicide. Others repent of their sins and turn to God. Others go and party until “the end of the world.”

       How about for us Christians? What must we do when we hear predictions of the end of the world? Let the Scriptures guide us.

       Matthew 24:35-36 says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away. But of the day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”

       Matthew 24:42, 44 further says, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come… So you must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Meann Tee (meanntytee@yahoo.com)

Reflection: It is not important to know when the end of the world will be. It is important to be ready when it comes.

Father, we trust in Your great power and merciful love. When the end of the world comes, bring us home to Your Kingdom.

St. Francesco Antonio Fasani, pray for us.

The last line of this text is echoed in the peoples’ response at Mass to the elevation of the host and wine after the “Lamb of God” prayer. It is a wonderful image to reflect on. Wedding feasts are normally grand affairs with little expense spared. Can you imagine what a wedding feast in heaven will look like? It will be grander than grand. Let us hope that we will see each other there!

1 I, John, saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth became illumined by his splendor. 2 He cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great. She has become a haunt for demons. She is a cage for every unclean spirit, a cage for every unclean bird, a cage for every unclean and disgusting beast.” 21 A mighty angel picked up a stone like a huge millstone and threw it into the sea and said: “With such force will Babylon the great city be thrown down, and will never be found again. 22 No melodies of harpists and musicians, flutists and trumpeters, will ever be heard in you again. No craftsmen in any trade will ever be found in you again. No sound of the millstone will ever be heard in you again. 23 No light from a lamp will ever be seen in you again. No voices of bride and groom will ever be heard in you again. Because your merchants were the great ones of the world, all nations were led astray by your magic potion.” 19: 1 After this I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying: “Alleluia! Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God, 2 for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her harlotry. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” 3 They said a second time: “Alleluia! Smoke will rise from her forever and ever.” 9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”

R: Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.

1 Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; 2 serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful song. (R) 3 Know that the Lord is God; he made us, his we are; his people, the flock he tends. (R) 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise; give thanks to him; bless his name. (R) 5 For he is good: the Lord, whose kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness, to all generations. (R)

This text was probably written around the time of the destruction of the Temple. The image of the Temple’s destruction would have been very fresh to the author and so he is able to weave a picture around it that conveys a sense of Armageddon and vindication. It is a bit difficult for us to understand such extreme concepts but we should realize that this imagery is very true if we consider the destructive power of sin.

Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.

20 Jesus said to his disciples: “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand. 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city, 22 for these days are the time of punishment when all the Scriptures are fulfilled. 23 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25 There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”

think:  Let us hope that we will see each other in heaven.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Ezekiel 5-8

HOPE, NOT TERROR

The vision of the sacking of Babylon (a symbol of Rome) is no doubt, full of terror. Images of a tragic end for the once mighty empire become a springboard for the more important message that we have been discussing and reflecting on all week — the second coming of the Messiah.

       The passage from Luke continues to harp on two things: the impending disaster that awaited Jerusalem then, and the spiritual meaning it has now on the part of believers. The Lord offered a counter-intuitive advice. When invading armies would draw near, the people were supposed to flee from the city and go to the mountains. They were not to rely on the traditional ramparts and fortifications of the proud city, as all would be razed to the ground. These are terrifying both for those who would yet live to see the tragic fall of their beloved city, and for those of us who can only look back to the event, even as we now look forward to the second coming.

       But the overall seeming focus on the “terrifying signs,” including cataclysmic events from the world of nature, do not detract from the whole tenor and actual aim of these portions of Scripture. They were meant to impress upon the people, then and now, that there is Someone who directs the course of history, and that the greatest certainty we have beyond the fear and terror is a message of hope. The Lord is coming once again. He will come to restore justice upset by sin. Pitted against this overriding truth, all else pales in comparison, and everything else does not matter anymore.

       In my life right now, maybe I ought to learn never to rely on what may be considered traditional defenses. I need to look beyond the equivalent of city walls and fortresses to ward off enemies of my soul. I need to rely solely on a God of promises and a God of fulfillment.

       Fulfillment will soon come our way. He has died and is risen from the dead. He will come again! And this is news that speaks, not of terror, but of hope! Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What comes to your mind when people say that the end is near? How do you prepare for it?

Lord God, help me to prepare to meet You at the end of my life, or at Your second coming.