33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Let us pray from Psalms 16:
I bless the Lord who counsels me;
even at night my heart exhorts me.
I keep the Lord always before me;
with the Lord at my right, I shall never be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, my soul rejoices;
my body also dwells secure,
For you will not abandon me to Sheol,
nor let your faithful servant see the pit.
You will show me the path to life,
abounding joy in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.Amen
1st Reading – Daniel 12: 1-3
The book of Daniel is apocalyptic, the 4th of the major prophets. It is filled with dreams and
visions that reveal coming events. This kind of writing is called a vaticinium ex eventu, a
“prediction after the fact,” in which an author creates a character of long ago (Daniel) and
puts into his mouth as predictions all the important events that have already happened right
up to the author’s own time and place (about 165 BC). It is actually written by an unknown
person. Antiochus Epiphanes of the Seleucid empire in Syria ruled of Palestine around 175
BC. He stripped the temple twice of its wealth to fund military campaigns. To encourage
unity, he demanded Hellenization (follow the Greek ways) which devastated the Jewish
people. A small revolt in 167 began a constant struggle for religious freedom and political
independence (not much new for that area!). So all of this colors what Daniel is trying to say
(Reading the Old Testament, Boadt, p. 503-509).
Apocalyptic writing usually has these elements:
1. Famous names
10. Cosmic viewpoint
2. Secretive
11. Use of intermediary beings such as
angels and demons
3. Symbolic
4. Prophetic prediction
5. Anonymous
6. Pessimistic
7. Dualistic
12. Old prophecies being fulfilled
13. Hope in the resurrection of the
dead
14. Hope in a glorious new kingdom in
heaven or on earth (p. 513-514)
8. Deterministic
9. Confidence in divine intervention
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The words, “At that time” are repeated in this passage. The emphasis it gives should not be
overlooked. It is calling everyone to the present…right now. What happens right in this
moment makes a difference. Your life can change for better or worse in an instant. How
does this emphasis on NOW matter to you?
A word on the angel Michael: He was thought to have fought and defeated Lucifer. His
name means, “Who is like God?”. All angels of God’s own active presence in our world.
Whereas men and women have bodies and souls, angels are pure spirits. They were created
before humankind, and they are capable of sin (Catholicism for Dummies, p. 306). Some
are sent to guard over people. Have you felt like you had a guardian angel in times of
distress?
2nd Reading – Hebrews 10: 11-14, 18
From Roland Faley, Footprints on the Mountain: The standing posture of the priests in their
endless work contrasts with the seated posture of Jesus whose work has been realized. The
sitting position, symbolizing work accomplished, is not at odds with the high priest image
which depicts Christ as continually offering his one sacrifice in the eternal ‘now’. The two are
complementary, not exclusive. Christ’s one sacrifice continues to make holy those who
appropriate its benefits. With sin now forgiven and ready access to God assured, no further
sacrifice is needed. Isn’t this good news?
Every day at Temple, morning and evening, the priests would offer a burnt offering of a 1
year old lamb without blemish, a meat offering of flour and oil, a drink offering of wine, and
incense. Did they make a difference? What Jesus offered as himself could not be repeated.
He offered his whole self as living sacrifice (Barclay, Daily Study Bible Series, p. 117). How
do we offer ourselves daily?
The Gospel -- Mark 13: 24-32:
From John Pilch, The Cultural World of Jesus, B, 164:
Mark’s Jesus is absolutely convinced that everything he has
announced will occur during the lifetime of his audience. Jesus
died around 30CE and the temple was destroyed in 70CE. These
were certainly difficult, frightening, changing times. The
audience needs certainty that better times are ahead (so do we!). They need something to
count on. By saying ”Amen, I say to you…” it guarantees the truth of what one says. Jesus
is saying, “Trust me! I speak the truth and won’t fail you no matter what!” This is more
good news.
The cosmic events (sun darkening, stars falling) are entirely and exclusively under God’s
control. How does it feel to allow God to take the wheel completely?
From Mary Birmingham, Word & Worship, p. 726, 730-731:
The ‘fig tree’ had been a common symbol for Israel. Jesus uses this idea and then changes it
to become a symbol of the new kingdom of God. Here in Mark 13 the fig tree is blossoming
as opposed to its withering in Mark 11. For these early Christians, as followers of Christ, the
religious world that they knew was over. They can no longer be centered around the
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Temple. Jesus’ new kingdom of God’s love was and is ready to emerge. Jesus’ words do not
pass away; through Jesus, the Word of God, and his cross, the powers of domination will be
defeated. Mark calls all disciples “to live in history with eyes open, to look deep into present
events.” The fig tree that seemed dead will be blossoming again. The old world, centered
around the Temple, was coming to an end, but Jesus’ new world was emerging. It still is.
The trick to understanding these readings is to not to reduce them to an historical period. We
must let them speak to every historical time and place – even our own. After all, the end
times happen to us all, individually at our death and communally as a generation that passes
into the midst of disappearing ages . . . As our projects and pretenses mount, as our labors
and tasks surround us, as our entertainment and doodling pass the time . . . we may forget
that the upshot of our lives is to love and evoke love, no matter where we may be–living and
dying. (John Kavanaugh, S.J. “The Word Encountered”http://liturgy.slu.edu.)
From Ronald Rolheiser, “In Exile,” http://liturgy.slu.edu. :
Perhaps Jesus is not so much talking about cosmic cataclysms as cataclysms of the heart.
Sometimes it is our inner world that is shaken, turned upside down, and darkened. But in this
upheaval, only one thing that remains: God’s Word of love and fidelity. When our world is
shaken, we have the chance to see more clearly, to grow more authentically, to love more
unselfishly. Honeymoons are wonderful, but we do need to love what is real what is beyond
the pleasant. God’s love leads us to reality, to bedrock, to truth beyond illusion. Jesus is
NEAR, he is at the gates, his words stay with us.
O Lord, God of endings and beginnings,
no one is lost who seeks and finds you.
Guide us on the journey of life
to the safe lodging of your Word of love.
Keep us faithful to you,
in season and out of season.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
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