Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

(11/17/2024) Gospel Reading: Mark 13:24-32

 

“The Son of Man Will Come with Great Power and Glory”

 

Be vigilant at all times

and pray that you have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.

 

From the desk of Fr. Leo Alban Asuncion

     The Lord is coming! That was the watch word of the early Christians. Full of expectations, they eagerly awaited the grand event which would be the crowning victory of the Savior.  At times there were false prophets.  This weekend’s gospel speaks of the Coming of the Lord. It will be when no one is expecting it, and those who are not prepared will have a tragic end of life, for they will not be prepared to meet their Judge. His coming will be preceded by all kinds of trials, and great distress will be experienced by all nations. This is symbolized by the heavenly bodies which are depicted as no longer giving their light, so that mankind is in total darkness, anxiety and fear. These expressions of the heavenly bodies are not meant to be taken literally, for it is apocalyptic language, and it is figurative, to describe the fearful happenings on earth before the Coming of the Lord. But there is a bright side to the picture. These are the birth pangs of the real event which is about to break upon the world: the glorious Re-entry of Christ to planet earth, which will be witnessed by all the nations of the world.      

     At last, the Son of God who became our Savior and Brother comes into his own. The humble carpenter of Nazareth is acknowledged as the Architect of the universe. The despised Crucified One will be seen as reigning in power and majesty. He who lived in utter obscurity and lowliness will be hailed as the one to whom all mankind owes its redemption and eternal salvation. The faithful followers of the crucified will be at his side, gloriously reigning with him, clothed in light and splendor. Those who have rejected him, or never bothered to know and love him while on earth, will be covered with shame. They will be filled with fear and trembling for the utter lack of cooperation they manifested all throughout life with the promptings of divine grace and the voice of the Spirit. The great event for which the whole world waited for centuries is finally at hand. Time is no more. Judgment is about to begin.      

     As to the time of his Coming, it is foolish to speculate, as many do. Did Christ not say that it was communicated to the angels nor to him to disclose it to mankind? Only the self-styled prophets seem always to know the very year and the day and throw people into fear and consternation. They always foretell “the end of the world” but it is rather the consummation of all things that the Lord has in mind. This will be a very joyful event for those who have faithfully tried to follow the Master and have suffered with him by bearing their cross patiently. Live the Christ-life as he expects of you. Live every day that way so you will be prepared when he comes.

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Meditation: Do you recognize the signs of God's kingdom - signs that point to his power and action in our lives and in the world around us? The Lord Jesus came to bring us the kingdom of God and to set us free from bondage to sin, death, and destruction and from the powers of the evil one who tempts us through lies and deception.

The Lord is preparing us for his return
Jesus told his first disciples that it was for their benefit that he return to his Father in heaven in order for the Holy Spirit to come (John 16:7) and fill the earth with the fire of God's love, truth, and glory. The Lord Jesus in every age fills his people with the power of the Holy Spirit so that each one of us can hear his voice, understand his truth, and sow the seeds of his word - the good news of the Gospel - wherever he sends us. The Lord Jesus is preparing his people for his return - for the day of "tribulation" and "shaking" when he will appear "coming in clouds with great power and glory" (Mark 13:25-26).

What did Jesus mean when he spoke about a time of tribulation, shaking, and the "Son of man coming with great power and glory"? The title Jesus most frequently used to describe his mission was the "Son of Man" (Mark 13:26). This title is a direct reference to the prophetic vision in the Book of Daniel, chapter 7:

13 I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

The image of a "Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven" is taken from the vision of the prophet Daniel (Daniel 7:13-14). Daniel's vision is a royal investiture of a human king before God's throne. This king, whose authority comes from God, is given power to rule over "all peoples, nations, and languages" (Daniel 7:14). The kingdom which he comes to establish cannot be broken or destroyed because it is built on the foundation of God's justice, truth, and holiness.

The day of the Lord's return will be unlike any other moment in time, history, and destiny for the human race and our place in God's creation. Then the "stars of heaven will fall and all will be shaken" before the presence of the Lord when he comes. Then the peoples of the earth and their rulers will know who is the true King and Ruler over all.

Jesus' first coming was a rescue mission - to free the human race from slavery to sin and Satan - the father of lies. His second coming will be the final completion of his mission when he will "make all things new" - a new heavens and a new earth - after he has put down the last enemy which is death and restores our lowly bodies to immortality when death will be no more (Daniel 12:2-3).

The sign of the budding fig tree
What lesson does the Lord Jesus want us to learn from the parable of the budding fig tree? The fig tree was a common and important source of food for the Jews. It bore fruit twice a year, in the autumn and in the early spring. The prophet Joel mentions its fruit-bearing as a sign of favor from the Lord (Joel 2:22). The Talmud (a Jewish commentary and instruction on the Torah or Five Books of Moses) said that the first fruit came the day after Passover. The Jews believed that when the Messiah came he would usher in the kingdom of God at Passover time.

This parable foretells the joy of God's kingdom - the joy of new life and the promise of a new age of peace and blessing. The signs of spring are evident for all who can see. Just so are the signs of God's kingdom. The "budding" of God's kingdom begins first in the hearts of those who are receptive to God's word. Those who trust in God's word will bear the fruits of his kingdom. And what are the fruits of that kingdom? "The kingdom of God ..is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).

The first-fruits of the kingdom in our present lives
The first coming of the Lord Jesus is inseparably linked with his second coming at the end of this present age. We do not know the day or hour when the Lord will return again in glory. But now in this present age we can experience the first-fruits of the kingdom of God - the abundant new life in the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, and the fruits of the Spirit - love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) and so many other qualities which the Spirit works within us - thus enabling us to love and serve others with tenderhearted mercy, patience, and goodness. Do you know and experience in your life the first-fruits of the kingdom of God?

Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may radiate the joy of your kingdom and the fire of your love to all I meet and serve. Direct my life to the glory of your name and to the coming of your kingdom.

   read more at: http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org

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