Reflection on Today's Readings, 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B, November 14th, 2021
Texts: Dan.12:1-3; Ps. 16:5, 8, 9-11; Heb. 10:11-14.18; Mark 13:24-32
Today's Readings remind us of the second coming and the first coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The second reading reminds us of the first coming. For His first coming, He did not come to judge but to make expiation for our sins, He came to save us from the wrath of God. It is said, "But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, then to wait until his enemies should be made a stool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin." He came to prepare us for His second coming so that it will be a day of joy and peace for us.
The first reading tells us two things about His coming. First, the nature of the day of His coming. It is said, "And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time". The day of His coming will not be an easy day but the day that will witness a lot of unprecedented events; it shall be hard time. This puts us in the state of expectation, the expectation of hard time. It tells us that gloomy day is looming. Why are we told of the nature of the day? Is it to make us afraid? Certainly no. We are told of the nature of the day so that we can prepare for it. The more we remember the nature of the day and believe it is true, the more we live rightly. The more we take it as a myth or unrealistic, the more wicked and sinful we become. We are told of the nature of the day so that we can make informed choice. When we are informed of our choices, then we are responsible for the outcome. It is when we are informed of our choice that the guilt rightly belongs to us; we know beforehand the consequences of our choice.
The second thing the first reading tells us is that God will not abandon His people to the gloomy day; He will save them. It is said, "but at that time your people shall be delivered, every one whose name shall be found written in the book." For the faithful who will be alive on that day, God has a way of saving them. Perhaps, He will give them strength to bear the gloomy day, for the Lord says, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze" (Is. 43:2). Perhaps, they will not share from it at all because it is written thus: "For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked" (Ps. 91:3-8).
Moreover, the dead will rise for judgment. It is said, "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Furthermore, we are called to be wise and to inspire righteousness in others. This is clear in the following words: "And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." To be wise, here, it is to acknowledge God and to live according to His will. We are also to share our goodness with others; we are to inspire others to be good.
Jesus, in today's gospel reading, takes the message further by telling us how the creation will beaffected. He says, “In those days, after that [great] tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken." This is a reaction of creation to divine manifestation. However, the darkening of the sun and the absence of moonlight do not mean absence of light; there may be a manifestation of the spiritual light created by God at the beginning of creation before the sun, moon and stars (Gen. 1:3; 14-18). This also recalls the revelation of St. John: "It will never be night again and they will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord will be shining on them" (22:4-5). The darkening of the sun and disappearance of light from the moon could mean to pave the way for Christ, the Light: Light that shines in darkness and darkness did not overcome it (John 1:5). Hence, Jesus adds, "And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven." Jesus goes further to tell us that, though the day is not known, the signs He has given are sure.
Lord our God, give us grace to serve you always with joy, because our full and lasting happiness is to make of our lives a constant service to the Author of all that is good, so that when You come You will meet us fit and blameless. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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