Kingdom Built By Man Will Pass Away

 

Our labour will not be in vain if it is for God’s kingdom.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Tuesday of 34th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, November 28th, 2023
Texts: Daniel 2:31-45; Canticle Daniel 3 3:57-61; Luke 21:5-11 

Today’s readings remind us that every kingdom built by man will pass away to pave way for God’s kingdom. We learn that the kingdom of man does not last forever; it lasts for awhile and gone for ever. No matter how powerful we are, we will meet our ends. Daniel says, “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end”. 

Does this mean to us? It means that we are to seek the kingdom of God rather than the kingdom of man. Our labour will not be in vain if it is for God’s kingdom. Every effort put into building man’s kingdom is a waste. When the kingdom of God comes it will leave no memory of the kingdom of man. We build the kingdom of God by showing love, maintaining justice and working for peace. Wherever we find ourselves we should be agents of love, peace, mercy, and justice.  

The destruction of the temple before the advent of God’s kingdom

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus Christ also speaks of the destruction of the temple before the advent of God’s kingdom. We read, “As some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings,  Jesus said, ‘As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.’" He also tells us what will mark the kingdom of man: Earthquakes, strife, war, famines, pestilence, terror and great signs from heaven.  

We are not to be surprised with our experience now; it is a reminder to seek God’s kingdom. We now experience war, earthquakes, pestilence, famines, terror and great signs from heaven as never before. What we should seek here on earth is God’s kingdom. Hence, our Lord teaches us to pray, “Our Father who art in heaven, ... thy kingdom come.” It is in the kingdom of God that we can find peace, justice, love and mercy.   

We are also to pull down every kingdom of man in us for God to reign over us. Think of pride and passion of the flesh! We are to pull them down and submit ourselves to God.  

Prayer  

God our Father, help us to pull down in us every kingdom of man, that you may reign over us; heal us of pride and indulgence in passion of the flesh, that we may submit ourselves to You. Amen  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke