First Reading: Apocalypse 20:1-11,21:2
Gospel : Luke 21:29-33
The first reading tells us about the victory of those who have faithfully witnessed Christ through their lives. John shows the victory of the faithful in his vision with many symbolisms like numbers, animals etc. In the vision, we come across a particular period of time that is 1000 years. It looks as though there was to be a period of a thousand years, during which Satan would be shut up in the Abyss and Christ would reign in the company of the martyrs who had witnessed to him. After this ‘millennium’ Satan would be released for a short period before the final judgement, for which all, both good and bad alike, would be raised and judged for their deeds. The vision is not intended to assert anything about a positive rule for a thousand years. Firstly, the Beast/dragon/Satan, who has ruled for three-and-a-half years (the time of radical incompletion) will be definitively put away for a thousand years (a definitively long period). It is a contrast between the temporary and the permanent. Secondly, the first victory, the first resurrection, is for the martyrs who have witnessed by their death; the second resurrection will – after a short struggle – be for all the saints. Then all will be judged by what they have done, by what is written in the book of life. The victory of the martyrs is already definitive in the first resurrection. Before the second and final resurrection the forces of evil will make a final and unsuccessful effort to win ‘the camp of the saints’ before being finally hurled into the lake of fire. Then the sea, the forces of chaos, will be emptied of its prey. When the martyrs and all who are written in the book of life have been vindicated, then will appear the New Jerusalem, the city of God.
In today's gospel passage, Jesus uses the small parable of the fig tree to explain the point that we must be prepared for his Second Coming, and the Last Judgment. The fig trees in Israel produce fruits twice a year, at Passover time and in autumn. The sign of the ripening of their fruits is the appearance of fresh leaves on the tree. The Jews believed that the Messiah would appear during the Passover period, which coincides with the appearance of fresh leaves on fig trees. The destruction of Jerusalem would be the end of their world for the Jews. So, the generation in AD 70 saw the end of the world symbolically.
Jesus in the gospel underlines the certainty of the parousia and the judgement thereafter. This also implies that it's he in his glory has been given the authority and power to judge the nation. He is in command and authority.
Dear friends, it's God who is in full command. He directs and guides the universe. We are invited today to acknowledge the sovereignty of God in our lives. The first reading asserts that those who have lived their lives or continue to live their lives acknowledging the sovereignty of God will be rewarded. The gospel passage of today specifies that Jesus is the judge who will judge all. Jesus bears the authority and power like the Son of Man in the vision of Daniel. If Jesus is given the supreme power and authority then it's our obligations to follow him in his teachings. It's by living according to his teachings we will be vendicated.
The readings of today also invite us to humble ourselves before God. They tell us that it's not we who control everything but God. God is the controller, hence our task should be to always acknowledge the supremacy of God in our lives and use our responsibilities as stewards who will have to give account to the master at the end.
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