By Francis Gonsalves, SJ –
33rd Sunday of the Year: Cycle B
Readings: Dan 12:1-3; Heb 10:11-14, 18; Mk 13:24-32
“There is going to be a time of great distress” (Dan)
Three Scriptural Signposts:
1. “There is going to be a time of great distress,” reads the book of Daniel. This ominous tone instils fear in the reader, who might find it difficult to understand today’s first and third readings, which contain ‘apocalyptic terminology’ or what we more commonly call ‘end-time language’.
The book of Daniel has vague historical references, but its main purpose is to point to the future. In other words, history will give way to eschatology (last ages) and deliverance will take the form of the resurrection.
Today’s passage is one of the earliest First Testament passages speaking about the resurrection. “Those who lie sleeping in the dust” refers to the dead since ‘sleep’ is a euphemism for death. The resurrection referred to, here, is a total transformation since the redeemed will “shine as bright as stars for all eternity.” Mention of “Michael, the great prince, the protector,” refers to Archangel Michael who guards us from the snares of the Evil One. There is use of poetic and symbolic language to convey a deep truth about death and resurrection.
2. The gospel passage from Mark, with a similar tone, begins with a series of cosmic events—sun darkened, moon fading, stars falling from heaven—to show that history will end and human beings will be judged by the “Son of Man”. This “Son of Man” language is taken from the book of Daniel with Jesus as the Great Judge at his Second Coming.
The apocalyptic language can create grave apprehension among believers. Most scholars agree that Mark wrote his Gospel for Christians living in and around Rome about 30 to 40 years after Jesus’ death. This was a time of political upheaval in Rome. Some Christians experienced persecutions by the Romans during the reign of the Emperor Nero (about 64 A.D.). Jewish revolutionaries rebelled against the Roman powers, which led the Romans to destroy the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. In this context of political turmoil and religious persecution, many in Mark’s community probably felt that the end-times foretold by Jesus were, indeed, quite near.
3. Jesus uses the fig tree as an illustration from Nature to exhort us to read the ‘signs of the times’ and the ‘signs of places’. Most of us—especially those close to nature residing in rural areas—are adept in reading the moods and rhythms of mother earth so as to foretell the coming of rain, strong winds, storms or drought. Why can’t we decipher contextual happenings around us and correlate them with God’s word in Scripture, in order to be prepared to welcome Jesus when he does, indeed, return?
Possible Link in the Second Reading:
The passage from the Letter to the Hebrews speaks about the centrality of Christ’s priestly, ‘eternal covenant’: “But this one [Christ, our High Priest,] offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God.” Jesus is the merciful judge who will invite us into his kingdom if we live in right relationship with God, with others—especially with the poor (Mt 25:31ff)—and with the earth. Christ is the firstborn who passed over from passion to death; and from death to glorious, eternal life.
Three Texts from Tradition:
The ‘Hail Mary’ – The “Pray for us, sinners, now, and at the hour of our death, Amen,” is the most consoling reassurance that Holy Mother, the Church, gives us that we have a Holy Mother, Mary, interceding for us. So, we needn’t be afraid of death if we live as her children.
St Aloysius Gonzaga (1568-91) – always asked himself: “What will this profit me for eternity?” before doing anything, so as to be always prepared for Christ’s Second Coming.
Pope Francis, commenting on the gospel says: “Our Lady asks for the conversion of our hearts. We must confess our sins, perform penance, receive Jesus Christ with a clean heart, and pray. We must serve as the light of Christ to others. When they see our light, they will be drawn towards us and their hearts will be converted too. The Holy Spirit is so powerful in the heart of a faithful Christian, that it will be irresistible. There will be no need to preach or to debate or fight, for the Holy Spirit will suffice. Let it be done according to thy will.”
Connection of the Readings with the Psalm:
Today’s psalm (16) expresses the believer’s trust and hope in God to deliver him/her from death and the grave. “You shall not leave my soul among the dead” does not refer to the resurrection as understood in the New Testament, but is used in the liturgy to highlight hope in the unique resurrection promised by Jesus alone.
Three Current Concerns to Consider:
Fundamentalist – On the one hand, Hindutva fundamentalists continue persecuting Christians in central India, particularly Uttar Pradesh. On the other hand, it’s not uncommon to meet fringe, fundamentalist Christians like the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Harvest Mandli members, who seem certain that the end is near. Interestingly, they seem cocksure about the cutoff ‘Last Judgment Date’ until it comes and goes; then, they fix another cataclysmic date for universal destruction. Let’s remember Jesus’ words: “But about that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” So, why fear? Trust in God, alone!
Rationalists – Biologist Richard Dawkins reduces faith to a form of irrationality, which he terms a ‘virus of the mind’ in his book ‘The God Delusion’. Such rationalists belittle Christian belief in the Second Coming since they feel that there is no God at all; so, there’s no coming or no going after death.
Realists – “Christ will come again,” is what we proclaim at every Eucharist. There is plenty of sin, evil, darkness and death around us. Our earthly life is so fragile and fleeting. My death could be very near. I must be prepared to meet the Lord whenever I am called. John Henry Newman wants us to remember three things: “life is short; death is certain; eternity is long”.
In Lighter Vein: A distressed youth was about to hang himself when his old neighbour entered his house. “What are you doing?” shouted the old man. “I’m committing suicide!” said the youth in desperation. “Well,” said the old man, “if you give me good reasons for committing suicide, I won’t stop you.” The youth complained tearfully about personal, familial, societal and global problems. Thereafter, the neighbour asked, “Have you got another rope?” Puzzled, the youth asked: Why?” The old man sighed, “That I might hang myself too!”
Let’s not add to the stress and distress around us; but let us rejoice and be glad. Christ lives!
Fr. Francis Gonsalves is a Gujarat Jesuit, former Principal of Vidyajyoti College, Delhi, and currently Dean of Theology at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune. He is also the Executive Secretary of the CCBI Commission for Theology and Doctrine. He has authored many books and articles and is a columnist with The Asian Age and The Deccan Chronicle national dailies.