25 November 2014 Tuesday of the Thirty-fourth week in Ordinary Time Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 21:5-11. While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, All that you see here--the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down. Then they asked him, Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen? He answered, See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, I am he, and The time has come. Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end. Then he said to them, Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky. “Great signs in heaven” The Lord who was lifted up in the clouds will come from heaven on the clouds (Acts 1,9). Indeed, it was he who said: “And they will see the Son of Man coming upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory”, (Mt 24,30). But what will the true sign of his coming be, for fear that the powers of our enemies dare to deceive us by simulating them? “And then the sign of the Son of Man,” he said, “will appear in heaven,” (Mt 24,30). Now, the true and distinctive sign of Christ is the cross. The sign of a shining cross goes before the king designating the one who had first of all been crucified so that those who beforehand had pierced him with nails and surrounded him with snares might beat their breasts at this sight (Zec 12,10), saying: “Behold him who was buffeted, whose face was spat upon, the one who was bound with chains, who in times past was humbled on the cross.” “Where shall we flee from the face of your anger?” they will say. And, surrounded by the angelic hosts, they will find no hiding place anywhere, (cf Rv 6,16-17). Fear will be the sign where enemies of the cross are concerned; but joy for its friends, who have believed in, preached or suffered for it. Who will then have the happiness of being found a friend of Christ? This glorious king, whom a guard of angels surrounds and who sits on the same throne as his Father, will not shun his servants (Rv 3,21). So that the elect are not confused with his enemies, “he will send out his angels with a trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds,” (Mt 24,31). He did not forget Lot in his isolation (cf. Gn 19,15; Lk 17,28); how could he forget the great multitude of the just? “Come, you who are blessed by my Father,” (Mt 25,34) is what he is going to say to those who will be carried off on chariots of cloud and whom the angels will gather together.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 00:19:50 +0000
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