Deacon Stu Dobson’s Reflection 11-26-21

Deacon Stu Dobson’s Reflections
34^th Friday in Ordinary Time, November 26, 2021
Dn 7:2-14, Dn 3:75-81, Lk 21:29-33

The apocalyptic writing style of the book of Daniel was very popular during the time it was written, and it mirrors perfectly with the writing style of the book of Revelations. The style was used to grab people’s attention and shock them into a message, much like our modern-day movies about fantasy and the Middle Ages do. Both based on facts, prophesy, and myth, but both tell a great story. Today, as we near the end of the Church year, we have the great prophesy of Daniel proclaiming the coming of the savior. In the apocalyptic style, he paints a picture of wanton destruction of the world, but with a savior who swoops in and saves them all.  “One like a son of man coming on the clouds of heaven,” Daniel proclaims.      “His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.” A perfect prophesy for the end of our Church year proclaiming the coming of our Savior, Jesus. 

It is also kind of funny that we have a teaching from Jesus talking about springtime as we approach winter. But it does make sense. Next week we enter into Advent where we take the time to ponder our lives and seek repentance. We seek our Savior who is about to reveal Himself as a child, a meek little baby in the manger who has just bloomed. Like the bud on the fig tree, Jesus has blossomed and will spring forth heralding the kingdom of God. 

Let us take some time in the coming weeks to ponder these two images, the one of a King whose dominion will last forever, and the one of a Savior, blooming right in front of our eyes. Imagine that little child growing into Jesus right before our eyes. And then watch him fulfill the prophesy of Daniel by destroying that chasm of sin and death that separate us from God and re-uniting us back to Him. Oh,how we cannot help but praise God like the responsorial psalm does, “Give glory and eternal praise to him, praise and exalt him above all forever.”