34th Friday in Ordinary Time, December 1, 2023
Dn 7:2-14, Dn 3:75-81, Lk21:29-33
Recently, there has been much talk surrounding the “end times.” With all that has or is happening in the world, many people, good Christian people, in fact, are all wondering if the “end times” are near. Well, they are sort of correct. We are now at the second to the last day of the church year, our “end times” so to speak. It is where the Church talks a lot about what happens when OUR end is near. Not necessarily the end of the world, but the message is about our end times. It is what we should think about as our own life nears its end. I wrote the below reflection two years ago, and I do think it is still appropriate today. While we are all worried about what is going on in the world, I do not believe we are at the “end times” many are thinking about. Let us now step “back in time” so to speak and reflect on the message we really should be hearing today.
The apocalyptic writing style of the Book of Daniel was very popular during the time it was written. And it mirrors perfectly 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 are based on facts, prophecy, and myth, but both tell a great story. Today, as we near the end of the Church year, we have the great prophecy of Daniel proclaiming the coming of the Savior. In the apocalyptic style, he paints a picture of wanton destruction of the world, 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 prophecy 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. And then watch Him fulfill the prophecy of Daniel by destroying that chasm of sin and death that separates 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.” Yes, we are at the “end times.” We are at the end of the time we suffer from the effects of sin and death. It is time we turn our minds to reflect on the birth of our Savior, the One who can overcome all. Begin Advent then next week, with the attitude of new life, and let our faith blossom in us like a new leaf on the fig tree.
Saint James Catholic Church 