November 17, 2024
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Today’s readings are the type which are very difficult to interpret and understand. They are from a genre known as apocalyptic literature, named for the word “apocalypse,” which means “revelation.” They are concerned with the events of the future and last things such as death, resurrection, judgment, and the afterlife. At first the themes between the two readings today seem identical, but of course we find some extra words of wisdom from Jesus in the Gospel.
The First Reading is from the book of Daniel (Dan. 12:1-3). It is named for its protagonist, Daniel who was among the Israelites deported into exile at the time of the Babylonian invasion. The first part of the book deals with the many hardships of Daniel and his companions during their captivity in Babylon while the second part of the book deals with imagery and symbolism pertinent to the end times. These passages were written to offer hope to a people who had been under the tyranny and control of a number of nations far mightier than they and to guarantee the promise of deliverance.
Among the promises of God delivered by Daniel is the arrival of a representative, a messiah known as the Son of Man who is a divine figure specifically chosen by God to bring salvation to Israel, and all the world. The book assures that the earthly kingdoms will be eradicated and replaced by the kingdom of God to accompany the arrival of this messiah. Daniel reports the vision that he has of this event: “I saw coming with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man. When he reached the Ancient of Days and was presented before him, He received dominion, splendor, and kingship; all nations, peoples and tongues will serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, his kingship, one that shall not be destroyed.” (Dan. 7:13-14).
The arrival of the Son of Man in the book of Daniel is said to occur at a critical time and mark the special event we find in the First Reading. In the vision, Daniel sees Michael, the leader of the angels arrive during a great tribulation which will include a time of judgment and the resurrection of those who have died. It is said that “those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake” (Dan. 12:2) and succumb to one of two fates. The wise, those faithful to God, shall shine brightly like stars, while others will be subject to horror and disgrace, what we might consider damnation.
In the Gospel (Mk. 13:24-32) Jesus also speaks of a similar time of tribulation. The scene takes place a few days before the crucifixion and the disciples have commented about the beauty and glory of the Temple. But Jesus predicts to them the destruction of the Temple along with a number of other tribulations – wars, dissension among families, persecutions, and the arrival of false messiahs. Finally, he tells them what the end of time will look like: “In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” (MK. 13:24-26).
Jesus then predicts the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy – the arrival of the Son of Man, who of course is Jesus himself, for it is a term he uses numerous times throughout the Gospels to refer to himself. He describes his arrival just as it is written in the book of Daniel, “the Son of Man coming in the clouds” (Mk. 13:26) and he says he will send his angels to gather his “elect,” Christians faithful to the Gospel, from the four corners of the earth.
The timing of this event as described by Jesus is very unclear. He seems to indicate that it will be a predictable timetable, the same as the expected blooming of a fig tree in the spring. And the message to the audience of Mark’s Gospel, who were being persecuted by the Romans, indicates that it will occur before their generation passes away, which of course did not happen. This was a way of offering solace to those being persecuted.
Yet, Jesus warns of the need for watchfulness because no one knows the day or the hour that it will happen – not the angels in heaven, nor Jesus himself, but only the Father. This verse often causes confusion for readers. How is it possible that Jesus, in his divinity, would not know the timing of this event? But one must remember that when Jesus was in his physical body on earth, a man like any other, he did not have the omniscient, all-knowing capability of the Father. This would have only happened after his Resurrection when he was brought into his glory. St. Paul explains it plainly, Jesus, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:6–7).
However, with all of this ambiguity there is one thing that we can hold for certain from the words of Jesus. Something which is very reassuring. The tribulation will come and along with it hardships and violence. The corruption of the earth will cease to exist, and unknown fates will strike those still alive at the time. While those who have died will face their final judgment. But Christ makes one very important promise, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Mk. 13:31).
St. John tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (Jn. 1:1-6).
Jesus, the Word was with God from the very beginning and his words will not pass away. The light of his life will always overshadow the darkness. God will destroy the corrupted heaven and earth and create a new place for His followers to live. And those who believe in his word will live in everlasting light.
