Sunday Gospel Comment
Alberic Jacovone OSB
YEAR B THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY - 19.11.06 Dan 12,1-3; Hb 10,11-14.18; Mk 13,24-32 How at hand is the end? The
last enduring lesson in Jesus’ classroom. We are
at the last lesson, which Mark’s Gospel gives through its unique, concentric
lesson plan. We are still in the greatest class-room, the magnificent Temple of
Jerusalem, where Jesus delivers his farewell speech, before he goes away to
return to his Father. At this point, Bible scholars warn us that Mark introduces
a literary form, not as yet used in his Gospel: it is called ‘apocalyptic’
literature & is packed with warnings about end of time - signs
of the times - ‘day of the
Lord’& destructive wars. In an exalted, evocative style, Jesus’ gives
his farewell speech, while Mark uses this same style, to express consternation
at the immense destruction caused by the Roman armies, during the Jewish War
from year 66 to 70AD. This type of literature has fired the imagination of
millions, not just in early Christian times, but in every age. Tragically, the
fear of “time ending” has impelled Christians of all persuasions
to split & disagree with each other, on meanings & aspects of
“the end is at hand!”. For centuries, believers from Reformation &
Counter-Reformation have lashed at each other, in their determination to fight
Anti-Christ (pope) or idols (statues), heretics or witches. At every world shattering event, & even today, we‘ve had our share
of prophets or visionaries, who’ve proclaimed the imminent end of the world in
all its doom & gloom. It’s little wonder that Jesus is concerned that his
immediate disciples and we the disciples of all times, understand correctly
something of the end of times. However, we Christians have failed to understand
the signs of the times & have responded & reacted with deep emotions,
amazing ferment, fiery imagination & fomenting rebellion & terrorism. We
live in joyful expectation. Apocalyptic language has its own logic & ‘poetics’. It is
a commonly accepted style that aims at expressing in lyrical form
concepts that sound strange to our modern, pragmatic mind-set. In no way should
we perceive this language in a literal or scientific sense. Instead we should
concentrate on the general message which is conveyed through exalted concepts,
& urges us to live our Christian life in joyful anticipation of Jesus’
coming. Which is just another way of saying that we must not be afraid to come
to the end of our earthly life as individuals, since in the overall flow of
human existence & human history, our real home is in heaven. This one thing
is certain: only God is eternal; we -one by one as indeed the universe-, are in
constant change: we all start & finish. Jesus makes it clear to us that only
God knows when our ‘end’ will come: but it will certainly come & it is
always at hand, since in the span of a few years, we are all called to our
reward. The fact that the Lord will come again at the end of time, adds nothing
to our conviction that we should live in joyful expectation for the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ; we already live in his joyful presence, before &
after we close our eyes to the scene of this world. Of one thing Our Lord wants
us to be sure: that he is with us, everyday throughout our short individual
lives. & as far as human history is concerned, he is with humankind until
the end of time. Apocalyptic literature is not meant to worry us about
“upevils at the end”, since -as long as we persevere in our faith- the
Lord’s coming will be a time of great joy, not fear. The conviction that the
Lord is always with us, will make us even happier when the Lord gathers us from
all the ends of the world. All we must do now, is spread the ‘good news’,
live in joyful anticipation of the time when God will be all in all: then his
loving plan for us will be fully realized. _____________________________________ |
