Dan12:1-3; He: 10:11-14.18; Mk 13:24-32
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We are at towards the end of the liturgical year. The Church leads us into an apocalyptic-end of the world. It is marked by terrible endings that people will suffer in personal lives and a disastrous end.
Questions and concerns about the end of the world abound in our day as they have been throughout the past. In today’s Gospel account Jesus shares with the disciples His vision about the events of the end of the world. He is about to enter into the days of His suffering and death in Jerusalem. Their world is about to crash down around them. So, Jesus is preparing the disciples to face that terrible moment, when he will not be any more with them. He uses the apocalyptic language. He speaks of future tribulations for the city and temple of Jerusalem and the eventual coming of the Son of man. The apocalyptic language used by the prophet Daniel and Jesus is not meant to frighten or scare us.
The book of Daniel has four apocalypses. He wrote his book to encourage the faithful who were going through a hard time, during the persecution of a King called Antiochus Epiphanes. This King wanted to crush the Jewish Religion. In today’s first reading, Daniel gives hope to his people. He wants to encourage them to remain faithful in the midst of persecution and terrible suffering. He says: When that time of persecution comes, your own people will be spared. You will be protected by the Archangel Michael. God will protect you. God will spare you. Those who remain faithful will be given new life after. “Those who lie sleeping in the dust of the earth, many will awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting disgrace. Those who have remained faithful will awake to everlasting life”, “they will shine as bright as stars for all eternity.”
We might not experience the apocalyptic time as described in the book of Daniel or in the Gospels, probably we will never experience these events with such intensity, but we sometimes experience dramatic moments or events in our lives. The question is how do we respond in the midst of troublesome events in our lives? Do we cling steadfast to our faith in God who saves, who protects, who cares? Do we rely on a God who gives hope and strength in times of distress and trouble? We all know how vulnerable we are when we are in deep troubles. Our faith is easily shaken. The problem is not about the apocalyptic events in our lives! The question is how do we respond to God in times of trouble and distress. It is in times like these that we need somebody like Daniel to tell us: When times come you will be spared.
What Daniel says is true. Just look back at one of the terrible events in your life. And ask yourself, how did you manage to go through that terrible event? A sickness, an accident, a loss of a dear one! Probably you might say: Yes I was nearly crushed down, but today I am strong, and I am alive. You will probably realize, and this comes afterwards, that if it were not because of God, you would not have managed to cope with whatever situation it was. I can testify to this, in my personal life. And I am always grateful to God who made me climb steep mountains and cross dangerous rivers! Yes, God is always there to support us, when we need him. We can rely on him.
We Christians have an advantage that many people do not have. When things seem to fall apart and world around us crumbling, we have the advantage of hope. Our hope is based on what Jesus Christ has done for us, not only in the distant past but also in our own personal lives. When we stand back and look at the big picture and see human life in Christ’s way of seeing things, we can see that God is continually bringing good out of evil, meaning out of absurdity, order out of chaos, and life out of death. Only those who have hope can see beyond the tragic events of life, and say beyond this there is life.
We have seen that the apocalyptic images are not meant to scare us or to frighten us. They are meant to be a source of courage and hope. With the image of the fig tree Jesus tells us: watch the signs of the times and behave accordingly. This is where we are all concerned. It is a strong message to all. The current political trend in Africa is worrying.
To our politicians, to our military and police, to our youth, to all different gangs here and there, to different religious fanatics, and especially our media people: Read the signs of times! Watch the way you behave! If we want to achieve peace and stability in Africa we must watch and act accordingly and responsibly. The same message is addressed to our families and to each individual. As Christians, we are a people full of hope. We know that we shall overcome everything in Jesus, who conquered evil and death. So let us not be crushed by the events of life but be strong in the Lord. There is light at the end of the tunnel..
Have a blessed Sunday.
Fr. Maganya H. Innocent, M.Afr
IEM-Kenya Chairperson
