Santhiya Philomone csc –
Readings: Rev 18:1-2, 21-23, 19:1-3,9a; Lk 21: 20-28
In today’s Gospel Jesus is prophesying to his disciples about two events, the destruction of Jerusalem (AD70) and the seconding coming of Christ, as the signs of these events like…, war, vengeance, destruction and so forth. This Gospel in a way may frighten us on the other hand, we see Jesus speaking about his second coming which will consoles and give hope.
As we are the disciples and loyal followers of Jesus, this Gospel tells us it is a time to “stand up straight and raise our heads, for the redemption is near at hand”. As we saw in yesterday’s Gospel, sufferings and tribulations are part and parcel of Christian life.
It is for those who have tried to live by the vision and values of the Gospel, for those who have tried to seek and find Jesus in all the people and events of their lives, who have spent hours with him in intimate dialogue, it is the time of their final liberation.
It is a time when there will be no more sorrows, no more tears, no more hardships, no more disappointments. Rather, they will be entering an unbroken time of love and intimacy, of freedom and peace, of joy and consolation.
We pray for the inner peace that comes from the confidence that God’s saving presence is at work in the world, in our life, as we approach the ultimate coming of Jesus.