Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Title

The Great Light that is Coming

Outline

I have been listening to two books:

Live Not By Lies by Rod Dreher and Perelandra by C. S. Lewis

The first tends to inspire fear and withdrawal and suspicion of others by an off-balanced socio-politico critique

The second tends to inspire hope and joy and trust despite having one of the darkest figures found in a novel

The difference is eschatology

Daniel points to hope in the midst of darkness

“At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people”

Even death itself cannot quench it: “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; Some to everlasting life”

There is eternal value in being among “those who lead the many to justice”

Hebrews lets us know that the decisive act is not something that may happen, but something that has happened

“this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; 13 now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated”

Notice that there is an ongoing process of “those who are being consecrated,” but it is based in history on what the one has already done, the one who already rules.

Jesus wraps it all into a breaking in of the timeless into time.

“the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory,” taken from Daniel is the rule of the Son of Man

It includes that “the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken” - the defeat and binding of the devil that happened in the death and resurrection of Jesus and indeed accompanied by cosmic signs

But it also includes “he will send out the angels and gather [his] elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.” That is, the gathering of his chosen into his Church, a process that in our view has been going on for almost 2000 years.

That is why, on the one hand, that Jesus can say, “this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.” They did indeed see it some from that generation later experienced the fall of Jerusalem as the old Temple fell away and only the new Temple, the body of Christ remained

And that is why, on the other hand, he can say, “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” That is, that it is beyond time, and inbreaking of the Divine into the darkened creation, the “timing” of which that within creation can only know in retrospect. We are always waiting for the fulness and we never know if it might not come today.

Sisters, Jesus says these things to constantly call us to watchfulness.

In my youth I thought I had been given “the day and the hour” for “the signs were fulfilled.” It did not then nor does it now lead to holiness of life and intimacy with Jesus. I was deceived.

Yet in reading works like the first I mentioned that engender fear and often seem to align with one side of the this-worldly political debate I also do not see the fruit of faith, hope, and love, including love of one’s enemies.

It is only when we grasp that the deed has been done, that Satan, flopping around in his death throws can do damage in his death throws but it is that of death throws, and that we are being gathered in in a type of mopping up operation that death itself cannot thwart that we can face life and death with confidence and courage, like St Martin of Tours and so many others

We do not know when the “gathering” operation will be finished - and we will not know - but “the day and the hour” will come and blessed will we be if it catches us at work doing the will of God.

Perelandra ends with pean of praise to God in the context of a great cosmic dance revolving around the One. That is the vision that wipes away darkness and fear and makes continued sacrificial action in the work of God already a joy. I finished the book as I finish Daniel and Revelation and these words of Jesus - with tears, with tears of hope and joy. Blessed be God.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 11-14-2021: Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Daniel 12:1–3

1 “At that time there shall arise Michael,

the great prince,

guardian of your people;

It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress

since the nation began until that time.

At that time your people shall escape,

everyone who is found written in the book.

2 Many of those who sleep

in the dust of the earth shall awake;

Some to everlasting life,

others to reproach and everlasting disgrace.

3 But those with insight shall shine brightly

like the splendor of the firmament,

And those who lead the many to justice

shall be like the stars forever.

Catholic Daily Readings 11-14-2021: Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 16:1

1 A miktam of David.

Keep me safe, O God;

in you I take refuge.

PSALM

Psalm 16:5, 8–11

5 LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,

you have made my destiny secure.

8 I keep the LORD always before me;

with him at my right hand, I shall never be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, my soul rejoices;

my body also dwells secure,

10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

nor let your devout one see the pit.

11 You will show me the path to life,

abounding joy in your presence,

the delights at your right hand forever.

Catholic Daily Readings 11-14-2021: Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

SECOND READING

Hebrews 10:11–14, 18

11 Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; 13 now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.

18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.

Catholic Daily Readings 11-14-2021: Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Luke 21:36

36 Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

GOSPEL

Mark 13:24–32

24 “But in those days after that tribulation

the sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not give its light,

25 and the stars will be falling from the sky,

and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

26  And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, 27 and then he will send out the angels and gather [his] elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.

28 “Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. 30 Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

32 “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 11-14-2021: Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2021 | ORDINARY TIME

THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR B | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Daniel 12:1–3

Response Psalm 16:1

Psalm Psalm 16:5, 8–11

Second Reading Hebrews 10:11–14, 18

Gospel Acclamation Luke 21:36

Gospel Mark 13:24–32

GREEN