Mass Readings for 26.11.11
Daniel 7:15-27
Luke 21:34-36
The first reading refers to the various persecutions the Jews suffered under different Kings and finally that of Antiochus Ephiphanes IV who desecrated the Jerusalem Temple.The Jews were thoroughly scandalized and concluded that their God Yahweh had deserted them. In this seemingly hopeless situation Daniel assures his dejected people that the Messiah and Savior will finally arrive to defeat the enemies of the Jews,.Considering that these words were written in the midst of persecution and before the successful revolt of the Maccabees, they represent a great spirit of hope and confidence in the outcome and in God’s protection. Nor were they to be disappointed. The evil Antiochus who led many Jews to apostasy did indeed fall.
Later Jesus will come and inaugurate the kingdom which begins with him and will last forever. This is a kingdom of which we, too, sincerely hope to be a part. This messianic vision was one which the author Daniel never saw realised himself. We now have our Messiah-King in Jesus Christ. He is the “Son of Man” who now sits at the right hand of the “Ancient One”, the Father. And, as the reading predicts, we share in Christ’s kingship. Through our baptism we become, with Christ and in Christ, priest, prophet and king. They are three titles which we must take seriously and has to be actively realized in the lives of every single Christian.
Because, as has been said here more than once before, the guarantee of our future is depends on how we perform in the present, and how we respond to the call of our King.This is the principal lesson learnt as we arrive at the end of this liturgical year.
And, so it is on this confident note of hope and expectancy, which has been fulfilled in the person of Jesus in his incarnation, that we come to the end of our Scripture readings for this year. and hopefully look forward to fully participate in God's kingdom with resurrection bodies when Christ returns to reign at the close of ages. With today the Church's liturgical year ends and a new year commences tomorrow with the First Sunday of Advent.The promised Messiah who is going to wipe away all our tears is soon to be born in our hearts on Christmas Day. Let us now prepare our hearts for his joyous arrival !
Later Jesus will come and inaugurate the kingdom which begins with him and will last forever. This is a kingdom of which we, too, sincerely hope to be a part. This messianic vision was one which the author Daniel never saw realised himself. We now have our Messiah-King in Jesus Christ. He is the “Son of Man” who now sits at the right hand of the “Ancient One”, the Father. And, as the reading predicts, we share in Christ’s kingship. Through our baptism we become, with Christ and in Christ, priest, prophet and king. They are three titles which we must take seriously and has to be actively realized in the lives of every single Christian.
Because, as has been said here more than once before, the guarantee of our future is depends on how we perform in the present, and how we respond to the call of our King.This is the principal lesson learnt as we arrive at the end of this liturgical year.
And, so it is on this confident note of hope and expectancy, which has been fulfilled in the person of Jesus in his incarnation, that we come to the end of our Scripture readings for this year. and hopefully look forward to fully participate in God's kingdom with resurrection bodies when Christ returns to reign at the close of ages. With today the Church's liturgical year ends and a new year commences tomorrow with the First Sunday of Advent.The promised Messiah who is going to wipe away all our tears is soon to be born in our hearts on Christmas Day. Let us now prepare our hearts for his joyous arrival !
God Bless
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