The End is Our Consolation (Saturday, Week 34, Year 2)

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Introduction

This time around, we have profusely read from the Book of Revelation and from the Gospel of Luke. In the main, some of the descriptions of what would happen at last have been very scary and frightening; and at the same time very consoling for those who will remain faithful till the end. May God give us special grace and resolute courage to endure till the inauguration of the new kingdom! Yes, we will be saved; but it would be “like someone escaping from flames” (1 Cor. 3:15).

The mere remembrance of success and things that follow it should inspire a student to work harder, to go through the ordeals of rigorous studies. The hope of hitting the shores should encourage the captain of a ship to keep on moving despite the storms and tempests of the sea. The reality of the night giving way to the day dispels every fear of darkness and makes us sleep in peace, not in trepidation. We are most privileged to read from the last part of the Book of Revelation (22:1-7) and from one of the last chapters of Luke (21:34-36). Today, being Saturday, is the last day of the Church’s Year. Tomorrow, we begin a New Year in the Church (Year B or Year 1). What is this special message for you and me from the final parts of the Book of Revelation and the Gospel of Luke on this last day of the year? 


The Content and Context of the First Reading (Rev. 22:1-7)

In the first reading, John saw another vision of that new world: a world in which everything will be beautiful, radiant and good; a world that will be free of any form of darkness, for God will be its constant and undying light (cf. Rev. 22:5). Of course, this vision of the future freedom, glory and beauty gave new hope to the persecuted Christians in the ancient Roman Empire for whom the Book of Revelation was primarily written. They saw more reasons to continue to endure their pains as they bore witness to Christ.  


The Content of the Gospel Reading (Luke 21:34-36)

In the gospel, the words of Jesus to His disciples are: WATCH and PRAY. Having exposed to them how turbulent the times would be, Jesus must have seen the fear-stricken faces of His disciples who may have been deeply disturbed by the awful descriptions of what would happen. On the other hand, Jesus must have foreseen the possibility of the disciples altogether forgetting about what would happen in future or the possibility of losing hope or doing nothing or being stuck in present events and cares of life. That is why He says, “Take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare” (Luke 21:34). Therefore, WATCH and PRAY (cf. Luke 21:36)! 


How do the two readings apply to me/us?

The readings call us to endure, to be awake, to watch and pray, to look into the future and be consoled. Why can’t we look beyond all these present pains and strains and see the gains that await us in future? If the words of Christ are anything to go by, we should be more consoled to hear Him say to us (in Luke 21:28) that we should continue to look up and raise our heads, ever jubilant and happy “because our redemption is drawing near”. Prophet Daniel (7:15-27) tells us in his vision that at last a new kingdom will emerge: a kingdom stronger and mightier than the earthly kingdoms of darkness, of backwardness, of political oppression, of moral pollution, and so on.

As we await this new kingdom, our attitude should be attitude of patience, not just mere patience, but an active kind of patience: which can be better described as “endurance” (that special ability or power to bear prolonged exertion, pain or hardship; that special persistence that stands the ravages of time). If a student lacks this ability (endurance), he or she will give up. Success never waits for quitters; rather, it awaits those who persist, who endure despite the storms and pains. The smaller picture we see is that of pain and disappointments. Let us activate our faith binoculars and see the BIGGER PICTURE with striking and more enduring features and colors of exquisite beauty! 




Prayer

May we all continue to pray for this attitude and for the grace to continue to accommodate such an attitude if we develop it! The keywords are Watch and Pray: let us WATCH at all times, PRAYING that we may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place; and to stand before the Son of man” when he comes. 


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