November 26, 2015
Thursday34th Week in
Ordinary Time
1st reading: Dn 6:11-28
Gospel: Lk 21:20–28
Jesus said to his disciples, “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you must know that the time has come when it will be reduced to a wasteland. Then, if you are in Judea, flee to the mountains; if you are in the city, leave it; and let those who are in the fields not return to the city. “For these will be the days of its punishment and all that was announced in the Scripture will be fulfilled.
How hard will it be for pregnant women and for mothers with babies at the breast! For a great calamity will come upon the land, and divine justice upon this people. They will be put to death by the sword or taken as slaves to other nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled upon by the pagans until the time of the pagans is fulfilled. “Then there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of perplexed nations when they hear the roaring of the sea and its waves. People will faint with fear at the mere thought of what is to come upon the world, for the forces of the universe will be shaken. And at this time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. “Now, when you see the first events, stand erect and lift up your heads, for your deliverance is drawing near.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the
Assimilated Life
Experience)
Like other bible passages talking about looming calamities, today’s Gospel should not be taken literally. The choice of Gospel readings is thematic. That we are ending the Liturgical Calendar this week explains why we have “end-of-times” readings these days. But in light of our worsening environmental condition, reflection on the possible destruction of Mother Earth is in order if only to awaken us to the need to prepare.
Updates of the ailing environment have taken up valuable space in our newspapers. Have you heard of glaciers as big as 150 meters long and 30 meters high drifting on the ocean? These were never seen in the last 75 years. About six years ago Yahoo reported that Rodney Russ, expedition leader on the tourist ship Spirit of Enderby spotted one iceberg of such size heading towards New Zealand. That was six years ago. We have learned to consider similar things happening in recent years as the “new normal”.
If we feel at the mercy of the fate of our environment, let us not forget that we are also at the mercy of our finite nature. If the end of the world alarms us, our death should overwhelm us. This is not about being alarmist. This is about being prepared. Forewarned is forearmed! – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: dan.delosangeles@gmail.com. Website: www.frdan.org.
May comment ka ba sa column ni Father Dan? May tanong ka ba sa kanya? I-type ang BANDERA REACT <message/ name/age/address> at i-send sa 4467