Take Heart

Daniel 12:1-3
St. Mark 13:24-32

I normally try to tie together the lessons, place the Gospel in its context, and give a degree of theological insight. But this morning I woke up and checked the news, and I read about "wars and rumors of wars," (Mt. 24:6), and dire warnings about political and ecological disaster. By the time I came to the Gospel I was already tired and pretty down.

So I took great comfort in reading that after after the sun is darkened and the stars fall from heaven, then the Son of Man will come on the clouds with power and glory (Mk. 13:24-26). All of this trouble is only temporary, and after the time of distress, those who sleep in the dust will arise, and those who have instructed many in virtue will shine as brightly as stars forever (Dan. 12:2-3).


At top,
Mosaic of the saints gathering to the New Jerusalem
Basilica of Santa Prassede. circ. 824

 So I am encouraged to persevere. To try to be one of Daniel's "teachers of virtue," or Christ's "those who endure to the end (Mt. 24:13). As Christians we should remain firm in virtue even when it seems that there is no purpose. We should be courageous in the face of certain destruction, because we know that if this tent in which we dwell is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens (II Cor. 5:1-2). So we should have no fear of being generous no matter what it costs us.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Leper of Christ: Reflection on the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Image
Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46 I Corinthians 10:31-11:1 St. Mark 1:40-45 By: Matthew David Wiseman Leprosy is usually associated with what is called Hansen's Disease, and not without some reason. Both are highly contagious skin infections which have traditionally excluded people from society. However, even a cursory reading of today's lection from Leviticus makes it clear that the biblical leprosy is not the same as Hansen's Disease. There is no deformation of fingers and toes here, and the lesions are rather different from Hansen's. The truth is that there is no clear disease or pathology which these chapters of Leviticus describe. In fact, some Jewish commentators conclude from this that there is no such disease, but rather that leprosy was a special curse from God. Ikon of Christ cleansing the leper All of this only contributes to the strangeness of what is already, for modern readers, a very strange story in St. Mark chapter 1. In our socially conscious, ev
Read more

How good and pleasant it is: the mission of our community

Image
 Dear readers, We have been working on our constitution and canons as we are able for several months now, and while we are still having conversations with trusted advisors and mentors about them, we have decided that it is a good time to publish a draft of our founding principles in order to get feedback. Please note that this document is not final. The purpose of publishing it at this point is to hear more perspectives as we continue to refine our vision. Any insight or wisdom that you have to share with us is appreciated, and we will take it under prayerful consideration. In the name of Christ, The Fellowship of St. Columbanus Constitution and Mission: Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Ps. 133:1) So begins the one hundred and thirty-third psalm in the Authorized Version. It is the purpose of this community to embody this blessing by the communion of lay oblates (and hopefully one day also consecrated members),
Read more

The Resurrection of the Lord - Hail thee, festival Day!

Image
The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!  Surrexit Dominus vere, Alleluia!  (Source: Unidentified)  Excerpt from an Easter Oration of Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, also known as "the Theologian", Archbishop of Constantinople (329-390 AD) Yesterday the Lamb was slain and the door-posts were anointed (cf. Exodus 12) and Egypt bewailed her firstborn, and the Destroyer passed us over, and the Seal was dreadful and reverend, and we were walled in with the Precious Blood.  To-day we have clean escaped from Egypt and from Pharaoh; and there is none to hinder us from keeping a Feast to the Lord our God—the Feast of our Departure; or from celebrating that Feast, not in the old leaven of malice and wickedness, but in the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (cf. 1 Corinthian 5: 8), carrying with us nothing of ungodly and Egyptian leaven. Yesterday I was crucified with Him; today I am glorified with Him; yesterday I died with Him; to-day I am quickened with Him; yeste
Read more