A Preview of Things to Come
Nov. 17: Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Book of Daniel is one of the “newest” books of the Old Testament, written less than 200 years before the birth of Jesus. It’s an apocalyptic book, meaning it’s concerned with the end of the world.
That’s what Jesus talks about in today’s Gospel, too. It’s a helpful reminder that Christianity isn’t just about doing good works (although that’s vitally important, and the second greatest commandment). It’s about Jesus teaching us about our final destination, the ultimate goal, what this is all for.
Reading I
Dn 12:1-3
In those days, I Daniel, heard this word of the Lord: "At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book.
“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.
“But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever."
To be perfectly clear, Daniel is talking about literal, bodily resurrection here. As I said in the introduction, this was written only a few generations before Jesus. Not that long, in God’s time.
God’s plan was to prepare Israel for the coming of the Christ, so that Christ could then redeem the world. The Book of Daniel helps develop Jewish understanding about the afterlife, and what will happen to everyone at the end of time.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11
R. (1) You are my inheritance, O Lord!
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
This Psalm was written long before Daniel, but you can see how it foreshadows the apocalyptic writing. It’s not clear whether the psalmist means God will extend his life, or if he’s referring to God’s salvation after death. These ideas developed over time, as the people became ready to hear them.
We, as Christians, believe God was preparing us for Jesus’ death and resurrection for centuries beforehand.
Reading II
Heb 10:11-14, 18
Brothers and sisters: Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.
Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.
An animal sacrifice, giving up a portion of our worldly goods, is necessarily an imperfect sacrifice. Only a perfect human being, like Jesus, who gives up His whole life, can offer a perfect sacrifice.
What we’re able to do now is participate in that sacrifice in the Holy Mass. Jesus allows to do what we can’t do for ourselves.
Alleluia
Lk 21:36
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We can’t know when the end will come, so we always must be ready for it.
Gospel
Mk 13:24-32
Jesus said to his disciples: "In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
"And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds' with great power and glory, 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.
"Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
"But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
Taken out of context, it might appear that Jesus is describing the end of the world. That obviously can’t be true, since the world continued after the first generation of Christians passed away.
Earlier in this same chapter, Jesus tells the disciples that the Temple will be destroyed (by the Romans), which did happen in 70AD. That’s the “tribulation” Jesus says they’ll face.
In the verse referring to “the Son of Man coming in the clouds,” Jesus is quoting a passage from Daniel.1 In that book, the Son of Man is facing God in Heaven, which Jesus does after His death, but before the Resurrection.
We’ll all have to face God some day, whether it’s at the end of time or just the end of our own time. But we don’t know when that will be, so we have to always be ready.