Pray That You Have the Strength

Pray That You Have the Strength

Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

But when the court is convened, and his power is taken away by final and absolute destruction, then the kingship and dominion and majesty of all the kingdoms under the heavens shall be given to the holy people of the Most High, Whose Kingdom shall be everlasting: all dominions shall serve and obey him."  Daniel 5:26-28

"Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man."  Luke 21:34-36

Piety

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever and ever in the next.  Amen.

(Attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr, 1892-1971)

Study

Despite the doom and gloom of Daniel’s vision of the beast at war with the saints, in the end, Daniel sees what we may never see: the joyful end of the story -- God's kingdom prevailing over Satan. 

Jesus promises us that the Kingdom of light, holiness, and love rules. Last Sunday, in the reading from Matthew 25, Christ directly addressed what will happen on the Judgment Day when those who cared for each other would get eternal life and those who did not would be condemned. Today, as the week and the liturgical year conclude, we are given one final, fiery vision of the end times.  If the carrot (“supremely happy life with God forever and ever”) is not enough motivation to fulfill the manifesto of Matthew 25, then perhaps fear of the stick (“final and absolute destruction”) may be the motivator.

As we turn to Luke’s message on this New (Liturgical) Year’s Eve finale, we are once again amazed at how his message complements the reading from Daniel and from last Sunday.  Don’t let daily life get in the way of helping your sisters and brothers.  Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil to build the Kingdom on earth.

Right before this exhortation, though, Jesus realizes that his followers probably cannot fully comprehend the sweeping images and messages of the final judgment. Signs of the End.  The Coming Persecution.  The Great Tribulation. The Second Coming of the Son of Man.  Remember, their ancient life on earth has not been an air-conditioned limousine ride.  They may get a sense of fear and dread but they get that every day avoiding the belligerent Roman army.

Instead, just before this final warning, Colleen’s reflection yesterday reminded us that Jesus presented to them the hope-filled, pastoral image of a fruit-filled blooming fig tree in the summer.

“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.” (Luke 21:29-31)

Jesus also knows that his “final days” are about to come.  He has entered Jerusalem and will face his great persecution and tribulation on our behalf. His court will be convened.  He will stand before the authorities. He will pray that he has the servant-strength to take this cup.

He has tried to prepare his followers for both.

Action

As our nights continue to lengthen for a few more weeks, the darkness of the season weighs heavily on our psyche just like the darkness of the beast in Daniel’s vision does. Yet right before Christmas, we will pass the Winter Solstice and our daylight hours begin to lengthen and lighten once again.

Let us remember our Cursillo brothers and sisters who have experienced their “final days” in 2017 as they moved on to the Cloud of Witnesses. Tomorrow, Advent begins and another cycle of light and life is upon us.  Are you ready?  Let us begin…again.