November 28, 2009
Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
He shall speak against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High, thinking to change the feast days and the law. They shall be handed over to him for a year, two years, and a half-year. 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 7:25-27
"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
Piety
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will.
All I have and call my own. Whatever I have or hold, you have given me.
I return it all to you and surrender it wholly to be governed by your will.
Give me only your love and your grace and I am rich enough and ask for nothing more.
(St. Ignatius, from the end of the Spiritual Exercises)
Study
The transient temporal world gives way to the vision and coming reality when the Lord takes his rightful place of kingship and dominion and we, his followers, are everlastingly obedient to his promise. Until then, the struggle between both worlds continues.
As his followers strive to survive, Jesus leaves behind some final wisdom before the events leading up to his passion, death and resurrection unfold. Any parent would probably give his or her son or daughter the same advice on New Years Eve -- avoid drunkenness. Today, as we stand on the threshold of a new liturgical year beginning Sunday with the season of Advent, we can heed Jesus’ words literally as well as in the way they foreshadow the events to come for the disciples.
Jesus preaches that the tribulations are imminent. As he warns “not to become drowsy,” we picture the disciples sleeping in
His final message resonates as we consider how his friends scattered. “Pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” As we recall those who were present at the foot of the cross, we find Mary, John and the Roman soldiers. Where are the others?
Action
Here in this final Gospel of the year, we have the Cursillo call for piety (“Pray that you have the strength”), study (“Be vigilant”), and action (“strength to escape the tribulations”). Let us use this as a springboard for our Advent preparations in the coming year.
As Jesus warns “not to become drowsy,” when have we been less attentive to his message for us? When did we not listen with the ear of our heart but instead allowed our hearts to be hardened to that word?
As he warns about the “anxieties of daily life,” how often have we worried more about paying the mortgage than about sharing our abundance with the poor? We lock ourselves in the comfort of our living room and ignore the homelessness hidden in the woods and under the freeway overpasses throughout our suburban county.
Jesus goes on to encourage those around him to “be vigilant at all times.” What is the comfort zone to which we will retreat rather than taking up his cross and following him?
His final message resonates at every Mass in the Eucharistic Prayer. “Pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” Remember that when you hear the priest pray, “We thank you for allowing us to stand beside you and serve you.” What action and sacrifice are we committing to complete in thanks for being allowed to be in the presence of God?
