The 33rd Sunday of OT B presents to us the second part of Jesus' discourse about the Last Day. The first reading from Daniel 12:1-3 is about the resurrection of the dead and supplements the apocalyptic image supplied by the selection from Mark 13:24-37. What stands out in this latter is the coming of the Son of Man in glory and power (Mark 13:26). The same phrase is used by Jesus during his trial before the Sanhedrin in 14:62. There, it was meant to evoke judgment. Here in Mark 13:26, the Son of Man comes to gather the elect, that is, those who have undergone persecution for His name's sake and have endured (Mark 13:9-13). Read the articles you find here and use the following as your guide for reflection.
1. The final petitions of the Our Father, "lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil" are actually petitions for the Last Day either understood as the apocalyptic last day, or one's last day at the moment of death. With these petitions we pray that we be preserved among the elect who will be gathered by the Lord to Himself and not be trapped by the Enemy (cf. CCC 2849).
Reflect. Do you ever think of death as a real possibility? Have you ever thought of the Lord's words in Mark 13:30 applies to you as well?
I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until these things take place.
2. Jesus informs his disciples beforehand about the last days so that they would know what to do when the time comes. He warns them about false prophets and false messiahs who will come to mislead the disciples during the time of tribulation preceding the Lord's Coming (Mark 13:5-6.21-23). And then he also tells them the signs of his arrival. It will be like when the fig tree's leaves announce spring!
Reflect. There are many preachers nowadays who capitalize on people's fears about the end of the world. Does the Lord intend that his disciples become afraid of His coming? Does he not instead assure them that the troubles of the last days announce a new beginning, a new spring-time?
3. The last parable that Jesus tells his disciples is about that of the servants whom the master of the house assigned to different tasks. In effect, he tells his disciples to be like the servants whom the master finds doing their work. If the Lord wants his disciples to worry, it should be on the work they've been assigned to do until His return. There is nothing in Mark 13 which indicates that the Lord wants his disciples to look for shelter or a place where they can find salvation when the time of tribulation comes. He does not tell them to worry about salvation either, but that they should persevere (Mark 13:13).
Reflect. The general task assigned to all the disciples is evangelization and our baptism has equipped us for this kind of work, letting us participate in the three offices of Christ as priest, prophet and king. How have you been carrying out your work in this regard? Or to put it another way: If the Lord arrives at this very moment, how will He find you? Would you be doing your work of evangelization? What work would that be?
