Hearing The Word

A weekly newsletter delivering context and insight into the Sunday Gospels.

JESUS' ESCHATOLOGICAL DISCOURSE

~ Dr. Kelly Anderson

Associate Professor, Chair of the Department of Sacred Scripture

at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary

The Gospel reading is a selection of Jesus’ eschatological discourse (Luke 21:8-28) and subsequent teachings (Luke 21:29-36). It begins when Jesus predicts the fall of the temple, and the disciples ask him when this will be, and what sign will accompany it (Luke 21:6-7). Given the cryptic nature of Jesus’ answer, there are three main interpretations. 

First, Jesus is speaking of the destruction by the Romans in 70 AD (see Luke 21:6-7, 20). The cataclysms described in 21:25-26 are typical prophetic images used to show severe social, political, and economic upheavals (cf. Isa 34:3-4; Ezek 32:5-8; Joel 2:10), all which happened when the temple fell. The “Son of Man” coming on the clouds is prophetic language which establishes Jesus as the vindicated prophet, the son of God, who has correctly predicted the fall of the temple (Dan 7:13-14).

Second, Jesus is speaking of his own death. Jesus’ prophecies are fulfilled, at least partially, at his death (Luke 23:44-45a), which coincides with the beginning of the end of the temple (the veil of the temple is torn; 23:45b). The “signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars” refer to cataclysmic upheaval, while the shaken “powers of the heavens” point to the defeat of cosmic evil powers, all of which happens at his death. The destruction of the temple and Jerusalem is God’s judgment upon the corrupt cult and city for rejecting the gracious offer of salvation of Jesus and for subjecting him to a shameful death.

Finally, Jesus is speaking about his return in glory when he will gather to himself all those who have been faithful during the time of the Church. His return is preceded by severe social, political, and economic upheavals, but at his return, he will gather and reward those who have been faithful to him.

FOCUS ON WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU - GOD

~ Cheryl Kehoe Rodgers

Saint Patrick Church + Norristown, Pa.

The first Christmas after my husband died, I sliced the top of my thumb off. I was using a mandolin (without using the guard), thinking about how much I missed Jim and not paying attention to what I was doing. So instead of nicely slice pepperoni on the plate…there sat the top of my thumb.

I should have been paying better attention– my focus should have been on what I was doing, not who I was missing.

The “anxieties of daily life” had forced my attention elsewhere, like a trap. A trap that Jesus warns us about in Sunday’s Gospel passage.

As I was waiting to get my injury treated, I wondered how and why this could happen. And the answer was clear – I had lost focus.

When I read the words of Jesus in Luke 21-25, 35-36 – well, the message was clear to me as well – Jesus was reminding us that we must keep our focus on what should be our life force – His love – and living a life that prepares us for our eternal life with God.

Jesus speaks of nations in dismay, powers of heavens shaking and the roaring of sea and the waves – but the words that hit to my core were “anxieties of daily life.”

The stresses of daily life often take over my thoughts – and will linger if I let them. But since that Christmas Eve day seven years ago, after kicking myself for being so careless, I have used the “anxieties of daily life” to depend even more on Jesus and the Blessed Mother.

The end of this Gospel reading, to me, holds a lot of promise. Jesus is telling us that if we follow him, if we live our lives with God at the center of our lives, we will have the strength enough to “raise our heads” because “redemption is at hand.”