Scriptures will be fulfilled. How hard will it be for pregnant women, and for mothers
with babies at the breast! For a great calamity will come upon the land, and wrath
upon this people. They will be put to death by the sword, or taken as slaves to other nations;
and Jerusalem will be trampled upon by the pagans, until the time of the pagans is fulfilled.
Then there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations,
perplexed when they hear the roaring of the sea and its waves. People will faint with fear
at the mere thought of what is to come upon the world, for the forces of the universe will be shaken.
Then, at that time, they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
So, when you see things begin to happen, stand erect and lift up your heads, for your deliverance is drawing near.”

REFLECTION:
Our Gospel lesson for today has its beginning in Jesus’ prediction that the
temple will be destroyed (vv. 5-6) and the disciples’ question,
“Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things
are about to happen?” (v. 7). Jesus res­ponds by tel­ling of wars and rumors of wars,
earthquakes, and plagues (vv. 9-11), the arrest of Christians and resultant opportunities
for witnessing (vv. 12-19), and the destruction of Jerusalem (vv. 20-24).
Then come the cosmic signs of verses 25-26, which is where our Gospel lesson begins.
Jesus does not say these things to frighten us, but to prepare us. Our proper response
is not to be terrified (v. 9), but to avoid being led astray by false teachers (v. 8)
and to take advantage of opportunities for witnessing created by the turmoil (v. 13).
The coming of the Son of Man is heralded in Da­niel 7:13-14. That chapter describes Daniel’s vision,
where he saw frighte­ning beasts doing terrible things. Then the Ancient of Days (God) took his throne,
destroyed the beasts, and was joined by “one like a son of man”—a human figure in contrast
with the earlier beastly images. This “one like a son of man” is given “everlasting dominion,”
and “The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky,
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High” (Daniel 7:27). The picture is that
of a world restored to God’s intent—an end of ­chaos and evil—a beginning of peace and justice.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2020