DAILY- HOMILY

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November 18, 2018 – 33rd SUNDAY in Ordinary Time

Cycle B. Green.

Dn 12: 1 - 3 / Heb 10: 11-14, 18 / Mk 13: 24 – 32

1ST READING: Dn 12: 1 - 3

At that time, Michael will rise, the Great Commander who defends the sons of your people. It shall be a time of anguish as never before since the nations first existed until this very day.

Then all those whose names are written in the Book will be saved. Many of those who sleep in the Region of the Dust will awake, some to everlasting life but others to eternal horror and shame. Those who acquired knowledge will shine like the brilliance of the firmament; those who taught people to be just will shine like the stars for all eternity.

GOSPEL READING:           Mk 13: 24- 32

Jesus said, "Later on, in those days after that disastrous time, the sun will grow dark, and the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall out of the sky and the whole universe will be shaken. Then people will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And he will send the angels to gather his chosen people from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.

"Learn a lesson from the fig tree. As soon as its branches become tender and it begins to sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the time is near, even at the door. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all this has happened. Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.

"But, regarding that Day and that Hour, no one knows when it will come, not even the angels, not even the Son of Man, but only the Father."

REFLECTION

When natural calamities happen like super typhoons and destructive earthquakes, people tend to panic and may even think that the end of the world is near. Many recent movies, Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens; The Fifth Wave; Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice; Independence Day: Resurgence; Warcraft; Gods of Egypt; X-Men: Apocalypse" all have apocalyptic themes. They speak of future devastation and the unavoidable and near end of the world we know. These themes resurface in times of turmoil or social stress.

The word "apocalypse" comes from the Greek word which means "unveiling" or revelation.

Through the ages people have been concerned about the end of the world. As seen in the Gospel for today, even Jesus spoke about the end of the world. His listeners questioned him about the end of the world. In the early Church, the Book of Revelation adopted the usual form and language of apocalyptic writings. The Book of Revelation shows Christ as the center of history where Christians are called to give witness with courage in the world struggle between good and evil.

Dante's writings such as The Inferno and great art works of the Last Judgment as Michelangelo's "Last Judgment" at the Vatican Sistine Chapel were works along apocalyptic lines and concerns.

Today's readings from the Book of Daniel and the Gospel reading gave apocalyptic themes. The reading from Daniel speaks of the triumph of the good and the destruction and punishment of evil.

In the Gospel reading Jesus is not prophesying about the end of the world. Rather he is telling us that a new world will come though his passion, death and resurrection. There will be an "unveiling" or revelation brought about by his life and coming. Through the Paschal mystery the old way of living ends and a new way of living begins.

Jesus unveiled a new way of loving God with all our heart, mind and strength by loving our neighbor like ourselves, a kind of loving which desires only the good of the other and is willing to give and even suffer for the other. This is Jesus' great Commandment: this is his apocalypse, his unveiling, his revelation.

Have a good day!

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