Gospel: Luke 21:29-33

Saint Fergal, bishop and missionary.

Fergal or Vergilius was a monk in the monastery of Aghaboe, Co. Laois, when in 745 he left Ireland on peregrination pro Christo (missionary pilgrimage for Christ). He settled first in France, later in Bavaria where he founded a monastery at Chiemsee, and then moved to Salzburg where he became Abbot of Saint Peter’s and then bishop of Salzburg c. 767. He seems to be responsible for the Salzburg Liber Vitae (Book of Life) containing the names of all persons in spiritual communion with Saint Peter’s monastery, and who were to be prayed for at the daily mass.

1st Reading: Daniel 7:2-14

The vision of the Ancient One enthroned in glory, and the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven

I, Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, and four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then, as I watched, its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a human being; and a human mind was given to it. Another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, had three tusks in its mouth among its teeth and was told, “Arise, devour many bodies!” After this, as I watched, another appeared, like a leopard. The beast had four wings of a bird on its back and four heads; and dominion was given to it.

After this I saw in the visions by night a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth an was devouring, breaking in pieces, and stamping what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that preceded it, and it had ten horns. I was considering the horns, when another horn appeared, a little one coming up among them; to make room for it, three of the earlier horns were plucked up by the roots. There were eyes like human eyes in this horn, and a mouth speaking arrogantly.

As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne, his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and flowed out from his presence. A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him. The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. I watched then because of the noise of the arrogant words that the horn was speaking. And as I watched, the beast was put to death, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.

Gospel: Luke 21:29-33

When you see these things happen, know that the reign of God is near. My word will not pass away

Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Apocalyptic Symbolism

While the reading from Daniel is typical of apocalyptic literature and replete with elaborate, even at times weird symbolism, the gospel addresses us in plainer language. From the example of the budding fig tree we know that summer is near. So, “when you see all the things happening, know that the reign of God is near.” Both the 1st Reading and the gospel offer signs; but the meaning of these signs must be sensitively intuited, and instinct must guide us to what God is saying by the plain signs about us.

The symbolism in Daniel is drawn from a long, rich heritage that blends ritual and folklore, Israelite and non-Israelite images. Put simply, apocalyptic symbolism comes from a school of thought convinced that God’s mystery is so transcendent and yet so close to us, so overwhelming and yet so immediately at hand, so creative of a new world order, that even the most menacing of present realities will not prevent the triumph of God’s will upon the earth. Today’s imagery from Daniel is about the four great empires of Israelite memory: Babylonian, Medes, Persian and Greek. The little horn that displaced three other horns would be Syria under Antiochus IV Epiphanes; of the four kingdoms into which Alexander’s empire was divided, this one affected Israel most seriously. Now God is about to vindicate his persecuted saints so that they receive dominion, glory and kingship.

The fig tree is in full bloom and the harvest is near, yet in our lives, of family and church, in our neighbourhood and world, we have to be realists. A strange recommendation: to be realists amid the weird symbols of the apocalyptic seers. Realists in digging beneath the surface and silently and perceptively listening to the mysterious message. This message will not go away, for it is the word of God, anticipating the new heavens and the new earth. Weird as it may seem right now, our world will be transformed into the beautiful Jerusalem, the lovely bride prepared to meet her husband.

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Something enduring

People were amazed when Jesus announced that not a single stone of the wonderful temple in Jerusalem would be left standing on another. It must have been impossible to imagine that ever happening, since the temple was one of the Seven Wonders of the World at the time. And yet, in the history of our world so much of what people thought would last forever has passed away. Even in recent times so much has fallen that once seemed immovable; we only have to think of the instability of countries of the Middle East. We are left asking, “Will anything endure?” The gospel says Jesus declares, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” The words of Jesus and the values they express will endure, and the one who proclaims those words, the Word made flesh, will endure. When all else fails, the Lord will be there. His relationship with us endures, even when our relationship with him grows weak, as Paul says in one of his letters, “if we are faithless, he remains faithful.” Indeed his relationship with us and ours with him endures beyond this life. His endurance is the foundation of our endurance.