THE WORD
Dn 7: 2–14 / Lk 21: 29–33
Jesus taught [his disciples] a lesson. “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
IN OTHER WORDS
Jesus used the image of a fig tree to teach his disciples an important lesson about reading the “signs of the times.” Are there signs that will tell us that the Kingdom of God is near, in the same way that we know that summer is coming when a tree’s buds begin to open?
True, no one knows when the Lord will come again. But He certainly wants us to be ready when it comes. That is why He will give us “signs” (meaning, many signs) that we can hopefully “read” and respond to.
Just something to think about: it is said that the Lord comes to us each day and knocks on the doors of our hearts. If so, are we even aware of these moments in our life? Because if we are not, how do we expect to be ready and prepared when He comes again to establish His Kingdom in all its fullness?
Throughout history, we have so-called diviners who interpret for us the meaning of signs, events, and omens. Then there are the fortune-tellers who do more of the same. But these practices are generally forbidden and the Bible even describes them as detestable before God (Deuteronomy 18: 10-12; Leviticus 19: 26). So, what then? Where do we go to? Here’s a clue. In Lk 21: 33, we read: “Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.” And we have more of the same in 2 Timothy 3: 1-15: “But know this, that in the last days, perilous time will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemous, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.” St Paul then has a piece of advice to Timothy: “[C]ontinue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy, you have known theHoly Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
In the meantime, this is what we are asked to do. We are to stand strong and believe in the Word of God and find wisdom in it, knowing that the Word of God is true and sure. The Word of God will not only help us be ready for the end-time; the Word of God will also help us keep strong and hopeful for what is to come.
- Vicente Uy, SVD (HNU, Tagbilaran City)
The Word in other words 2015
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
