12-02-2017, 05:06 PM
THE COMING OF CHRIST AS THE BASIS OF OUR HOPE IN CONTRADICTORY TIMES
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ DN 7:2-14; LK 21:29-33 ]
The scripture readings today are apparently quite similar to the scripture texts of Tuesday’s liturgy. The dream of Daniel is closely connected with Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the metal image in chapter 2. Both dreams are concerned with the destruction of the four empires and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
In Daniel’s dream today, the four beasts represent the empires of Babylon, Media, Persia and Greece respectively. The winged lion was a familiar motif in Babylonian art. The bear is feared for its ferocity and truly a fitting symbol of Media, reputed for its cruelty. The third beast, a leopard with four wings and four heads symbolized Persia and its four Persian kings, namely, Cyrus, Xerxes, Artaxerxes and Darius. Finally, the fourth beast, a monster with great iron teeth symbolized the Greek Kingdom of Alexander and his successors. Among all the occupiers of Israel, the Seleucid kings, who were the successors of Alexander, did the most harm to the religion of Israel and they suffered grievously under their domination. The little horn that sprang up and uprooted the other three thorns symbolized Antiochus Epiphanes, who rooted out the other three claimants to the throne and was the most evil of all kings that Israel had known.
Once again, the message of hope is that God will triumph in the end, notwithstanding the persecutions. This is also the same message of today’s scripture readings. However, the hope today is spelt out in a much more explicit manner. The truth is that history will not be determined by man eventually, but by God. Indeed, Daniel saw “the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and committed to the flames. The other beasts were deprived of their power, but received a lease of life for a season and a time.” Such was the judgment of God who was portrayed as the “one of great age … His robe was white as snow, the hair of his head as pure as wool. His throne was a blaze of flames, a stream of fire poured out, issuing from his presence. A thousand thousand waited on him, ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. A court was held and the books were opened.”
But this is not all. We are told that the Son of Man would accomplish all these. In his vision, Daniel saw, “coming on the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man. He came to the one of great age and was led into his presence. On him was conferred sovereignty which shall never pass away, nor will his empire ever be destroyed.” This vision confirms therefore that God has always wanted to give His kingdom to the people of God, represented by the Son of Man. However, God wanted to present the kingdom to the people personally in Jesus, who is the model of the true man, the true humanity. From this perspective, our hope is therefore grounded in Jesus Christ, the Son of Man who came to deliver us from the destruction of our enemies.
Indeed, Jesus is the Word made flesh. Hence, in the gospel, He declared to the disciples, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” By that, Jesus meant that as the Word of God in person, His Kingdom will last forever. He is the true man. This is what we will celebrate soon at Christmas. At the incarnation, Jesus is the Son of Man who will show us the way to the kingdom. For this reason, today being the penultimate day of the liturgical year, the scripture readings of this last week are connected with the season of Advent, which also speaks of the two comings of Christ at the end of time and at Christmas.
As the Word in Person, Jesus gives us hope and direction in life, especially when we are living in a world that is not much more peaceful than in the days of the Jews under the tyranny of King Antiochus. Today, we also face all kinds of persecution. The four beasts today could probably represent the threat of nuclear war, terrorism, spiritual and moral crisis. Many people in the world today are living in discrimination and in war-torn situations. Many innocent people are being killed and deprived of the basic needs of life and their human rights.
Yet, we must not be too naïve and simplistic to think that the whole world is bad and will be destroyed. On the contrary, not everything that is happening in the world is against humanity. There is also a lot of good that has come out in modern times, considering the advancement in terms of technology, communication, the alleviation of poverty, the promotion of the dignity of the human person.
Hence, in both instances, be it the good or bad, we must realize that God is near. This is what the parable is saying to us. “Think of the fig tree and indeed every tree. As soon as you see them bud, you know that summer in now near. So when you see these things happening: know that the kingdom of God is near.” Yes, God is near, not only when things are right but also when our situation appears to be hopeless. Those who trust in God’s Word and are receptive to Him will be able to endure. Whether in good or bad times, they will experience the fruits of the kingdom, which is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
He is near if only we open our eyes and see our situation in the light of faith. It is faith that will enable us to see the hand of God at work in the light. That even in such pathetic situations when all seems lost and gone, God is still in charge of the world. It is this faith that should keep us continuing to do all that we can to cooperate with His grace in perfecting the world.
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ DN 7:2-14; LK 21:29-33 ]
The scripture readings today are apparently quite similar to the scripture texts of Tuesday’s liturgy. The dream of Daniel is closely connected with Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the metal image in chapter 2. Both dreams are concerned with the destruction of the four empires and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
In Daniel’s dream today, the four beasts represent the empires of Babylon, Media, Persia and Greece respectively. The winged lion was a familiar motif in Babylonian art. The bear is feared for its ferocity and truly a fitting symbol of Media, reputed for its cruelty. The third beast, a leopard with four wings and four heads symbolized Persia and its four Persian kings, namely, Cyrus, Xerxes, Artaxerxes and Darius. Finally, the fourth beast, a monster with great iron teeth symbolized the Greek Kingdom of Alexander and his successors. Among all the occupiers of Israel, the Seleucid kings, who were the successors of Alexander, did the most harm to the religion of Israel and they suffered grievously under their domination. The little horn that sprang up and uprooted the other three thorns symbolized Antiochus Epiphanes, who rooted out the other three claimants to the throne and was the most evil of all kings that Israel had known.
Once again, the message of hope is that God will triumph in the end, notwithstanding the persecutions. This is also the same message of today’s scripture readings. However, the hope today is spelt out in a much more explicit manner. The truth is that history will not be determined by man eventually, but by God. Indeed, Daniel saw “the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and committed to the flames. The other beasts were deprived of their power, but received a lease of life for a season and a time.” Such was the judgment of God who was portrayed as the “one of great age … His robe was white as snow, the hair of his head as pure as wool. His throne was a blaze of flames, a stream of fire poured out, issuing from his presence. A thousand thousand waited on him, ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. A court was held and the books were opened.”
But this is not all. We are told that the Son of Man would accomplish all these. In his vision, Daniel saw, “coming on the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man. He came to the one of great age and was led into his presence. On him was conferred sovereignty which shall never pass away, nor will his empire ever be destroyed.” This vision confirms therefore that God has always wanted to give His kingdom to the people of God, represented by the Son of Man. However, God wanted to present the kingdom to the people personally in Jesus, who is the model of the true man, the true humanity. From this perspective, our hope is therefore grounded in Jesus Christ, the Son of Man who came to deliver us from the destruction of our enemies.
Indeed, Jesus is the Word made flesh. Hence, in the gospel, He declared to the disciples, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” By that, Jesus meant that as the Word of God in person, His Kingdom will last forever. He is the true man. This is what we will celebrate soon at Christmas. At the incarnation, Jesus is the Son of Man who will show us the way to the kingdom. For this reason, today being the penultimate day of the liturgical year, the scripture readings of this last week are connected with the season of Advent, which also speaks of the two comings of Christ at the end of time and at Christmas.
As the Word in Person, Jesus gives us hope and direction in life, especially when we are living in a world that is not much more peaceful than in the days of the Jews under the tyranny of King Antiochus. Today, we also face all kinds of persecution. The four beasts today could probably represent the threat of nuclear war, terrorism, spiritual and moral crisis. Many people in the world today are living in discrimination and in war-torn situations. Many innocent people are being killed and deprived of the basic needs of life and their human rights.
Yet, we must not be too naïve and simplistic to think that the whole world is bad and will be destroyed. On the contrary, not everything that is happening in the world is against humanity. There is also a lot of good that has come out in modern times, considering the advancement in terms of technology, communication, the alleviation of poverty, the promotion of the dignity of the human person.
Hence, in both instances, be it the good or bad, we must realize that God is near. This is what the parable is saying to us. “Think of the fig tree and indeed every tree. As soon as you see them bud, you know that summer in now near. So when you see these things happening: know that the kingdom of God is near.” Yes, God is near, not only when things are right but also when our situation appears to be hopeless. Those who trust in God’s Word and are receptive to Him will be able to endure. Whether in good or bad times, they will experience the fruits of the kingdom, which is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
He is near if only we open our eyes and see our situation in the light of faith. It is faith that will enable us to see the hand of God at work in the light. That even in such pathetic situations when all seems lost and gone, God is still in charge of the world. It is this faith that should keep us continuing to do all that we can to cooperate with His grace in perfecting the world.