33rd Sunday in Ordinary time
Readings:
Daniel 12:1-3
Hebrew 10:11-14, 18
Mark 13:24-32
Reflection:
The apocalyptic language and imagery found in today’s readings from Daniel and Mark first arose during a period of Israel’s foreign occupation as a sort of underground coded resistance literature. It was meaningless in Daniel’s time to the Jews’ Syrian oppressors and, likewise in Mark’s authorship context, to the Roman persecutors of Christians in Rome. However, it carried a message of hope to those suffering because a great cosmic good will triumph over evil.
Elsewhere, Daniel saw the eventual victory personified in one called the Son of Man. Jesus adopts this image. In this ‘eschatological discourse’ immediately preceding Mark’s passion account, Jesus prefigures his death and resurrection as this victory of good over evil. Think about Mark’s similar apocalyptic reference at Jesus’ death: darkness over the whole land (Mk 15.33). Mark’s readers, facing persecution are meant to get the memo: all will end well for you. The Son of Man will come in the clouds with great power and glory. As today’s psalm says, ‘you will not leave my soul among the dead, nor let your beloved know decay.’ Interestingly, both Peter at Pentecost (Acts2:25-28) and Paul in Antioch (Acts 13:35) quote this in relation to Jesus’ resurrection. As the Liturgical Year draws to a close, this is a reminder for us as well that the end times bring our eternal destiny with God.
Today is also the Eighth World Day of the Poor. Pope Francis instituted this for the third Sunday of November, presumably because of the connection of the poor to the coming Reign of God, which is theirs. In this year’s message for the day, the Pope reminds us that “the Lord’s judgment will be in favour of the poor” (cf, Sir 21.5). And the final words of our first reading help all people to find our way to that judgment. I choose to quote Dan 12:3b in the translation a parish priest of my youth favoured: “Those who instruct others unto justice will shine as bright stars for all eternity”.
John McGrath is a parishioner of St Brigid’s Marrickville.