God is our strength, our guide and our hope
by Sister Jane Riha
I hope I am not alone in finding the readings for this Sunday challenging. First of all, it is a matter of understanding the deeper meaning. The readings refer to the “last things” and the “end time. Within the text, there is symbolism which needs some interpretation. For the reader, this could be confusing.
Approaching the reading with a discerning heart and reading between the lines may be the most helpful. Even in the midst of the “distress” the prophet Daniel gives us a glimpse of hope by telling us that “the wise shall shine brightly” even bright like the stars.
The New Testament reading in the Letter to the Hebrews and the Gospel of Mark help us to understand the context of hope. We are redeemed because of the Paschal Mystery: the life, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus are the focus and depth of mystery throughout these readings. The call to vigilance, most likely, is a call to be truly present to the reality which surrounds us and God’s presence in the midst of it.
We live in a world of turbulence and chaos. Even in the midst of all of that, the Gospel assures us that God is stirring about within all distressful situations. God will send his angels “to gather the elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.” Do not lose heart, we are gathered under the wings of a loving God.
Thanks, Jane. You did well in finding the positive in Sunday's readings which seem rather bleak. And you gave us hope - do not lose heart as we are gathered under the wings of a loving God.