Daily Catholic Lectio
Fri, 29 November ‘24
XXXIV Week in Ordinary Time, Friday
Revelation 20:1-4, 11. 21:2. Psalm 84. Luke 21:29-33
They don’t pass away!
The gospel reading is divided into two parts: (a) Jesus invites us to discern the unknown from that which is known. The budding leaf in a fig tree announces the advent of summer. The signs that happen around us point to the kingdom of God. (b) This generation – that which listens to Jesus – will not pass away. The words of Jesus will not pass away. The Prophet Isaiah says that the word of God remains for ever (cf. 40:8).
Jesus instructs his disciples on discerning the signs. The people of Jesus’ time forecast the events based on their observations of Nature. The Greek philosopher Pythagoras said that the entire Universe is guided by unchanging laws. The laws are logical, predictable, and firm. He said that from the cause, we could predict the effect. The signs in nature could predict the advent of the Son of Man.
What does this text tell us? (a) Discernment: being attentive to what goes on in front of us will help us discern what will happen later; (b) Cause-effect: natural events occur based on cause-effect law. The events that go beyond this law are called miracles. (c) The immortality of the word of God: Jesus tells us that his words will never pass away without being fulfilled.
In the first reading, John sees the new heaven and the new earth in his vision. The former ones have passed. The New Jerusalem that he sees later reveals that God chooses to live amidst his people; the glory of new Jerusalem removes the sadness and pain of persecution; it gives the hope that things will be better soon. And since it comes from the above human authorities can’t obstruct.
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The ’pilgrims of hope’ are able read and interpret the signs of the time (Jubilee 2025 AD, bite 261).
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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