A King Whose Reign Lasts Forever.

Friday 29^TH November 2019. Read Daniel 7:2-14 and Luke 21:29-33.

_ “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. *(Luke 21:33)*_

In our first reading today, Daniel narrates the contents of his dreams; the visions of the night. When we look closely at this passage, we would discover that bulk of our imagery of God comes from this vision of Daniel.

When we think of God, we consider God to be masculine (based on Daniel’s use of the masculine pronoun), one who is very old (ancient of days), with very long beards (his raiment was white as snow), with some sort of scary demeanour (his throne was fiery flames) and with lots and lots of angels and saints serving him (thousand thousands served him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him).

Daniel spoke in human language. He tried to describe what he saw using analogies that we can understand. As such, if we simply take Daniel’s vision at face value, we would only have a very imperfect image of God. God is simply beyond our imagination, God is greater than what words can express.

Daniel’s vision can be likened to a blind man trying to describe an elephant by touching one part of its body. God is beyond scientific observation or explanation. God is Father, Son and Spirit. God is Love. In fact, don’t try to intellectualize God, just worship Him.

The other aspect of the vision corresponds perfectly with an image of Jesus Christ. He is the “one who came like a son of man.” Jesus himself in the course of his earthly life referred to himself ‘Son of Man’ several times. “And to Him was given dominion… his dominion is an everlasting dominion… one that shall not be destroyed.”

In speaking about Jesus, St. Paul confirms: “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11).

God is a king that can never be destroyed. He is greater than anything we can ever imagine or think of. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the one who made us and sustains our life. As Jesus assures us today, “Heaven and earth may pass away but my words will not pass away.” Let us renew our faith and confidence in him every day casting off our fear of evil spirits, as we know, no one is greater than God.   

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, increase my love and devotion to you every day and may I serve you as my king and Lord all my life. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Homily for Friday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study:  Daniel 7:2-14 and Luke 21:29-33).