Friday, 1 December 2023. Read Daniel 7:2-14, Daniel 3:75-81, Luke 21:29-33
“And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:14)
In our first reading today, Daniel narrates the contents of his dreams, the visions of the night. Daniel spoke in human language. He tried to describe what he saw using analogies that we can understand. As such, if we take Daniel’s vision at face value, we would only have a very imperfect image of God. God is 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. Don’t try to intellectualise God, 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 as ‘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. Jesus assures us today, “Heaven and earth may pass away, but my words will not.” 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.
In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus, like Daniel, makes use of an analogy to explain the end of the world. Just as the fig tree indicates the end of one season and the beginning of another by shedding its leaves, there are end-time signs. However, as to the time these things will take place, no one knows. What is important is that we are always ready.
Thank God for the gift of a new month. We celebrated All Saints Day in November with the “Saint of the Day” section. This month, we will focus on Jesus Christ, the saint of all saints, the lord of lords, and the king of kings.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, increase my love and devotion to you every day. May I serve you as my king and Lord all my life. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of week 34 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Daniel 7:2-14, Daniel 3:75-81, Luke 21:29-33).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu
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