Friday of the
Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
(Revelation 20:1-4.11-21.2; Luke 21:29-33)
Apocalypse is the
Greek word for revelation. For this
reason the last book of the Bible, from which we take today’s first reading, is
alternatively called the Apocalypse or the Book of Revelation. Apocalyptic literature, however, of which the
Book of Revelation is the Bible’s only full example, has a meaning beyond
revelatory. It further refers to the
cosmic struggle between God and the powers of darkness. This metaphoric war will lead to the transformation
of the world into the heavenly Kingdom.
Today’s first reading gives an account of the struggle and the coming Kingdom
characterized by “a new heaven” and “a new earth.”
Since the destiny of the present world is transformation and
renewal, some have questioned the value of working for a better world. They see the aim of every human to be
avoiding evil to save her soul. The Constitution on the Church in the Modern
World of the Second Vatican Council, however, declares: “…the expectation
of a new earth must not weaken but rather stimulate our concern for cultivating
this one.” In working for a better
world, humans show themselves as true disciples of Jesus. He came as the inaugurator of God’s Kingdom and
will come again ushering its fullness.
As we close the liturgical year with references to the
coming Kingdom in both readings, we should renew our efforts to see it
happen. This means not retreating in
self-defense but moving forward to the margins of society. There we are to offer a hand of support to the
poor. The Kingdom is God’s doing and
will be realized when Christ comes in glory.
But our efforts spur the hope that it will not be long in arriving.
