Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
(Revelation 20:1-4.11-21:2; Luke 21:29-33)
Today’s readings converge to describe the end of history. They say it will be a time of newness like a fresh
leaf on a tree (gospel) or the replacement of the old world of sin with a new world
of grace (Revelation). Yet the texts have
material that a reader will want to question.
What, for example, is referred to in Revelation by the “thousand years” in
which Satan is tied up? And why does Jesus
say that his predictions will come to pass before the end of “this generation.”
There is much difference among the experts regarding the “thousand
years” of Revelation. It is probably best
to consider the time of entrapment of Satan as pertaining to the martyrs in
heaven. They will not be bothered by evil
spirits, and at the end of a symbolic “thousand years,” neither will those who
are judged worthy. Regarding “this
generation will not pass away,” in Luke’s gospel Jesus usually uses “generation”
as a reference to the depraved, not to a thirty-year period. Therefore, he is
saying in the passage that there will be evil until the Kingdom of God comes in
its fullness.
We should not try to decipher hints about the future from
eschatological prophecy more than that God will make all things right. Of that we can be sure and for its taking
place soon we pray daily in the Our Father.
