Jesus said to his disciples: "In those days after that
tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and
the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be
shaken. And then they will see ´the Son of Man coming in the clouds´ with great
power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from
the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky. Learn a lesson
from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know
that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know
that he is near, at the gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not
pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass
away, but my words will not pass away. But of that day or hour, no one knows,
neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Mark
13:24-32)
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I turn to you today with faith, knowing that you are the
Lord of life and history. Aware of my weaknesses and failures, I set my hopes
in you, for you always fulfill your promises. As I contemplate your love that
becomes fidelity, I, too, desire to repay you with my fidelity. I am here
before you to listen and, in listening, discover your will for me today.
Petition: Lord, may my
intelligence be enlightened with the theological virtue of hope.
1. Promise Keeper Christ
promised and delivered. His words brought about a change of spirit: the way we
understand the world around us, the way we desire, and the way we choose. All
that he did had results, positive results. Many times throughout his preaching
he promised us heaven, and through his death he made everlasting life possible
for us, even though the price was his own life. When we promise someone
something, do we keep that promise, no matter what the personal cost?
2. Solid Ground Fear
stalks us daily. The world in which we live can undermine our trust in God. It
is easy to become attached to things of this world, even though they give us
only a fleeting pleasure or a temporary security before they pass away,
disappear, or vanish. Since our heart is made for God, for the infinite, when
we become attached to something not of God, the result is fear.This is a fear of the future and a fear of the unknown. But with
God, we know the ending, and we know what awaits us. Listen to those words:
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” All that we
see and enjoy around us will pass away, but not Christ’s promises, namely the
promises of eternal life -- of paradise. Be not afraid to hope in God.
3. Learn a Lesson from the Fig Tree The grace of God ripens us. The moment we are baptized, we are
made ready to see God. But there is a lesson, and it might be a bit scary. When
Jesus spoke about the fig tree in today’s Gospel, he may have thought of
another fig tree -- the one that bore no fruit, withered, dried up and died.
Christ shocked them that time. We don’t know when Christ will pass by the fig
tree of our life, looking to pick the fruit of our virtues. However, we can be
assured of this: The time will come. Our baptism has made our lifetime a time
of harvest. You have all eternity to rest in the house of the Father. The
lesson: Bear fruit now; live virtue now. Christ came to give life and give it
abundantly (see John 10:10).
Conversation with Christ:
Lord, Jesus, may I live a life of virtue
knowing that my life moves forward towards eternity. Help me to overcome my
fears by placing all of them in your hands, knowing that you hold the solution.
Help me to live my baptism faithfully and place all of my hope in your
promises.
Resolution: I will live this day with special intensity, offering all for
the conversion of souls.
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