The Catholic Calendar for Friday, November 25, 2005
Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Catherine of Alexandria

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Daniel 7:2-14
Daniel 3:75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81
Luke 21:29-33

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"But my words will not pass away"

All things will pass away, but the words of the Word of God will remain and endure.

People were asking Jesus what they should expect. They wanted to know the signs of the times. When would He be returning, when was He coming back to them. Jesus gave them what must have been a very unsatisfactory answer at the time. "You know when spring is coming, you can see it in the buds and blossoms of the trees." The signs of the times are very clear. He announces that the kingdom of God is near. In fact, it is very near indeed. In about ten verses, Luke embarks on the passion narrative. Jesus is about to enter eternity and make present and eternal the Kingdom of God.

As a result, we don't need signs. All of this has already happened and all of it affects all of time. The Kingdom of God is with us, at hand, ready for us to enter and to be with God. Talking to God is something we are privileged to do at any time. The door to the Father has been opened. We wait no longer. But soon, soon, we enter a time of waiting, a time during which we reflect upon those times in which the Kingdom was not so clear or so present. We live in the Eternal Presence. We are privileged to have God Himself as our Food. We are children of a Divine Father and we know it. The kingdom is at hand--just reach out to touch it.

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but these words of the Lord, His eternal presence with us, shall never be vanquished. We are more than conquerers through Christ. He is our King and our Triumph. Rejoice! Rejoice!

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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