Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

November 18, 2018 

Readings:

First Reading: Daniel 12: 1-3

Psalm: 16

Second Reading: Hebrew 10: 11-14, 18

Gospel reading according to Mark 13: 24-32

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Homily:

Jesus saw already what will happen in the future. “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’.” (Mk. 13: 24-25).  First, there will be tribulation, pain, and suffering.  These refer to his passion, suffering, crucifixion and death on the cross, but on the third day he resurrect from the dead.  Secondly, what will happen in those days, such as, in the morning of that day there is darkness for the sun will be hiding in the dark clouds; and then, in the evening there will be no light from the moon for it will be covered by the thick clouds, next, while the stars in the sky will be as if falling down to the earth, and even heavenly bodies, the galaxies, lastly, will be shaken to its foundation. There will be total eclipse in the sky.  There will be chaos throughout the whole world.  There will be total darkness in the sky and in the heavenly bodies during that day or in those days, as Jesus foretold and revealed. 

After total darkness in the sky and on earth, a shining, too brightly, “nakakasilaw na liwanag,” and glorious light from the sky and the heavenly bodies will be seen by all creatures on earth.  “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” (Mk. 13: 26-27). Like the transfiguration in Mount Tabor, the brilliant and dazzling light will be shown not only to three persons or disciples, but of thousands and millions of people throughout the whole world, from the smallest islands to continents.  The Son of Man and the Son of God will be coming from heaven - where he came from, where he returned, and where he will be back from where he came.  So great and powerful in appearance and full of glorious light and supremacy, Jesus the Christ, the King of Heaven and earth is coming amidst the clouds.  His angels will be with him and gather all the elected followers and disciples who are faithful until the end from the four corners of the winds – from the north to the south, from east to west, and even those creatures living beyond the galaxies and the heavenly bodies, e.g., aliens, extraterrestrial, creatures from outer space, intelligent life form – “to the end of the sky.”  All creatures, within the earth, the galaxies and beyond, will see the glory and power of Jesus Christ when he comes.

These things happening in the sky and/or heavenly bodies or beyond the galaxies can be observed also here on earth.  Jesus gave an example of the lesson from the fig tree.  “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” (Mk. 13: 28-29).  When summer comes, the fig trees become soft and tender and the leaves are coming out from their branches.  Jesus was telling his disciples and us, that when the sun in the morning will become dark, the moon will not shower its light in the evening, the stars will be falling down and the heavens (heavenly bodies, galaxies) will be shaken after the tribulation, these mean, these indicate the imminent coming of Jesus, his return to earth, will be near. 

Everything that Jesus said will happen.  He guaranteed his hearers that those things he described will happen sooner or later.  “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” (Mk. 13: 30-31).  In his time and in his disciples, followers and hearers’ time – this generation will be the witnesses of what he foretold and revealed, especially the tribulation, the first thing first to happen before the chaos in the sky will happen.  Heaven and earth will pass away but his words will not pass away.  He was not telling a lie, everything he said will come to occur. 

Despite Jesus saw the future and what will happen in those days, he did not know or he never knew the exact date and time all these things befall.  “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son of Man, but only the Father” (Mk. 13: 32).  This is again one of the many things God the Father did not reveal to Jesus when he, Jesus, became human being, a man.  And even the angels of God, who serve God all throughout the day and night, were not able to find out when these all things will happen.  Only God knows.