Know that its desolation is at hand

28 NOVEMBER (Lk 21,20-28)

The prophet is true not only when he announces good and favorable things for us, but also not good, not favorable things, rather very bad for us. A prophet who preaches only hope, mercy, compassion, charity and love is certainly a false one. It is proper of the tradition of the true prophets proclaiming God’s judgment on our history; but not the judgment of the last day, but what the Lord is about to do today. What is true of the prophecy, it also applies to theology, preaching, catechesis, catechism and every other form of announcement. The minister of the Word and those who carry out the ministry of evangelization, are true if they, too, do not stop to contemplate the eternal love of God and His boundless mercy; but they also stop to consider his always forthcoming judgment on our history. If they do not do this, their preaching is false, misleading, lying and deceitful.

An oracle concerning Babylon; a vision of Isaiah, son of Amoz. Upon the bare mountains set up a signal; cry out to them, Wave for them to enter the gates of the volunteers. I have commanded my dedicated soldiers, I have summoned my warriors, eager and bold to carry out my anger. Listen! the rumble on the mountains: that of an immense throng! Listen! the noise of kingdoms, nations assembled! The Lord of hosts is mustering an army for battle. They come from a far-off country, and from the end of the heavens, The Lord and the instruments of his wrath, to destroy all the land. Howl, for the day of the Lord is near; as destruction from the Almighty it comes. Therefore all hands fall helpless, the bows of the young men fall from their hands. Every man’s heart melts in terror. Pangs and sorrows take hold of them, like a woman in labor they writhe; They look aghast at each other, their faces aflame. Lo, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and burning anger; To lay waste the land and destroy the sinners within it! The stars and constellations of the heavens send forth no light; The sun is dark when it rises, and the light of the moon does not shine. Thus I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their guilt. I will put an end to the pride of the arrogant, the insolence of tyrants I will humble. I will make mortals more rare than pure gold, men, than gold of Ophir. For this I will make the heavens tremble and the earth shall be shaken from its place, At the wrath of the Lord of hosts on the day of his burning anger. Like a hunted gazelle, or a flock that no one gathers, Every man shall turn to his kindred and flee to his own land. Everyone who is caught shall be run through; to a man, they shall fall by the sword. Their infants shall be dashed to pieces in their sight; their houses shall be plundered and their wives ravished. I am stirring up against them the Medes, who think nothing of silver and take no delight in gold. The fruit of the womb they shall not spare, nor shall they have eyes of pity for children. And Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory and pride of the Chaldeans, Shall be overthrown by God like Sodom and like Gomorrah. She shall never be inhabited, nor dwelt in, from age to age; The Arab shall not pitch his tent there, nor shepherds couch their flocks. But wildcats shall rest there and owls shall fill the houses; There ostriches shall dwell, and satyrs shall dance. Desert beasts shall howl in her castles, and jackals in her luxurious palaces. Her time is near at hand and her days shall not be prolonged (Is 13,1-22).

Jesus is the true prophet. He preaches the end of Jerusalem. This prophecy alone is enough for him to be counted among the true prophets of Israel.

“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city, for these days are the time of punishment when all the scriptures are fulfilled. Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints make us true prophets of Jesus.