Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away

18 NOVEMBER (Mk 13,24-32)

The prophetic Scriptures have always preached the coming of the day of the Lord. However, there is a twofold coming of this day: in time for time, in time to open the gates of eternity to all his creation. Here is how Isaiah speaks of this day, that is, of this coming of the Lord in time for time, to re-establish his righteousness.

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).

Today, Jesus speaks to us of the Lord’s day, of his coming to ferry the entire history into eternity. He also speaks of the coming of the Lord in time, to give Jerusalem its salary due to its infidelity and its sin.

“But 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.

From the speech of Jesus we must learn two important truths. He will come with absolute certainty. With the same absolute certainty no one will know when these things will happen. There will be premonitory signs, but these will be left to the free interpretation of man, who is always unable to read the book of the history of God. No warning sign will give him the certainty of what is going to happen. Only the Holy Spirit can help man to put his life in safety, preparing it to be ready at all times to meet the Lord that comes, either for time or for eternity. Without the Spirit of the Lord we will always live badly our wait.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints make us wise in the Holy Spirit.