The Signs of the End

Today's Reflections

          

The Signs of the End 

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Lk 21:5-11

⁵While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, [Jesus] said, ⁶“All that you see here—the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

⁷Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” ⁸He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them! ⁹When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” ¹⁰Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”

Reflection:

When will this happen? People are curious to know when the end of the world will be. Some have even dared to assign dates (and have been proven wrong). Some try to calculate from such obscure sources as the Mayan calendar to come up with the exact date of 21 December 2012, Friday (that again has been proven wrong, otherwise you will not be reading this).

Jesus does not satisfy the curiosity of people. He gives signs in an apocalyptic style, signs that indicate the end of a world and the birth of another. But as to the exact or approximate date of the end, the Lord keeps us hanging. This is because he wants us to be prepared all the time. One thing is certain: the world as we know it now is passing and will give way to new heavens and a new earth. We should welcome the coming of this new world that God will bring about in God’s time. We must do our part by righteous and charitable living to prepare for the new heavens and new earth.

Renewed people prepare the new world.