Mark 13:24-32

Daniel 12:1-3

Psalm 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11

Hebrews 10:11-14, 18

Mark 13:24-32

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.

“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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you know all things. I trust that you will bring me to a good end. I earnestly desire eternal life with you, with your Son, and with your Spirit. I will do my best to hear and heed the words of your Son.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The End of the Old Temple: In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus has just predicted that tribulation and destruction will be poured out upon Jerusalem (Mark 13:1-20). There will be false signs (Mark 13:21-23) and true signs (Mark 13:24-27) that mark the time of tribulation before the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and before the end of the world. On the one hand, Jesus’ prophecy about the darkening of the sun, moon, and stars refers to the destruction of the Temple, which was understood as a microcosm of the universe. On the other, it indicates the passing away of the old creation and the definitive establishment of the new creation at the end of time. Jesus, the Son of Man, has judged the old Temple as corrupt and as having failed to be a house of prayer for all nations. Jesus will take up the role and purpose of the old Temple and, as the New Temple, will gather in all the nations and, in this way, bring about the restoration of Israel (see Gray, The Temple in the Gospel of Mark, 144).

2. The Time of Tribulation: The First Reading, taken from Daniel 12, contains a prophecy about the time of tribulation and the resurrection of the dead. Those who remain faithful during the time of tribulation, even unto death, are assured of the blessings that the messianic Kingdom of God will bring (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Daniel, 42). Historically, the time of tribulation prophesied by Daniel refers first to the time of Antiochus IV, who persecuted the people of Judah and desecrated the Temple of Jerusalem by sacrificing a pig on the altar in 176 B.C. The First and Second Book of the Maccabees tells the story of those who fought against Antiochus IV, those who persevered through the time of tribulation, as well as the story of those who were martyred. Jesus, echoing the prophecy of Daniel, also foretold a time of tribulation before the destruction of Jerusalem. Since the end of the Temple points to the end of the world, Jesus’ prophetic words reveal that there will be a time of great tribulation before his second coming at the end of time.

3. Now He Waits: The Second Reading, from the Letter to the Hebrews, contemplates Jesus, our faithful and merciful high priest, in heaven. If we ask, “What is Jesus doing there?” or, “How does he act as a priest in heaven?,” the Letter responds that Jesus is sitting down. This draws out a marked contrast between the old Levitical priests who stood in the old Temple, meaning that their work was perpetually unfinished. No matter how many sheep, lambs, goats, bulls, and birds they sacrificed, they could not bring about the forgiveness of the sins of the people. In contrast, Jesus’ sacrifice, work of redemption, and forgiveness of our sins have been definitively accomplished. And so, having accomplished his work, he now sits at the right hand of God the Father: “His victory is complete; all that remains is for every hostile power in the universe to be made subject to him” (Healy, Hebrews, 204). Sitting at the right hand of the Father, Jesus makes intercession for each one of us as our eternal and merciful high priest.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, as you sit on the throne of grace and mercy at the right hand of your Father, speak to him and intercede for me. Tell your Father how I have acted, why I have done what I have done, and what I most need to attain glory and eternal life.

Living the Word of God: How am I persevering during times of trial, temptation, and tribulation? Am I a person of prayer, asking for Jesus to intercede for me before the Father? What do I need to remain faithful during difficult times? How can I imitate Jesus the high priest and intercede for others?