Luke 21:20-28

Daniel 6:12-28

Daniel 3:68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74

Luke 21:20-28

Jesus said to his disciples:

“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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I thank you and praise you. You have delivered me from the slavery of sin and the threat of everlasting death. In return, I humbly offer you today the thanksgiving sacrifice of my self-offering.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Fall of Jerusalem: When Jesus gave his discourse on the end times, he predicted the future fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. These events, which happened in A.D. 70, foreshadow the events that will occur before the end of time. Jesus told his followers that when armies approached and surrounded Jerusalem, they were to flee to the mountains. In fact, when the Romans marched on Jerusalem, the Christians in Jerusalem had already heeded Jesus’ warning and fled to Pella, a city in the Decapolis across the Jordan River. The destruction of the Temple points to the cosmic upheaval that will accompany the end times.  Whether they live in the time leading up to Jerusalem’s destruction, or in the centuries that follow, or in the time of the great tribulation before the end of the world, Jesus’ disciples are not to cower in fear but rather to “stand erect” and raise their heads for their redemption and release from sin and death is at hand. 

2. Daniel and the Lion’s Den: In the First Reading, we see Daniel undergoing persecution during the reign of Darius the Mede. The other counselors of Darius became envious of Daniel's position and sought to find fault in him. The plotted against Daniel and accused him of not obeying Darius’ decree. Darius, we learn, was reluctant to send Daniel to the lion’s den and even prayed that Daniel’s God might save him. During this same period, the people of Israel were encouraged by Cyrus, the king of Persia, to leave Babylon and return to Jerusalem to rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel (Ezra 1:1-4). This is the beginning of the end of the Babylonian exile.

3. The End of the Exile: If we read these two events together, Daniel is freed from the lion's den (in the presence of Darius) and the people of Israel are freed from captivity (by decree of Cyrus). Darius proclaims that the God of Daniel is the “living God, enduring forever; his Kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be without end. He is a deliverer and savior, working signs and wonders in heaven and on earth.” Cyrus, on the other hand, understands that the God who is in Jerusalem wants him to rebuild God's house. In summary, Daniel was saved from the lion's den by God; the people of Israel were set free from Babylon by God; we, the New People of God, are redeemed and saved from sin and death by God and through Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, our redemption is at hand. We believe and proclaim that he will come again with power and glory. Jesus is truly the “Son of Man” (Daniel 7) who is worthy to receive the dominion, glory, and kingship. He has conquered evil and now sits enthroned in heaven, exercising his universal kingship over the world through the Church (see Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, 1866).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I will stand tall and raise my head today to look for your glorious coming on the horizon. You are the Son of Man and are coming in glory to judge the living and the dead. Knowing that I will be judged by you one day, I ask for mercy for the sins I have committed, and I thank you for any good works I have done.

Living the Word of God: Can I take a moment today to pray and intercede for my family, friends, and coworkers by name? Are there any relationships I need to work on to repair?