PREPARING FOR THE END OF THE WORLD ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Daily Reflections

Tuesday, 28^thNovember 2017,

Thirty Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Dan 2: 31-45;

Dan 3: 57-61 (R) 59;

Lk 21: 5-11.

PREPARING FOR THE END OF THE WORLD

All good things come to an end. All that has a beginning will have an end. God who marked the beginning of this universe will cause an end. Today’s readings cast light on the end times. The Gospel describes that “desolation is at hand.” But the Gospel passage closes with a very different ending as Jesus enjoins his followers to “stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” The critical issue isn’t what’s happening so much as it is how we respond in faith to what happens. No matter when and how the world ends, we all sooner or later face a personal end in which we will have to account to our creator for how we have spent our lives. Have we lived in faith? If yes, then we will be ready for the coming of the Lord, with our heads raised high!

For each one of us, there may be many “earthquakes, famines, and plagues” that we encounter in life. They will take on various forms and will be the cause of much distress at times. But they do not need to be. If we understand that Jesus is aware of the chaos we may encounter and if we understand that He actually prepared us for it, we will be more at peace when the troubles come. In a sense, we will be able to simply say, “Oh, this is one of those things, or one of those moments, Jesus said would come.” This understanding of the challenges to come should help prepare us for them and endure them with hope and trust.

Reflect, today, on any particular ways that this prophetic word of Christ has taken place in your own life. Know that Jesus is there in the midst of all apparent chaos, leading you through to the glorious conclusion He has in mind for you!

Prayer: Lord, when my world seems to cave in around me, help me to turn my eyes to You and to trust in Your mercy and grace. Help me to know that You will never abandon me and that You have a perfect plan for all things. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.