Breaking the Word

34^th Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 26^th November 2024 – Rev 14,14-19; Lk 21,5-11

Fiery Sickles of Judgement

The first reading presents John’s vision of the Son of Man and His angels using sharp sickles. The sickle was a tool for harvesting grain. It signals judgment and the end of an age. The first angel harvests the wheat, a symbol of the righteous and good, who are gathered and stored in a granary. The second angel is sent out to sever the sinners and bad like grapes from the vine. The unbelievers, who are wicked and useless, are discarded and crushed into winepresses of God’s anger, a common symbol of God’s judgement (Is 63,3). Obviously, God is not pleased by those who fail to follow the Lord Jesus. The judgement symbolizing the harvest of grain and grapes, evokes a prophecy from Joel 3,13. In Joel’s prophecy, the nations who threatened Jerusalem were judged. Here in the Book of Revelation, Jerusalem itself is judged and has its everlasting effects. In Mathew’s Gospel, the parable of the Wheat and the Weeds (Mt 13,24-30.36-43) refers to the righteous and unrighteous. Both are cut down and separated. The righteous will be vindicated and welcomed into the eternal dwelling of God, while the unrighteous will be judged and tossed into the eternal fire. The thought on the final judgment, at the end of the liturgical year, invites us to reflect on where we stand before God and before each other and how prepared we are for the unexpected end.

32^nd Week in Ord. Time, Saturday – 16^th November 2024 – 3 John 5-8; Lk 18,1-8

Icon of Hospitable Faith

In the first reading, John praises Gaius, his beloved (mentioned thrice 3 Jn 1.2.5) and highlights some of his positive traits. Gaius treats his brethren well and they speak highly of him among the churches. He is appreciated for living out his faith by being hospitable towards missionaries, those who are strangers. Though Gaius didn’t know them personally, yet he treated them like family members. He shared his resources generously not only to his local community of believers but also to those being sent out to spread the good news to others. John finds that the missionaries had the right motive of serving others from a strong sense of their calling. The “name” of Jesus was their reason for serving and travelling. They took no money from the gentiles, but relied on Christians in the local churches for support. Therefore, John exhorts Gaius to continue his support for those being sent out on the journey of faith, to the messengers of truth. Gaius, besides being a popular leader in faith, was known as a great host. He stands as an example of a true disciple, who helps others to spread God’s good news of salvation.