Breaking the Word

33rd Ordinary Sunday – 13th November 2022 — Gospel: Lk 21,5-19
Divine protection amidst impending perils

We are immersed in the comforts of the world that we are least bothered about our end-time. We have no idea of what will happen to us after our death. Today’s gospel presents some of the signs that will indicate the end-time. Jesus ensures this in an unusual way.
Disciples admiring remark on the beauty of the Temple (v.5) functions as prelude to the discourse. Reacting to the remark, Jesus predicts the total destruction of the temple (v.6). In turn, this leads to the disciples’ two connected questions (v.7) – ‘when?’ and ‘with what signs?’ Then, Jesus lists things that must take place before the fall of the Temple: appearance of figures claiming to be the returning Messiah (v.8); political and natural calamities (vv.9-11a); and portents in heaven (v.11b). In his next sequence (vv.12-19), Jesus lists trials that will happen to the community even before these events: persecution, imprisonment, impeachment before kings and governors, betrayal within families, and universal hatred.
These constant trappings of Christian life should not be occasions for despair. Indeed Christian faith offers hope and invites us to give testimony to the gospel. What we must do is to remain faithful to Jesus. Those who cling to Jesus and believe in him will experience eternal life when he comes. For the unfaithful, these words are the occasion for sorrow. In these difficult situations, the believers should not think that they have made wrong choices in their lives, but must see God’s plan, guidance and direction in their lives. Finally, Jesus balances his prediction of impending threats with a promise of divine protection: not even a hair on the head will be harmed (v.18; cfr. 2 Sam 14,11; 1 Kgs 1,52; Lk 12,7) and he desires to regain our lives with patience (v.19; Rom 5,3-4; 8,25; 2 Cor 1,6).

32^nd Week in Ord. Time, Saturday – 12^th November 2022 — Gospel: Lk 18,1-8

Icon for Eschatological Justice

Luke introduces the character of the widow as someone who is going repeatedly to the judge for justice. Even in the Old Testament, majority of the contexts are legal in nature, either dealing with legal protection of the widow (justice) or the exploitation of her status (injustice). In the case of justice, the widows are not to be exploited (Ex 22,21-23; Deut 27,19); even then they were found victimized repeatedly (Is 1,23; 10,2; Eze 22,7; Mal 3,5). The prophets were the champions of exploited widows. Repentance began with redressing wrongs done to such unfortunate women (Is 1,17; Jer 7,6; 22,3; Zec 7,10). However, the Gospel text does not state the nature of her complaint, nor does it tell us why the judge refused to listen to her for a while. Luke presented her solely as model for prayer. Through her persistence she becomes an icon for eschatological justice in the Church, redressing the wrongs against the marginalized.