Breaking the Word

34^th Week in Ord. Time, Wednesday – 27^th November 2024 – Rev 15,1-4; Lk 21,12-19

New Song of Deliverance

The apocalyptic vision of John in the first reading presents the righteous people singing the praises of God; it is a new song of Moses. The original “Song of Moses” was sung by the Israelites during the first Exodus (Ex 15,1-18). It commemorates Israel’s deliverance and Egypt’s destruction. It is a hymn of praise to the Lord, who is hailed as Saviour (Ex 15,2), Warrior (Ex 15,3) Redeemer (Ex 15,13) and King (Ex 15,18). These characteristics are also echoed in the new song, where the saints celebrate a new Exodus from the sin and slavery of the world.  The martyrs and true believers are the ultimate witnesses of their faith. Since they remained faithful unto death in the great tribulation and trials, now they are privileged to sing God’s praises. They are the nucleus of the final kingdom. Their song celebrates joyfully the greatness of God (Rev 15,4). They extoll the Lord as performing great and amazing deeds, just and true in His ways. It is called the song of the Lamb because it is about the victory achieved through the blood of the Lamb, who ransomed humanity for God.

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.