A reading from the gospel according to Luke 21:20-28
Jesus said to his disciples:
20 “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand.
21 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,
22 for these days are the time of punishment when all the Scriptures are fulfilled.
23 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.
24 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.
25 “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.
26 People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”
Reflection: Redemption
At the end of time, Jesus will come again with power and great glory but before this could happen, there will be great tragedies and destruction. It will be a time of judgment and punishment. Yet, it will also be the time of redemption for those who are prepared by being faithful to the teachings of Jesus. Therefore, the second coming of the Lord is a welcome event for those who truly love Him.
The prophecy of Jesus about the fall of Jerusalem as we read in the gospel above was actually fulfilled in 70 AD when Roman soldiers laid siege in Jerusalem and surrounded it with a wall. But before city’s fall, the Christians who remembered this warning of Jesus were spared because they fled the city before its actual destruction. This is really a warning to get out acts together, believe in the gospel and live a holy life. Thus, we will not be terrified of whatever calamities that will cross our path.
There is no doubt that God loves us so much as to send His only Son Jesus to redeem. If we believe in Him, we will not perish. Instead we will have everlasting life us (John 3:16). This is the promise of the scripture. This is what makes us confident that we shall be saved at the end of time. This is because Jesus has already redeemed us by His death and resurrection.
