11/27/2025 (Thursday) Today’s Gospel reading: 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.”

11/27/2025 (Thursday) Today’s Gospel reflection / homily / sermon: Luke 21:20-28

When Jesus spoke of troubling times ahead such as moments when nations tremble, cities crumble, people lose heart, and fear grips the world, He was not merely describing destruction. He was declaring hope. He was teaching that beyond the darkest nights, there is a dawn; beyond confusion, there is fulfillment; beyond despair, there is redemption. His message was not a warning meant to frighten but a promise meant to strengthen. He wanted His followers to know that when the world shakes, God’s plan does not. When life becomes overwhelming, His faithfulness remains unbroken.

The disciples heard about a future filled with events that could easily terrify any believer. Signs in the earth and heavens, turmoil among nations, and struggles unlike anything they had ever known. Yet Jesus pointed them away from fear and toward confidence. He wanted them to see that every shaking, every challenge, every historical storm was leading to a greater purpose, God’s redeeming intervention. He wanted them to trust that redemption is not a distant dream but a divine certainty.

Today, we find ourselves living in a world that often feels like the same story unfolding in a modern setting. We see wars, pandemics, moral confusion, political division, natural disasters, and countless tragedies that shake the human heart. Many are overwhelmed, wondering where hope can be found. But the promise of Jesus remains unchanged: redemption is coming, and God is not silent. He has not abandoned His people. He has not lost control. His light still shines in every age, including ours.

Jesus invited His followers not to panic when troubles arrive but to stand firm. While many collapse under fear, His people are called to rise in faith. When others lower their heads, we lift ours. When some lose direction, we hold on to the truth that God is at work in what we see and in what we cannot see. The believer’s posture in times of crisis is not defeat but expectation. Not despair but hope. Not discouragement but confident endurance. Our redemption is nearer today than ever.

Our response, therefore, must reflect the certainty of God’s promises. First, we are called to live awake. Many people today live distracted by the noise of life, unaware of spiritual realities. Jesus reminds us that history is moving toward a divine hope so we cannot afford to live asleep. We must be spiritually alert, anchored in prayer, rooted in Scripture, and connected with God daily. Those who watch for God will see Him move.

Second, we are called to live with courage. Not a courage based on human strength but on divine presence. Our world needs people who are not crushed by fear but strengthened by faith. People who speak hope when others speak despair. People who stand for truth even when truth is unpopular. Courage shines brightest when darkness grows deep.

Third, we are called to live with compassion and purpose. Jesus did not ask His followers to merely survive until redemption. He asked them to serve. Even as the world trembles, the mission remains: love the broken, share the Gospel, comfort the hurting, and be a light that points people to God. In a world searching for answers, the lives of believers must become living testimonies of God’s redeeming love.

Redemption is not only a future moment when God will restore all things. It is also a present reality unfolding in the hearts of those who trust Him. Every life transformed, every prayer answered, every small act of faith becomes a window through which heaven touches earth.

So let us stand with heads lifted, hearts steadfast, faith unshaken. The world may shake, but redemption is coming. And until that day, may we live awake, courageous, and committed to God’s mission. For He who promised redemption is faithful, and His people are never forgotten.

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