Let us meditate on the last things of salvation history with the discourses of Jesus before his passion. "In those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens will be overthrown." The sky, the sun, the moon and the stars, which we know from the first pages of Genesis that they are God's creatures, with a beginning - and therefore should not be understood as divinity -, have in themselves the fragility of the creature and will have an end, they are not eternal. "Heaven and earth shall pass away." So shall the history of men and all our undertakings pass away. But the book of Daniel reveals that there are some stars that are forever, in a different firmament: "The wise shall shine like the splendor of the firmament; those who have led many to righteousness shall shine like the stars forever." Works do not remain, but good and do-gooders remain forever. And these wise men guide us through life like stars in the sky.
In addition, the book of Daniel promises the help of angels: "At that time, Michael, the great prince, will arise to watch over the children of your people." And, above all, Jesus assures us that "my words shall not pass away", and that he will return as the cause of eternal salvation: "Then they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great power and glory. He will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven." In the face of the drama of the upheaval of heaven and earth, Jesus consoles us with an image of tenderness and life: he mentions the fig tree, which his listeners know well, and says that its existence is a parable of the definitive advent of the Kingdom. "Learn the parable of the fig tree: when its branches are tender and its leaves sprout, you know that summer is near."
God's creation reveals to us the secrets of his Kingdom. In winter the fig tree appears dead, and is not even used for firewood or for building, because of its fragility, but in summer it is clothed with leaves so large that they can clothe Adam and Eve, and bears two crops of exquisite fruits of great "gentleness" (Jk 9:11). Just as its fruit is sweet and the summer is hot, so will be the second coming of Jesus: "Know that he is near, that he is at the gates." According to the letter to the Hebrews, he approaches with his sacrifice of salvation: "By one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Now, where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no more offering for sin." With Psalm 15 we prepare ourselves for that encounter: "You will show me the path of life, full joy in your presence, endless sweetness at your right hand."
The homily on the readings of Sunday 33rd Sunday
The priest Luis Herrera Campo offers its nanomiliaa small one-minute reflection for these readings.
