As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming on the clouds of heaven…

As we hurtle to the end of the liturgical year, the readings are both about the end times. The reading from Daniel is incredibly graphic and enough to scare almost everyone into reforming their lives—the emphasis as we approach the Advent season is on the coming of the Messiah. The readings are not meant to instill fear but to encourage us to read the signs of the times to recognize the God who comes to us as a loving savior. That positive emphasis is reflected in the responsorial psalm that invites us to give glory and praise to God.

The gospel passage reinforces the need to recognize the signs of the times to discern the kingdom of God in our midst. One of the key ways to recognize God’s presence in our midst is in the Eucharist. There, we are nourished at the table of Christ’s word and the table of his flesh. The final words in today’s gospel remind us, “heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” The Lord’s life-giving word accompanies us not just through all four seasons of the year but through all the seasons of our lives. During life’s winter seasons, we need to remind ourselves of this and find in God’s word the inspiration we need.

At the table of the Eucharist, we are always able to feed ourselves with the very body and blood of our savior. There, we can experience his love, care, and concern as we commemorate the depth of Christ’s love in his willingness to die on the cross for us.

Do we appreciate this?

Let Us Pray:

O Jesus, let me appreciate more and more the various ways you reveal yourself to me, especially in the gift of your Eucharist.