Thirty Fourth Friday of Ordinary Time (Dan. 7:2-14) “The Ultimate Victory”
Thirty Fourth Friday of Ordinary Time (Dan. 7:2-14) “The Ultimate Victory”
In the last half of the Book of Daniel the writer makes apocalyptic predictions. All of it is very symbolic. What is the method of this strange sounding prophecy?
The writer of Daniel, like other Apocalyptic writers, reflects on what has happened in the past, what is happening in the present and what will happen in the future. But all the writing reads like a prediction of what is to come. Because the writer includes things that have already come to pass the writer sounds more authentic.
An example of this would be the description of the four beasts in this section of Daniel. Each animal represents a different empire. There were four major powers that came and went. First were the Babylonians, second were the Medes, third were the Persians and finally the Greeks came and were in power.
The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and carried many of the Jews into exile. Eventually the Persians allowed the Jews to return home. But then the Greeks came and exerted their power. All these conquerors wanted their cultures to dominate the world, but the Jewish ways survived.
The message that the writer of Daniel was trying to convey was that at times it seemed like the Jewish faith and even the Jewish race would be wiped from the face of the earth, but God did not allow it to happen.
The last part of the prophesy speaks of the God of the Jews arriving in a time of great tribulation. On that day there would be a final reckoning. The wrongs of the past would be righted. Justice would prevail. Those guilty of great atrocities would be punished. Those who suffered would be vindicated.
This is a message of hope. We have great crimes being committed today against the innocent by those who hold military might. But there will come a day when the those in power will fall. Might does not make right. Such is the way it always has been and always will be.
Reflection Questions:
Do I believe that injustice will be rectified? How?
What world situation is most distressing to me? Can I put that in God’s hands?
Dear Parishioners,
During the holidays we have many young people who get engaged. We have had several couples call to schedule weddings. This is heartening. Catholic weddings have decreased the last 40 years by two thirds. Some people marry in a non-Catholic ceremony. Many couples do not marry at all. When someone approaches the church for a Catholic ceremony I try to be as helpful as I can. The grace of the sacrament of matrimony is an important thing to see in our unstable world.
If you know of a couple that is getting engaged encourage them to see a priest. The preparation is not that difficult. The benefits cannot be measured.
May Our Lady pray for us,
Fr. Mark