Summer is near

Thirty Third Sunday - Year B

Daniel 12:1-3; Hebrews 10:11-14, 18; Mark 13:24-32

The temple of Jerusalem was at the center of the universe. There, heaven met earth. However, when the Word of God who became man (John 1:14) visited the temple He found it resembling a den of robbers (Mark 11:17). After leaving the temple, Jesus foretells its destruction (Mark 13:2) and this prediction arises the curiosity of the disciples: “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” (Mark 13:4).

We do not get the answer we would like to hear, namely a concrete date: “about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32). But we get a warning against false messiahs, persecutions, destruction of the Temple, cosmic upheaval, and the coming of the Son of Man (Mark 13:5-27). If we apply to the text our concept of time as a straight line from the past through the present till the future we will not be able to understand the cryptic meaning of the text. However, Mark operates on a different level: time and eternity meet each other in historical events.

“But in those days, following that distress, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’” (Mark 13:24-25). The seven lights of the menorah (Ex. 25:31-40) that were lighted inside the temple each morning represented the sun, the moon, and the five known at that time planet. Moreover, the veil “was a kind of image of the universe” embroidered with “all that was mystical in the heavens” (Josephus - the Jewish historian of the first century CE and the priest himself). Thus, the burning of the temple in 70 CE was indeed an upheaval of cosmic proportions.

“Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” (John 2:19). Before the cosmic upheaval of the year 70 CE, there was much greater upheaval when the Temple of Jesus’ body was destroyed by being nailed to the cross. The Gospels tells us that “darkness came over the whole earth” (Mark 15:33), “the sun was darkened and the veil of the temple was torn in two” (Luke 23:45), then “the earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life” (Matt. 27:51-52).

“At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory” (Mark 13:26). What we see now is Jesus seating “forever at the right hand of God” and waiting “until his enemies are made his footstool” (Heb. 10:12-13). In the meantime, He sends his messengers - the word "anggelos" in Greek means messenger and angel - namely his disciples to the four corners of the earth. By preaching the Gospel about the crucified and risen Christ they gather to the Church the elect ones (Mark 13:27).

What does the fig tree teach us? (Mark 13:28). Its leaves sprout in April indicating that summer and harvest time is around the corner. Jesus’ death and resurrection ended the old age of evil and sin, and it has begun a new creation, the age of grace, freedom, and salvation. However, the cursing of the fig tree in the Gospel (Mark 11:14) also indicates that the Lord of the universe will search for the fruits of this new creation in our life. That is also indicated in Daniel’s prophecy about the resurrection. “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt“ (Dan. 12:2).

Jesus’ sacrificial death marks the end of the dark ages of evil and sin. And although the darkness of evil and winter of sin will still try to prevent us from producing the fruits of our new life in Christ, if we hold on to our faith, we shall see the summer of the resurrection. Therefore, let us “be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36).