Jesus' Hour

11-15-2015Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

The Book of Daniel in the 1st reading describes the apocalyptic hour, where the prophet sees the final act of God. In the final battle between good and evil, Michael, a prince and guardian, will protect God’s people. This is probably the same Michael described in Rev. 12:7, as an angel who fought to drive the dragon out of heaven with his minions. Both in Daniel as in Revelation, the hour is the battle between good and evil, right and wrong, God’s angels and Satan’s minions.

While the Judeo-Christian Apocalyptic hour describes the sacrifice of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the one sacrifice or offering that is perfect and forever, thus, need not be repeated. Christ’s sacrifice is “The Sacrifice once and for All,” exalted to heaven’s glory. This is “the hour” Jesus awaits to make the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of all. The sacrifice is the fulfillment of the mission of Jesus, for which His name also represents, Mt. 1:21: “She will give birth to a Son and you will name Him Jesus, because he is the one who will save His people from their sins.” At the same time, this is the awaited “hour” when the Messiah would make the ultimate sacrifice as a ransom for all. (1Tim. 2:6)

The Apocalyptic theme is purposely placed towards the end of the liturgical year, which is the Sunday before the Solemnity of Christ the King, the last Sunday of the Liturgical calendar. Here, there is an abrupt transition from the theme of the Apocalyptic ending to the theme of the joyful anticipation of the things to come.

Jesus is the King of the universe, but in His 2nd coming - His reign as King will be fully revealed to all. At the end of his earthly life, he was raised up on a cross as King of the Jews, with a mock inscription INRI, which means Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews. But until His 2nd coming is fulfilled, the greatest day, the full extent of His Kingship is yet to be revealed. As the prayer to the Father rightly asks, “Our Father in Heaven, Holy be your Name, Thy KINGDOM come…”

The Apocalyptic theme speaks of the end times; at the same time gives a picture of HOPE. Christian Life is all about this HOPE. The Gospel describes all the tribulations when the hour comes, but these will all pass away. Christian life does not end there, faith and hope in the Lord gives life, with Jesus’ promise of new life and the glory to come. The Apocalyptic theme reckons to new life, which effectively leads to the Feast of Christ the King, the Feast of the HOPE for new life, A new spring of life, similar to spring time, when all trees blossom again, new buds, and new flowers to flood the whole landscape with the spring of hope. Spring’s transforming the whole landscape is imaging the ideas of rebirth, renewal, resurrection and new growth, the perfect image of Jesus’ hour and in His reign.

Be in God,
Fr. Bing

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