This is a community that has been living since 68 AD and has been traumatized by Jewish and Roman persecution.

 

This is a community that has been living since 68 AD and has been traumatized by Jewish and Roman persecution. A time of war, civil violence, betrayals in the Roman power. Confusion in the empire. Calamities, plagues, famine and, in the religious sphere of Israel, the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem. Christians were wondering how to reconcile these events with the hope of the Gospel. Forty years after the resurrection of Jesus, what should be done? How should we proceed? What can we really expect? Those who preach anything, exploit the innocent, falsify everything appear and, in the midst of the crisis, the one who suffers the most is the truth, which by nature always wins the battle, dethroning the oppressive human powers (Rome) and eliminating the false gods of the pagans and of many who, in secret, do not profess the true faith because they follow those who feed them with illusions.

In the passage from the Gospel above, it is possible to perceive an important recommendation that the community be careful with misleading teachings. A wrong reading can ruin everything. We cannot do without hope. As an apocalyptic image, Mark reveals the entire cosmos trembling before the Lord of all things, the Lord of creatures and the salvation of humanity. Everything trembles before the One who brings with Him the renewal of all things. God intervenes in history and His splendor will overshadow all other splendors. The stars will be extinguished before the true light. Men and women who call themselves prophets, false preachers of the word, will be silenced. The so-called great leaders of empires, kingdoms and nations, indifferent to God: everything will be extinguished before the arrival of the Son of God (indicated here by the cosmic tremors). Every form of power that does not serve good will be destroyed, both in nations and in institutions and individuals dominated by the charms of the world and by vices. The Truth will be made present in a glorious way for all. Man will truly see the light, he will see the Truth hidden by hell through the rulers of idolatrous kingdoms and nations. The Son of Man is Jesus Christ, the One toward whom all things are moved. He is the fullness of Israel, the fullness of all creation, the One through whom all things will be renewed. Through Him a new creation will take place. He is the absolute criterion of the final judgment, a reality already present in the Gospel when Jesus states that He is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” and that “no one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). The mystery of the cross already reveals, in the event, the great judgment of a humanity that cannot see the love of God fighting against the hatred provoked by the constant search for oneself, a hedonistic existence and permissiveness and enslavement in the most diverse vices. The world is disoriented. There is a lack of meaning in almost everything and in the lives of many. A great pessimism hangs over the nations. There is a lack of living, passionate models, men and women of truth. What we see, above all, is the doctrine being trampled on. Different interpretations and contrary to the truth of Sacred Scripture. False religiosity. The proclamation of the Gospel without vigor. The presentation of a “gospel” without flavor, without light and without love. A world of historical corruption, immoralities enthroned in the minds and hearts of many Christian men and women, a loss of focus on the missionary proclamation and the meaning of the Church in the world and, in the name of what is unknown, the implantation of a false image of God guided by “mercifulness”, a pseudo-doctrine that carries a practical atheism, underlying the sacred grounds of the Catholic faith. In the face of this, what should we do? Today’s text is intended to encourage and stimulate the elect to a deeper intimacy with God, to not lose the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ, to not abandon the boat in the midst of storms and disappointments, failures and distrust in authorities. They must, therefore, keep their eyes fixed on Christ. He died and rose again, he has already conquered sin, Satan and death. He will always conquer. Whoever remains steadfast to the end will be saved (cf. Mt 24:13). The great lesson of the fig tree: “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch is green and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things happening, know that the Son of Man is near, right at the doors” (28-29). This teaching is encouraging, and makes clear what the Lord really expects from His own: that they be especially attentive and vigilant, and also persevering, firm in faith and hope, because He will truly return. The elect must not be tied to events, but perceive them as signs, not be distressed by misfortunes, but remain vigilant in prayer and in the Word of God, believing in the Son of God. “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things happen. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (30-31). Jerusalem and its Temple fell, later Rome also fell and so did many kingdoms and empires.

“Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (30-31). Jerusalem and its Temple fell, and later Rome also fell, and so many kingdoms and empires fell, but the kingdom of God remained standing, fixed on the Rock that is Christ. Everything in this world can cease to exist, except the Truth, except the Word of God, because He is, above all, God Himself who precedes everything and through Him everything was created and saved.

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (32). Man wants to have dominion over all things, including all knowledge. He does not understand that the path proposed by Jesus is precisely that of not having, but being, placing oneself at service, humbly penetrating the knowledge of God as a beggar for the knowledge and desire of God. The whole reality of Jesus was precisely to be all for the Father, obedient to Him in absolutely everything. He entered the world as a Servant, humble, poor, free and dedicated to salvation. It was up to Him to reveal everything that was necessary for salvation and not to satisfy curiosity. His second coming is a secret reserved to the Father for the moment determined by Him. Jesus Christ, as God with the Father, does not ignore it, he simply obeys the designs established by the Father. The tribulations continue, persecutions everywhere, physical or doctrinal, through strong indifference or clearly expressed repudiation. The planet is shaken by wars and rumors of a third world war. Plagues like never before are emerging within humanity. Unscrupulous world leaders, far from good intentions and interest in the common good. Fascinating technology is posing a great threat to human existence. Millions of people worshiping animals, murdering babies still in the womb and indulging in the most abject pleasures that the human race can reach. Truth is replaced by the interests of the majority or by corrupt leaders and dictators. Human development centers are transformed into laboratories for drugs, promiscuity and anti-Christianity. What should we do, then, in the face of such a serious global context? It is still possible to affirm that the secret is to remain firm in faith and prayer, obedient to the Word of God and with our eyes fixed on the Son of Man who is coming, the eternal Word of the Father, the Only Savior, King and Lord. A big and affectionate hug.