20221125 THE ETERNAL REIGN OF GOD
25 November, 2022, Friday, 34th Week in Ordinary Time
First reading |
Apocalypse 20:1-4,11-21:2 © |
The book of life was opened, and the dead were judged
I, John, saw an angel come down from heaven with the key of the Abyss in his hand and an enormous chain. He overpowered the dragon, that primeval serpent which is the devil and Satan, and chained him up for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and shut the entrance and sealed it over him, to make sure he would not deceive the nations again until the thousand years had passed. At the end of that time he must be released, but only for a short while.
Then I saw some thrones, and I saw those who are given the power to be judges take their seats on them. I saw the souls of all who had been beheaded for having witnessed for Jesus and for having preached God’s word, and those who refused to worship the beast or his statue and would not have the brand-mark on their foreheads or hands; they came to life, and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Then I saw a great white throne and the One who was sitting on it. In his presence, earth and sky vanished, leaving no trace. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing in front of his throne, while the book of life was opened, and other books opened which were the record of what they had done in their lives, by which the dead were judged.
The sea gave up all the dead who were in it; Death and Hades were emptied of the dead that were in them; and every one was judged according to the way in which he had lived. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the burning lake. This burning lake is the second death; and anybody whose name could not be found written in the book of life was thrown into the burning lake.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 83(84):3-6,8 © |
Here God lives among men.
My soul is longing and yearning,
is yearning for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and my soul ring out their joy
to God, the living God.
Here God lives among men.
The sparrow herself finds a home
and the swallow a nest for her brood;
she lays her young by your altars,
Lord of hosts, my king and my God.
Here God lives among men.
They are happy, who dwell in your house,
for ever singing your praise.
They are happy, whose strength is in you:
they walk with ever-growing strength.
Here God lives among men.
Gospel Acclamation | Lk21:28 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stand erect, hold your heads high,
because your liberation is near at hand.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Luke 21:29-33 © |
My words will never pass away
Jesus told his disciples a parable: ‘Think of the fig tree and indeed every tree. As soon as you see them bud, you know that summer is now near. So with you when you see these things happening: know that the kingdom of God is near. I tell you solemnly, before this generation has passed away all will have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.’
THE ETERNAL REIGN OF GOD
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [REV 20:1-4,11-21:2; LUKE 21:29-33 ]
The mission of Jesus on earth was to establish the Kingdom of God. The teachings of Jesus, especially the parables of the Kingdom are focused on establishing the reign of God on earth. The miracles of Jesus are signs that God reigns on earth. The death and resurrection of our Lord establishes the Kingdom of God definitively when Jesus conquered hatred, sin, death and rose to new life. Consequently, as we reach the end of the liturgical year, the Church seeks to show how the kingdom of God will eventually be established in the world. This happens “when all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who put all things in subjection under him, so that God may be all in all.” (1 Cor 15:28)
But how will this come about? There are a few views with respect how the kingdom of God will be eventually established based on the revelation of St John. He wrote that Christ “overpowered the dragon, the primeval serpent which is the devil and Satan, and chained him up for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and shut the entrance and sealed it over him, to make sure he would not deceive the nations again until the thousand years had passed. At the end of that time he must be released, but only for a short while.” In the first view, some hold that the Church would have a thousand years of peace before the Second Coming of Christ. Another view holds that after the Second Coming of Christ, the Church will continue for another thousand years of peace before Satan is released for a while before the final testing of all who are worthy to enter the kingdom of God. Then there is the historical view which claims that the thousand years had already taken place after the time of persecution of the Roman Empire in the 4th century until the Middle Ages when corruption set in and the Church was divided because of the Reformation.
Whichever view one holds, what is important is to maintain that God reigns in our hearts. The reign of God is a reign of love, peace, and unity. This was what St John visualized. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband.” Heaven is not a place where one goes to, rather it is primarily a state when God dwells in our hearts.
This is beautifully expressed in the responsorial psalm. “Here God lives among men. My soul is longing and yearning, is yearning for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my soul ring out their joy to God, the living God. The sparrow herself finds a home and the swallow a nest for her brood; she lays her young by your altars, Lord of hosts, my king and my God. They are happy, who dwell in your house, for ever singing your praise. They are happy, whose strength is in you. They walk with ever growing strength.”
In the teaching of the Church, Vatican II describes the final outcome of the world in similar terms. “We do not know the time for the consummation of the earth and of humanity, nor do we know how all things will be transformed. As deformed by sin, the shape of this world will pass away; but we are taught that God is preparing a new dwelling place and a new earth where justice will abide, and whose blessedness will answer and surpass all the longings for peace which spring up in the human heart. Then, with death overcome, the sons of God will be raised up in Christ, and what was sown in weakness and corruption will be invested with incorruptibility. Enduring with charity and its fruits, all that creation which God made on man’s account will be unchained from the bondage of vanity.” (Gaudium et spes, 39)
Indeed, the Kingdom of God is established when the following situations have taken place. Firstly, those who have allowed the Lord to be the center of their lives and their all. Such people are the saints and martyrs who gave their entire life to the Lord. “I saw the souls of all who had been beheaded for having witnessed for Jesus and for having preached God’s word, and those who refused to worship the beast or his statue and would not have the brand-mark on their foreheads or hands; they came to life, and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” For these martyrs, they have been so identified with Christ in life and in death, that they are now worthy to be marked with the sign of the Cross.
Secondly, the kingdom of God is established when evil is overcome by good. This is why St John spoke about the judgement at the end of time. He wrote, “I saw the dead, both great and small, standing in front of his throne, while the book of life was opened, and other books opened which were the record of what they had done in their lives, by which the dead were judged.” Those who have done good will find justice and peace. This is what the Lord said, “those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” (Jn 5:29) We will be judged according to how we live our lives, how much we love our fellowmen and serve the poor, the least of our brothers and sisters. (cf Mt 25:31-46) Again this is envisioned in Vatican II when it teaches, “For after we have obeyed the Lord, and in His Spirit nurtured on earth the values of human dignity, brotherhood and freedom, and indeed all the good fruits of our nature and enterprise, we will find them again, but freed of stain, burnished and transfigured, when Christ hands over to the Father: ‘a kingdom eternal and universal, a kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice, love and peace.’ On this earth that Kingdom is already present in mystery. When the Lord returns it will be brought into full flower.” (GS 39)
Thirdly, it depends at the end of the day on whether we are in good relationship with the Lord. We must not think that salvation is merely by good works. Rather, the good works we do are but the expression of our union with Christ and with God in love and service. We are judged not principally by good works unless they spring from our love for God and in Christ. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God – not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” (Eph 2:8-10) So even when our good works are not perfected, it does not mean that we will be condemned. Rather, good works serve as indicators of how much we are in union with the Lord in mind and heart, for they are the fruits of our love for Him.
Finally, all that we can be certain is that when the Kingdom of God is finally established, sin and death will be totally overcome. “The sea gave up all the dead who were in it; Death and Hades were emptied of the dead that were in them; and every one was judged according to the way in which he had lived. Then burning lake is the second death; and anybody whose name could not be found written in the book of life was thrown into the burning lake.” Similarly, St Paul also confirms this truth when he wrote, “Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Cor 15:24-26) Truly, when the whole creation is subjected to Christ and He rules in the hearts and minds of all, then we know that God dwells in man once again.
That is why we have the beautiful imagery of the new paradise that was destroyed by sin. The new heaven and earth replace the old heaven and earth which was tarnished by sin. The Church becomes the New Jerusalem where God dwells and we become the bride of Christ “all dressed for her husband.” Heaven is portrayed as a state of love and bliss. No greater joy can we have than to dwell in the House of the Lord, in His bosom! So when will the kingdom of God come? Jesus told His disciples a parable. “Think of the fig tree and indeed every tree. As soon as you see them bud, you know that summer in now near. So with you see these things happening: know that the kingdom of God is near. I tell you solemnly, before this generation has passed away all will have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Let us then work with the grace of God for these signs of love, justice, and peace to be present on earth, thereby ushering the final establishment of God’s kingdom.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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