Daily Retreat 12/01/06
2006 Dec 1 Fri: Ordinary Weekday
Rv 20: 1-4. 11 – 21: 2/ Ps 83(84): 3. 4. 5-6a and 8a/ Lk 21: 29-33
From today’s readings: “All the dead were judged according to their deeds.... Here God lives among His people.... In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. ”
Unseasonable Conclusions
With the leaves already fallen, and the tree branches standing stark and cold, and so many other harbingers of winter all around us, the Gospel verses about budding trees and signs of summer might seem ironically unseasonable for those of us reading them at this time of the year. Yet remember, when Jesus spoke this parable, it was actually Tuesday of Passion week, when the trees and all of nature would have been ripe with ubiquitous and unmistakable promises of summer.
Now, to the extent possible, the Church’s liturgical year and lectionary plan strive to follow and harmonize with the natural rhythm of the seasons. This explains, for example, why the end of the world and human death are prominent liturgical themes in the month of November, which, at least in the northern hemisphere, is Mother Nature’s own time of preparation for the cold lifelessness of winter.
Still, such natural concordance isn’t always possible, of course, as is illustrated today by the seemingly untimely reference to summer in Luke’s Gospel. So then, this simple example illustrates why scripture study must be more than merely questioning “what does this mean to me?” Rather, only with humble prayers for guidance, and by noting the reading’s context, and being attentive to details, and diligently studying history, language, and other cultural and climatic variables, do you and I really realize that the Kingdom of God is near, here and now, especially when we strive to best hear and understand the divine Word God has spoken for all times and seasons!
Rv 20: 1-4. 11 – 21: 2/ Ps 83(84): 3. 4. 5-6a and 8a/ Lk 21: 29-33
From today’s readings: “All the dead were judged according to their deeds.... Here God lives among His people.... In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. ”
Unseasonable Conclusions
With the leaves already fallen, and the tree branches standing stark and cold, and so many other harbingers of winter all around us, the Gospel verses about budding trees and signs of summer might seem ironically unseasonable for those of us reading them at this time of the year. Yet remember, when Jesus spoke this parable, it was actually Tuesday of Passion week, when the trees and all of nature would have been ripe with ubiquitous and unmistakable promises of summer.
Now, to the extent possible, the Church’s liturgical year and lectionary plan strive to follow and harmonize with the natural rhythm of the seasons. This explains, for example, why the end of the world and human death are prominent liturgical themes in the month of November, which, at least in the northern hemisphere, is Mother Nature’s own time of preparation for the cold lifelessness of winter.
Still, such natural concordance isn’t always possible, of course, as is illustrated today by the seemingly untimely reference to summer in Luke’s Gospel. So then, this simple example illustrates why scripture study must be more than merely questioning “what does this mean to me?” Rather, only with humble prayers for guidance, and by noting the reading’s context, and being attentive to details, and diligently studying history, language, and other cultural and climatic variables, do you and I really realize that the Kingdom of God is near, here and now, especially when we strive to best hear and understand the divine Word God has spoken for all times and seasons!
posted by FrPitstick | 11/25/2006
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