Daily Retreat 11/25/08
2008 Nov 25 Tue: Ordinary Weekday/ Catherine of Alexandria, v, mt
Rv 14: 14-19/ Ps 95(96): 10. 11-12. 13/ Lk 21: 5-11
From today’s readings: “The one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested... The Lord comes to judge the earth.... Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”
The Harvest of the Earth
A number of passages in both the Old and New Testaments envision the final judgment as a harvest of souls at the end of time. In today’s verses from the Apocalypse, many interpret the harvest of the first part as the gathering of God’s elect, whereas the second image, that of the cutting of the grapes, would refer to the punishment of the wicked. Or, perhaps the first and second part are both punitive images, cf. Joel 3:13 "Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the wine press is full. The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great." As is often the case in the Book of Revelation, an unresolved ambiguity adds to the impact of the images’ impressions.
What is not ambiguous, however, is the inevitable reality of the final judgment, for the Lord comes to judge the earth!
Rv 14: 14-19/ Ps 95(96): 10. 11-12. 13/ Lk 21: 5-11
From today’s readings: “The one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested... The Lord comes to judge the earth.... Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”
The Harvest of the Earth
A number of passages in both the Old and New Testaments envision the final judgment as a harvest of souls at the end of time. In today’s verses from the Apocalypse, many interpret the harvest of the first part as the gathering of God’s elect, whereas the second image, that of the cutting of the grapes, would refer to the punishment of the wicked. Or, perhaps the first and second part are both punitive images, cf. Joel 3:13 "Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the wine press is full. The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great." As is often the case in the Book of Revelation, an unresolved ambiguity adds to the impact of the images’ impressions.
What is not ambiguous, however, is the inevitable reality of the final judgment, for the Lord comes to judge the earth!
posted by FrPitstick | 11/24/2008
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