WORD 2day: Tuesday, 34th week in Ordinary time
This week's readings have a bi-dimensional orientation - a preparation towards advent (a new beginning) and at the same time a reflection on the end times. This is the real Christian disposition: a bi-dimensional approach to life.
A reflection on the end times has to be radically open to the new beginnings, lest it becomes a vain curiosity or a damning fatalism. A focus on the new beginnings, the new earth and new heaven, on the definitive coming of the Reign should have a mature openness towards the end time perspective, lest it remains a simplistic dream of an all-bright future, without any personal commitment that amounts to it.
There is no use raving about the last days, the end of the world, the Armageddon, the judgement and so on and so forth, as if talking about a football match or a cricket tournament. Dreams, visions and extra natural phenomenon have no value in themselves, unless they help a better living here and now, and a preparation for a more holistic future.
The first reading and the Gospel today remind us of this need - the need to question ourselves on our life style, our criteria and choices in daily life - whether they are really worthy of the Reign, that which we are called to announce to the world as disciples of Christ! The call that today we are given is, to be daring enough to accept a break down in your life and an eventual restart; to effect a rupture from the old habits and to begin anew; to destroy the old and to build anew; to stop and to proceed. Are we ready?