Lectionary # 507 and # 508 Friday and Saturday of 34 week

Two meditations follow. Lectionary #507 and # 508

Scripture: Lectionary # 507 followed by Lectionary # 508, Fri and Sat of
34th week. First, Lectionary # 507:
Daniel 7:2-14. Resp. Daniel 75-81. Luke 21:29-33:

We are probably aware that many of the symbols and images found in the Book
of Daniel are also paralleled and adapted to the message that is found in
the last book of the New Testament called the Apocalypse or the Book of
Revelation (note always the use of the singular for this book). Both books
have as their point of view and overall perspective the worship of God
alone. This should guide us through these symbolic books and help us to
avoid getting stuck on just certain pet phrases of those who are predicting
things from these books. They alone, the books themselves are to be
trusted, not the modern "prophetic charlatans" who misuse and misinterpet
these worship of God alone books.

All dominions, powers, and kingdoms of the world of evil and sin are
destroyed by the victory of God and of Jesus respectively. Most of the
inferences are to these kinds of kingdoms that cannot be judged in the same
way we do about countries that are now at war with one another. In Daniel,
God's lowly servant Daniel and his three companions are the righteous ones
who submit themselves to the Almighty and all Holy One, the Ancient of
Days, the Rock, and the God of Israel. Secular kingdoms do fade away in
the visions and interpretations of Daniel--all of them are already past so
our author is telling their history more that predicting their downfall in
a prophecy. Prophecy is a gift of God not to be tampered with. "No
prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the
prophecy came not at any time by the will of man, but all holy men of God
spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (II Peter 1:20-21).

Many of Daniel's images of God are found in the Book of Revelation. It is
in the first chapter that we recognize this as the Ancient of Days and the
Son of Man are described (see Daniel7:99-10; 10:5-6 and its parralel in
Rev. 1:12-15). The imagery of Daniel will continue throughout the Book of
Revelation in other ways. The one seated on the clouds looking like a human
is Jesus the Son of Man. This becomes a key concept in the Gospels where
Son of Man and Son of God are found to be Jesus. These terms are
Christological statements. Jesus also in the king of kings and lord of
lords thus the kingdoms one by one falter and fall beneath is transcendent
power.

The violent scenes are very dramatic in both of these inspired writings but
they are more the shadowy background of what is seen as evil in
contemporary first century minds. The key and central ideas are more in
the area of worshipping God and thereby overcoming all forms of evil,
Satan, and death itself. Handel's Messiah is based on much of the praises
and worship of Jesus. He has the correct interpretation rather than the
self-styled prophets who look for making money of this liturgical
presentation of the Passion, death and triumphant resurrection of
Jesus--the key message made to the seven churches. The violence is silenced
and remote when we correctly read both of these works. Jesus, in fact, is
the sacrificed lamb of God who is also the Messiah and the Lion of Israel
conquerer of all that is false, evil, and satanic. The lowly and righteous
are raised up while the arrogant and power hungry are lowered and thrust
down to the underworld. Both works mirror one another in their point of
view and their thematic liturgical message of worship. We have experienced
this in our celebration of this past Sunday in the Feast of Christ the King
whose kingdom is not of this world. Amen.

Lectionary # 508: Saturday of 34th week. Daniel 7:15-27. Daniel 3:82-87.
Luke 21:34-36.

On this last day of the liturgical year we have an opportunity for
reviewing our prayer life and our participation in the life of worship of
the Church or the liturgical year. Advent begins with Vespers or the
Evening Song on this day as we approach sunset. Our prayer of
self-examination is not a negative exercise but one of thanksgiving and
preparation for the coming of the new liturgical year. We ask forgiveness
for our lack of attention to prayer or our laziness and forgetfulness. We
then move on in hope for growth in our prayer and our communty worship
especially on Sundays. Advent is the appropriate season for doing this
without feeling guilty about where we were not up to par.

The selection from Luke is very short but it does contain a verse about
continuing to pray and that is the best way to conclude this past year of
prayer and worship. Jesus says, "Watch ye, therefore, and pray always,
that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come
to pas, and to stand before the Son of man." (Luke 21:36). We do so with
great hope and confidence in the mercy and love of God as we think about
God's judgment now and at the final moment of life.

We are finishing the Canticle of Daniel as our Responsorial Psalm and join
in with the Israelites in praising God for the human and angelic realms of
God's creation. Those made in the image and likeness of God call for such
praise of God, then Israel his servant, the spirits and souls of the just,
people of humble heart--and all of us who join them while giving glory and
praise to God. And as we end with this reading from Daniel we are assured
that all kingdoms and peoples will be given over to God, the Almighty One
whose kingdom endures forever. Amen.