DAY 8

Waiting for the Kingdom and the life to come

Apocalypse Now!

Scripture Readings

Revelation 21:1-4
Psalm 85:8, 10-12
Luke 12:35-40

Patristic Reading

From the Syriac tradition

Whoever lives in love in this creation breathes the life coming from God. While yet in this world, he breathes the air of rebirth. In this air the righteous will delight at resurrection. Love is the kingdom whereof our Lord mystically promised the disciples that they would eat in his kingdom: “You shall eat and drink at the table of my kingdom.” What should they eat, if not love? Love is sufficient to nourish a man instead of food and drink. This is the wine that gladdens the heart of man. Blessed is he who drinks of this wine! – Isaac of Nineveh [7th century], First Collection, 43

For reflection:

  1. Love will be the reality of the Kingdom of God. Concrete actions of charity make this Kingdom present in our lives.
  2. Living in expectation of the Kingdom of God, how do we embody signs of the coming Kingdom in the world today?
  3. We are called to be ready for the second coming of the Lord. How do we prepare ourselves for it?
  4. For reflection in the Canadian context: Many question the place of religion in the future in Canada. One study addresses many of these concerns: https://biblesociety.ca/wp-

content/uploads/2023/02/The-Shifting-Landscape-of-Faith-in-Canada-Final.pdf . “We do not propose a roadmap back to the previous role of religion in Canada, but rather suggest that in building a greater, more nuanced understanding of the journey of faith of our congregants, communities, and fellow Canadians, perhaps we can be better prepared in finding our footing as models and ministers of the common good among institutions, government, and society.”

Prayer

R/ Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father

O Christ the Lord, who for our sakes became poor and who promise that the poor will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, you fill us with your riches. R/

O Lord Jesus, meek and humble of heart, who reveal a new world to those who trust in you, you give us your fullness. R/

O Christ the Lord, who knelt and prayed with your face to the ground, you who in sadness traced a way of consolation, you are the joy that nothing and no one can take away from us. R/

O Lord Jesus, who cast down rulers and powers and who clothe peacemakers with a glorious robe, you transform us into your image. R/

O Christ the Lord, merciful and compassionate who on the Cross forgave the thief who died with you we beseech you: Remember us when you come into your kingdom. R/

Let us pray.

O Lord, hasten the coming of your great and glorious day!

In our darkness, many men and women no longer dare to hope. Protect the flame of faith in the hearts of the weak and the suffering.

May the Church be a faithful herald of the victory of Christ your Son over death and a beacon of expectation for his return in glory. He is the Living One, with you and with the Holy Spirit. now and forever and ever. AMEN.

Alternative Patristic Readings

From the Greek tradition

You, O Lord, have freed us from the fear of death. You have made the end of this life the beginning for us of true life. You, for a season, let our bodies rest in sleep and awake them again at the last trumpet. You give our earth, which you have fashioned with your hands, to the earth to keep in safety. One day you will take back what you gave, transfiguring with immortality and grace our mortal and unsightly remains … You showed us the way of resurrection, having broken the gates of hell, and brought to nought him who had the power of death. – Gregory of Nyssa [c. 335-395], Life of St Macrina, 24

From the Latin tradition

By hope God breastfeeds us, nourishes us, strengthens us, and give us consolation in this life of toil. In this hope we sing “alleluia”. Just look what joy there is in hope! What can the reality be? You ask: “What can it be?” Listen to what is said: “They shall get drunk on the plenteousness of your house.” That is the reality that hope is about. We are thirsty. We are hungry. It must be that we shall be satisfied. Hunger while on the road, satisfaction when we come home. When shall we be satisfied? “I shall be satisfied when your glory is revealed.” … Then it will be “alleluia” in reality, while now it is just in hope.

– Augustine of Hippo [354-430], Sermons, 255:5

Alternative Canadian Readings Life in the age to come is pictured in the Bible in different ways: an eternal kingdom, a new heaven and earth, a marriage feast, an unending day, the father’s house, and the joy of God’s presence. God will triumph over all opposition and everything that disrupts creation.[1]

[1] Living Faith, 10.2