Our Venerable Mother Xenia the Roman.
2 Peter 3:1-18. Mark 13:24-31
Read Mark 13:24-31
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
We often forget how small we are until we fly in an airplane and look out the window. Thinking of our planet’s place in the solar system, in the galaxy, in the universe is mind-boggling. There are YouTube videos which show the relative size of the earth to the sun and the sun to other stars. We are so tiny! None of these humongous, countless stars or our earth will last forever. Stars will one day die and stop giving their light. Today Christ reminds us: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Mk. 13:31).
Today’s gospel reading tells what will happen when the Son of Man comes in the clouds “with great power and glory” (Mk. 13:26). Christ was born quietly in a cave in Bethlehem, but His Second Coming will be loud and known. He tells the parable of the fig tree. We can observe the physical characteristics of a fig tree to know when summer is near, and likewise we can use physical signs to know when the time Christ will come again in glory is near.
Although we will be able to recognize that Christ’s return is coming soon, Jesus’ message to us is to be ever-vigilant. After telling the parable of the wise and foolish virgins and the importance of being prepared for the return of the bridegroom, He tells us, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Mt. 25:13).
We are called to be attentive and observe the signs of the times. We are exhorted to be watchful. Living our day-to-day lives, there is a temptation to get absorbed into our earthly concerns and stop caring about spiritual things. We lose our perspective that this world shall pass away, but Christ’s words shall never pass away. We worry about what we shall eat, what we shall drink, and what we shall wear, but Jesus tells us not to worry about these things and instead to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Mt. 6:33). As we prepare ourselves to embark on the journey of the Great Fast, let us accept this reminder to shift our focus back to our spiritual life and our relationship with God.