11/12/2025

Thursday Advent Week 2

In this morning's Gospel it sounds as if Jesus is speaking long after the martyrdom of John the Baptist but  for many of his listeners "in those days" John was the trigger that had prompted them to accept that with Jesus of Nazareth "there is something greater here" and therefore follow him. It is thus only a short time after Jesus had received the news of John's death.

I am present in this world two thousand years later, listening to the same words, and can work out a meaning for the "violence which assaults the kingdom of heaven" but "the violent take it by force" is as still as enigmatic as it must have been for those who were standing there; those who not only had active physical and spiritual ears to hear but were also similarly seeing Jesus as he spoke.

The revelations of both Old and New Testament are the eternal WORD always present in the minds and souls of those who open themselves to the  Resurrection, Our Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 

This morning's Old Testament image of the "threshing-sled" chewing up the mountains has over the centuries become a reality in that mankind has taken  control of all the physical material of this world. In so doing, however, many of us  have lost touch with the kingdom, IAMFATHERSONHOLYSPIRIT. 

Human activity that is not informed by "rejoicing in the Lord, glorifying the Holy One of Israel" becomes the violence that destroys and can never renew the face of the earth nor prepare us for Jesus' promised return.

The Crucifixion of Incarnate God happened in real-time two-thousand years ago. It happened exactly as it is recorded in the New Testament. Those who chose to do it did not regret it in their subsequent years and many of  their descendants still display in their deeds that they think they can still "take the kingdom by force" but everything achieved in the material of this world is doomed by it very nature to become dust.

Dear Lord, help me to come to rest in your New Holy Family. Help me to understand your ways. Help me to "extol you, my God and King and bless your name for ever and ever". Maranatha Lord, Come Lord Jesus, come.