Reflection for November 27 Thursday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 21:20-28

Gospel: Luke 21:20-28

Jesus said to his disciples: “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city, for these days are the time of punishment when all the Scriptures are fulfilled.  

Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.  

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”

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Reflection:

There are two kinds of human suffering that come into our lives. The first kind is the suffering that we ourselves create. When we refuse to listen to wise counsel, when we persist in harmful habits, or when we stubbornly cling to sinful ways, we often bring pain upon ourselves.

Like the drunkard who is repeatedly warned but chooses not to listen, we too can ignore the loving voices that seek our good. In time, the consequences of our choices may appear, leaving us wounded, broken, and in need of healing.

The second kind of suffering is that which we do not bring upon ourselves. These are the sufferings that come simply because we are human—illness that accompanies old age, unexpected trials, or crosses that arrive even when we have done nothing to deserve them. In such moments, we are reminded of our fragility and our deep need for God’s sustaining grace.

In the Gospel for this Thursday, Jesus speaks of the destruction of Jerusalem and its people. This suffering could have been avoided if they had listened to the messengers of God—the prophets—who lovingly called them to turn away from sin and return to Him. Yet they refused to listen. They continued in their sinful ways and even rejected and killed those whom God sent, including His own Son, Jesus.

As we close the curtains of this liturgical year and step into the sacred season of Advent, we are once again invited to listen—to truly listen—to the voice of God speaking to our hearts. He calls us not with condemnation but with mercy, inviting us to repentance, conversion, and renewal. One of the most beautiful and healing ways we can respond is by humbly approaching the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where God’s mercy is poured out without measure.

We are all sinners. We all stumble. And yet, we are all deeply loved. We are all in need of Jesus’ mercy, forgiveness, and healing.

As Advent draws near, the question gently but urgently echoes within us: Will we continue to ignore God’s loving call, or will we finally open our hearts, turn back to Him, and allow His mercy to heal and transform us? – Marino J. Dasmarinas