Today is Nov. 17, Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.
In St. Mark’s Gospel, Jesus describes a vision of the end times: “They will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky” (Mk 13:26-27). These words fill us with awe, evoking both a sense of majesty and urgency, reminding us of the final fulfillment of God’s promises. This vision of Christ’s return invites us to live with a holy expectation, preparing our hearts and lives for the moment when we will behold his face.
The title Jesus uses to describe himself in this moment is filled with significance. The term “Son of Man” has roots in the Old Testament, in the Book of Daniel. In Daniel 7:13-14, the prophet describes a vision of “[o]ne like a son of man” coming “with the clouds of heaven” who receives authority, glory and a kingdom that will never pass away. When Jesus uses the title “Son of Man” in Mark, he is invoking this vision from Daniel, suggesting that he is the fulfillment of this prophecy; he is the messianic king who will reign forever.
At the same time, the title “Son of Man” also highlights Jesus’ humanity. The phrase can simply mean “human one,” underscoring that Jesus shares fully in the human experience. Jesus experiences hunger, fatigue, sorrow and, ultimately, suffering and death. It is a title that emphasizes Jesus’ total solidarity with us.
The imagery of Jesus sending out the angels to gather his elect is not simply about the Last Day, which will come in the future; it is a spiritual reality that begins now. Through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, we are gathered together, anticipating the eternal communion we will one day experience fully in heaven. In every Mass, we experience a foretaste of this divine gathering, where we join the angels and saints in worshiping “the Son of Man” and witness a prelude of his coming again in glory.
As we meditate on the glory of the Last Day, we pray that we might be made worthy to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.
Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God, the constant gladness of being devoted to you, for it is full and lasting happiness to serve with constancy the author of all that is good. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
My Daily Visitor spiritual reflections are a dose of daily Catholic inspiration from Our Sunday Visitor magazine.
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