Choose Permanence Over the Temporary

Homily for Tuesday of the Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Both the reading from the Book of Daniel and the excerpt from the Gospel of Saint Luke speak of the permanence of God’s Kingdom and the temporary nature of all human endeavors. These two readings pose the question: “Do we choose the permanent or the temporary?”

The dream that Daniel interprets refers to four kingdoms. The four successive kingdoms in this apocalyptic perspective are the Babylonian (gold), the Median (silver), the Persian (bronze), and the Hellenistic (iron). The last, after Alexander’s death, was divided among his generals. Of the kingdoms which emerged from this partitioning, the two that most affected the Jews were the dynasties of the Ptolemies in Egypt and the Seleucids in Syria. They tried in vain, by war and through intermarriage, to restore the unity of Alexander’s empire. The stone hewn from the mountain is the kingdom of God awaited by the Jews.

The Gospel text speaks of the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, which occurred in the year 70 A.D. Shortly after its destruction, the city of Jerusalem itself was destroyed.

Both readings challenge us to anchor ourselves as citizens of God’s Kingdom. We must develop habits in our lives that make this possible. God’s Kingdom grows quietly but surely, even when the world seems to crumble. However, we all encounter moments of struggle that may cause us to stray. The temporary can seem inviting. So, it is obvious that the first habit that we must develop is a life of prayer that gives us quiet strength and nurtures the virtue of hope.

The Eucharist supplies us with nourishment for that we can be faithful disciples of the Lord. This sacrament calls us to a life of service to others. We are to live for others. As the fourth Eucharistic prayer expresses it: “And that we might live no longer for ourselves but for him who died and rose again for us, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit from you, Father, as the first fruits for those who believe.”

The Scriptures, the Eucharist, and a life of service must become habits that ensure that we do not stray from the path that Jesus gives us.