Memory of Jesus crucified

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

This is the Gospel of the poor,
liberation for the imprisoned,
sight for the blind,
freedom for the oppressed.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Luke 21,29-33

And he told them a parable, 'Look at the fig tree and indeed every tree. As soon as you see them bud, you can see for yourselves that summer is now near. So with you when you see these things happening: know that the kingdom of God is near. In truth I tell you, before this generation has passed away all will have taken place. Sky and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Lucan page is part of the last pericope of the eschatological discourse of Luke's Gospel. And in a certain way it links us to the thoughts of Jesus for whom his "last days" are approaching. He is aware of them and is preparing to live them in order to bring the Father's will to completion. And he does not fail to warn the disciples so that they too may be aware of the times they must face. We could say that in the complexity of this world of ours, torn apart by conflicts, wars, injustice, disease, hunger and so many other tragedies, Jesus also warns us not to let ourselves be taken in by fear and withdrawal into ourselves, with the consequence of resigning ourselves to the power of evil. Jesus came to save us from all slavery, even from resignation to evil. With his presence, the new time of liberation from evil and the establishment of salvation has begun. He is the dawn of a new world: his life, his love, his miracles, his resurrection are those shoots that manifest the new springtime in the world. That is why he exhorts the disciples: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees: as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near." Reading the Gospel and contemplating Jesus' work, we know that a new world has already begun, Jesus' one. And looking also at the many signs of love, perhaps as small as sprouts, which are affirming themselves in our time, we see in them already present and operative the new future, the one outlined by the Gospel, which Jesus continues to make mature and grow. Where love germinates, where forgiveness is manifested, where mercy grows, where dialogue is practised, there peace is established. There are the sprouts of the kingdom of God.