34th Week, Friday, Nov 28; St Catherine Labouré
Daniel 7:2-14 / Luke 21:29-33
Daniel had a remarkable vision; He saw a being coming on the clouds.
Daniel says, “As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming on the clouds of heaven.” The Gospels refer to Jesus by the title son of man” no less than 69 times. The most striking reference comes when Jesus is standing trial for his life. The high priest asks, “Are you the Messiah, the son of the Blessed One?" Jesus replies, "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.' Mark 14:61-62
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What are we doing right now to prepare for Jesus' coming at the end of time? “They will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds' with great power and glory. But of that day or hour, no one knows.' Mark 13:26, 32
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In the famous chapter 7 of Daniel, a mysterious “Son of Man” (a human being) is announced. Is he an individual or a community? He belongs to both earth and heaven and will inaugurate a kingdom that comes as a gift from God, not as an earthly conquest. Jesus will apply this title to himself and purify it. The empires built on power and godlessness are ridiculed: they are statues with feet of clay, or like monstrous animals. God will judge them, so they will disappear.
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It is often said that what we see is what we get. But on the other hand, there is always more than meets the eye. What we see will give us first impressions and opinions. But when we start to think about it, we will discover deeper meanings and even the mystery behind it.
The 1st reading talked about Daniel seeing visions in the night. That might already give us some ideas of the meaning of those visions might be. For one, it would not be that clear in its meanings because the night has always been mysterious and things cannot be seen clearly and there is always something hidden. But what is obvious is the power struggle of the earthly kingdoms and the rise and fall of empires. But as Daniel gazed into the visions of the night, he saw something more than just earthly. Coming from the clouds of heaven was one who was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship, and his empire shall never pass away nor will it be destroyed. It was like a vision within a vision, something more than meets the eye.
In the gospel, Jesus used the buds of a fig tree to tell us that there is something more than just summer is near. It is the kingdom of God that is breaking forth and manifesting itself in the midst of the ordinary.
Yes, there is always something more than meets the eye. If we don't see a deeper meaning in it, if we don't see the kingdom of God happening in it, we may just be settling for something less.
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The faithful should keep hope in patience: God’s kingdom is near. There are not only tensions and conflicts inside God’s people and from outside: there are also signs of hope, and we should see these signs.
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Through the symbolism of the fig tree and other trees, we are invited to read the signs of the time and comprehend the message that Jesus imparts through his discourses. The seasons of the year bring changes in trees and plants. There is a season when they shed leaves; this is the time for pruning. Only after a period of struggle and maturation does a tree produce fruit. In the same way, the life of a Christian must go through the seasons of maturation to produce abundant fruit. After presenting these teachings from nature, Jesus reiterates that his words are alive and active and that they do not contain doubts and uncertainties. Hence it is expedient to take his words seriously and, facing the seasons of our life, produce good, timely and abundant fruit.
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Opening Prayer
God of the ages and of eternity, you have entrusted to us, your people, your project about people and the world. Do not allow us to delay your plans by our own limitations. Make us aware that all we can do is being a leaven and a sign that the seed you have sown will grow. Keep us hoping in patience, that integrity, love and justice will come in your own good time as a gift from you, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen
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Saint Catherine Labouré
Feast Day November 28
St. Catherine Labouré was a simple, uneducated young woman. In 1830, having cared for her father’s household for a decade, she joined the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul at Châtillon-sur-Seine, France. On July 31, late at night a shining child awakened her and escorted her to the chapel.
There Mary spoke with her for two hours, telling her she would have a difficult task to perform and predict future events. On November 27, Mary appeared to give Catherine her mission. She saw Mary standing on a globe, with rays of light flooding from her hands. Later Catherine gave this account of the vision:
While I contemplated her, the Blessed Virgin lowered her eyes and looked upon me. Then I heard a voice saying to me: “The ball that you see represents the entire world . . . and each person in particular. These rays symbolize the graces that I shed on those who ask for them.” With this I understood how agreeable to the Blessed Virgin are the prayers addressed to her. I discovered how generous she is toward those who invoke her, what precious graces she would give those who would ask them of her and with what joy she would grant them.
At this moment I scarcely knew where I was. All I can say is that I was immersed in supreme delight, when a panel of oval shape formed around the Blessed Virgin. On it traced these words: “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!” Then a voice said to me: “Have a medal struck on this model. All those who wear it will receive great graces. It should be worn around the neck. Great graces will be the portion of those who wear it with confidence.” All at once the picture appeared to turn and I saw the reverse of the medal. Solicitous about what should be inscribed on the reverse, one day I seemed to hear a voice saying: “The M and the two hearts are enough.”
Catherine spoke about the apparitions only to Father M. Aladel, her confessor, who determined that they were genuine. With the permission of the archbishop of Paris, Aladel had 1500 medals struck in 1832. The conversion of Alphonse Ratisbonne, an Alsatian Jew who had reluctantly worn the medal and then had the same vision as Catherine, enormously increased its popularity.
Catherine herself maintained her anonymity. She even refused to appear at the archbishop’s investigation in 1836 that declared the visions authentic. She lived quietly for the rest of her life at a convent in Enghien-Neuilly, answering the door, raising poultry, and tending the sick. But when Catherine died in 1876, an outburst of popular veneration exploded at her funeral. And the healing of a 12-year-old girl, crippled from birth, at her grave helped spread her fame widely. Catherine Labouré has become one of the most esteemed of all the saints.
I knew nothing. I was nothing. For this reason God picked me out. —Catherine Laboure
