Apocalypse 14:14-19 / Luke 21:5-13
Prophesies
about the end-times or about the end of the world may sound alarming. Yet contrary to expectations, it may not have produced the
desired results.
There is
no widespread panic or alarm, nor great numbers seeking forgiveness and
mercy or even nation-wide or international movements of reformations.
In fact,
the wrong-doings and acts of evil seem to continue to rise and fill the
world from end to end, with no sign of repentance in sight even.
So end-time prophesies has just become another topic of conversation, and we may also have become numbed to its message.
The 1st
reading gives the image of two harvests. In the first harvest, a son of
man with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand reaped a
harvest.
This is to
symbolize the gathering of the righteous, and they are gathered by the
love and mercy of God and vindicated for their faithfulness.
The second
harvest seems to be at vintage time, when all the grapes are ripe, and
this harvest is reaped by the angel with a sharp sickle and put into the
winepress of God's anger.
This to symbolize the judgement of the the wicked and evil-doers and their subsequent punishment.
What must
be stated is that God is love and mercy and forgiveness, and He waits
patiently for sinners to repent and be reconciled with Him.
We may
take a while to realize the message of repentance and forgiveness but
let us not take forever. Because forever in the wrong place is a very
very long time.