1. Eschatology.
Scriptural events are not mere historical events. They are eschatological events pointing to both the present and future happenings. That is why it is called ‘the Living Word.’
St. John the Baptist was a precursor of Christ’s first coming. In figure, someone like him will be precursor of Christ’s Second coming. The events in St. John’s life are figures to what will happen to the Church as it prepares for Christ’s second coming. After all St. Elizabeth and St. John were one of the first figures of the Catholic Church.
Now, I know that most people are allergic to these words ‘first and second comings. But what can we do? We have to explain the feast of St. John’s beheading. Why do we have to celebrate a gruesome event of a head on a platter presented as a birthday gift in a birthday party? Because it will happen again today.
2. St. John was preaching and pointing to Christ in the desert.
St. John was preaching in the desert. And people were going to him in the desert. And there in the desert, John points Christ to the people; ‘Behold, the lamb of God.’
The Liturgy gives us the ambiance for preaching and learning; sort of how seminaries should be. That evangelisers should be living in the desert and preach in the desert, i.e. living a life having left all things, like John. ‘Living in the desert’ is a description of primitive monastic life.
There is nothing in the desert; so both preacher and disciple should possess nothing. This will be emphasised in the next Sunday Mass, the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary time. This is to show you how organised and lessons of the Liturgy are.
St. John preached. Crowds went to listen to him. They were baptised by him with the water of repentance that could not forgive sins. And he pointed to Him, who was the Lamb of God. And suddenly, He was ready to preach a more sublime doctrine and to baptise with water and the Holy Spirit. A greater voice has arrive. The voice of John had to be silenced. It has done its job.
No. John was not beheaded because of a lousy dance that pleased an adulterous ruler. No. He had done his job; his voice must be silenced.
There was a need for the voice of the precursor to be silent when the more important message was about to be proclaimed for the first time. So it should happen that when it is time for the Words of Divine Judgment is about to be declared to the world, all voices, including the voice of the Church must be silent. And so it is happening today.
3. The Gospel had been preached throughout the world.
Everyone have had ample opportunity to know the Word of God. Mass communication and all sources of knowledge are in our finger tips. With a computer, anyone can surpass in knowledge anyone with 10 doctorate degrees. The Word of God can be easily learned together with the tons of garbage.
Aside from the sources of mass communication, there is man’s faculties, human nature and creation to aid man in knowing the Word of God. And there are nuns, priests, bishops and the Pope who should be teaching us the Word of God. There is absolute no reason why any man cannot know the Word of God. Except one reason; he does not want to know it. That is a sin that can condemn him.
3. Silencing of good preachers
As on Good Friday, the Pharisees and the Scribes went against the teachings of Christ and influenced the civil authority to arrest Christ. Everything is led by the high priest. While the Apostles were silenced and in hiding.
Today, eschatologically, the same thing is happening. Most of the priest, bishops and cardinals are going against the teachings of Christ. And they are being led by the high priest, Pope Francis. And the voice of truth is slowly being silenced.
This scenario was, also, prefigured by the lost of the Ark of the Covenant. Because the Jews were disobedient to the commands of God, the tablet of the commandments disappeared at the time of the Maccabees. As if God was saying; ‘if you are disobedient to My Commands, I will remove My commands and hide them from you. It is still nowhere to be found.
But one day the Ark of the Covenant with the 10 commandments, will appear, just as St. John appeared for one last time in Herod’s court, to show the world the commands which the world had disobeyed and those commands will be the reason why they shall be condemned. Today, for one last time, a few good preachers are teaching the Word of God. When they are silenced, like John, then God will speak out and declare; ‘it is these teachings and your disobedience of them that will condemn you to eternal fire.
So Scriptures has it that on Judgment day, the Ark of the Covenant will be seen and the commandment of God in it. Disobedience to these commands is why the world shall be condemned, while obedience to these commands shall be your salvation.
4. Happening today.
Notice, how Pope Francis and most of the bishops and priest are acting like the Pharisees and Scribes on Good Friday. Note, how the true preachers are silent and nowhere to be found. Notice how practically no one is preaching the complete truth. The time for teaching the truth is over; the Gospel had been preached throughout the world. The Church must now become silent and await the day of reckoning.
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