A few minutes ago I was looking out the window on a humid overcast morning in Buenos Aires. I got up early and it was still dark, the clouds did not let me see the sun rise over the wide river. Then I thought of the Lord’s words before the Sanhedrin: “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Mark 14:62.
At this point I am convinced that we are living in apocalyptic times. The world media continues to cover up the signs. No one seems to be touching certain themes: the disastrous state of the world economy, the millions of human beings aborted, the casual selling of human flesh over a plate of linguine and a glass of red wine, the ever growing menace of that mental disease called terrorism, etc. A deep darkness has covered the nations and yet the long list of present abominations is in a way announcing its end. The night is always at its darkest, coldest when morning is about to break.
The right side of God is perfect justice. Think of the scene at the Sanhedrin: Jesus is beat up, he has been awake all night, he is surrounded by hostile faces, people declare falsehood after falsehood against him. When he utters those words, clearly identifying himself as the Blessed Messiah, the court receives them as proof of blasphemy. That will be known forever as the darkest moment in the history of Israel. The tribunal condemns to death the very source of all life, after having more that enough proof of his divine origin. There is no justice at the left hand of darkness but in that moment of absolute despair, the sun of truth begins to rise. “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.” John 3:14. Jesus is talking about life at the time when his own death nears, concealed by darkness under the horizon the life-giving sun is relentlessly approaching. Who would have known?
Today the Church is facing a similar trial. Accusations and humiliations come from all sides, hostile forces surround her, the end seems to be near. I for one believe that the hour to shine is upon us. Jesus is about to come with true justice from the right hand of the throne of God. The sun may be setting upon the systems of global oppression but we know that morning will come; we know that no one can stop it. The same forces that “lifted the Son of Man” on the Cross of Calvary now want to finish the job by silencing the Church. They may succeed temporarily. They may have their Friday victory but they cannot stop time. Evil could not stop Resurrection Sunday from coming.
Darkness and trials precede a great era for the triumphant Church: “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:3. After the ordeal we will have a whole world to rebuild. Light and justice are coming. The sun also rises.
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