A reality of our faith is eschatological. Escha. . . the what? “Eschatological” means the reality of the end times, of the second coming of Jesus of the final judgement, of the life after death and of the resurrection of body.

Eschatology can be defined as a modern term that indicates the part of theology that considers the final phases or extremes of human life or of the world: death, universal judgement, penalty or punishment and the end of the world. The philosophers at these times use the term to indicate the consideration off the final stages of the world or of humankind. (ABBAGNANO, Nicola, Dicionário de Filosofia, 1999).

Interpretating of the chronological facts, Jesus develops the demands of Christian life in the eschatological hope: to do penance and to makes amends of bad acts, or maybe an appeal to conversion. Luke is the evangelist who emphasizes the love and mercy of God. Jesus appears various times exercising the love and the mercy of this Gospel.

In these facts, Jesus reads the signs of the times: death can come suddenly, so also can come the second coming of Jesus – He Himself says this various times.

This spiritual tension happens in a positive manner. We can compare it with the necessary tension and indispensable tension of the string of a guitar, needed for a promised note, or all the music needs to be played. This is the spiritual tension that we need to live our life, always hoping the Lord will come again. . . or that I go to encounter Him! Understand?

In the same way, the call the judgement of God can happen when we least expect it. Here is a clear lesson: convert and do penance to that you will not be surprised by specific events.

Also the parable of the sterile fig tree is one invitation needed to not live an empty existence, therefore, be fruitful and enrich yourself [spiritually] for the day called “of the Lord” The patience of God, that knows to hope that the man converts himself and is fruitful impels us to give value to the gift of life.

The reality of death – always possible – is not a “scarecrow”, but more or less an instant and a sure sign of the times that each man has to know how to interpret. Thinking in death and in preparing ourselves for it (for we believe in eternal life) we encounter strength to resist evil and to practice good.

You and I we are this fig tree that God planted among his great vineyard. Already I thought because in a vineyard some will have only on fig tree? Will it that this fig tree would be unique, in order that he may enjoy the figs from this fig tree? Or maybe the Christians should as chosen by God, be saints, different, and examples in the world that is a great vineyard.

Nós somos a “figueira” que o Senhor escolheu para dar frutos a Ele. Lembre-se desta Palavra: “Eu não rogo que os tires do mundo, mas que os guardes do maligno. Eles não são do mundo, como eu não sou do mundo. Consagra-os pela verdade: a tua palavra é a verdade. Assim como tu me enviaste ao mundo, eu também os enviei ao mundo” (cf. Jo 17,15-18).

We are the fig tree that the Lord chose to give fruits to Him. Remember this Word:  I do not ask that you take them out of the worldj but that you keep them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. (John 17: 15-18)

We are the fig tree that the Lord chose to give fruits to Him. Remember this world

In this week, the liturgy of the word calls us to vigilance. Today we call ourselves to conversion.

Fr. Luzinho

Canção Nova Community

translated from Portuguese