A dramatic vision of an apocalyptic set of events, from natural disasters of biblical proportions to wars and political upheaval, set the scene two weeks ago, on the First Sunday of Advent. Although terrifying at first hearing, in biblical times, it was invoked as the means of consolation to and liberation of the oppressed and the helpless. It was combined…
Today’s gospel began with quite a detailed list of people in charge of various lands or holding certain influential positions. I wonder how much you know about each of those people, or the regions they were in charge of, or the positions they held – such as a tetrarch? Let’s be honest: unless you have a degree in biblical studies…
Having seen the most recent devastating floods in parts of Poland, Spain and the UK, on top of the overall gloomy outlook, I find the words of today’s gospel, uttered some two thousand years ago, uncannily topical: “There will be […] on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people…
In my youth, once having worked hard throughout the summer, I became the proud owner of a long-desired, relatively powerful stereo set. One day, I put the speakers in the open window of my flat and treated my neighbourhood to my favourite songs by blasting them out into the open, whether they liked it or not. Oh, the silly arrogance…
The end of the world has come. The people of Ukraine, Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, and Sudan (to mention just a few) have experienced the end of the world as they had known it. Their new reality is sudden death, unbearable suffering, utter devastation, displacement, permanent fear and an uncertain future. Like most wars, the recent ones started as a quick,…