Vigilant in Hope

Dan 7:15-27; Psalm Dan 3; Lk 21:34-36

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, as we near the end of the liturgical year, the Church places before us a stark and urgent choice: will we live as citizens of the fleeting kingdoms of this world, or as vigilant servants of the everlasting Kingdom of God? The Word of God today offers both a sober warning and a glorious promise, calling us to live with our hearts anchored in eternity.

The prophet Daniel, troubled by his vision of terrifying beasts, receives an interpretation. These beasts represent the rise and fall of earthly empires. They wield great power and “wage war against the holy ones,” seeming to prevail for a time. It is a realistic picture of the world’s hostility toward faith. Yet, the vision does not end in despair. A divine court is convened, and judgment is passed in favor of “the holy ones of the Most High.” Theirs is not a victory won by the sword, but a victory given by the Judge of all the earth. To them is given “the kingship, dominion, and grandeur of all the kingdoms under the heavens.” This is our ultimate hope: the final triumph of God’s people, not through worldly power, but through faithful endurance.

This call to endurance is made intensely personal by the Lord Jesus in the Gospel. Knowing the struggles and distractions that await His followers, He delivers an urgent exhortation: “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life.” He names two classic pitfalls: the pursuit of empty pleasure and the crushing weight of worldly worry. Both can lull our souls to sleep, making us forget our true homeland. The “day” of the Lord’s return will catch such a soul like a trap. But for those who are vigilant, it will be a day of liberation. “Be vigilant at all times,” Jesus urges, “and pray that you have the strength… to stand before the Son of Man.” Our task is not to calculate the day, but to cultivate a heart that is ready to meet its Judge and King.

The “holy ones” in Daniel are the faithful Church, who, through the grace of Christ, already share in His kingship. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces that animate the “beasts” of sin, injustice, and persecution. We overcome them not with violence, but with the weapons of prayer and virtue. As Pope Francis reminds us, “The future of God’s People is not a falling star, a future of darkness; no! It is the encounter with Jesus.”

This offers us both a necessary examination and profound comfort. We must ask ourselves: What is making my heart drowsy? Is it the “carousing” of mindless entertainment or the “anxieties” of providing for my family? The Lord calls us to cast these cares upon Him. Our strength is found in vigilant prayer, which keeps our hope alive and our spiritual senses alert to the eternal reality behind the passing drama of this world.

Let us, then, live as a people of hope. May we navigate the rise and fall of worldly powers with serene confidence and face the anxieties of daily life with trusting prayer. For we are the holy ones of the Most High, and to us, through Christ, will be given an everlasting kingdom. Let us stay awake, that we may be found standing with joy before the Son of Man. Amen.

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.