nothing lasts forever - 34th week tuesday

Today as we end the year we read from the book that foretells so to say the end times – how will all these things end?  The dream interpreted by Daniel for the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar is founded in history.  The gold head represents the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar, the neo- Babylonian empire.  The silver chest and arms represent the kingdom of Medes which would succeed Babylon but would not be as great.  Then the bronze belly and thighs represent the Persian Kingdom which will succeed in power the Medes.  This too will collapse and be succeeded by iron and clay which represent Alexander the Great’s kingdom.  Of course iron and clay are different elements and would not blend – this would represent the two great kingdoms that would rise after Alexander’s death, headed by two of his generals, the Ptolemies of Egypt and the Seleucids of Syria.  But then a huge stone the size of the mountain would topple them all and the statue comes crushing to the ground and are turned to chaff which the wind blew away without leaving a trace.

What is the point of this reading?  Nothing that is earthly will ever last forever.  The kingdoms referred to by the dream were once powerful kingdoms, kingdoms who may have also thought that they were indestructible, kingdoms who may have thought that they will last forever.  When China was still ruled by emperors the greeting accorded to Chinese emperors was, “may you live a thousand years, may you reign ten thousand years.”  But where are they now?  Just in our own lifetime how many powerful nations and kingdoms, how many powerful people have we come to know and have already outlived?  Damo na, indi bala?

The reading today would like us to think about this reality.  Nothing that is earthly is forever.  So why is this important?  Because the thought of the end, especially of our own end, relativizes everything in our life.  Daniel has to tell this to the powerful king, the most powerful man on earth then – Nebuchadnezzar, that his kingdom, though nothing can compare to it in grandeur and majesty, will be gone and be succeeded by another.  When you put the end in the equation everything changes. When you put into consideration the reality that we are all coming to our end, everything is seen differently.  How I use my money, how I decide on a business venture, how I treat other people, how I treat my children, how I work, even how I pray, will change when I put in mind that in the end I am going to die.  Ang tanan may katapusan.  You are powerful now but a time will come when you cannot even control your bladder anymore.  You are wise and knowledgeable now but a time will come when you will even forget your name.  You are rich now but a time will come when money and possessions will no longer mean anything to you.  I am not saying that we should be afraid.  What I am saying is we will not be afraid when this day comes, if our actions and decisions today would take this end into consideration.

A great rock will struck the statue made of precious metals and this will come crushing to the ground and this same rock will become a great mountain.  The rock is God’s kingdom.  Our lives depend not on earthly kingdoms but on God’s kingdom – on the rock of faith on which we stand firm.  This alone is forever.