Matthew 24:15-28, The Abomination of Desolation

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

Comments

In the Old Testament an abomination meant idolatrous worship. This reference from Daniel may refer to the statue of Antiochus Epiphanes set up in the temple in 167 BC. But Jesus is also referencing that in the future, when the Romans come to ravage the farmlands, there will be a refugee crisis calling for an urgent response. A refugee’s plight is difficult, but the roads out of Jerusalem would be muddy in the Winter and on a Sabbath others could not give them provisions. This tribulation, however, will not be allowed to run its course.

The popular expectation was that the Messiah would appear in the wilderness, but Jesus’ second coming will be as visible and sudden as lightening, not obscure. There will be no need to search for the Son of Man. It will be obvious to all as encircling vultures signal the presence of a corpse.

Prayer

O God the Father of all, you ask every one of us to spread love where the poor are humiliated, joy where the Church is brought low, and reconciliation where people are divided, father against son, mother against daughter, husband against wife, believers against those who cannot believe, Christians against their unloved fellow Christians. You open this way for us, so that the wounded body of Jesus Christ, your Church, may be leaven of communion for the poor of the earth and in the whole human family.

(Mother Tereasa of Calcutta)