Delivered by Leon Satyawan from Santa Helena Church, Parish of Curug in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indonesia. Daniel 2: 31-45; Rs psalm: Add Dan 3: 57.58.59.60.61; Luke 21: 5-11.

WE FOLLOW THEDETERMINATION OF THE WORLD

Our meditation today isentitled: We Follow the Determination of the World. Naturally, our bodies andall matters of the world obey the natural law. Our skin cannot withstand a verycold or very hot temperature. We will be tired and have problem with our breathafter running up the hill for some kilometers. The leaves will fall and thenturn to integrate with soil. The old houses and cities that already destroyedhad become debris. Our body after death will unite with the earth.

This we call the lawof determination, that is, our lives are determined or destined to obey andfollow what nature wants. The same determination also comes from human violencesuch as war, discrimination, intolerance and other crimes. All are parts of thisworld. Because of original sin, we can't help but accept the fact that we mustfight, defend ourselves and even accept that in due time we will die and leavethis world.

Daniel, a wise youngman who along with his three Jewish brothers worked to serve the Persian kingNebuchadnezzar, gave an understanding of the determination of nature and lifein this world to a king who did not believe in God. A mighty and powerful kingdomthroughout the earth will be destroyed and only its name would remain. Jesusalso states that the beautiful temple will be destroyed to the ground. Then,there would be extraordinary natural disasters and infectious diseasesthroughout the earth.

All predictions willbe proven one by one over time. This means that all of us and all of our worksin this world are subject to the law of nature which is united with time inconstant change. None of us can intervene, even the world most braverst leaderand the greatest technological andvancement cannot stop this subjection.Technology and political power are not comparable to God's wisdom and will.Then God allows and enables humans to be experts in technology and politics,and the world seems to be so powerful. But God keeps nature and its laws reignand determine.

God himself indeedcannot prevent if the will of nature occurs and the time for the body andmatter of this world must reach its end. God's will is certain, what istemporary will be destroyed in this world and dies, because there will be aneternal power, that is, the kingdom of God himself who regins. We reallybelieve in this.

Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O glorious Lord Jesus, bless us as persons, families and communities, sothat we always look at You in hope for eternal life for all of us. Glory to theFather and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father ...