THEOLOGICAL CLUE

Beyond the natural progression of the Pentecost cycle/season, with its eschatological emphasis, there is no clear and definitive clue from the church year. The insertion of these particular readings within the theological framework of the church year does, however, tend to emphasize realized eschatology as much as it does any future eschatology. The latter, of course, is always present, if only in the Eucharist with its "as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." The church is always waiting for the return of the Lord and must, in the meantime, be about the business of obeying his commandments and completing his mission in the world. The second reading and the Gospel for the Day bring the last things into sharp perspe…