The whole Liturgical Year is a summary of the Salvation History, and at the end we naturally ask: What is next? The readings of these days try to answer this question. Many of them belong to a special literary form called Apocalyptic Literature. "Apocalypse" means "Revelation" of what is going to happen soon. It is used in time of persecution, and the message is: "still bear for a while, because the situation is going to change soon."

The last book of the New Testament belongs to this form. The synoptic Gospels use this form when dealing with the end of the World; but the form is obscure in itself; moreover, in the year 70 A.D. took place the destruction of the Holy City by the Romans - an event so terrifying that they related it to the end of the World. So, "what is next?" Very little, if anything at all, shall we learn from these documents. Stick to the essentials: By his Death and Resurrection, Christ has gained for us a share in his divine rights: we are children of God and heirs of an endless glory! Other details of time and way of happening do not matter. And beware of the temptation often accompanying this form: ask liberation for ourselves, and punishment for our enemies: this is not Christian! Say with Jesus hanging on the Cross: