A world dissolving in ashes

In yesterday’s first reading, the people of God and the holy city of Jerusalem were utterly devastated.

In today’s first reading (2 Kings 25:1-12), it gets even worse.

He burned the house of the LORD,
the palace of the king, and all the houses of Jerusalem;
every large building was destroyed by fire.

Then the Chaldean troops
who were with the captain of the guard
tore down the walls that surrounded Jerusalem.

Then Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard,
led into exile the last of the people
remaining in the city...

It is difficult for us to put ourselves fully and emotionally in that total disaster. How would we feel to have everything in our lives, including all the things that we consider sacred and all the things were consider absolutely secure, to be destroyed and turned to ash.

The opening words of the Dies Irae come to mind:

Dies irae, dies illa
solvet saeclum in favilla...

"A day of wrath, that day --
The world will dissolve in ashes..."

But no matter what terrible things may befall us, our hope in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose from the dead, is stronger still.

Recordare Jesu pie,
quod sum causa tuae viae,
ne me perdas illa die.

"Remember, O dear Jesus,
That I am the cause of Thy journey.
Do not lose me on that day."