FIRST READING
“At that time your people shall be delivered.”
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel (Daniel 12:1-3)
At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time; but at that time your people shall be delivered, every one whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 16:5 and 8, 9-10.11 (R/. 1)
R/. Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;
you yourself who secure my lot.
I keep the Lord before me always;
with him at my right hand, I shall not be moved. R/.
And so, my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;
even my flesh shall rest in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to hell,
nor let your holy one see corruption. R/.
You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand, bliss forever. R/.
SECOND READING
“By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. ”
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 10:11-14.18)
Every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, then to wait until his enemies should be made a stool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Luke 21:36
Alleluia. Watch at all times, praying that you may be able to stand before the Son of man. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“He will gather his elect from the four winds.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 13:24-32)
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “In those days, after that [great] tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
The Gospel of today seems to paint a gloomy picture of the end of time and the second coming of Christ. However, rather than feel fearful of these foretold events, we should feel consoled and expectant because the one who comes is not an unknown deity breathing smoke and fire; the one who comes was and is one of us; he is our brother and friend; he understands our weaknesses and difficulties. This is precisely the point of the second reading; Jesus in his incarnation became one of us, and by his priestly self-immolation has taken away our sins once and for all. He calls us to unite ourselves to him, so that where he is, we too shall be: seated at the right hand of the father. United as one in Christ.