FIRST READING
The hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.”
A reading from the Book of Revelation (Revelation 14:14-19)
I, John, looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat upon the cloud, “put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” So he who sat upon the cloud swung his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. Then another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has power over fire, and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “put in your sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” So the angel swung his sickle on the earth and gathered the vintage of the earth, and threw it into the great wine press of the wrath of God.
The Gospel of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 96: 10.11-12.13 (R. 13b)
R/. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Say to the nations, “The Lord is king.”
The world he made firm in its place;
he will judge the peoples in fairness. R.
Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad;
let the sea and all within it thunder praise.
Let the land and all it bears rejoice. R.
Then will all the trees of the wood shout for joy.
At the presence of the Lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice;
he will govern the peoples with his truth. R.
ALLELUIA Revelation 2: 10c
Alleluia. Be faithful unto death, says the Lord, and I will give you the crown of life. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“There shall not be left one stone upon another.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 21: 5-11)
At that time: As some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, Jesus said, “As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And they asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign when this is about to take place?” And he said, “Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
The readings of today talk about the end time. It is because we are approaching the end of the liturgical year. This reminds us that we are pilgrims on earth. Our true home is heaven. So we have to be prepared and not frightened. There are many who predict the end time in our world today. Some even go as far as to say that they are the Christ. History has proved them wrong today. Some even go as far as to say that they are the Christ. History has proved them wrong. Jesus said that there would be wars, calamities and cosmic signs but they are not meant to make us gullible in believing fake men and women of God who would use the opportunity to confuse us and deprive us of our valuables. We are expected to be alert in faith and good works, doing the will of God.