Gospel: December 2, 2023

(Saturday) 34th Week in Ordinary Time

Psalter: Week 2 / (Green/White)

Blessed Virgin Mary

Responsorial Psalms: Dn 3: 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87

Give glory and eternal praise to him!

1st Reading: Daniel 7: 15-27I, Daniel, was deeply troubled, since these visions terrified me. I approached one of those who were standing there, and asked him to tell me what all this meant. He answered me and gave me the interpretation of these things: ‘These four beasts are four kings who will rise from the earth. But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom to possess it eternally, forever and ever.’

Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, different from the others, extraordinarily terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, that ate, tore into pieces and crushed underfoot whatever remained. I also wanted to know about the 10 horns it had on its head, and about the other horn which had sprung up, and the three first horns that fell, and about this horn with eyes and a mouth that spoke with arrogance, and that looked greater than the other horns. As I looked, this horn waged war against the holy ones and was subduing them until the One of Great Age came to do justice for the holy ones of the Most High, and the time came for the holy ones to take possession of the kingdom.

Then I was told: ‘The fourth animal shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, different from all the kingdoms. It will devour the earth, crush it and destroy it. The 10 horns are 10 kings who shall rise from this kingdom. Another one will rise up after them and destroy three kings. This king shall insult the Most High and persecute the holy ones of the Most High. He shall try to change the feasts and the laws. The holy ones shall be handed over to his power for a time, two times, and half a time. But judgment will come and dominion will be taken from him; he shall be destroyed and utterly wiped out. The kingship, dominion and leadership of all the kingdoms of the world shall be given to the people of the holy ones of God Most High: his kingdom will be without end. All the kingdoms shall serve him and be subject to him.’

Gospel: Luke 21: 34-36Be on your guard; don’t immerse yourselves in a life of pleasure, drunkenness and worldly cares, lest that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For, like a snare, will that day come upon all the inhabitants of the earth. But watch at all times and pray, that you may be able to escape all that is going to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Reflection:“Life moves pretty fast.”

My favorite line from the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off “is, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” That line is actually a pretty good paraphrase of today’s Gospel. Jesus cautions us to stay alert, watching and praying so that we will be ready when Jesus comes again. We certainly wouldn’t want to be caught napping and miss eternal life!

But as the Gospel points out, we find it easy to anesthetize ourselves with worldly pleasures and anxieties. These things can cloud our minds, dulling our alertness so that we do not notice how God is working in our lives. They can dull our senses, including our sense of justice, so that we do not notice our brothers and sisters who are in need. Let us stay alert, found ready and worthy to enter the kingdom of God.