Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B

Collect

Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God, the constant gladness of being devoted to you, for it is full and lasting happiness to serve with constancy the author of all that is good. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading
Dn 12:1-3

At that time your people shall escape.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel

In those days, I Daniel,
   heard this word of the Lord:
“At that time there shall arise
   Michael, the great prince,
   guardian of your people;
it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress
   since nations began until that time.
At that time your people shall escape,
   everyone who is found written in the book.

Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake;
   some shall live forever,
   others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.

But the wise shall shine brightly
   like the splendor of the firmament,
and those who lead the many to justice
   shall be like the stars forever.”

Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11

R. :

℟. (1) You are my inheritance, O Lord!

O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
   you it is who hold fast my lot.
I set the LORD ever before me;
   with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

℟. You are my inheritance, O Lord!

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
   my body, too, abides in confidence;
because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
   nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.

℟. You are my inheritance, O Lord! 

You will show me the path to life,
   fullness of joys in your presence,
   the delights at your right hand forever.

℟. You are my inheritance, O Lord!

Second Reading
Heb 10:11-14, 18

By one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews

Brothers and sisters:
Every priest stands daily at his ministry,
   offering frequently those same sacrifices
   that can never take away sins.
But this one offered one sacrifice for sins,
   and took his seat forever at the right hand of God;
   now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool.
For by one offering
   he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.

Where there is forgiveness of these,
   there is no longer offering for sin.

Acclamation before the Gospel
Lk 21:36

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mk 13:24-32

He will gather his elect from the four winds.

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

Jesus said to his disciples:
“In those days after that tribulation
   the sun will be darkened,
   and the moon will not give its light,
   and the stars will be falling from the sky,
   and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

“And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’
   with great power and glory,
   and then he will send out the angels
   and gather his elect from the four winds,
   from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.

“Learn a lesson from the fig tree.
When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves,
   you know that summer is near.
In the same way, when you see these things happening,
   know that he is near, at the gates.
Amen, I say to you,
   this generation will not pass away
   until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
   but my words will not pass away.

“But of that day or hour, no one knows,
   neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Lectio Divina

We are getting close to the end of the liturgical year and the Church presents to us a message of hope while inviting us to reflect on that which lasts forever and gives meaning to our lives. We know that in life not all is sunshine and roses. We all experience hardships that envelope us in darkness, sadness and uncertainty, when “the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven” (v. 24-25). Sometimes we lose all hope, and we feel as if everything is falling apart and that the end of the world has come for us. We focus on the disappointments, injustices and losses we have experienced in relationships that ended, plans that were never realised or illnesses that we or our loved ones have had to bear. All this can make us lose our inner peace and distracts us from focusing our sight on things above to see “‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory” (v. 26). On the other hand, times of adversity in our lives can be an invitation for us to liberate ourselves from uncertainties and false idols that we have created, in order that we may make room for Jesus in our hearts.

What are the idols in your life that you must let go of before you can have a new beginning, a new life in Christ?

In the Parable of the fig tree, Jesus is urging us to learn to read the signs of the times and in a special way to recognise his presence in our daily lives, to the extent that we will declare “it is the Lord!” Today at what moment did you experience the presence of the Lord?

Jesus tells us: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (v. 31). In this world everything passes away, but the Lord’s words will last forever. Why do we give ourselves over to making idols of weak human beings like us, and of material possessions that wear out? What place does the Word of God have in your life? Do you meditate upon it and allow it to take root in your heart, that it may produce fruit?

Jesus’ second coming in glory fills us with hope. It is not for us to know the day and the hour, but it would be wise for us to reflect on the use we are making of the time the Lord has given us. How are you preparing yourself for his second coming? How are you living the commandment of Love towards God and neighbour?

Prayer

Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.

 I keep the Lord always before me;
 because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. (Ps. 16: 1-2.8)

 

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