Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
November 27, 2021
Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 508
Reading I
I, Daniel, found my spirit anguished within its covering of flesh,
and I was terrified by the visions of my mind.
I approached one of those present
and asked him what all this meant in truth;
in answer, he made known to me the meaning of the things:
“These four great beasts stand for four kingdoms
which shall arise on the earth.
But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingship,
to possess it forever and ever.”
But I wished to make certain about the fourth beast,
so very terrible and different from the others,
devouring and crushing with its iron teeth and bronze claws,
and trampling with its feet what was left;
about the ten horns on its head, and the other one that sprang up,
before which three horns fell;
about the horn with the eyes and the mouth that spoke arrogantly,
which appeared greater than its fellows.
For, as I watched, that horn made war against the holy ones
and was victorious until the Ancient One arrived;
judgment was pronounced in favor of the holy ones of the Most High,
and the time came when the holy ones possessed the kingdom.
He answered me thus:
“The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth
different from all the others;
It shall devour the whole earth,
beat it down, and crush it.
The ten horns shall be ten kings
rising out of that kingdom;
another shall rise up after them,
Different from those before him,
who shall lay low three kings.
He shall speak against the Most High
and oppress the holy ones of the Most High,
thinking to change the feast days and the law.
They shall be handed over to him
for a year, two years, and a half-year.
But when the court is convened,
and his power is taken away
by final and absolute destruction,
Then the kingship and dominion and majesty
of all the kingdoms under the heavens
shall be given to the holy people of the Most High,
Whose Kingdom shall be everlasting:
all dominions shall serve and obey him.”
Responsorial Psalm
Daniel 3:82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87
- Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“You sons of men, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“O Israel, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
Alleluia
- Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray
That you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Reflection: PREPAREDNESS TO MEET THE LORD
We have come across people who have had a peaceful and serene death. Such peaceful and serene disposition does not come all of a sudden at the last moment, but only when a person is constantly in a state of preparedness. Tam sure we have had the experience of travelling in the train or in the flight. People who have been waiting patiently for 8 to 10 hours will become agitated as they are about to reach their destination. Pushing and pulling, shouting and nudging their way through an overcrowded passage way. Looking at such a situation I used to make this following reflection about time in general. Those who value only the last moment of their activity with feverish details, are people who do not know how to value time as it happens when students prepare themselves for their final examinations. The last days are like the final examination of the whole of humankind and the whole of creation. We have to attempt this. There is no multiple choice in this exam. But a person who has prepared himself or herself in deep faith following the will of God for him or for her will remain peaceful and serene come what may. We may not know the day and the hour of the last days, but we know how to prepare ourselves to face it. This is the real challenge for the Christians.