34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green)
Ps Dn 3:75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81
Give glory and eternal praise to him!
1st Reading: Dn 7:2-14
Daniel said, “I saw the following in my vision: the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea, and four great beasts, each one different from the other, came out of the sea.
The first was like a lion with eagle‘s wings. As I looked at it, its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, stood up on its feet like a man, and was given a human heart. The second was a beast like a bear; it was raised up on one side and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told: Go and devour much flesh. I went on looking and saw another beast like a leopard with four wings on its back; it had four heads and dominion was given to it.
I continued seeing my visions of the night and saw a terrible fourth beast. It was fearful and extraordinarily strong; it had great iron teeth; it ate, tore into pieces, and crushed underfoot whatever remained. It was different from the previous beasts and had ten horns. I was looking at the horns, when another small horn sprang among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots to make way for the new. It had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that uttered insolent words.
I looked and saw the following: Some thrones were set in place and One of Great Age took his seat. His robe was white, as snow, his hair, white as washed wool. His throne was flames of fire with wheels of blazing fire. A river of fire sprang forth and flowed before him. Thousands upon thousands served him and a countless multitude stood before him.
Those in the tribunal took their seats and opened the book. But as I remembered the haughty words of the horn with human eyes and mouth, which I had seen before, this animal was killed before my eyes; and its body destroyed and cast into the fire. Dominion was taken from the other animals, though they were allowed to stay alive for a time, until the fixed time.
I continued watching the nocturnal vision:
One like a son of man came on the clouds of heaven. He faced the One of Great Age and was brought into his presence.
Dominion, honor and kingship were given him, and all the peoples and nations of every language served him. His dominion is eternal and shall never pass away; his kingdom will never be destroyed.
Gospel: Lk 21:29-33
And Jesus added this comparison, “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as their buds sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all this has happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
REFLECTION:
To be a visionary is a gift. It is a charism given to some. The prophet Daniel is one among them. He speaks today of his vision about the four kingdoms in the history of Israel. The kingdoms were strong but did not last. At the end God controlled them. “God‘s dominion is eternal, shall never pass away, His kingdom will never be destroyed.“ “Heaven and earth will pass, but my words will not pass away.“ is Jesus‘ assurance to us all. God is a faithful God. He will never fail us. Let‘s aim at things that endure forever. Let‘s store wealth that lasts, that will not rot nor can be stolen.
God gives signs for the coming of His Son in glory, the time for the world to end. The signs are not yet the end, they are just reminders pointing to what is to come. God‘s sign can come in many ways. Most of God‘s manifestations come not in spectacular ways but in the simple, ordinary and humble events. We have therefore to be familiar with His ways, lest we miss his passing by. Spending time with Him in silence, in prayer and reflection is imperative.
Daily Reflection
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
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