34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green/White)
Memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary

Dn 3:82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87
Give glory and eternal praise to him.

1^st Reading: Dn 7:15-27

I, 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 ten 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 ten horns are ten 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: Lk 21:34-36

Be 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:

“Daniel was troubled of the vision he had. He was in anguish and very much terrified of what he has witnessed in vision. Like Daniel, we are terrified and afraid when we think of the last things, more particularly of death. When we heard of earthquakes, famine, suffering, wars, etc. mentioned in the gospel narratives the more we become fearful. Why do we fear or terrified and in anguish? These will not come to us if we follow Jesus‘ exhortations: “Don‘t immerse yourselves in a life of pleasures, drunkenness and worldly cares.“ “Watch all times and pray, that you may escape all that is going to happen.“ Too much joy of the earthly goods and pleasures will make us attached to the world. Anticipate the joy in the company of our heavenly friends, it will inspire you to be there the soonest.

May we not be tempted of the thought that because the world will end and everything will pass away, we no longer do more, aspire to be more and become more. At the end of our journey, we will give accounting of our life and of the gifts we received.

Daily Reflection

Daily Gospel ® is a product Claretian Publications, a division of Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. (CCFI) which is a pastoral endeavor of the Claretian Missionaries in the Philippines that brings the Word of God to people from all walks of life. CCFI aims to promote integral evangelization and renewed spirituality that is geared towards empowerment and total liberation in response to the needs and challenges of the Church today.

CCFI is a member of Claret Publishing Group, a consortium of the publishing houses of the Claretian Missionaries all over the world: Bangalore, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Chennai, Colombo, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, Madrid, Macao, Manila, Owerry, São Paolo, Varsaw , Yaoundé.

Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57^th 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

 

DAILY GOSPEL ® 2017
Readings and Reflections
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