Reading 1
Dn 12:1-3
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."
Reading II
Heb 10:11-14, 18
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.
Gospel
Mk 13:24-32
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."
Meditation: Mark 13:24-32
As we near the end of another church year, our attention is drawn more and more to the end of time, that final day when Jesus will come again.
Today’s Gospel tells us: “Of that day or hour, no one knows … but only the Father” (Mark 13:32).
It is less important for us to know the exact time that Jesus will come again than it is to make sure that when he does come, we won’t be taken by surprise. Above every responsibility we have in this world, the one that is most critical is for us to be able to say: “I am right with the Lord. If he comes now, I am ready.”
It is a common philosophy in the world that basic goodness is sufficient grounds for confidence in our heavenly home: I haven’t killed anyone; I haven’t told any outrageous lies; I haven’t stolen huge amounts of money. What’s the problem? Even among believers, there can be a sense that God’s love is so gentle and forgiving that he will overlook our sins and our lack of readiness and just let us into his kingdom anyway. While it is true that God is rich in mercy, we also need to be alert to the fact that he is a God of justice and righteousness.
Today’s Gospel reading is a call to make sure we are ready for the end. It is easy to fill our attention with less important issues, such as the clothes we wear or the way we are going to spend our free time. But our spiritual state is far more important. Simply assuming that we are bound for eternal life without checking ourselves may work out, but the consequences of being wrong are severe. So make sure that you are secure in your faith. Be sure to “confess” and “believe” in Jesus each day (Romans 10:9). Examine your conscience every day, and let no grave sin remain. And do your best to care for the outcast, the lonely, and the marginalized.
“Jesus, help me to keep my eyes fixed on heaven so that I can remain pure in heart and pleasing to you!”
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