Reading 1
Rv 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a
I, John, saw another angel coming down from heaven,
having great authority,
and the earth became illumined by his splendor.
He cried out in a mighty voice:
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great.
She has become a haunt for demons.
She is a cage for every unclean spirit,
a cage for every unclean bird,
a cage for every unclean and disgusting beast.”
A mighty angel picked up a stone like a huge millstone
and threw it into the sea and said:
“With such force will Babylon the great city be thrown down,
and will never be found again.
No melodies of harpists and musicians,
flutists and trumpeters,
will ever be heard in you again.
No craftsmen in any trade
will ever be found in you again.
No sound of the millstone
will ever be heard in you again.
No light from a lamp
will ever be seen in you again.
No voices of bride and groom
will ever be heard in you again.
Because your merchants were the great ones of the world,
all nations were led astray by your magic potion.”
After this I heard what sounded like
the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying:
“Alleluia!
Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God,
for true and just are his judgments.
He has condemned the great harlot
who corrupted the earth with her harlotry.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
They said a second time:
“Alleluia! Smoke will rise from her forever and ever.”
Then the angel said to me, “Write this:
Blessed are those who have been called
to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”
Ps 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11
Responsorial PsalmR. (see 1)
I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds
and declare your greatness.
They publish the fame of your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The Lord is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord
Gospel
Lk 21:20-28
Jesus said to his disciples:
“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies,
know that its desolation is at hand.
Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.
Let those within the city escape from it,
and let those in the countryside not enter the city,
for these days are the time of punishment
when all the Scriptures are fulfilled.
Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days,
for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth
and a wrathful judgment upon this people.
They will fall by the edge of the sword
and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles;
and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles
until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.”
Meditation: Luke 21:29-33
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Luke 21:33)
So many things in our world come with expiration dates. Memberships, warranties, and magazine subscriptions run out. Products, fashions, and even laws grow obsolete. Store and gift coupons expire. Even stars and planets die. And of course, after their allotted time on earth, so do all living creatures.
But though our bodies are mortal, something in us longs to live forever. That’s because God created us to share in his eternal life! And because he is a loving God, he gives us ways to begin tasting and growing in his life right now by meeting him every day. We do this as we prayerfully reflect on Scripture, the inspired word of God, which “will not pass away” (Luke 21:33).
It’s an amazing reality! As the Fathers of Vatican II explained it, “In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets his children with great love and speaks with them,” (Dei Verbum, 21). And St. Bernard, speaking from experience, said that anyone who eagerly meditates on Scripture knows “that there he is certain to find the One for whom he thirsts.” When we read Scripture, we can be sure that the God who created us to know and love him is with us, ready to bring God’s word to life.
Scripture can awe us with the breadth and depth of God’s love. With a single word of reproach, it can shatter our pride. It can teach us wondrous truths, pierce our hard hearts, and stir us to inspired prayers of praise and thanksgiving. It straightens out our crooked thinking, opens our eyes to Christ, and gives us what we need to face trials and upheavals with peace and joy.
You can make this discovery—or rediscovery—for yourself today. Open your Bible, call on the Holy Spirit, and listen as Jesus speaks to you. Know that however often you read a passage, it will never run out, go stale, or get outdated. Unchanging as it is, God’s word is new every day, always fresh and full of life and hope.
“Come, Holy Spirit, and bring the words of Scripture alive for me today. Open my ears to listen carefully. Help me to hear and understand what you are saying to me now.”
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