Reading 1 Dn 7:2-14
In a vision I, Daniel, saw during the night,
the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea,
from which emerged four immense beasts,
each different from the others.
The first was like a lion, but with eagle's wings.
While I watched, the wings were plucked;
it was raised from the ground to stand on two feet
like a man, and given a human mind.
The second was like a bear; it was raised up on one side,
and among the teeth in its mouth were three tusks.
It was given the order, "Up, devour much flesh."
After this I looked and saw another beast, like a leopard;
on its back were four wings like those of a bird,
and it had four heads.
To this beast dominion was given.
After this, in the visions of the night I saw the fourth beast,
different from all the others,
terrifying, horrible, and of extraordinary strength;
it had great iron teeth with which it devoured and crushed,
and what was left it trampled with its feet.
I was considering the ten horns it had,
when suddenly another, a little horn, sprang out of their midst,
and three of the previous horns were torn away to make room for it.
This horn had eyes like a man,
and a mouth that spoke arrogantly.
As I watched,
Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was snow bright,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
His throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.
The court was convened, and the books were opened.
I watched, then, from the first of the arrogant words
which the horn spoke, until the beast was slain
and its body thrown into the fire to be burnt up.
The other beasts, which also lost their dominion,
were granted a prolongation of life for a time and a season.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw
One like a son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
He received dominion, glory, and kingship;
nations and peoples of every language serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.
Responsorial Psalm Daniel 3:75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
"Mountains and hills, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
"Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
"You springs, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
"Seas and rivers, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
"You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
"All you birds of the air, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
"All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
Gospel Lk 21:29-33
Jesus told his disciples a parable.
"Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
When their buds burst open,
you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;
in the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that the Kingdom of God is near.
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."
Meditation: Daniel 7:2-14
“I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven.” (Daniel 7:13)
Who is the holiest person you can think of? Francis of Assisi? The Virgin Mary? Or maybe it’s someone not as well known, but who radiated God’s love in a very powerful way. Most likely, meeting this person was an experience you will never forget. If you were lucky enough to shake that person’s hand or hear him or her speak, you would probably feel the Holy Spirit touching you. When you saw that person, you would almost feel as if you were seeing the Lord.
But that “almost” can’t compare with the real thing, can it? In each of our hearts there is a desire to see “the Ancient One,” as Daniel did in his vision. Like David, we all cry out, “My being thirsts for God, the living God. When can I go and see the face of God?” (Psalm 42:3). No matter how many great people we meet, and no matter how many blessings this life brings us, we know deep down that only one thing will fully satisfy us: knowing God intimately and seeing him face to face.
Our God is a loving, generous Father. He wouldn’t have given us this longing to see him if he didn’t also give us a way to fulfill that desire. Paul tells us that even though we now see God as in a dusty mirror, in heaven we will behold him fully (1 Corinthians 13:12). And John promises that if we keep ourselves in God’s love, we will “see him as he is.” We will even become “like him” (1 John 3:2)!
Could anything in this world be more marvelous than seeing the face of Jesus, the Word who was “in the beginning with God” (John 1:2)?
In prayer today, spend a few moments contemplating the joy of being in God’s presence and worshipping him for all eternity. Think about the fact that the entire goal of your life is eternal life, to know “the only true God, and the one whom [he has] sent, Jesus Christ” (John 17:3). Put all your distractions aside and just praise and glorify him for being your Father, and for giving his Son so that you can know complete happiness with him forever!
“Father, thank you for your promise of eternal life. This is the one true desire of my heart!”
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