FIRST READING
Revelation 22:1-7
John said:
An angel showed me the river of life-giving water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the street, On either side of the river grew the tree of life that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month; the leaves of the trees serve as medicine for the nations. Nothing accursed will be found anymore. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will look upon his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun, for the Lord God shall give them light, and they shall reign forever and ever.
And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true, and the Lord, the God of prophetic spirits, sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon.” “Behold, I am coming soon.” Blessed is the one who keeps the prophetic message of this book.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 95:1-2, 3-5, 6-7ab
R. (1 Cor 16: 22b, see Rev. 22: 20c) Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD; let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
For the LORD is a great God, and a great king above all gods; In his hands are the depths of the earth, and the tops of the mountains are his. His is the sea, for he has made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us. For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
ALLELUIA
Luke 21:36
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Luke 21:34-36
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”
REFLECTIONS:
Is there anything holding you back from the joy and freedom which the Lord offers to those who seek him? God wants our hearts for him alone and for his kingdom of peace, joy, and righteousness (Romans 14:17). But our hearts can be weighed down by many different things, with cares and anxieties, and with harmful addictions and sinful habits such as greed, gluttony, drugs, and drunkenness. Jesus, our Lord and Master, offers us true freedom freedom from the power of sin and wasted life, and freedom from our unruly desires and disordered passions such as making food, drink or anything else our master rather than our servant. The Lord Jesus wants our hearts to be ruled by one thing only his love and truth which enables us to choose whatever is good and to reject whatever is evil and harmful for us.
The Lord Jesus also warns us of the temptation to slacken off to become spiritually indifferent or inattentive to God's word and guidance for our lives. We can fall asleep spiritually if we allow other things to distract us from the reality of God and his kingdom. It is very easy to get caught up in the things of the present moment or to be weighed down with anxious cares and concerns. The Lord knows our struggles, weaknesses, and shortcomings. And he assures us that we do not need to carry our burdens alone nor struggle without his help. He is always very present and ready to give us whatever guidance and help we need to fight temptation and to stay the course which he has set for us. But there is one thing he doesn't tolerate: indifference, an attitude of not caring, and doing nothing! The Lord wants us to cast our anxieties on him and to trust in his guidance and help. Do you seek the Lord and his strength?
Until the Lord Jesus comes again we can expect that there will be troubles, trials, and temptations in this age. Our adversary the devil does not rest in his many attempts to lure us away from God and his will for our lives. If he cannot succeed in getting us to renounce our faith in Christ, he will try, little by little, to distract us from pursuing the things of God, especially prayer and listening to God's Word in Scripture. Ask the Lord Jesus to rekindle in you the fire of his love and the joyful hope of seeing him face to face when he returns again.
"Lord Jesus, rouse my spirit to the truth that this world is passing away. Give me a lively faith, a joyful hope, and a fervent love to see you face to face when you return in glory."
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