Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection December 01, 2023

34th Week in Ordinary Time

01st December 2023 (Friday) Readings and Reflection

Psalter: Week 2

Reading of the Day

First Reading: Daniel 7:2-14

“I, Daniel, saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Daniel 3:75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 (R. 59b)

R/. Sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

Alleluia

V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia

V/. Straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

R/. Alleluia

Gospel : Luke 21:29-33

At that time: Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Daily Gospel Reflection

The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}

Highlight: End is near!

Guidlines: Problems and persecutions, terrors and destruction may cause some fear and worry. But as children of God and followers of Christ, they shall not shake our faith or throw us into dissipation{alertSuccess}

1. No one’s life is easy and all pleasant. Every life will have its own tales of worry and grief. All the more, the strange logic of life in this world is those who are on the side of God and good will certainly suffer. It is the cost of the high and godly. It is the price that is to be paid.

2. On the other hand, life on earth is also beset with a lot of unfavourable and adverse natural reversals and happenings. Different explanations may be given. Most of the human suffering like poverty, dehumanization, etc. may be due to human wickedness and selfishness.

3. Most of the natural suffering caused by natural calamities may be partly due to the human upsetting of the environmental balance and harmony. However, suffering remains always a mystery that cannot be fully grasped.

4. Whatever the cause of suffering, suffering is a reality. For a follower of Christ, suffering for his faith and for the sake of the good of others is always an opportunity to persevere in patience and hopefulness. Adverse situations do not mean that evil dominates God and good. They are testing grounds. They are indicators that “the kingdom of God is near”.

5. The victory of evil and the defeat of good are only temporary. For, as we hear Daniel in the first reading, “To him belongs all dominion, glory and kingdom; all peoples, nations and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom is one that shall not be destroyed”.

6. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but his words will not pass away”. Therefore, when all these adverse things happen, understand that it is all part of the process. Just as the fig tree’s different stages show the different seasons, so also all the occurrences in life are pointers toward the kingdom of God.

Practice: The negative and unfavourable experiences in life shall not distract or distort us from God and His kingdom. Rather, they work as timely triggers that press our attention on our destiny{alertSuccess}