Be Vigilant At All Times (LAST DAY OF THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR YEAR: CYCLE -B - YEAR I)

NOVEMBER 27, 2021, SATURDAY
Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
LAST DAY OF THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR YEAR:
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 508


Reading I
Dn 7:15-27


I, Daniel, found my spirit anguished within its covering of flesh,
and I was terrified by the visions of my mind.
I approached one of those present
and asked him what all this meant in truth;
in answer, he made known to me the meaning of the things:
“These four great beasts stand for four kingdoms
which shall arise on the earth.
But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingship,
to possess it forever and ever.”
But I wished to make certain about the fourth beast,
so very terrible and different from the others,
devouring and crushing with its iron teeth and bronze claws,
and trampling with its feet what was left;
about the ten horns on its head, and the other one that sprang up,
before which three horns fell;
about the horn with the eyes and the mouth that spoke arrogantly,
which appeared greater than its fellows.
For, as I watched, that horn made war against the holy ones
and was victorious until the Ancient One arrived;
judgment was pronounced in favor of the holy ones of the Most High,
and the time came when the holy ones possessed the kingdom.
He answered me thus:
“The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth
different from all the others;
It shall devour the whole earth,
beat it down, and crush it.
The ten horns shall be ten kings
rising out of that kingdom;
another shall rise up after them,
Different from those before him,
who shall lay low three kings.
He shall speak against the Most High
and oppress the holy ones of the Most High,
thinking to change the feast days and the law.
They shall be handed over to him
for a year, two years, and a half-year.
But when the court is convened,
and his power is taken away
by final and absolute destruction,
Then the kingship and dominion and majesty
of all the kingdoms under the heavens
shall be given to the holy people of the Most High,
Whose Kingdom shall be everlasting:
all dominions shall serve and obey him.”


Responsorial Psalm
Daniel 3:82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87


R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

“You sons of men, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

“O Israel, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

“Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

“Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

“Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

“Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.


Alleluia
Lk 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
Lk 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.”



REFLECTION:


Today is the last day of the liturgical year – tomorrow being the first Sunday of Advent. And the cycle of the liturgical year begins again. In this text Jesus reminds us of the passing aspect of life. In this way he urges us not to be caught unawares and to pay attention to fulfilling our desires for good.


Supervision is important when we have responsibilities to meet. A good supervisor helps to keep us up to the mark. God is the ultimate supervisor who wants only what is best for us. Let us stay awake to welcome him when He comes.


Amid the worries of my daily life, 'eternal truths' can seem irrelevant or unreal. But Jesus reminds me here not to be weighed down and completely preoccupied by the immediate, concrete, here-and-now part of reality. A good question to focus my mind on is: "What do I want to be remembered for when I die?"


PRAYER:


Dearest Lord, let me not be distracted by the things of this Earth. Enable me to always be prepared to meet You face to face. We're ready for Your second coming.


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