READING OF THE DAY
A reading from the Book of Revelation
RV 20:1-4, 11—21:2
I, John, saw an angel come down from heaven,
holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a heavy chain.
He seized the dragon, the ancient serpent,
which is the Devil or Satan,
and tied it up for a thousand years and threw it into the abyss,
which he locked over it and sealed,
so that it could no longer lead the nations astray
until the thousand years are completed.
After this, it is to be released for a short time.
Then I saw thrones; those who sat on them were entrusted with judgment.
I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded
for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God,
and who had not worshiped the beast or its image
nor had accepted its mark on their foreheads or hands.
They came to life and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Next I saw a large white throne and the one who was sitting on it.
The earth and the sky fled from his presence
and there was no place for them.
I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne,
and scrolls were opened.
Then another scroll was opened, the book of life.
The dead were judged according to their deeds,
by what was written in the scrolls.
The sea gave up its dead;
then Death and Hades gave up their dead.
All the dead were judged according to their deeds.
Then Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire.
(This pool of fire is the second death.)
Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life
was thrown into the pool of fire.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.
The former heaven and the former earth had passed away,
and the sea was no more.
I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Luke
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.”
Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
(Luke 21:29-33)
The Word of God for Us
Dear people of God,
The Word of God in today’s Gospel tells all mankind that: the Word of God is eternal, His Word will never be lost, and His Word will give life to man. Therefore, the Word of God must be illuminated, preached, and taught to mankind, and it must be put into practice in life.
God invites everyone to gather spiritual wealth to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Besides looking for outward signs on which to base actions and deeds, God invites people to look into their own human hearts and see if they have done what God commanded them to do. Then, if they cannot do it yet, people must keep trying to obey and follow the Word of God. If a person is only looking for outward signs of reward in the world and does not look inside their heart to see what they have done before God, then God has a warning: Be aware of how to live while on this earth. The Word of God that has been given will always be fulfilled. God will exclude those who do not live and do not follow God’s commandments. He will exclude those people from the loving embrace of God.
That is why today’s Word of God invites everyone to gather spiritual wealth to earn entry into the Kingdom of Heaven. Consider your deeds; if anyone has not done right, has not done the will of God, then resolve to convert, turn from sin and return to God. God calls man to walk on the path that is lighted by the Word of God because only the light of the Word of God will illuminate, guide, and lead people to the happiness of the eternal Kingdom of Heaven in the future.
Thanks Be to God. Amen.
