Hymns for Mass – Press Here

FIRST READING (At that time your people will escape.)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel (12:1-3)

In those days, I, Daniel, heard this word of the Lord: “At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book.

Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.

But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.”—The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (16:5, 8, 9-10, 11)

R. You are my inheritance, O Lord! (Ps 16:1)

O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. (R)

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. (R)

You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. (R)

SECOND READING (By one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.)

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (10:11-14, 18)

Brothers and sisters: Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.

Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.—The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Lk 21:36)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to stand before the Son of Man. (R)

GOSPEL (He will gather his elect from the four winds.)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (13:24-32)

Jesus said to his disciples: “In those days, after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

“And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.

“Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. 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.

“But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”—The Gospel of the Lord.

R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

“But of that day or hour, no one knows!” 

Both today’s first reading and the Gospel begin with the haunting Scriptural phrase, “In those days…” After those introductory words, the readings talk of cosmic collapse and signs of the end times. They speak of terrible events to come when the sun and the moon fail to give light and humanity is filled with terror and destruction. These accounts reflect the ancient Israelite understanding of the end times, when everything on which people relied will fall apart, and yet also a time of hopeful fulfillment. Israel believed that the sinful age within which it was living would come to an end and an age of holiness would follow. Destruction and fulfillment; desolation and hope. There is also – for the Israelites – a subtle but important difference between the “end times” and “the end of time.” The END TIMES are the period of fulfillment when God would intervene dramatically in human history to usher in this period of purification and holiness, while the END OF TIME is the final day, the Day of Judgment.

Our readings this morning (and in the coming weeks as we pass through the Solemnity of Christ the King and enter into a new period of Advent) speak of the conflict between GOOD and EVIL – a conflict that will continue until the end of time. This is something we all understand, surrounded as we are in a world filled with corruption and sin, and we understand deep down that we have to deal with this every day where we live and everywhere that we go. 

But we also have the promise of God through Christ that we are already in the END TIME, ushered in through the birth, death and resurrection of Christ, and we live as a people always alert, waiting, and hopeful.

The first reading from Daniel is one that suggested that “those days” will be ones where God’s grace will always be present. While speaking of utter destruction that is unsurpassed in history, God says, “But your people, the chosen of God, shall escape.” The archangel Michael comes to us not as an avenger but as a protector. That is not a threat but a promise. By God’s grace, whatever will come at the end, God’s people will be spiritually safe. That is our hope and consolation.

Our Gospel reiterates this point speaking of the coming of the Son of Man who will gather the elect from the four corners to save them. This is not a threat but a promise. And our 2nd reading from the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us that Jesus offered the perfect sacrifice once and for all, and its power of forgiveness will  be present even to the end of human history. That too is not a threat but a promise.

Whenever the end will come, God’s grace will be there as well to bring salvation and strength to His people – to us. That is the GOOD NEWS of our readings.

There is a final point to our readings today, and that is a direction for us on how to live in the present times, the present age surrounded by daily conflicts and troubles. The readings remind us that we are given God’s grace and protection in all our struggles from the time of our Baptism. We have the Son of Man who comes to us in the sacraments to give us His truth and his grace. We have the great sacrifice of Christ with its unlimited forgiveness made present to us at every Mass. We have the same protection of God, the same grace of God, and the same forgiveness of God to face both the END TIMES and the END OF TIME.

Why are such readings placed before us for our reflection at this time? They certainly are relevant. Think for a minute, “Who has not struggled with – and sometimes been overcome by – the evil forces loose in our world today?” “Who has not faced severe temptations, struggles, and questions about the meaning of life?” Certainly, we faced this more than ever in the arc of the last two years. We all need the comfort and the encouragement of these readings. 

As Christians, we believe that the new age, the END TIMES has already been inaugurated with the coming of Jesus into human history. This is why these readings come as we near the end of our liturgical year, when we turn our spiritual eyes towards the celebration of the final coming of Christ in glory.

While the new age, the END TIMES, dawned with Jesus’ coming, it only takes root in us when we open ourselves to its power. Each time we are willing to move beyond our sinfulness, despite the “distress” or “tribulation” this may cause, we step over the threshold into the new age.  This is a personal transition that we make on our own each and every day. We are reminded that even in the greatest distress, sorrow and daily turmoil we face, God’s grace and truth abide in us and with us as our protection and strength. 

We all have struggles. We have struggles not only with the world around us, but also those which afflict our heart and soul inside each of us. Whenever or wherever we live, we can always draw from the power of Christ’s Resurrection victory into which we were baptized and which dwells in us here and now. That is the promise of our baptism and the promise given to us through all of the sacraments.

So many things come and go in our life, in our world. But the promise we have heard today in our readings is that, in the end, the end of our life and at the end of our world, there will always be CHRIST. 

Prayers

Celebrant:  At the end of time, God will send his angels to gather his chosen ones into his kingdom. As we pray for all human needs, so we ask that we may be found worthy on that unknown last day.

READER: That the Church may constantly prepare people to welcome Christ when he returns, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: That those who guide nations may receive divine mercy, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: That the tragedies caused by nature or human cruelty will not weaken our faith, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: That all gathered here will remain watchful in prayer, looking forward to the power and glory of Christ, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: In this month dedicated to the Poor Souls in purgatory, let us pray that this Mass and all Masses this month may cleanse and perfect our deceased relatives and friends, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD

READER: [SMC only]: For the repose of the soul of Sui Jeung, S.J. CHAN for whom this Mass is specially offered, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD

CELEBRANT: God our Father, you know the day and the hour when this world will come to an end. As we offer these prayers, so we place ourselves in tour provident care. We ask this through Christ, our Lord, (all) AMEN.