As we approach the end of that part of Saint Luke’s Gospel before the Passion narratives, and approach the end of the Church’s year, our thoughts are turned towards the end of time and the Second Coming of the Lord – leading us into Advent in two weeks time. Saint Luke’s message is very distinctive: the Lord will come, but there is a lot to be lived through first. The coming of the Lord is not going to be a “quick fix” – we will have to live through (and endure) all the mess of human joy and suffering.
The Lord is clear too that we have to be aware of the personal cost of belonging to him – think back to last week’s readings, and the stories of religious persecution from every place and every age, even to this day. Even as this sounds gloomy and depressing, it is worth noting where the Gospel passage starts – in the material beauty of the Temple – and where it ends – something far more precious will be saved: our lives.
Today’s Scripture: (Psalter: Week 1)
Malachi 3: 19 – 20
Response: Psalm 97
Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp
with the sound of music.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn.
acclaim the King, the Lord.
Let the sea and all within it, thunder;
the world, and all its peoples.
Let the rivers clap their hands
and the hills ring out their joy//
at the presence of the Lord.
For the Lord comes,//
comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with fairness.
(Sung Antiphon: The Lord comes to rule the peoples with fairness.)
2 Thessalonians 3: 7 – 12
Acclamation for the Gospel:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Stay awake praying at all times
for the strength to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Luke 21: 5–19
Prayer of the Faithful: R/. Lord, come to rule the world.
See all today’s readings on Catholic Online.
