—-St Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions – Pray for Us!
THE SIGNS ARE NOW
Introduction
Judgment is presented in the reading from Revelation as the reaping of the harvest.
Jesus speaks of times of trials, directly of the fall of Jerusalem, which is a symbol of the end time. We may not forget that for us here and now the time of judgment is now: we prepare it now, we undergo, or better, create it now, by the way we live individually and as a community. “Do not be misled,” says Christ. In other words, his message is meant to shake us, to wake us up to live the gospel now.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God, our faith is not a quiet possession of the truth and of rites that may give us security. Make us realize that it is tested and that you call us to be credible witnesses in our time and our situation of the passion and resurrection of your Son. Give us your Holy Spirit to guide us and to keep our hope alive that Jesus is our Lord and you our God for ever. Amen!
1 Reading: Revelations 14:14-19
I, John, looked and there was a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man, with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap the harvest, for the time to reap has come, because the earth’s harvest is fully ripe.” So the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven who also had a sharp sickle. Then another angel came from the altar, who was in charge of the fire, and cried out in a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and cut the clusters from the earth’s vines, for its grapes are ripe.” So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage. He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury.
Responsorial Psalm PS 96:10, 11-12, 13
R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king. He has made the world firm, not to be moved; he governs the peoples with equity. R.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and what fills it resound; let the plains be joyful and all that is in them! Then shall all the trees of the forest exult. R.
Before the LORD, for he comes; for he comes to rule the earth. He shall rule the world with justice and the peoples with his constancy. R.
Alleluia Revelations 2:10C
Alleluia, alleluia. Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Luke 21:5-11
While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here–the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”
Commentary
The end-time is very much evident in this last week of Ordinary Time. In the vision of Revelation, the crowned Christ appears as the victor, but, bearing the sickle, he is also the judge. In his role as harvester, Christ is assisted by three angels, one of whom carries a sharp sickle. The angel with the sickle is ordered to harvest the ripe grapes. But the grapes harvested are thrown into the wine press of God’s wrath. This moment before the end is clearly a time of judgment. Judgment was also the lot of Jerusalem, which had not recognized the time of its visitation. Despite all its splendour, the temple was razed and not a stone was left upon a stone. It had all the features of an end-time experience, but Christ assures his listeners that more devastation is still to come.
We have our apocalyptic today, who are convinced that the end is approaching. Many of us are not that sure. But we are called to live our lives as if each day were the last. How often Paul issues the alert and tells us to wake from sleep. If we live a faith-filled life, we have no reason to fear. We affirm God’s future in our liturgy: “Christ will come again.” We say it, not in fear, but with trust and confidence.
Intercessions
– For the Church of Jesus Christ, that its faith, trust and love may not waver in the difficulties and storms of our time, we pray:
– For those who doubt their faith or are afraid of the future, that God may give them courage and that we may refresh one another’s hope, we pray:
– For a world in the grip of war and violence, of dishonesty and abuse of power, that people of integrity and vision may draw inspiration from the gospel to lead the world back on the road of peace and love, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God, as you will sanctify this bread and this wine and change them into Jesus, your Son, let the power of your Holy Spirit change us into people imbued with the mentality of Jesus Christ. Make us more like him, that we may live for one another and have nothing to fear when you call us to you, our God for ever and ever. Amen!
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, in this Eucharist you have given to us the word and the body of your Son. Do not allow us to be misled by anyone who speaks an easy message. Let our only sure guide be he who is our way and truth and life, our hope and our resurrection, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!
Blessing
We are people of hope. We shouldn’t bother about the question when and how the end of the world will come but live as people who know that we have to be responsible Christians every day. If we do this, there is no reason for fear. May almighty God keep you safe and bless you, the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!