THE DAILY GOSPEL

Thursday - November 29, 2012 34th Week in Ordinary Time Rev 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a*

1st Reading:

After this I, John, saw another angel coming down from heaven. In a strong voice he cried out: "Fallen is Babylon the great! Fallen! She has become a haunt of demons, a lodge for every unclean spirit, a nest for any filthy and disgusting bird. A powerful angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying:

"With such violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, never again to be seen.

Never again will tunes of harpists, minstrels, trumpeters and flutists be heard in you.

Never again will the light of a lamp shine in you. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never again be heard in you.

After this I heard what sounded like the loud singing of a great assembly in heaven: Alleluia! Salvation, glory and might belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just. He has condemned the great harlot who corrupted the world with her adultery. He has avenged his servants' blood shed by her hand in harlotry. Once more they sang: Alleluia! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever!

Then the angel told me, "Write: Happy are those invited to the wedding of the Lamb." And he went on, "These are true words of God.”

Luke 21:20-28

Gospel:

Jesus said to his disciples, "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you must know that the time has come when it will be reduced to a wasteland. Then, if you are in Judea, flee to the mountains; if you are in the city, leave it; and let those who are in the fields not return to the city.

"For these will be the days of its punishment and all that was announced in the Scripture will be fulfilled. How hard will it be for pregnant women and for mothers with babies at the breast! For a great calamity will come upon the land, and divine justice upon this people. They will be put to death by the sword or taken as slaves to other nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled upon by the pagans until the time of the pagans is fulfilled.

"Then there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of perplexed nations when they hear the roaring of the sea and its waves. People will faint with fear at the mere thought of what is to come upon the world, for the forces of the universe will be shaken. And at this time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

"Now, when you see the first events, stand erect and lift up your heads, for your deliverance is drawing near.”

Reflection

The passage of time is the saddest of all mysteries. You have only to look back to see for yourself that everything turns to dust. "Not people die, but worlds die in them, ” wrote the Russian poet Yevtushenko. Every day a world dies and world is born. Equally. But if your eyes are always straining for the past, you will miss what is being born around you.