Today's Gospel Reading - Sunday, November 18, 2012 with Reflection

1^ST READING - Daniel 12:1-3

P S A L M - Psalm 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11

R: You are my inheritance, O Lord!

5 O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. 8 I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. (R) 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; 10 because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. (R) 11 You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.(R)

2^ND READING - Hebrews 10:11-14, 18

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

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

 

Mark 13:24-32

24 Jesus said to his disciples: “In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, 27 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. 28 Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. 30Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

SABBATH

THE HEAVENLY FATHER’S SECRET   The year 2011 had been marked by several catastrophes. Terrible earthquakes and a tsunami in Japan wiped out cities and villages. An earthquake in Spain damaged important historical landmarks. There was also the galactic alignment of planets in May 2011, and people speculated on possible upheavals in nature. There were also the wars in several critical areas in the Middle East. Was it the end of the world? Well, the world is still spinning, and we are still here. The concluding words of Jesus in our Gospel should put useless discussions about the end of the world to rest. He says in the simplest and clearest words, “But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” St. Augustine explains that the Heavenly Father decided to keep the exact day and hour of the world’s end to keep us looking forward to this very important moment and live our lives always to the optimum. How best can we be prepared for the Heavenly Father’s surprise? (1) Keep loving. We will always be judged and remembered by our loving acts and loving ways. People are willing to overlook many things about one whom they have experienced to be a truly loving person. (2) Act justly. To act justly is to always be at peace because one owes nothing to anyone. (3) Live in righteousness. When a person tries to follow the will of God in each circumstance of life, then a person’s conscience is clean and calm. (4) Close each day with a forgiving heart. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Always finish each day in peace with oneself and in harmony with everyone else. (5) Pray! A genuine life of prayer makes us at home with God. Prayer is the language of friendship with God. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP   REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you living in a state of spiritual preparedness? What can you do to make yourself always at peace and in harmony with anything?   Jesus, I pray that You will find me faithful when You come again in glory.

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, pray for us.

 

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