SATURDAY OF WEEK 34 IN ORDINARY TIME - 2023

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Stay awake, praying at all times
for the strength to stand with confidence
before the Son of Man. LK 21:36

DANIEL 7:15-27 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

When we read the visions of Daniel as well as the visions of St. John, the evangelist in the Book of Revelation, it is easy to get caught up in the terrifying imagery of evil rulers, and evil despots who are given over to the dark side. The annihilation of the whole world seems imminent and yet we know that You O Lord have won the victory. You have triumphed over sin and death and You have won for us the crown of salvation. 

As the end of the liturgical year draws to a close the Church reminds us in these last days that we were born for heaven and that our pilgrimage on earth is a place of preparation and purification, a place of sanctification through trials, suffering, and sorrow making us worth to be robed in the wedding garment to meet the Bridegroom. So let us light our lamps, let us have enough oil, let us set our lamp on the lampstand, and let us implore the Holy Spirit through whom You have given us to be our Paraclete and our Helper to provide all the graces we need to prepare for Your coming in glory. May we keep our gaze on the prize and not get distracted by the devil's tactics to veer us from the narrow path that leads to the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Mary, Mother of God and our Mother place us under Your mantle and protect us from all evil by Your powerful intercession with Jesus, Your Son. Amen.

Responsorial Psalm DANIIEL 3:82-87 ©

Sons of men! bless the Lord.
Give glory and eternal praise to him!

Israel! bless the Lord.
Give glory and eternal praise to him!

Priests! bless the Lord.
Give glory and eternal praise to him!

Servants of the Lord! bless the Lord.
Give glory and eternal praise to him!

Spirits and souls of the virtuous! bless the Lord.
Give glory and eternal praise to him!

Devout and humble-hearted men! bless the Lord.
Give glory and eternal praise to him!

LUKE 21:34-36 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

What is most tragic about us Lord is that we mistake this life to be all that there is and we chase all the passing things of this world with feverish desperation. We cling frenziedly to the ephemeral pleasures of this world, to desire to acquire wealth, fame, honor, and respect of people, and before we know it death arrives, and our hands are empty. All that we believed to be necessary for happiness all our lives turns out to be nothing but fool's gold.  

We are grateful to Holy Mother Church for purposefully drawing our attention to what truly matters as the Liturgical Year comes to a close. She gently turns our gaze to the four last things death, judgment, heaven, and hell - this is the ultimate reality and we choose what our final destiny will be by the choices we make while we still have a chance. 

What You said to Your disciples then is what You say to Your disciples now, today. Let us wake up and pay attention before it is too late.

‘Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap. For it will come down on every living man on the face of the earth. Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.’