Thursday, November 30, 2006
FRIDAY 34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
DECEMBER 1, 2006
FRIDAY 34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR II
REVELATION 20:1-4, 11-21:2
I, John, saw an angel come down from heaven, holding in his hand the
key to the abyss and a heavy chain. He seized the dragon, the ancient
serpent, which is the Devil or Satan, and tied it up for a thousand
years and threw it into the abyss, which he locked over it and
sealed, so that it could no longer lead the nations astray until the
thousand years are completed. After this, it is to be released for a
short time. Then I saw thrones; those who sat on them were entrusted
with judgment. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded
for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not
worshiped the beast or its image nor had accepted its mark on their
foreheads or hands. They came to life and they reigned with Christ
for a thousand years. Next I saw a large white throne and the one
who was sitting on it. The earth and the sky fled from his presence
and there was no place for them. I saw the dead, the great and the
lowly, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Then
another scroll was opened, the book of life. The dead were judged
according to their deeds, by what was written in the scrolls. The sea
gave up its dead; then Death and Hades gave up their dead. All the
dead were judged according to their deeds. Then Death and Hades were
thrown into the pool of fire. (This pool of fire is the second
death.) Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life
was thrown into the pool of fire. Then I saw a new heaven and a new
earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and
the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for
her husband.
LUKE 21:29-33
Jesus told his disciples a parable. "Consider the fig tree and all
the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves
and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these
things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. Amen, I say
to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things
have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will
not pass away."
REFLECTION
Some of us enjoy reading a good book. As the story becomes more
interesting, we become more engrossed. We lose track of time as we
turn the pages in eagerness to see what happens next. Eventually,
the story ends, and we finish the book. The feeling at that point is
a mix of happy satisfaction for time well spent in the reading
experience and sadness that a good story has come to an end and we
will miss the book's characters we perhaps have come to identify
with.
The readings in this last week of the Liturgical year have been about
the end. Jesus tells us that "Heaven and earth will pass away" but
His "words will not pass away."
The truly Good News of Jesus is that Jesus' life is not another
typically good story. It is not a story that we have to be sad about
when we reach the end. On the contrary, it is a story that
continually gives us joy and hope without the disappointment that we
will miss the main character of Christ.
Let us not fall into the trap of thinking that our Christian religion
is one of stories just with happy endings. Let us instead view our
faith as a continuing story of our never-ending relationship with
Jesus; one that works to spread love in an imperfect world and one
that will continue in an eternal companionship of Love with God in a
new Heaven after the old world has passed on.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
- for the personal intentions and success of Sheena Karla Caranto.
- for the healing and recovery of Myra.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Benjamin Castillo
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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