Bible Diary

Daily Reading

Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

LECTIONARY
508

FIRST READING

Dan 7:15-27

“As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’ “Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom. “Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings. He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’”

PSALM

Daniel 3:82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87

Response:

“You sons of men, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

“O Israel, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

“Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

“Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

“Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

“Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

GOSPEL

Lk 21:34-36

“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Daily Reflection

The prophet Daniel is disturbed by the vision of a world that will be torn apart by the forces of evil – dictatorships, the preference for the material over the spiritual, people who turn their backs on the one true God. There will come a time when the faithful will be tested and only those who place their steadfast trust in God will be the ones who endure.

Often, complacency in life and a false sense of security in the material things of this world blind us to the destructive nature of sin. We are warned in the Gospel to avoid being ensnared and to be in a constant state of readiness and awareness. The best way to be ‘on guard’ is to pray not just for the ability to resist sin but also for the strength to withstand the persecution that will test our faith.

Are we prepared or will we be taken unawares?