Daily Readings - Sat Dec 02 2017

First Reading - Daniel 7.15-27

¹⁵My spirit was terrified. I, Daniel, was fearful at these things, and the visions of my head disturbed me¹⁶I approached one of the attendants and asked the truth from him about all these things. He told me the interpretation of the words, and he instructed me¹⁷"These four great beasts are four kingdoms, which will rise from the earth¹⁸Yet it is the saints of the Most High God who will receive the kingdom, and they will hold the kingdom from this generation, and forever and ever.¹⁹After this, I wanted to learn diligently about the fourth beast, which was very different from all, and exceedingly terrible; his teeth and claws were of iron; he devoured and crushed, and the remainder he trampled with his feet²⁰and about the ten horns, which he had on his head, and about the other, which had sprung up, before which three horns fell, and about that horn which had eyes and a mouth speaking great things, and which was more powerful than the rest²¹I watched, and behold, that horn made war against the holy ones and prevailed over them²²until the Ancient of days came and gave judgment to the holy ones of the Supreme One, and the time arrived, and the holy ones obtained the kingdom²³And thus he said, "The fourth beast will be the fourth kingdom on earth, which will be greater than all the kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth, and will trample and crush it²⁴Moreover, the ten horns of the same kingdom will be ten kings, and another will rise up after them, and he will be mightier than the ones before him, and he will bring down three kings²⁵And he will speak words against the Supreme One, and will exhaust the holy ones of the Most High, and he will think about what it would take to change the times and the laws, and they will be given into his hand until a time, and times, and half a time²⁶And a trial will begin, so that his power may be taken away, and be crushed, and be undone all the way to the end²⁷Yet the kingdom, and the power, and the greatness of that kingdom, which is under all of heaven, shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all kings will serve and obey him.

Gospel - Luke 21.34-36

Luke

Chapter 21

³⁴But be attentive to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts may be weighed down by self-indulgence and inebriation and the cares of this life. And then that day may overwhelm you suddenly³⁵For like a snare it will overwhelm all those who sit upon the face of the entire earth³⁶And so, be vigilant, praying at all times, so that you may be held worthy to escape from all these things, which are in the future, and to stand before the Son of man.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom and the call to remain vigilant in our faith. In the first reading from Daniel, we encounter a vision of four great beasts, symbolizing four kingdoms that will rise and fall. Despite the terror and chaos these kingdoms bring, Daniel is assured that the saints of the Most High will ultimately receive the kingdom, and it will last forever. This vision reminds us that earthly powers, no matter how formidable, are transient, while God’s reign is eternal. The fourth beast, with its ten horns and its blasphemous arrogance, represents the ultimate earthly power that persecutes the holy ones. Yet, even this will come to an end, and the kingdom will be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High. In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus’ warning to his disciples about the dangers of being weighed down by the cares and pleasures of this life. He urges them to be vigilant and prayerful so that they may stand before the Son of Man when he comes. This passage serves as a reminder that our ultimate hope is not in the things of this world but in the eternal kingdom of God. Jesus’ words are a call to live with our hearts fixed on heaven, avoiding the distractions and temptations that can lead us away from God. These readings are deeply connected in their emphasis on trust in God’s providence and the importance of spiritual vigilance. Daniel’s vision assures us that even in the face of great trials and persecutions, God’s plan will prevail, and his people will inherit the kingdom. Luke’s Gospel, on the other hand, challenges us to live in a way that reflects this hope, remaining alert and prayerful as we await the Lord’s return. Together, they remind us that our true citizenship is in heaven, and we must not allow the fleeting attractions of this world to distract us from our ultimate goal. Let us, therefore, trust in God’s promise, stay vigilant in our faith, and live in a way that reflects our hope in the eternal kingdom.