＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Revelation 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a

After this I saw another angel co­ming down from heaven.

So great was his authority that the whole earth was lit up with his glory. In a strong voice he cried out:  “Fallen is Babylon (……)  A powerful angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying: “With such violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, never again to be seen.

 Never again will tunes of harpists, min­strels, trumpeters and flutists be heard in you. Never again will an artisan of any trade be found in you. Never again will the noise of the mill be heard. Never again will the light of a lamp shine in you. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never again be heard in you.(……)

After this I heard what sounded like the loud singing of a great assembly in heaven: Alleluia! Salvation, glory and might be­long to our God,  for his judgments are true and just. He has condemned the great harlot who corrupted the world with her adultery.

He has avenged his servants’ blood shed by her hand in harlotry.  Once more they sang: Alleluia! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever! Then the angel told me, “Write: Happy are those invited to the wedding of the Lamb.” And he went on, “These are true words of God.”

 

Ps 100: 1b-2, 3, 4, 5

Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 21:20-28

 When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you must know that the time has come when it will be reduced to a wasteland. Then, if you are in Judea, flee to the mountains; if you are in the city, leave it; and let those who are in the fields not return to the city.

 For these will be the days of its punishment and all that was announced in the Scripture will be fulfilled. How hard will it be for pregnant women and for mothers with babies at the breast!

For a great calamity will come upon the land, and divine justice upon this people. They will be put to death by the sword or taken as slaves to other nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled upon by the pagans until the time of the pagans is fulfilled.

Then there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of perplexed nations when they hear the roaring of the sea and its waves. People will faint with fear at the mere thought of what is to come upon the world, for the forces of the universe will be shaken.

 And at this time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now, when you see the first events, stand erect and lift up your heads, for your deliverance is drawing near.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

Our Gospel lesson for today has its beginning in Jesus’ prediction that the temple will be destroyed (vv. 5-6) and the disciples’ question, “Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?” (v. 7).

Jesus responds by telling of wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, and plagues (vv. 9-11), the arrest of Christians and resultant opportunities for witnessing (vv. 12-19), and the destruction of Jerusalem (vv. 20-24). Then come the cosmic signs of verses 25-26, which is where our Gospel lesson begins.

Jesus does not say these things to frighten us, but to prepare us. Our proper response is not to be terrified (v. 9), but to avoid being led astray by false teachers (v. 8) and to take advantage of opportunities for witnessing created by the turmoil (v. 13).

The coming of the Son of Man is heralded in Daniel 7:13-14. That chapter describes Daniel’s vision, where he saw frightening beasts doing terrible things.

Then the Ancient of Days (God) took his throne, destroyed the beasts, and was joined by “one like a son  of man” – a human figure in contrast with the earlier beastly images.

This “one like a son of man”is given “everlasting dominion,”and “The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High” (Daniel 7:27). The picture is that of a world restored to God’s intent – an end of chaos and evil – a beginning of peace and justice.