＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Revelation 20:1-4, 11-21:2

Then an angel came down from heaven,

Holding in his hand the key to the Abyss and a huge chain. He seized the monster, the ancient serpent, name­ly Satan or the devil, and chained him for a thousand years. He threw him into the abyss and closed its gate with the key, then secured it with locks, that he might not deceive the nations in the future until the thousand years have passed. Then he will be released for a little while.

 There were thrones and seated on them were those with the power to judge. I then saw the spirits of those who had been beheaded for having held the teachings of Jesus and on account of the word of God. I saw all those who had refused to worship the beast or its image, or receive its mark on the forehead or on the hand.

They returned to life and reigned with the Messiah for a thousand years. This is the first resurrection. After that I saw a great and splendid throne and the one seated upon it. At once heaven and earth disappeared, leaving no trace. 

I saw the new Jerusalem, the holy city coming down from God, out of heaven, adorned as a bride prepared for her husband.

 

Ps 84:3, 4, 5-6a & 8a

Here God lives among his people.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 21:29-33

\And Jesus added this comparison, “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. As soon as their buds sprout, you know that summer is already near. In the same way, as soon as you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all this has happened: heav­en and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

 

Gospel Reflection：

In these verses we come to the last of Jesus’ teaching session on the End Times. Jesus has talked about the destruction of the temple and of the city of Jerusalem. He has discussed persecution, terrible signs, and signs of his own coming.

Now he concludes the discourse emphasizing the certainty of his coming and admonishing his disciples to be ready, some commentators have made a lot out of the fig tree as being representative of Israel.

I don’t see any allegory here. It is a simple “this is similar to that”kind of an expression. Just as new leaves on a deciduous tree are a sign that summer is near, so when you see these last signs taking place (21:25-28), you know that the kingdom of God is at hand.