"My words will not pass away"

that conveys the enduring and permanent nature of his teachings,

even as the physical world fades. 

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Daniel 7:2-14

Daniel said,

"I saw the following in my vision: the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea,

and four great beasts, each one different from the other, came out of the sea.

The first was like a lion with eagle's wings. As I looked at it, its wings were torn off.

It was lifted up from the ground, stood up on its feet like a man, and was given a human heart.

The second was a beast like a bear; it was raised up on one side and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth.

It was told: Go and devour much flesh. I went on looking and saw another beast like a leopard with four wings on its back;

it had four heads and dominion was given to it.

 

I continued seeing my visions of the night and saw a terrible fourth beast.

It was fearful and extraordinarily strong; it had great iron teeth; it ate, tore into pieces, and crushed underfoot whatever remained.

It was different from the previous beasts and had ten horns.

I was looking at the horns, when another small horn sprang among them,

and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots to make way for the new.

It had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that uttered insolent words.

 

I looked and saw the following: Some thrones were set in place and One of Great Age took his seat.

His robe was white, as snow, his hair, white as washed wool.

His throne was flames of fire with wheels of blazing fire. A river of fire sprang forth and flowed before him.

Thousands upon thousands served him and a countless multitude stood before him.

Those in the tribunal took their seats and opened the book.

But as I remembered the haughty words of the horn with human eyes and mouth, which I had seen before,

this animal was killed before my eyes; and its body destroyed and cast into the fire.

 

Dominion was taken from the other animals, though they were allowed to stay alive for a time, until the fixed time.

I continued watching the nocturnal vision: One like a son of man came on the clouds of heaven.

He faced the One of Great Age and was brought into his presence.

Dominion, honor and kingship were given him, and all the peoples and nations of every language served him.

His dominion is eternal and shall never pass away; his kingdom will never be destroyed.

 

Dn 3:75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80,81

Give glory and eternal praise to him.

 

＊＊＊ 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 near. In the same way, when you see these things happening,

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 ：

"My words will not pass away."

The language used by Jesus in the Gospel reflects the words of the Prophet Daniel,

showing that he was declaring to the people that the long-awaited Messiah had come and that it was he they had been looking for.

Jesus frequently uses the title "Son of Man," a title which appears in Daniel's messianic prophecy.

Moreover, Jesus tells his disciples that "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."

Again, Christ's teaching on the fulfilment of God's reign points to Daniel,

as the lasting power of Christ's word reflects an eternal dominion, which Daniel says,

"shall never pass away; [and] his kingdom will never be destroyed."

 

In elaborate imagery, Daniel gives us the assurance that evil will not triumph in the end.

The terrible beasts seem invincible in their strength and haughty in their arrogance, and yet,

their power comes to an abrupt end as the Son of Man is given dominion over all things as King.

Our Christian faith looks forward to the "resurrection of the body and life everlasting."

Even when the world faces great trials and terrible injustices,

we trust in God's ultimate victory over sin and death through Christ his Son.