Christ is considered of judgment and reward.

"while all will be judged"

And will have to give an account of their life.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Daniel 7:15-27

I, Daniel,

Ｗas deeply troubled, since these visions terrified me. I approached one of those who were standing there,

and asked him to tell me what all this meant. He answered me and gave me the interpretation of these things:

These four beasts are four kings who will rise from the earth.

But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, to possess it eternally, forever and ever!

 

Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, different from the others,

extraordinarily terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws; that ate, tore into pieces and crushed underfoot whatever remained.

I also wanted to know about the ten horns it had on its head, and about the other horn which had sprung up,

and the three first horns that fell, and about this horn with eyes and a mouth that spoke with arrogance,

and that looked greater than the other horns.

 

As I looked, this horn waged war against the holy ones and was subduing them until the One of Great Age came,

to do justice for the holy ones of the Most High, and the time came for the holy ones to take possession of the kingdom.

Then I was told: 'The fourth animal shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, different from all the kingdoms.

It will devour the earth, crush it and destroy it. The ten horns are ten kings who shall rise from this kingdom.

 

Another one will rise up after them and destroy three kings.

This king shall insult the Most High and persecute the holy ones of the Most High.

He shall try to change the feasts and the laws.

The holy ones shall be handed over to his power for a time, two times, and half a time.

But judgment will come and dominion will be taken from him; he shall be destroyed and utterly wiped out.

The kingship, dominion and leadership of all the kingdoms of the world shall be given to the people of the holy ones of God Most High:

his kingdom will be without end. All the kingdoms shall serve him and be subject to him.

 

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

Give glory and eternal praise to him.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 21:34-36

Be on your guard: don't immerse yourselves in a life of pleasure, drunkenness and worldly cares,

lest that day catch you unaware, like a trap! For, like a snare, will that day come upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

But watch at all times and pray, that you may be able to escape all that is going to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"Christ is the source of judgment and reward."

The apocalyptic imagery of the Prophet Daniel is very dramatic, fearsome and full of battles and beasts.

The imagery is a way to present the perennial truth of human pride, which gets in the way of the love, justice,

peace and joy that belong to God's Kingdom (cf. Rom 14:17). The sin of pride is destructive to our relationships,

both with each other and with God, as it sees others as either a threat or merely as a stepping stone to greater power or prestige.

In this way, Daniel describes the nations seeking to conquer each other rather than cooperate.

 

We live in a time of much upheaval and global conflict,

and pride, greed or revenge can induce leaders to raise the clenched fist instead of extending the open hand.

Daniel is reminding us that war and conflict will happen, but injustice and violence will not have the last word,

as "judgement will come" and "the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, to possess it eternally."

Christ is the source of both that judgement and that reward, so we look to him with confidence and continue to be instruments of his peace.