Readings: Friday, November 28, 2014

First Reading: Dn 7:2-14

In a vision I, Daniel, saw during the night,
the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea,
from which emerged four immense beasts,
each different from the others.
The first was like a lion, but with eagle's wings.
While I watched, the wings were plucked;
it was raised from the ground to stand on two feet
like a man, and given a human mind. 
The second was like a bear; it was raised up on one side,
and among the teeth in its mouth were three tusks.
It was given the order, "Up, devour much flesh." 
After this I looked and saw another beast, like a leopard;
on its back were four wings like those of a bird,
and it had four heads.
To this beast dominion was given.
After this, in the visions of the night I saw the fourth beast,
different from all the others,
terrifying, horrible, and of extraordinary strength;
it had great iron teeth with which it devoured and crushed,
and what was left it trampled with its feet.
I was considering the ten horns it had,
when suddenly another, a little horn, sprang out of their midst,
and three of the previous horns were torn away to make room for it.
This horn had eyes like a man,
and a mouth that spoke arrogantly.
As I watched,

Thrones were set up 
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was snow bright,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
His throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.

The court was convened, and the books were opened.
I watched, then, from the first of the arrogant words
which the horn spoke, until the beast was slain
and its body thrown into the fire to be burnt up.
The other beasts, which also lost their dominion,
were granted a prolongation of life for a time and a season.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw

One like a son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
He received dominion, glory, and kingship;
nations and peoples of every language serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

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

R./ Give glory and eternal praise to him! 

"Mountains and hills, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R./ Give glory and eternal praise to him! 

"Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
R./ Give glory and eternal praise to him! 

"You springs, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R./ Give glory and eternal praise to him! 

"Seas and rivers, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R./ Give glory and eternal praise to him! 

"You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R./ Give glory and eternal praise to him! 

"All you birds of the air, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R./ Give glory and eternal praise to him! 

"All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R./ Give glory and eternal praise to him!

Gospel Introduction 
      The faithful should keep hope in patience: God’s kingdom is near. There are not only tensions and conflicts inside God’s people and from outside: there are also signs of hope, and we should see these signs.

Gospel Reading: Lk 21:29-33

Jesus said to his disciples, "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."