Readings: Tuesday, November 24, 2020

First Reading: Revelation 14:14-19

I, John, looked and there was a white cloud, 
and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man, 
with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 
Another angel came out of the temple, 
crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud, 
“Use your sickle and reap the harvest, 
for the time to reap has come, 
because the earth’s harvest is fully ripe.” 
So the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, 
and the earth was harvested. 
Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven 
who also had a sharp sickle. 
Then another angel came from the altar, who was in charge of the fire, 
and cried out in a loud voice 
to the one who had the sharp sickle, 
“Use your sharp sickle and cut the clusters from the earth’s vines, 
for its grapes are ripe.” 
So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage. 
He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96:10, 11-12, 13

R./ The Lord comes to judge the earth. 

Say among the nations: The Lord is king. 
He has made the world firm, not to be moved; 
he governs the peoples with equity. 
R./ The Lord comes to judge the earth. 

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; 
let the sea and what fills it resound; 
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them! 
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult. 
R./ The Lord comes to judge the earth. 

Before the Lord, for he comes; 
for he comes to rule the earth. 
He shall rule the world with justice 
and the peoples with his constancy.
R./ The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Gospel Introduction
      Jesus speaks of times of trials, directly of the fall of Jerusalem, which is a symbol of the end time. We may not forget that for us here and now the time of judgment is now: we prepare it now, we undergo, or better, create it now, by the way we live individually and as a community. “Do not be misled,” says Christ. In other words, his message is meant to shake us, to wake us up to live the gospel now.

Gospel Reading: Lk 21:5-11

While some people were talking about the Temple, remarking that it was adorned with fine stonework and rich gifts, Jesus said to them, "The days will come when there shall not be left one stone upon another of all that you now admire; all will be torn down." And they asked him, "Master, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?"

Jesus then said, "Take care not to be deceived, for many will come claiming my title and saying: 'I am he, the Messiah; the time is at hand.' Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and troubled times, don't be frightened; for all this must happen first, even though the end is not so soon."

And Jesus said, "Nations will fight each other and kingdom will oppose kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and plagues; in many places strange and terrifying signs from heaven will be seen.