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.
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.
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.
Today’s Gospel introduces us to Jesus’ apocalyptic discourse, where He speaks about the temple’s eventual destruction, wars, natural disasters, and false messiahs. For many, these prophecies might sound mysterious, but these words were a source of hope for the persecuted Christians of Luke’s time. Jesus’ words helped early believers understand that, even amid turmoil and suffering, God was still in control of human history and that they could trust in His unwavering presence.
Jesus cautions His disciples against deception, urging them—and us—to stay faithful,particularly during times of confusion and fear. In our own lives, we encounter situations that can evoke feelings of uncertainty or fear, such as global conflicts, natural disasters, or personal challenges. However, Jesus reassures us with the words, “Do not be terrified.” Rather than inciting fear, His message encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith and focus on Him, trusting that God’s plans surpass any turmoil we face.
The signs Jesus speaks of—wars, earthquakes, plagues—are reminders that our world is fragile and our lives are short. But rather than causing despair, these realities call us to deeper faith. They invite us to turn our focus from earthly securities to the eternal hope we have in Christ. His Kingdom endures beyond all that fades, and we are invited to live with that Kingdom in mind, loving one another and spreading hope.
In times of uncertainty, let’s remember Jesus’ words: “Do not be deceived.” Let us anchor our lives in His promise, knowing that, despite all appearances, He is the Lord of history. May we live each day with courage, knowing that, in Him, we are safe and that whatever happens, His love and His Kingdom remain unshaken.
Judgment is presented in the reading from Revelation as the reaping of the harvest.
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 and wake us up to live the gospel now.
Lord our God,
our faith is not a quiet possession
of the truth and of rites
that may give us security.
Make us realize that it is tested
and that you call us
to be credible witnesses
in our time and our situation
of the passion and resurrection of your Son.
Give us your Holy Spirit
to guide us and to keep our hope alive
that Jesus is our Lord
and you our God for ever.
– For the Church of Jesus Christ, that its faith, trust and love may not waver in the difficulties and storms of our time, we pray:
– For those who doubt their faith or are afraid of the future, that God may give them courage and that we may refresh one another’s hope, we pray:
– For a world in the grip of war and violence, of dishonesty and abuse of power, that people of integrity and vision may draw inspiration from the gospel to lead the world back on the road of peace and love, we pray:
Lord our God,
as you will sanctify this bread and this wine
and change them into Jesus, your Son,
let the power of your Holy Spirit
change us into people
imbued with the mentality of Jesus Christ.
Make us more like him,
that we may live for one another
and have nothing to fear
when you call us to you,
our God for ever and ever.
Lord our God,
in this eucharist you have given to us
the word and the body of your Son.
Do not allow us to be misled
by anyone who speaks an easy message.
Let our only sure guide be
he who is our way and truth and life,
our hope and our resurrection,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
We are people of hope. We shouldn’t bother about the question when the end of the world will come but live as people who know that they have to be responsible Christians every day. If we do this, there is no reason for fear. May almighty God keep you safe and bless you, the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
