Readings for Friday 34th Week in Ordinary Time

Year 2

First Reading
Rv 20:1-4, 11—21:2

The dead were judged according to their deeds. I saw a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.

A reading from the Book of Revelation

I, John, saw an angel come down from heaven,
   holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a heavy chain.
He seized the dragon, the ancient serpent,
   which is the Devil or Satan,
   and tied it up for a thousand years and threw it into the abyss,
   which he locked over it and sealed,
   so that it could no longer lead the nations astray
   until the thousand years are completed.
After this, it is to be released for a short time.

Then I saw thrones; those who sat on them were entrusted with judgment.
I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded
   for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God,
   and who had not worshiped the beast or its image
   nor had accepted its mark on their foreheads or hands.
They came to life and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Next I saw a large white throne and the one who was sitting on it.
The earth and the sky fled from his presence
   and there was no place for them.
I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne,
   and scrolls were opened.
Then another scroll was opened, the book of life.
The dead were judged according to their deeds,
   by what was written in the scrolls.
The sea gave up its dead;
   then Death and Hades gave up their dead.
All the dead were judged according to their deeds.
Then Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire.
(This pool of fire is the second death.)
Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life
   was thrown into the pool of fire.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.
The former heaven and the former earth had passed away,
   and the sea was no more.
I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,
   coming down out of heaven from God,
   prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.


Responsorial Psalm
Ps 84:3, 4, 5-6a and 8a

R. :

R. (Revelation 21:3b) Here God lives among his people.

My soul yearns and pines
   for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
   cry out for the living God.

R. Here God lives among his people.

Even the sparrow finds a home,
   and the swallow a nest
   in which she puts her young—
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
   my king and my God!

R. Here God lives among his people.

Blessed they who dwell in your house!
   continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
   They go from strength to strength.

R. Here God lives among his people.

Year 1

First Reading
Dn 7:2-14

I saw one like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel

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

R. :

R. (59b) 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 Acclamation
Lk 21:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Stand erect and raise your heads,
because your redemption is at hand.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel
Lk 21:29-33

When you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is at hand.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Jesus told his disciples a parable.
“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
When their buds burst open,
   you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;
   in the same way, when you see these things happening,
   know that the Kingdom of God is near.
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away
   until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
   but my words will not pass away.”

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Then he kisses the book, saying quietly:

Through the words of the Gospel
may our sins be wiped away.


Homilies / Gospel Reflections






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