Liturgical Readings for : Friday, 29th November, 2024
Friday of the Thirty Fourth Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of the Apocalypse 20:1-4. 11-21:2
Every one was judged according to the way in which he had lived. I saw the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven.
I. John, saw an angel come down from heaven with the key of the Abyss in his hand and an enormous chain. He overpowered the dragon, that primeval serpent which is the devil and Satan, and chained him up for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and shut the entrance and sealed it over him, to make sure he would not deceive the nations again until the thousand years had passed. At the end of that time he must be released, but only for a short while.
Then I saw some thrones, and I saw those who are given the power to be judges take their seats on them. I saw the souls of all who had been beheaded for having witnessed for Jesus and for having preached God’s word, and those who refused to worship the beast or his statue and would not have the brand-mark on their foreheads or hands; they came to life, and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Then I saw a great white throne and the One who was sitting on it. In his presence, earth and sky vanished, leaving no trace. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing in front of his throne, while the book of life was opened, and other books opened which were the record of what they had done in their lives, by which the dead were judged.
The sea gave up all the dead who were in it; Death and Hades were emptied of the dead that were in them; and every one was judged according to the way in which he had lived. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the burning lake. This burning lake is the second death; and anybody whose name could not be found written in the book of life was thrown into the burning lake.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth ;
the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now,
and there was no longer any sea.
I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem,
coming down from God out of heaven,
as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 83
Response Here God lives among us.
1. My soul is longing and yearning, yearning for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and my soul ring out their joy to God, the living God. Response
2. The sparrow herself finds a home and the swallow a nest for her brood;
she lays her young by your altars, Lord of hosts, my king and my God. Response
3. They are happy, who dwell in your house, for ever singing your praise.
They are happy, whose strength is in you, They walk with ever growing strength. Response
(The Hebrew text on the image above reads : They are happy, who dwell in your house. Ps 83: 3)
Gospel Acclamation Lk 21: 28
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 21:29-33 Glory to you, O Lord
When you see these things happening: know that the kingdom of God is near.
Jesus told his disciples a parable,
‘Think of the fig tree and indeed every tree.
As soon as you see them bud, you know that summer is now near.
So with you when you see these things happening:
know that the kingdom of God is near.
I tell you solemnly, before this generation has passed away all will have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
‘The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Friday, Thirty Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Luke 21:29-33
We have become used to rapid change in the course of our life time, especially for those who are now into their later years. So much has passed away, and so much that is new has come along to replace it. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus speaks of heaven and earth passing away. The expression ‘heaven and earth’ suggests all reality as we know it. Yet, this passing away of heaven and earth gives way to what Jesus calls the kingdom of God, and to what the first reading calls a ‘new heaven and a new earth’, ‘the holy city, the new Jerusalem’.
God is always bringing something new out of what passes away. God is always the Creator. God is always at work creating a world that is an image of the kingdom of God. Jesus reveals God to be not only ever ancient but also ever new. The God who brought new life out of the death of Jesus is the Creator God who is always at work among us, in and through the risen Lord, bringing forth something new and wonderful from what is passing away. The risen Lord calls each of us to share in some way in this creative, life-giving, work of God. By our values, our attitudes, our actions, we are called to create little openings for the coming of God’s kingdom into our world. In this way we will be sharing in the continuous creative work of God the Father and his Son.
The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd.
