DAILY READINGS & REFLECTION
DECEMBER 1, 2023
FRIDAY OF THE THIRTY-FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
FIRST READING
DANIEL 7:2-14
2 In the vision I saw during the night, suddenly the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea, 3 from which emerged four immense beasts, each different from the others.4 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.5 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."6 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.7 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.8 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.9 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.10 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. 11 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. 12 The other beasts, which also lost their dominion, were granted a prolongation of life for a time and a season. 13 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, 14 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.
The Word of the Lord
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM
DANIEL 3:75-81
Response: Give glory and eternal praise to him!
Bless the LORD, mountains and hills,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
Bless the LORD, all things that grow on the earth,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
Bless the LORD, you springs,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
Bless the LORD, seas and rivers,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
Bless the LORD, you whales and all creatures that move in the waters,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
Bless the LORD, all birds of the air,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
Bless the LORD, all beasts and cattle,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
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GOSPEL
My words will not pass away
LUKE 21:29-33
29 And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 as soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
The Gospel of the Lord
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REFLECTION
A DAILY QUOTE FROM THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS
My words will not pass away, by an anonymous early author from the early Greek fathers
"'This generation' refers both to those who suffer temptation and to those who cause it. It refers to sinners among men and to the demons who are at work in them. For neither group will cease being in the world until its consummation. For Christ said, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels' (Matthew 25:41). Moreover, it is necessary that the source of temptation be preserved as long as there is faith which needs testing. It is also possible, however, that 'this generation' refers to those mortal Christians who would not pass over into eternal life and be made immortal and impassible 'until' all the events about which Christ was speaking had taken place.
"'Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away' because heaven and earth were created to serve you, but my words were uttered to govern you. Both heaven and earth are subject to vanity, as the apostle said, 'Creation is subject to vanity' (Romans 8:20). Truth, however, is by nature unable to deceive and can never die."
(excerpt from INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 49, the Greek fathers)
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Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.