34th THURSDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Lk 21:20-28) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles.” (Lk 21:24)

FIRST READING - RV 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9A

A reading from the Book of Revelation

I, John, saw another angel coming down from heaven,

having great authority,

and the earth became illumined by his splendor.

He cried out in a mighty voice:

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great.

She has become a haunt for demons.

She is a cage for every unclean spirit,

a cage for every unclean bird,

a cage for every unclean and disgusting beast.”

A mighty angel picked up a stone like a huge millstone

and threw it into the sea and said:

“With such force will Babylon the great city be thrown down,

and will never be found again.

No melodies of harpists and musicians,

flutists and trumpeters,

will ever be heard in you again.

No craftsmen in any trade

will ever be found in you again.

No sound of the millstone

will ever be heard in you again.

No light from a lamp

will ever be seen in you again.

No voices of bride and groom

will ever be heard in you again.

Because your merchants were the great ones of the world,

all nations were led astray by your magic potion.”

After this I heard what sounded like

the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying:

“Alleluia!

Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God,

for true and just are his judgments.

He has condemned the great harlot

who corrupted the earth with her harlotry.

He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

They said a second time:

“Alleluia! Smoke will rise from her forever and ever.”

Then the angel said to me,

“Write this:

Blessed are those who have been called

to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - LK 21:20-28

From the Gospel according to Luke

Jesus said to his disciples:

“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies,

know that its desolation is at hand.

Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.

Let those within the city escape from it,

and let those in the countryside not enter the city,

for these days are the time of punishment

when all the Scriptures are fulfilled.

Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days,

for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth

and a wrathful judgment upon this people.

They will fall by the edge of the sword

and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles;

and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles

until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,

and on earth nations will be in dismay,

perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.

People will die of fright

in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,

for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

And then they will see the Son of Man

coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

But when these signs begin to happen,

stand erect and raise your heads

because your redemption is at hand.”

34th THURSDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Lk 21:20-28)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear people of God,

Today's Word of God calls on people to be alert to the temptations of Satan. Because they will bring difficulties, challenges, persecutions, wars, killing each other, including disasters, calamities, floods, droughts, ... Satan will find every way to lure people closer to Satan to distance themselves from the love and mercy of God the Father.

What Jesus Christ teaches in the Word of God today, people should listen and put into practice because the Word of God forewarns people that: when facing difficulties and challenges, cling tightly to God the Father, obey Him at all times and places, then they will overcome all the traps that Satan brings.

Through that, God the Father also teaches people to trust everything in His hands, to hope for the life of the Kingdom of Heaven in the future because they believe that everything is under the powerful hand of God, to rely on Him, then He will protect them from the imprisonment of Satan. God the Father does not want people to worry, to be afraid of disasters, of "the roaring sea", of challenges in this earthly life. Because God is powerful and merciful. He will protect, shelter, and defend those who know how to trust and rely completely on God the Father. Look up to God the Supreme Being, run to pray to His holy name, He will come, He will bestow all blessings so that His children will have peace and happiness in their souls. When facing difficulties and challenges, people should not be afraid, should not worry, should not blame, should not condemn, but should live gently and humbly, should fear God and believe in His absolute power that: He is a merciful Father, He cannot bear to abandon any person who knows how to return to God the Father.

Thanks be to God. Amen.