Daily Readings - Sun Nov 18 2018

¹"But at that time Michael will rise up, the great leader, who stands up for the sons of your people. And a time will come, such as has not been from the time that nations began, even until that time. And, at that time, your people will be saved, all who will be found written in the book²And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awaken: some to everlasting life, and others to a reproach that they will always see³But those who have taught will shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who instruct many towards justice, like the stars for unending eternity

Hebrews

Chapter 10

¹¹And certainly, every priest stands by, ministering daily, and frequently offering the same sacrifices, which are never able to take away sins¹²But this man, offering one sacrifice for sins, sits at the right hand of God forever¹³awaiting that time when his enemies will be made his footstool¹⁴For, by one oblation, he has brought to fulfillment, for all time, those who are sanctified¹⁸Now, when there is a remission of these things, there is no longer an oblation for sin

Mark

Chapter 13

²⁴But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give her splendor²⁵And the stars of heaven will be falling down, and the powers that are in heaven will be moved²⁶And then they shall see the Son of man arriving on the clouds, with great power and glory²⁷And then he will send his Angels, and gather together his elect, from the four winds, from the limits of the earth, to the limits of heaven²⁸Now from the fig tree discern a parable. When its branch becomes tender and the foliage has been formed, you know that summer is very near²⁹So also, when you will have seen these things happen, know that it is very near, even at the doors³⁰Amen I say to you, that this lineage shall not pass away, until all these things have happened³¹Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away³²But concerning that day or hour, no one knows, neither the Angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the ultimate triumph of God’s plan and the call to live with hope and readiness. In the first reading from Daniel, we hear of a time of great distress but also of salvation for God’s people. Michael, the great protector, will rise, and those whose names are written in the book will be saved. The passage reminds us that even in the darkest moments, God’s justice and mercy will prevail. The second reading from Hebrews shifts our focus to the present reality of our salvation. It contrasts the endless sacrifices of the old covenant with the single, perfect sacrifice of Christ, which has already achieved our sanctification. This reminds us that our salvation is not something we wait for in the future but is already a present reality through Christ’s work. The Gospel from Mark takes us to the end times, where we see cosmic upheaval and the coming of the Son of Man in power and glory. Jesus urges us to discern the signs of the times and to be ready, just as we know summer is near when we see the fig tree bloom. This passage is not meant to frighten us but to encourage us to live with purpose and vigilance, trusting in God’s promise that his word will endure even when all else passes away. Together, these readings remind us that our faith is rooted in the past (Christ’s sacrifice), lived in the present (our sanctification), and directed toward the future (the final triumph of God). As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us remember that we are called to live as people who are already saved but still await the fullness of God’s kingdom. This means living with gratitude for the gift of salvation, trusting in God’s plan even when the world around us seems uncertain, and being faithful in our daily lives. May we shine like the stars in the firmament, as Daniel says, by living justly and teaching others the ways of justice. Let us also remember that our ultimate hope is not in the things of this world but in the eternal word of God, which will never pass away.