Daily Readings - Sun Nov 18 2018
Daniel
1"At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.2And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.3And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Hebrews
11And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.12But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,13waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.14For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.18Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Mark
24"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,25and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.26And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.27And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.28"From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.29So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.30Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.32"But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even 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.