Daniel 7:15-27
Daniel 3:82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87
Luke 21:34-36
Summary
The first reading is apocalyptic. Daniel is describing a fright-
ening vision about four beasts that seemed to have power over
the whole world crushing everything in their path. When the Lord God confronted
the four beasts they were defeated and the world was given to the holy ones.
Our response in prayer to our God “gives glory and eternal praise to him". Our
gospel reminds us to be prepared.
Reflection
Today is the very last day of our liturgical year. Escotology is the study of the
"last or end thing". Being the end of the liturgical year we are confronted with
readings which speak of being prepared for the end time. I have been alive for
more than fifty years and various leaders, preachers and nay-sayers have sug-
gested they knew the date and time of the end of the world. Time and time again
time proves them wrong. When asked about the end times even Jesus suggested
that was something left to the Father.
So what is a Christian to do? How do we prepare for
something with an ambiguous deadline? Some time
ago I was a bit overweight and I went a low fat diet. I
did super, lost weight and was wearing pants the
same size as I wore in high school. I loved it. Then it
faded and the following year I was a lot heavier. Then
I learned about points, and did super in Weight
Watchers. Awesome until it faded, back to the old
habits and the pounds reappeared. The next time I
used another weight loss program and looked terrific
last year. Why do I do so well on program and not so