First Reading Daniel 12:1-3
Daniel prophesies about the judgment of the last days.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 16:5,8,9-10,11
God protects us and shows us the path of life.
Second Reading Hebrews 10:11-14,18
Jesus’ offering for sin has made all to be consecrated perfect forever.
Gospel Reading
Mark 13:24-32
Jesus teaches about the signs of the coming of the Son of Man.
Background on the Gospel Reading
This Sunday is the second to last Sunday of our liturgical year. As we approach the end of the Church year, our Gospel invites us to consider Jesus’ predictions and teaching about the end of the world. In the context of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ words about this are spoken to his disciples as he prepares them for his passion and death.
Before we consider Jesus’ words, it is important to note the political backdrop against which many think Mark’s Gospel was written. Most scholars concur that Mark wrote his Gospel for Christians living in or near Rome about 30 to 40 years after the death of Jesus. This was a time of political turmoil in Rome. Some Christians experienced persecution by the Romans during the reign of the emperor Nero (about 64 A.D.). Jewish revolutionaries rebelled against the Romans, which led the Romans to destroy the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. In this time of political turmoil and persecution, many in Mark’s community might have wondered if the end times predicted by Jesus were in fact quite near.
Last Sunday we heard Jesus’ observation about the contributions being made to the temple treasury and the example of sacrificial giving that he saw in the poor widow’s offering. If we had been reading Mark’s Gospel continuously, we would have heard Jesus predict the destruction of the Temple, his teaching about the costs of discipleship, and the woes that will accompany the end times. Finally, we would have heard Jesus instruct his disciples about the need for watchfulness so that they will not be caught unprepared for this final day of judgment.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus continues this teaching by offering his disciples signs to look for that will indicate that the coming of the Son of Man is near. His words and images draw upon Old Testament imagery, especially images found in the Book of Daniel. Next, Jesus offers the lesson of the fig tree, a parable that teaches that if one knows how to read the signs, one can be prepared for the end times. Jesus also teaches, however, that no one knows when the end time will come, except the Father. In the verses that follow this reading in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus continues to warn his disciples to be on watch for this end time.
Jesus’ words are not spoken to frighten his disciples, nor should they frighten us. Rather, they are offered to prepare us for the changes we will experience during our lifetimes and at the end times. Our consolation and hope is found in the lasting nature of Jesus’ words and God’s never-ending love for us.
October 25 -Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A
October 18 - Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary time Year A
September 11 - Twenty Eighth Sunday In ordinary time Year A
September 04 - Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
September 27 - Twenty Sixth Sunday in ordinary Time Year A
September 20 - Twenty fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A : God's generous mercy
September 13- Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time :
September 6 - Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time :
August 30 - Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time :
August 23 - Twenty first Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 16 - Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 9 - Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time :
August 2 - Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time : Small is Great
July 26 – Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time : There's no way to measure what Jesus is worth
July 19 – Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time : God gives many chances
July 12 - Fifteenth Sunday of the Ordinary Time: God’s Word
July 5 – Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time : Being gentle
June 21 - Feast of Sts Peter and Paul : To love Jesus in life and in death
June 14 - Corpus Christi - The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ
June 7 - Trinity Sunday : God's Love overflows
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Hello Heaven Podcast
Cast The Word
Let Me Be Frank | Bishop Frank Caggiano’s Podcast | Diocese of Bridgeport, CT
The Kingdom Power Fellowship Podcast
The Bible Recap
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)