Reading 1:
Dn 12:1-3
In those days, I Daniel,
heard this word of the Lord:
"At that time there shall arise
Michael, the great prince,
guardian of your people;
it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress
since nations began until that time.
At that time your people shall escape,
everyone who is found written in the book.
“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake;
some shall live forever,
others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.
“But the wise shall shine brightly
like the splendor of the firmament,
and those who lead the many to justice
shall be like the stars forever."
Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11
R. (1) You are my inheritance, O Lord!
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
Reading II:
Heb 10:11-14, 18
Brothers and sisters:
Every priest stands daily at his ministry,
offering frequently those same sacrifices
that can never take away sins.
But this one offered one sacrifice for sins,
and took his seat forever at the right hand of God;
now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool.
For by one offering
he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.
Where there is forgiveness of these,
there is no longer offering for sin.
Gospel:
Mk 13:24-32
Jesus said to his disciples:
"In those days after that tribulation
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
"And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds'
with great power and glory,
and then he will send out the angels
and gather his elect from the four winds,
from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.
"Learn a lesson from the fig tree.
When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves,
you know that summer is near.
In the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that he is near, at the gates.
Amen, I say to you,
this generation will not pass away
until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.
"But of that day or hour, no one knows,
neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
First Reading Daniel 12:1-3
‘At that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who mounts guard over your people. There is going to be a time of great distress, unparalleled since nations first came into existence. When that time comes, your own people will be spared, all those whose names are found written in the Book. Of those who lie sleeping in the dust of the earth many will awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting disgrace. The learned will shine as brightly as the vault of heaven, and those who have instructed many in virtue, as bright as stars for all eternity.’
Responsorial Psalm:
Psalm 15(16):5,8-11
Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;
it is you yourself who are my prize.
I keep the Lord ever in my sight:
since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.
Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.
And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;
even my body shall rest in safety.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead,
nor let your beloved know decay.
Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.
You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand happiness for ever.
Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.
Second Reading Hebrews 10:11-14,18
All the priests stand at their duties every day, offering over and over again the same sacrifices which are quite incapable of taking sins away. He, on the other hand, has offered one single sacrifice for sins, and then taken his place forever, at the right hand of God, where he is now waiting until his enemies are made into a footstool for him. By virtue of that one single offering, he has achieved the eternal perfection of all whom he is sanctifying. When all sins have been forgiven, there can be no more sin offerings.
Gospel Mark 13:24-32
Jesus said, ‘In those days, after the time of distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will lose its brightness, the stars will come falling from heaven and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory; then too he will send the angels to gather his chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the world to the ends of heaven.
‘Take the fig tree as a parable: as soon as its twigs grow supple and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. So with you when you see these things happening: know that he is near, at the very gates. I tell you solemnly, before this generation has passed away all these things will have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
‘But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son; no one but the Father.’
Readings and Commentary from the Navarre Bible
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
From: Daniel 12:1-3
The Resurrection of the Dead
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[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, every one whose name shall be found written in the book. [2] And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. [3] And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
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Commentary:
12:1-4. The prophecy ends by announcing the deliverance of the people of God through the mediation Michael, the angel protector of Israel. The names written in the book symbolize those who are truly the people of God -- those whom God regards as his people because they have stayed faithful to him. There is no mention now of the everlasting kingdom on earth that we heard of in 2:44 and 7:14, but one presumes that there will be one, for those who were dead will rise, either to have a share in that kingdom or else to suffer the punishment they deserve. The new situation in which the good and the wicked find themselves will never change again: it will he forever. Those who will shine brightest are those who knew and taught the Law -- those who "turn many to righteousness" (v. 3), not the martyrs. The book of Daniel goes further than the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel went. They spoke symbolically of a resurgence of the people in terms of a resurrection (cf. Is 26:19; Ezek 37); in Daniel as in 2 Maccabees 7:14, 29 the resurrection is real, not symbolic: "God reveals the resurrection of the dead to his people progresssively. Hope in the bodily resurrection of the dead established itself as a consequence intrinsic to faith in God as creator of the whole man, soul and body. The creator of heaven and earth is also the one who faithfully maintains his covenant with Abraham and his posterity. It was in this double perspective that faith in the resurrection came to be expressed" ("Catechism of the Catholic Church", 992).
Moreover, Daniel proclaims the resurrection not only of martyrs (as happens in 2 Maccabees) but of all, for that is what the word "many" (v. 2) means. The Church, too, in the light of Jesus' teaching, believes that "all the dead will rise, 'those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment' (Jn 5:29; cf. Dan 12:2)" (ibid., 998).
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From: Hebrews 10:11-14, 18
Christ's Offering of Himself Has Infinite Value (Continuation)
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[11] And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. [12] But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, [13] then to wait until his enemies should be made a stool for his feet. [14] For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
[18] Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
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Commentary:
11-14. Teaching given elsewhere in the letter (8:5; 9:9-10, 12-13, 25; 10:14) is now reiterated in order to show the universal efficacy of Christ's sacrifice. However, here it is expounded by comparing the posture of the Old Testament priests with that of Christ. They did in fact have to STAND in the presence of Yahweh, offering victims repeatedly. Standing was the correct posture for servants and employees. The reference is to Old Testament priests who repeatedly, every day, went through the same motions and offered the same sacrifices. By contrast, Christ, as is stated in Psalm 110:1, after his Ascension is seated at the right hand of God the Father (see notes on Mt 16:19 and Heb 1:3). In addition to conveying the idea of repose and rest, being seated would be equivalent to receiving royal investiture or to exercising authority (cf. Heb 7:26; 8:1); also, a king's chief minister or heir used to sit on the right of the king, as in a place of special honor (cf. Mt 26:24; Mk 14: 62; Lk 26:69); and it might be pointed out that David pitched his tent to the right of the tabernacle: cf. 2 Sam 7:18). What has happened is that by virtue of the efficacy of his single sacrifice, Christ has taken possession of heaven for ever more and has merited royal dignity; all that remains to happen, and it shall happen, is for all his enemies to submit to him (cf. 1 Cor 15: 25-28). So fruitful is his sacrifice that those who take part in it, "those who have been sanctified", are thereby perfected: they obtain forgiveness of sins, purity of conscience, access to and union with God. In other words, the source of holiness in men is the sacrifice of Calvary.
15-18. The last proof of the superiority of Christ's sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins is based on this passage of Jeremiah 31:33-34, already quoted in 8: 10-12. The letter is insisting on the spiritual character of the New Covenant--ratified with the blood of Christ--which is impressed on the hearts and minds of men. And it is also emphasizing the effects of this Covenant--forgiveness of sins by God.
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From: Mark 13:24-32
Signs of the End of the Word and the Coming of the Son of Man
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(Jesus said to His disciples,) [24] "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, [25] and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. [26] And they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. [27] And 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.
The Time of the Destruction of Jerusalem
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[28] "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. [29] So also, when you see these things taking place you know that He is near, at the very gates. [30] Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all these things take place. [31] Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away."
[32] "But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
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Commentary:
24-25. It would seem that at the end of time even irrational creatures will shrink before the Supreme Judge, Jesus Christ, coming in the majesty of His glory, thus fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament (cf., e.g., Isaiah 13:10; 34:4; Ezekiel 32:7). Some Fathers, such as St. Jerome ("Comm. in Matthew, in loc.") and St. John Chrysostom ("Hom. on St. Matthew", 77) understand "the powers in the heavens" to mean the angels, who will be in awe at these events. This interpretation is supported by the liturgical use of describing the angels, taken together, as "virtutes caelorum" (cf. "Roman Missal", Preface of Martyrs). But many other commentators think the phrase, like the preceding words in the text, could mean "cosmic forces" or "stars of the firmament".
26-27. Christ here describes His Second Coming, at the end of time, as announced by the prophet Daniel (7:13). He discloses the deeper meaning of the words of the ancient prophet: the "one like a Son of Man", whom Daniel saw and to whom "was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve Him," is Jesus Christ Himself, who will gather the saints around Him.
28-30. As already pointed out in the note on Mark 13:4, Jesus' disciples, following the ideas current among Jews at the time, could not conceive the destruction of Jerusalem as separate from the end of the world; and, also, there is a connection between the two events, in that the former is a prefigurement of the latter. Our Lord answers His disciples in Mark 13:20 by saying that the destruction of Jerusalem will happen in the lifetime of their generation (as in fact occurred in the year 70, at the hands of the Roman legions). For further explanation of the ruin of Jerusalem as a figure of the end of the world, cf. note on Matthew 24:32-35.
31. With this sentence our Lord adds a special solemnity to what He is saying: all this will definitely come to pass.
God has only to speak and His words come true, only He who is Lord of the Universe has all existence in His power, and Jesus has received from the Father all power over heaven and earth (cf. Matthew 11:27 and 28:18).
32. Referring to this verse, St. Augustine explains ("On the Psalms", 36:1): "Our Lord Jesus Christ was sent to be our Master, yet He declared that even the Son of Man was ignorant of that day, because it was not part of His office as Master to acquaint us with it."
Regarding the knowledge Christ had during His life on earth, see the note on Luke 2:52.
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Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and by Scepter Publishers in the United States. We encourage readers to purchase The Navarre Bible for personal study. See Scepter Publishers for details.
