🙏 Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father,
as we draw near to the end of the liturgical year, open our hearts to understand Your warnings and trust in Your promises. Help us to live each day in faith, hope, and love, so that when Your Son comes again in glory, we may be found faithful.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
📖 First Reading — Malachi 3:19–20a (RSV-2CE)
“The day is coming, blazing like an oven.”
19 “For behold, the day comes, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.
20a But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.”
🔗 Source:
USCCB (Malachi 3): https://bible.usccb.org/bible/malachi/3
Explanation
Malachi warns that God’s justice will come. Those who reject God cannot withstand His purifying fire. But for those who fear the Lord, this fire is not destructive—it becomes healing and life-giving, like the rising sun.
CCC References
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CCC 678–679 – Judgment and Christ’s return
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CCC 1038–1041 – Final judgment
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CCC 2087–2094 – Fear of the Lord vs. sin
Application
✔ Choose holiness daily.
✔ God’s judgment is not meant to frighten believers but to encourage trust.
✔ Examine your conscience weekly.
✔ Seek Confession before Advent to prepare your heart.
📖 Responsorial Psalm — Psalm 98:5–6, 7–8, 9
R: The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre…
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn, make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.
7–8 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it…
9 He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.
🔗 Source:
USCCB Psalm 98 — https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/98
Application
✔ Worship is our preparation for judgment.
✔ Praise strengthens the soul against fear.
✔ Live joyfully knowing God’s justice is perfect.
📖 Second Reading — 2 Thessalonians 3:7–12 (RSV-2CE)
“If anyone is unwilling to work, neither should he eat.”
7 You yourselves know how you ought to imitate us…
8 We worked night and day…
10 If anyone will not work, let him not eat.
12 Now such persons we command… to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
🔗 Source:
USCCB (2 Thessalonians 3): https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2thessalonians/3
Explanation
Some Thessalonians stopped working because they believed Christ’s return was imminent. Paul corrects them:
Faith does not make us passive—Christ wants responsible, disciplined lives.
CCC References
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CCC 2427–2428 – Value of human work
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CCC 2834 – Responsibility and daily livelihood
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CCC 901 – Offering work to God
Application
✔ Do your daily duties faithfully: work, school, home.
✔ Avoid laziness, gossip, idleness.
✔ Offer your work to God as prayer.
✔ Prepare for Christ by living responsibly now.
📖 Gospel — Luke 21:5–19 (RSV-2CE)
“By your endurance you will gain your lives.”
5 Some spoke of the temple…
6 “The days will come when not one stone will be left upon another.”
8 “Do not be led astray.”
9 “Do not be terrified.”
12 “They will lay hands on you and persecute you…”
14 “Make up your minds not to prepare your defense beforehand.”
18 “But not a hair of your head will perish.”
19 “By your endurance you will gain your lives.”
🔗 Source:
USCCB (Luke 21): https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/21
Explanation
Jesus warns about three things:
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The destruction of the Jerusalem Temple (70 AD)
– A historical event to teach spiritual truth. -
Trials of disciples
– Christians will face rejection, hatred, and persecution. -
The need for endurance (perseverance)
– Not fear, but faith during crisis.
Jesus promises:
God sees you. God sustains you. God will save you.
Even when everything around collapses, God never abandons His faithful ones.
CCC References
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CCC 161–162 – Persevering in faith
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CCC 675–677 – Final trial of the Church
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CCC 1820 – Hope in God’s promises
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CCC 2847 – Avoiding deception
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CCC 1040 – God’s judgment and justice
Application
✔ Do not fear bad news—Christ is with you.
✔ Be faithful in prayer, sacraments, and charity.
✔ When persecuted or judged unfairly, respond with peace.
✔ Stay close to Jesus; endurance is the path to salvation.
✔ Prepare for Advent by strengthening your spiritual life.
🙏 Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus,
You teach us that the world will pass away, but Your word will never fail. Strengthen us with courage, endurance, and hope. Help us to live faithfully each day, so that when You come again, we may rejoice in Your presence.
Amen.
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