First reading: 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.”

Second reading: 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.”

In other words

by Fr. Gil Alejandria, SVD (Catholic Trade, Manila)

Now and then, especially when a great natural disaster strikes, people begin warning about the impending end of the world. When an earthquake strikes, people begin talking about “the big one” that will be catastrophic. 

When we come to think about it, the end can come to us anytime. Death can come individually or to a group at the same time. The end can mean the end of one’s life when death comes, and not necessarily the end of the world. 

We do not prepare for the end of the world, but for the end of our own life. We may not know where or when, but we know its certainty. The sensible thing to do then would be to live a life that is constantly prepared for that moment. One should not think that judgment day is still far off, and that we can postpone preparing for it. There may be signs from the sun, the moon, and the stars as the Gospel reminds us. We do not have to wait until we see those signs, for our personal end can come before that happens.

The end does not have to be something to be afraid of or something to avoid at all cost. The true Christian is not afraid of the end. Rather he could welcome it with joy, for he would finally attain his goal of earthly existence—eternal life in God’s Kingdom. He would not be afraid to stand before God to be judged if he has truly and sincerely kept the faith and lived as God would expect him to. The end of the world can be the beginning of something better—eternal reward in God’s bosom.