First Reading, 1 Jer 33:14-16
The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will fulfill the promise
I made to the house of Israel and Judah.
In those days, in that time,
I will raise up for David a just shoot ;
he shall do what is right and just in the land.
In those days Judah shall be safe
and Jerusalem shall dwell secure;
this is what they shall call her:
“The LORD our justice.”
when I will fulfill the promise
I made to the house of Israel and Judah.
In those days, in that time,
I will raise up for David a just shoot ;
he shall do what is right and just in the land.
In those days Judah shall be safe
and Jerusalem shall dwell secure;
this is what they shall call her:
“The LORD our justice.”
(The Loving Programmer is promising that the Messiah will be downloaded among men. Then, His people will be safe and secure, having His justice accessed by, and provided to, His people.)
Responsorial Psalm Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
R. (1b) To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me Your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
and for You I wait all the day.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me Your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
and for You I wait all the day.
(Loving Programmer, please provide me the operating instructions and programming assistance I need to be with You forever.)
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus He shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus He shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.
(He provides justice and salvation for those who are humble.)
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep His covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear Him,
and His covenant, for their instruction.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep His covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear Him,
and His covenant, for their instruction.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Reading 2 1 Thes 3:12-4:2
Brothers and sisters:
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love
for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His holy ones. Amen.
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love
for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His holy ones. Amen.
(We ask for love for each other beczuse it makes us stronger, letting us avoid all blame for anything when Jesus and all His holy ones come. Is this at the moment of death for each of us for all at the end of time, or both?)
Finally, brothers and sisters,
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us
how you should conduct yourselves to please God
and as you are conducting yourselves
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
(We must strive to grow in obedience all our lives. Many realize that, if they want to have life in them, they must eat His Body and drink His Blood, and find but one place on earth to do that, the Church with the historical precedence reaching back to “Thou art Peter, and on this rock, I build My Church.)
Gospel Lk 21:25-28, 34-36
Jesus said to his disciples:
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man.”
(This may lead some to consider that the moment of death leads to a spiritual “running of the gauntlet to get through all that would destroy us and get to Jesus. We can do that by praying and obeying. Do not be surprised when it happens, but be ready. Don’t let anything distract you from proper preparation for this because it is clear: “For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth.” and seems to mean the moment of our own death. Being able to get through to Jesus means that we MUST pray for the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man. It may mean that we need to have this faith both at the time our bodies die and on the last day.)
