The Twenty-fourth
Sunday
After Pentecost
November 15, 2009
A Note on Today’s Readings
Proper 28—The Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Welcome to our parish. As we draw to the close of the Church Year, the liturgy directs us toward the close of history. This “eschatological” emphasis (from the Greek eschaton, meaning “last things”) is a central—though not a popular—part of the Christian proclamation. Today’s Gospel is a portion of Jesus’ discourse on the final consummation in Mark’s Gospel.
The Old Testament reading from Daniel reveals this same theme in late Old Testament Judaism, a theme that pervaded Jewish thinking in Jesus’ day.
The reading from Hebrews encourages Christians who are experiencing persecution to hold firm. The New Testament ground for remaining faithful in times of persecution was the hope for the return of Christ on the last day, bringing the gift of eternal life for those who do not lose heart.
The liturgy is not only a remembering, so that the acts of God in the past become a present reality; it is also a looking forward to the consummation so that we have a foretaste of its grace now. Thus, the Eucharist is always a participation in the dying and rising of Jesus, and a participation in the kingdom which is to come.
Collect of the Day
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
First Reading
Daniel 12:1-13
Daniel 12:1-13 A Reading from the book of Daniel.
The Lord spoke to Daniel in a vision and said, “At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and the book sealed until the time of the end.” Then I, Daniel, looked, and two others appeared, one standing on this bank of the stream and one on the other. One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was upstream, “How long shall it be until the end of these wonders?” The man clothed in linen, who was upstream, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven. And I heard him swear by the one who lives forever that it would be for a time, two times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end, all these things would be accomplished. I heard but could not understand; so I said, “My lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are to remain secret and sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked shall continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. From the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that desolates is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred ninety days. Happy are those who persevere and attain the thousand three hundred thirty-five days. But you, go your way, and rest; you shall rise for your reward at the end of the days.”
Psalm 16
Conserva me, Domine
1Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you; * I have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, my good above all other.” 2All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land, * upon those who are noble among the people. 3But those who run after other gods * shall have their troubles multiplied. 4Their libations of blood I will not offer, * nor take the names of their gods upon my lips. 5O LORD, you are my portion and my cup; * it is you who uphold my lot. 6My boundaries enclose a pleasant land; * indeed, I have a goodly heritage. 7I will bless the LORD who gives me counsel; * my heart teaches me, night after night. 8I have set the LORD always before me; * because he is at my right hand I shall not fall. 9My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; * my body also shall rest in hope. 10For you will not abandon me to the grave, * nor let your holy one see the Pit. 11You will show me the path of life; * in your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore. Second ReadingHebrews 10:31-39
Hebrews 10:31-39 A Reading from Paul’s letter to the Hebrews.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting. Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet “in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay; but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.” But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark( 13:14-23). Glory to you, Lord Christ. Jesus said, “But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; the one on the housetop must not go down or enter the house to take anything away; the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that it may not be in winter. For in those days there will be suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, no, and never will be. And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut short those days. And if anyone says to you at that time, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’ or ‘Look! There he is!’—do not believe it. False messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be alert; I have already told you everything.”
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Christ. | ||||||
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