SAINT ANDREW THE APOSTLE

TUESDAY THE 1ST WEEK OF ADVENT YEAR C

PRAYER BEFORE HOLY MASS  Act of Love before Mass 

O my God, I love Thee with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with no other desire than to be inseparably united to Thee. It is through Thy Divine Son that this union is about to be realized within me. In Holy Communion I long to identify myself with Him, that it will no longer be myself, but Him, who lives in me; and when I have received Jesus within myself, then I shall love and be loved by Thee in that same measure, in which I am united to Him. Hasten then, to give me.  Readings Lectures Reflection St. Andrew Apostle 

First Reading Romans 10:9-18

Faith comes from what is preached, and what is preached comes from the word of Christ 

If your lips confess that Jesus is Lord and if you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved. By believing from the heart you are made righteous; by confessing with your lips you are saved. When scripture says: those who believe in him will have no cause for shame, it makes no distinction between Jew and Greek: all belong to the same Lord who is rich enough, however many ask his help, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 

But they will not ask his help unless they believe in him, and they will not believe in him unless they have heard of him, and they will not hear of him unless they get a preacher, and they will never have a preacher unless one is sent, but as scripture says: 

The footsteps of those who bring good news are a welcome sound. Not everyone, of course, listens to the Good News. As Isaiah says: Lord, how many believed what we proclaimed? So faith comes from what is preached, and what is preached comes from the word of Christ. Let me put the question: is it possible that they did not hear? Indeed they did; in the words of the psalm, their voice has gone out through all the earth, and their message to the ends of the world.

Responsorial Psalm

Their word goes forth through all the earth

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

Follow me, says the Lord,

and I will make you into fishers of men.

Alleluia!  Matthew 4:19

Gospel Matthew 4:18-22

I will make you fishers of men

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew; they were making a cast in the lake with their net, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’ And they left their nets at once and followed him. Going on from there he saw another pair of brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they were in their boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. At once, leaving the boat and their father, they followed him.

Lord Jesus Christ I confess with my lips that you are Lord and I truly believe in my heart that God raised you from the dead. Lord I believe in my heart  that I am  made righteous. I confess with my lips that I am  saved. For the scripture says: those who believe in him will have no cause for shame, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. In this Season of Advent, Lord I welcome you into my heart. Abide with me Lord now and always. Come Lord Jesus, Maranatha

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. Saint Andrew pray for me. God's Holy Angels visit me, pray for me. My Guardian Angel, be near me, pray for me, protect me. Be my guide and guard.

I AM UNWORTHY LORD

MONDAY THE 1ST WEEK OF ADVENT YEAR C

PRAYER BEFORE HOLY MASS  Act of Love before Mass 

O my God, I love Thee with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with no other desire than to be inseparably united to Thee. It is through Thy Divine Son that this union is about to be realized within me. In Holy Communion I long to identify myself with Him, that it will no longer be myself, but Him, who lives in me; and when I have received Jesus within myself, then I shall love and be loved by Thee in that same measure, in which I am united to Him. Hasten then, to give me Thy Divine Son, at the hands of Thy priest, that through Jesus, I may unite myself forever to Thee, O God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit.

 Readings Lectures Reflection 

First Reading Isaiah 2:1-5

The Lord gathers all nations together 

into the eternal peace of God's kingdom

The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In the days to come the mountain of the Temple of the Lord shall tower above the mountains and be lifted higher than the hills. All the nations will stream to it, peoples without number will come to it; and they will say:

‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,  to the Temple of the God of Jacob   that he may teach us his ways   so that we may walk in his paths;   since the Law will go out from Zion,  and the oracle of the Lord from Jerusalem.’

 

He will wield authority over the nations and adjudicate between many peoples; these will hammer their swords into ploughshares, their spears into sickles. Nation will not lift sword against nation, there will be no more training for war.

 

O House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

 

Responsorial Psalm

I rejoiced when I heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house

 

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

God of hosts, bring us back:

let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

Alleluia! Ps. 79:4

Gospel  Matthew 5:8-11

'I am not worthy to have you under my roof: give the word, and my servant will be healed'

When Jesus went into Capernaum a centurion came up and pleaded with him. ‘Sir,’ he said ‘my servant is lying at home paralysed, and in great pain.’ ‘I will come myself and cure him’ said Jesus. The centurion replied, ‘Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured. For I am under authority myself, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one man: Go, and he goes; to another: Come here, and he comes; to my servant: Do this, and he does it.’ When Jesus heard this he was astonished and said to those following him, ‘I tell you solemnly, nowhere in Israel have I found faith like this. And I tell you that many will come from east and west to take their places with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of heaven.’

Truly Lord Jesus Christ we unworthy to receive you in the Holy Eucharist, your love and mercy over us bring us closer to you in our unworthiness. Thank Lord for your mercy, for your compassion, for your love and for your faithfulness. You are ever near to us, reaching out to us to comfort us, to assure us of your mercy, to assure us of you compassion, to assure us of you love.  You see beyond who we are because you want to save us. You are our Shepherd though we wander and may loose our ways, you are ever in search for us Jesus Christ our Saviour.

I rejoiced when I heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house. Yes Father for it is the Lord's Temple, God's dwelling place. Lord Jesus Christ Light of the world, you dwell in the Most Holy Eucharist in the Tabernacle in God's house. You are the light that brings all nations to God's house so that they may be one united family.  Lord Jesus Christ bring us to God our heavenly Father. Come Lord Jesus.

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary bring us to your Son, pray for us. Saint Joseph guardian of the infant Christ, pray for us. God's Angels heralds of good news, pray for us. My Guardian Angel pray for me. Protect me, guide and guard me.

Holy Rosary Mystery. Joyful Mystery.

THE LORD OUR INTEGRITY

1ST SUNDAY IN ADVENT YEAR C

PRAYER BEFORE HOLY MASS  Act of Love before Mass 

O my God, I love Thee with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with no other desire than to be inseparably united to Thee. It is through Thy Divine Son that this union is about to be realized within me. In Holy Communion I long to identify myself with Him, that it will no longer be myself, but Him, who lives in me; and when I have received Jesus within myself, then I shall love and be loved by Thee in that same measure, in which I am united to Him. Hasten then, to give me Thy Divine Son, at the hands of Thy priest, that through Jesus, I may unite myself forever to Thee, O God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Readings Lectures Reflection 

First Reading Jeremiah 33:14-16

I will make a virtuous Branch grow for David

See, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – when I am going to fulfil the promise I made to the House of Israel and the House of Judah: ‘In those days and at that time, I will make a virtuous Branch grow for David, who shall practise honesty and integrity in the land. In those days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell in confidence. And this is the name the city will be called: The-Lord-our-integrity.’

 

Responsorial Psalm

To you O Lord I lift up my soul

Second Reading 1 Thess. 3:12-4,2

May you be blameless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again

May the Lord be generous in increasing your love and make you love one another and the whole human race as much as we love you. And may he so confirm your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints.

Finally, brothers, we urge you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus to make more and more progress in the kind of life that you are meant to live: the life that God wants, as you learnt from us, and as you are already living it. You have not forgotten the instructions we gave you on the authority of the Lord Jesus.

 

Gospel Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

That day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the clamour of the ocean and its waves; men dying of fear as they await what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.

‘Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap. For it will come down on every living man on the face of the earth. Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.’

My God, my Father, promise keeper, fulfil the promise you made to me. Remember your promise Father that you will make me  a virtuous Branch.  You will make me honest and I will have integrity. Father my God you promised to save me. Fulfil your promise to me Father.

Lord be generous in increasing my  love towards humanity. Let your love dwell in my heart, make me holy that I may be  blameless in your sight my God and Father. May I make progress in my spiritual life, keep watch over me God my Father. Help me stay awake and prayerful at all times for strength to survive the happenings around me, in our world. Father hear my prayer through your Son Jesus Christ my Lord.

Come Lord Jesus. Lord Jesus  Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. My Guardian Angel pray for me, protect me, guide and guard me. 

Pray the Holy Rosary, today's Mystery is Glorious Mystery

THE UNEXPECTED HOUR

PRAYER BEFORE HOLY MASS  Act of Love before Mass  

MEMORIAL OF BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

SATURDAY 34TH WEEK  IN ORDINARY TIME 

O my God, I love Thee with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with no other desire than to be inseparably united to Thee. It is through Thy Divine Son that this union is about to be realized within me. In Holy Communion I long to identify myself with Him, that it will no longer be myself, but Him, who lives in me; and when I have received Jesus within myself, then I shall love and be loved by Thee in that same measure, in which I am united to Him. Hasten then, to give me Thy Divine Son, at the hands of Thy priest, that through Jesus, I may unite myself forever to Thee, O God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Readings Lectures Reflection 

First Reading Daniel 7:15-27

His sovereignty will be an eternal sovereignty

I, Daniel, was deeply disturbed and the visions that passed through my head alarmed me. So I approached one of those who were standing by and asked him to tell me the truth about all this. And in reply he revealed to me what these things meant. “These four great beasts are four kings who will rise from the earth. Those who are granted sovereignty are the saints of the Most High, and the kingdom will be theirs for ever, for ever and ever.” Then I asked to know the truth about the fourth beast, different from all the rest, very terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, eating, crushing
and trampling underfoot what remained; and the truth about the ten horns on its head – and why the other horn sprouted and the three original horns fell, and why this horn had eyes and a mouth that was full of boasts, and why it made a greater show than the other horns. This was the horn I had watched making war on the saints and proving the stronger, until the coming of the one of great age who gave judgement in favour of the saints of the Most High, when the time came for the saints to take over the kingdom. This is what he said:

'The fourth beast is to be fourth kingdom on earth, different from all kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it underfoot and crush it. As for the ten horns: from this kingdom will rise ten kings, and another after them; this one will be different from the previous ones and will bring down three kings; he is going to speak words against the Most High, and harass the saints of the Most High. He will consider changing seasons and Law, and the saints will be put into his power for a time, two times, and half a time.  But a court will be held and his power will be stripped from him, consumed, and utterly destroyed. And sovereignty and kingship, and spendours, of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.  His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty and every empire will serve and obey him.'

Responsorial Psalm

Give glory and eternal praise to him

Gospel Acclamation 

Alleluia, alleluia!

Stay awake, praying at all times

for the strength to stand with confidence

before the Son of Man.

Alleluia! 21:36

 

Jesus said to his disciples:   ‘Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap. For it will come down on every living man on the face of the earth. Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.’

Keep watch over me Lord Jesus Christ my Master. Keep watch over me in my all my trials.

Keep watch over me in all my challenges. May I be awake, praying at all times for strength.

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me.

My Guardian Angel guide me, protect me, be my guard and guide.

Today's Mystery the Joyful Mystery.  Tomorrow is first Sunday in Advent. God be praised.

ONE LIKE A SON OF MAN

HIS SOVEREIGNTY IS AN ETERNAL SOVEREIGNTY 

PRAYER BEFORE HOLY MASS  Act of Love before Mass 

FRIDAY 34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME O my God, I love Thee with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with no other desire than to be inseparably united to Thee. It is through Thy Divine Son that this union is about to be realized within me. In Holy Communion I long to identify myself with Him, that it will no longer be myself, but Him, who lives in me; and when I have received Jesus within myself, then I shall love and be loved by Thee in that same measure, in which I am united to Him. Hasten then, to give me Thy Divine Son, at the hands of Thy priest, that through Jesus, I may unite myself forever to Thee, O God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit.

Readings Lectures Reflection

 

First Reading Daniel 7:2-14

I saw coming on the clouds of heaven, one like the son of man

I, Daniel, have been seeing visions in the night. I saw that the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea; four great beasts emerged from the sea, each different from the other. The first was like a lion with eagle’s wings; and as I looked its wings were torn off, and it was lifted from the ground and set standing on its feet like a man; and it was given a human heart. The second beast I saw was different, like a bear, raised up on one of its sides, with three ribs in its mouth, between its teeth. “Up!” came the command “Eat quantities of flesh!” After this I looked, and saw another beast, like a leopard, and with four bird’s wings on its flanks; it had four heads, and power was given to it. Next I saw another vision in the visions of the night: I saw a fourth beast, fearful, terrifying, very strong; it had great iron teeth, and it ate, crushed and trampled underfoot what remained. It was different from the previous beasts and had ten horns.

While I was looking at these horns, I saw another horn sprouting among them, a little one; three of the original horns were pulled out by the roots to make way for it; and in this horn I saw eyes like human eyes, and a mouth that was full of boasts. As I watched:

Thrones were set in place  and one of great age took his seat. His robe was white as snow,  the hair of his head as pure as wool. His throne was a blaze of flames,  its wheels were a burning fire. A stream of fire poured out, issuing from his presence. A thousand thousand waited on him, ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. A court was held and the books were opened.

The great things the horn was saying were still ringing in my ears, and as I watched, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and committed to the flames. The other beasts were deprived of their power, but received a lease of life for a season and a time. 

I gazed into the visions of the night.  And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man. He came to the one of great age and was led into his presence. On him was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship, and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants. His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away, nor will his empire ever be destroyed.

Responsorial Psalm

Give glory and eternal praise to him

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

Stand erect, hold your heads high,

because your liberation is near at hand.

Alleluia! Lk 21:28

Gospel Luke 29:21-33

My words will never pass away

Jesus told his disciples a parable: ‘Think of the fig tree and indeed every tree. As soon as you see them bud, you know that summer is now near. So with you when you see these things happening: know that the kingdom of God is near. I tell you solemnly, before this generation has passed away all will have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.’

Lord Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, on you God the Father conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship, we the people of God from all nations, languages and tribes are subjects under your Kingship. We believe Lord that your sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away, nor will your Kingdom ever be destroyed. 

You said Lord, that heaven and earth shall pass away, but your words will never pass away. You are the WORD made flesh and you dwell among us. A proof of your Kingship and Eternity: your everlasting Kingdom. Come Lord Jesus come dwell in our hearts.

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me, Saint Joseph pray for me. God's Holy Angels pray for me. My Guardian Angel pray for me, guard and guide me. Thank you for your protection. God our Father to you be all Glory, Honor, Worship and Adoration.

Please pray your Holy Rosary, today's mystery, is Sorrowful Mystery. 

OUR LIBERATION IS NEAR AT HAND

PRAYER BEFORE HOLY MASS  Act of Love before Mass 

34TH THURSDAY IN ORDINARY TIME O my God, I love Thee with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with no other desire than to be inseparably united to Thee. It is through Thy Divine Son that this union is about to be realized within me. In Holy Communion I long to identify myself with Him, that it will no longer be myself, but Him, who lives in me; and when I have received Jesus within myself, then I shall love and be loved by Thee in that same measure, in which I am united to Him. Hasten then, to give me Thy Divine Son, at the hands of Thy priest, that through Jesus, I may unite myself forever to Thee, O God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. 

Readings Lectures Reflection St. Catherine of Alexandria

First Reading Daniel 6:12-28

Daniel in the lions' den

The presidents and satraps came along in a body and found Daniel praying and pleading with God. They then came to the king and said, ‘Have you not just signed an edict forbidding any man for the next thirty days to pray to anyone, god or man, other than to yourself O king, on pain of being thrown into the lions’ den?’ ‘The decision stands,’ the king replied ‘as befits the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.’ Then they said to the king, ‘O king, this man Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, disregards both you and the edict which you have signed: he is at his prayers three times each day.’ When the king heard these words he was deeply distressed, and determined to save Daniel; he racked his brains until sunset to find some way out. But the men came back in a body to the king and said, ‘O king, remember that in conformity with the law of the Medes and the Persians, no edict or decree can be altered when once issued by the king.’......

Responsorial Psalm

Give glory and eternal praise to him

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

Stand erect, hold your heads high,

because your liberation is near at hand.

Alleluia! Lk 21:28

Gospel Luke 21:20-28

There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you must realise that she will soon be laid desolate. Then those in Judaea must escape to the mountains, those inside the city must leave it, and those in country districts must not take refuge in it. For this is the time of vengeance when all that scripture says must be fulfilled. Alas for those with child, or with babies at the breast, when those days come!

‘For great misery will descend on the land and wrath on this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive to every pagan country; and Jerusalem will be trampled down by the pagans until the age of the pagans is completely over. 

‘There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the clamour of the ocean and its waves; men dying of fear as they await what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.’

God my Father I thank you for my being. Thank you Father for your protection over me.  Loving Father deliver me from the plots of the evil ones. Father remove every seal upon my life that the enemy has placed over me to terminate my life. Remove every seal that threatens my spiritual, physical, and material well being. I come to you loving Father for protection.

Our present world is experiencing our Lord Jesus Christ's prediction while on earth, Father the beauty of it all is that our assurance and trust is in our Lord's promise that every signs are points to our liberation while we hold on to our faith as your children God our Father. Those who put their trust in you loving Father can never be disappointed.

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. Saint Catherine of Alexandria pray for me. God's Guardian Angels pray for me. My Guardian Angel pray for me, protect me. Guide and guard me.  The Holy Rosary Mystery: The Mystery of Light 

SAINTS ANDREW DUNG-LAC AND HIS COMPANIONS

YOUR ENDURANCE WILL WIN YOU YOUR LIVES

WEDNESDAY 34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME 

PRAYER BEFORE MASS  

Go before us O Lord, in this our sacrifice of Prayer and Praise, and grant that we say and sing with our lips we may believe in our hearts, and practice and show forth in our daily lives. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER AFTER MASS 

Bless, O Lord, our hearts and minds, and grant that as we leave Your house, we may continue to be aware of Your presence. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. by Saint John Berchmans, Patron Saint of Altar Boys  Readings Lectures Reflection Saints Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions

First Reading Daniel 5:1-6,13-14,6-7,23-28

The writing on the wall

King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for his noblemen; a thousand of them attended, and he drank wine in company with this thousand. As he sipped his wine, Belshazzar gave orders for the gold and silver vessels to be brought which his father Nebuchadnezzar had looted from the sanctuary in Jerusalem, so that the king, his noblemen, his wives and his singing women could drink out of them. The gold and silver vessels looted from the sanctuary of the Temple of God in Jerusalem were brought in, and the king, his noblemen, his wives and his singing women drank out of them. They drank their wine and praised their gods of gold and silver, of bronze and iron, of wood and stone. Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared, and began to write on the plaster of the palace wall, directly behind the lamp-stand; and the king could see the hand as it wrote. The king turned pale with alarm: his thigh-joints went slack and his knees began to knock.....

Responsorial Psalm

Give glory and eternal praise to him!

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

Even if you have to die, says the Lord,

keep faithful, and I will give you

the crown of life.

Alleluia! Rv. 2:10

Gospel Luke 21:12-19

Your endurance will win you your lives

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Men will seize you and persecute you; they will hand you over to the synagogues and to imprisonment, and bring you before kings and governors because of my name – and that will be your opportunity to bear witness. Keep this carefully in mind: you are not to prepare your defence, because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends; and some of you will be put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost. Your endurance will win you your lives.’

Give me courage in all my trials. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. May I endure every situation in life that is a challenge to my faith. Be with me Lord Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. Saints Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions pray for me. God's guardian angels pray for me. My guardian angel pray for me, protect me, guide and guard me.  Today's Mystery, Glorious Mystery.

GIVE GLORY AND ETERNAL PRAISE TO GOD

PRAYER BEFORE HOLY MASS  Act of Love before Mass 

TUESDAY 34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME 

O my God, I love Thee with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with no other desire than to be inseparably united to Thee. It is through Thy Divine Son that this union is about to be realized within me. In Holy Communion I long to identify myself with Him, that it will no longer be myself, but Him, who lives in me; and when I have received Jesus within myself, then I shall love and be loved by Thee in that same measure, in which I am united to Him. Hasten then, to give me Thy Divine Son, at the hands of Thy priest, that through Jesus, I may unite myself forever to Thee, O God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit.

Readings Lectures Reflection

First Reading Daniel 2:31-45

Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream

Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar, ‘You have had a vision, O king; this is what you saw: a statue, a great statue of extreme brightness, stood before you, terrible to see. The head of this statue was of fine gold, its chest and arms were of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet part iron, part earthenware. While you were gazing, a stone broke away, untouched by any hand, and struck the statue, struck its feet of iron and earthenware and shattered them. And then, iron and earthenware, bronze, silver, gold all broke into small pieces as fine as chaff on the threshing-floor in summer. The wind blew them away, leaving not a trace behind. And the stone that had struck the statue grew into a great mountain, filling the whole earth. This was the dream; now we will explain to the king what it means.

‘You, O king, king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength and glory – the sons of men, the beasts of the field, the birds of heaven, wherever they live, he has entrusted to your rule, making you king of them all – you are the golden head. And after you another kingdom will rise, not so great as you, and then a third, of bronze, which will rule the whole world. There will be a fourth kingdom, hard as iron, as iron that shatters and crushes all. Like iron that breaks everything to pieces, it will crush and break all the earlier kingdoms. The feet you saw, part earthenware, part iron, are a kingdom which will be split in two, but which will retain something of the strength of iron, just as you saw the iron and the clay of the earthenware mixed together. The feet were part iron, part earthenware: the kingdom will be partly strong and partly weak. And just as you saw the iron and the clay of the earthenware mixed together, so the two will be mixed together in the seed of man; but they will not hold together any more than iron will blend with earthenware. In the time of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, and this kingdom will not pass into the hands of another race: it will shatter and absorb all the previous kingdoms, and itself last for ever – just as you saw the stone untouched by hand break from the mountain and shatter iron, bronze, earthenware, silver and gold. The great God has shown the king what is to take place. The dream is true, the interpretation exact.’

Responsorial Psalm

Give glory and eternal praise to him!

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

Even if you have to die, says the Lord,

keep faithful, and I will give you

the crown of life.

Alleluia! Rv.2:10

Gospel Luke 21:5-11

The destruction of the Temple

When some were talking about the Temple, remarking how it was adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings, Jesus said, ‘All these things you are staring at now – the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another: everything will be destroyed.’ And they put to him this question: ‘Master,’ they said ‘when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that this is about to take place?’ 

‘Take care not to be deceived,’ he said ‘because many will come using my name and saying, “I am he” and, “The time is near at hand.” Refuse to join them. And when you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened, for this is something that must happen but the end is not so soon.’ Then he said to them, ‘Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines here and there; there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.’

Heavenly Father, my God your Kingdom is everlasting Kingdom. Father our world since the creation of humanity is full of confusion, destruction, pains, injustice, slavery, war, pestilence, sickness, hunger and evil. These are as a result of the actions of your creatures. Evil and destruction persist in our world. Thanks to the comforting word of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, that we should take care and not be deceived by the happenings around us. The devastation in our world. The persecution, the anti Christ, the impersonation of your Son Jesus Christ, false prophecies. May we be alert to the warnings of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and be protected from the evils that threatens our world and our existence. 

Thank you loving Father for your Son Jesus Christ, thank you Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for us. Saint Joseph pray for us. God's holy angels pray for us, protect us from all evil. St. Clement, Blessed Miguel Augustin, and St. Columban pray for us. My guardian angel, pray for me, protect me, guide and guard me. 

Sorrowful Mystery of the Holy Rosary