First Reading

A reading from the Book of Daniel (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 the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever."

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms of David (16:5, 8, 9-10, 11)

(R) You are my inheritance, O Lord!

O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. (R)

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. (R)

You will show me the path of life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. (R)

Second Reading

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (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.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (13:24-32)

Jesus said to his disciples: "In those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, 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; then too 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."

(P) The Gospel of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

The Bible is made up of many books and is divided into two parts - Old Testament and New Testament. It contains law, history, wisdom, poetry, prophecy, gospel, epistles or letters and apocalyptic stories. It was written over a period of one thousand five hundred years by a number of different authors. We believe that these authors were inspired by the Spirit of God in their thinking and writing.

The Letter to the Hebrews is the nineteenth book in the New Testament. We do not know for sure who wrote the letter. However, most Christian scholars acknowledge that it was written by an apostle, who was quite familiar with the Old Testament scriptures and Jewish religious practices, to give courage to the persecuted Christians in Palestine. Throughout the letter, the writer explains in detail the eternal and unchanging nature of Jesus Christ.

First, the writer told us the greatness of our Lord Jesus Christ. He said that Jesus Christ is truly God but was made for a little while lower than the angels in order to experience the suffering of death and bring us all to the glory of God. It is a message of encouragement to the discouraged Christians, to help them approach Jesus who though truly God is also fully human and therefore can sympathize with our weaknesses as well as be our savior. Then the writer spoke of the power of the word of God. He said that the word of God, which is God Himself and which took on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, is fully alive and active.

These words are meant to remind Christians to be completely open to and honest with God because God's word has unique authority and power to expose our innermost thoughts and desires. Then the writer identified the mercy and grace in Jesus Christ. He said that since Christ has died for all people, every person can confidently seek His mercy for the forgiveness of sins and grace to help us in our time of need. Then referring to the prophecy of the psalmist, Psalm (110:4), and the gospel accounts of Jesus' Baptism, the writer pointed out that God has made Jesus Christ a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek, and placed Him at His right hand in heaven to be our intercessor.

Then the writer made a comparison between Jesus, the Great High Priest, and the priests of the Old Testament. He said that unlike the human priests who offered prayers and sacrifices to secure peace with God, Jesus Christ died and offered Himself once, for all sins, past, present and future. Then the writer referred to a Jewish religious ritual of sacrificing animals for sins to make peace with God and, said that animal sacrifices were uniquely fulfilled in the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Finally, in today's text the writer concludes his thoughts on the unchanging, eternal nature of Jesus Christ with an emphasis on the significance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

He said, "Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins." The writer was talking about the Jewish priests offering sacrifices for people's sins. Every day the priests made different burnt offerings, such as bulls, lambs, sheep, goats and turtle doves, for different types of sins. There were burnt offerings for general sins; unintended sins and errors, and grave sins that required restitution. The priests offered the same type of sacrifice again and again. Yet, those sacrifices could never take away sins. That's to say, despite the multiple offerings people never changed. So God offered Himself to save them and, He came down in the person of His Son Jesus Christ.

The writer further said, "This one (Christ) 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 a need for an offering for sin."

What does the writer mean? Christ offered for all time a single sacrifice. This one sacrifice stood for all the thousands. Once for all sins, one man, one God has been crucified, died and buried. It is the complete sacrifice for the sins of the world. The writer believes that God wants all mankind to know that the sacrifice of His Son was greater than all the animal blood ever spilled on the altar. Yes. The death of Jesus Christ is more than enough to pay for all the sins of the whole world no matter how long the world will go on, no matter how many people live and sin. There is nothing more that needs to be done.

Regardless of our sins, God is willing to accept us back in our repentance. Let us, therefore, constantly, courageously and confidently seek and, humbly confess our sins to our Lord Jesus Christ who offers forgiveness, reconciliation and transformation for all those who believe in Him.

(P) Amen.

God Bless You!

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