Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
The Kingdom Of God Is Near
Liturgical Cycle: C | Lectionary Cycle: I
Introduction
In the famous chapter 7 of Daniel, a mysterious “Son of Man” (a human being) is announced. Is he an individual or a community? He belongs to both earth and heaven and will inaugurate a kingdom that comes as a gift from God, not as an earthly conquest. Jesus will apply this title to himself and purify it. Empires built on power and godlessness are ridiculed: they are likened to statues with feet of clay, or to monstrous animals. God will judge them, so they will disappear.
The faithful should keep hope in patience: God’s kingdom is near. There are not only tensions and conflicts inside God’s people and from outside: there are also signs of hope, and we should see these signs.
Opening Prayer
God of the ages and of eternity,
you have entrusted to us, your people,
your project about people and the world.
Do not allow us to delay your plans
by our own limitations.
Make us aware that all we can do is
being a leaven, and a sign
that the seed you have sown will grow.
Keep us hoping in patience,
that integrity, love and justice
will come in your own good time
as a gift from you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
First Reading
Daniel said:
“I saw the following in my vision: the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea,
and four great beasts, each different from the others, came out of the sea.
The first was like a lion with eagle’s wings. As I looked at it, its wings were torn off. It was lifted from the ground, stood up on its feet like a man, and was given a human heart.
The second was a beast like a bear; it was raised up on one side and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told: ‘Go and devour much flesh.
I kept watching and saw another beast like a leopard with four wings on its back; it had four heads, and dominion was given to it.
I continued experiencing my night visions and saw a terrifying fourth beast. It was fierce and incredibly powerful; it had large iron teeth; it ate, tore things apart, and crushed whatever remained beneath its feet. It was different from the previous beasts and had ten horns.
I was watching the horns when another small horn appeared among them, and three of the original horns were pulled out by the roots to make room for the new one. It had eyes like a human’s and a mouth that spoke arrogantly.
I looked and saw the following: Some thrones were set in place, and One of Great Age sat on his seat:
His robe was white, like snow,
and his hair was white as washed wool.
His throne was made of flames of fire
with wheels of blazing fire.
A river of fire burst forth
And flowed before him.
Thousands upon thousands
served him
and a countless multitude
stood before him.
Those in the tribunal took their seats
and opened the book.
But as I remembered the haughty words of the horn with human eyes and mouth, which I had seen before, this animal was killed before my eyes; and its body was destroyed and cast into the fire.
Dominion was taken from the other animals, though they were allowed to remain alive for a while, until the designated time.
I continued observing the night vision: Someone like a son of man appeared on the clouds of heaven. He faced the One of Great Age and was brought before him.
Dominion, honor, and kingship were bestowed upon him, and all peoples and nations of every language served him. His dominion is everlasting and will never end; his kingdom will never be destroyed.
Responsorial Psalm
Daniel 3:75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
"Mountains and hills, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
"Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
"You springs, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
"Seas and rivers, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
"You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
"All you birds of the air, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
"All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
And Jesus added this comparison:
“Look at the fig tree and all the trees.
As soon as their buds sprout, you know that summer is coming.
Similarly, when you see these signs happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.
Truly, I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all of this occurs.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
Prayers of the Faithful
– That we may always look for signs of hope when life is difficult and our faith is tested, we pray:
– That we may always keep trusting the Lord Jesus, that he is with us until the end of time, we pray:
– That we may accept that it is difficult for the kingdom of God to break through and to bring justice and love to all, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God of the promises,
to destroy the powers of evil
your Son came not as a triumphant king
but as the suffering Son of Man.
In this bread and this wine
we join our destiny to his.
May we learn from him
whose apparent failure led to victory
to accept the tensions of our time
and the slow growth of your kingdom
in patience and hope.
For we know that you keep your promises
of unending life and love and happiness
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord, God of hope,
you have given us a beautiful dream
of your unending reign of love and joy,
but we are torn between discouragement and hope
because it is beyond our powers.
Thank you for reviving our expectations
through the body and blood of your Son.
Help us to grow into new people
through our tensions and struggles
by the strength of him to whom you have given
sovereignty and glory and kingship,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
Non-believers sometimes say that Christians look up to heaven because they cannot deal with the world. Christ tells us that we must deal with the world and change it, working towards “a new heaven and a new earth.” Let us try to do so with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
28 November 2025
Luke 21: 29-33
The word that never passes away
Jesus invites us today to look at something very simple — a fig tree. “Look at the fig tree and indeed every tree; as soon as you see them bud, you know that summer is near.” Nature has its rhythms. The budding of the fig tree announces that life is returning, that something new is about to happen. In the same way, Jesus calls us to open our eyes to the movements of God in our lives and in our world. The Kingdom of God is not a distant dream; it is already near, quietly growing, often hidden beneath the surface.
The challenge is to stay attentive — not anxious, not obsessed with predicting the future, but awake and discerning. People in every generation have tried to calculate the end of the world, but Jesus reminds us that “no one knows the day or the hour.” What matters is not the timing, but the readiness of our hearts.
Then Jesus gives us one of the most consoling assurances in all the Gospels: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Everything we see — even the most enduring things — will one day fade. But His word remains. In a world where so much changes, where we often feel uncertain or insecure, the Word of God is our anchor. It is the one thing that never fails, never deceives, never dies.
We live in a time when many voices claim to have the truth, when fear and confusion easily take root. But the disciple of Christ learns to listen to the quiet, faithful word that endures — the word that brings peace, not panic; hope, not fear.
Let us then be people who read the signs of the times with the eyes of faith, and who cling to the Word that never passes away.
Enduring Words
Fareed Zakaria, a celebrated US journalist, was awarded Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award in India, his country of origin. Fareed, while expressing gratitude for the award, politely declined to be present in person to accept the same. His reason? The date of the award ceremony coincided with the dates for the vacation trip he had promised his children. If a human parent will honor the words given to his children, how much more will God do so! “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away,” says Jesus. Here’s an exercise to do: Identify some 7-9 gospel verses, a healthy mixture of reassuring and challenging words of Jesus, write them out and carry them in your wallet. In apocalyptic times, take out and read the reassuring words; in times of too much comfort, confront yourself with his challenging words. For, he is ever true to his words.
29 November 2024
Trusting in God’s enduring promises
In today’s Gospel, Jesus encourages us to be mindful of the signs that surround us and to place our trust in God’s steadfast word. He uses the image of the fig tree to illustrate that, just as we can recognize the budding leaves as a signal of summer's return, we should also be attentive to the signs of God’s Kingdom emerging in our lives. Jesus reassures us that regardless of the changing seasons or the challenges we face, we are never alone. God is always present with us, and His Kingdom is near, inspiring us to approach life with open eyes and hopeful hearts. This reminder empowers us to actively seek and embrace the divine presence in our everyday experiences.
However, Jesus cautions us against fixating too much on pinpointing the precisetiming of the Kingdom’s coming. That future is solely in God's hands. Our role is to have faith that, even when everything else diminishes, God’s word will endure. His promise of love, justice, and salvation serves as an anchor that nothing—be it crisis, fear, or trial—can disturb.
Throughout history, many have pondered the end times, with some fearing that God’s Kingdom signifies disaster. However, Jesus imparts that the Kingdom should not invoke fear but instead offer deep hope. For those pursuing justice, yearning for peace, and striving for the welfare of others, God’s Kingdom is already present, much like seeds silently developing in the earth, poised to blossom.
We are invited to partake in this Kingdom through our expressions of love, kindness, and mercy. Let us embrace each day illuminated by His promises, drawing strength from the hope that, despite the world’s uncertainties, God’s word remains true, and His Kingdom is always near.