Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Persevering Hope
Liturgical Cycle: C | Lectionary Cycle: I
Introduction
The vision of the author of the Book of Daniel confirms that, however terrifying the persecutions of the Syrian king may be, God has the final say in history, evil will be overcome, and God’s powers of goodness will be victorious.
Still, the gospel warns us. We may not choose the easy way of indifference or evil. We shall have to give an account to the Son of Man. We must be watchful so that we can stand before Him with confidence. But our hope is great. We are a people of hope.
Opening Prayer
Our saving God,
long ago you sent your Son Jesus among us,
but we have been too little aware of his presence
and we hide him from others.
Wake us up, make us recognize him,
that he may be the light of our lives
and that we may eagerly lead people to him.
May he build up among us and with us
a world and a kingdom of peace and love
where we serve you in one another,
as we move forward in hope
to your home of endless joy and rest.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
First Reading
I, Daniel, have been deeply troubled because these visions terrified me.
I approached one of the people standing there and asked him to explain what all this meant. He responded and provided me with the interpretation of these things:
‘These four beasts are four kings who will rise from the earth.
But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, to possess it eternally, forever and ever.’
Then I wanted to understand the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from the others—extraordinarily terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws; it ate, tore into pieces, and crushed underfoot whatever remained.
I also wanted to know about the ten horns it had on its head, the other horn that had grown, the first three horns that fell, and this horn with eyes and a mouth that spoke arrogantly, which looked greater than the other horns.
As I watched, this horn waged war against the holy ones and subdued them
until the One of Great Age arrived to deliver justice for the holy ones of the Most High, and the time finally came for the holy ones to possess the kingdom.
Then I was told:
‘The fourth animal shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, different from all the kingdoms. It will devour the earth, crush it, and destroy it.
The ten horns represent ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. Another will rise after them and will eliminate the three kings.
This king will insult the Most High and persecute the holy ones of the Most High. He will try to change the feasts and the laws. The holy ones will be handed over to his power for a time, two times, and half a time.
But judgment will come, and dominion will be taken from him; he shall be destroyed and completely wiped out. 2
The kingship, dominion, and leadership of all the kingdoms of the world shall be given to the people of God’s holy ones: his kingdom will be everlasting. All the kingdoms shall serve him and be under his authority.
Responsorial Psalm
Daniel 3:82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
"You sons of men, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
"O Israel, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
"Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
"Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
"Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
"Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray
That you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Stay alert: avoid immersing yourself in a life of pleasure, drunkenness, and worldly worries, so that that day does not catch you off guard, like a trap!
For, like a snare, that day will come upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
But always stay watchful and pray, so that you can escape everything that is about to happen and stand before the Son of Man.
Prayers of the Faithful
– That leaders, prophets, witnesses of the faith and all others whose task it is to stir our hope in a better world may be guided by the Holy Spirit of hope, we pray:
– That we may revive the faith and trust of people without courage and hope by building a fairer and more merciful world with them, we pray:
– That in this community we may inspire one another by our living faith and indestructible hope, and that by our love and service the Lord may live among us, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God of our future,
we pray at this altar
for the coming among us of your Son Jesus Christ
in the signs of bread and wine.
Inspire us by the power of his Spirit
and sustain us in hope,
that we may fully commit ourselves
to build up among people a city
that is human, peaceful, just and fraternal
as an offering that pleases you,
our God and Father.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
God our Father,
it was good to be here with your Son
and to receive from him the bread of hope.
Help us in our clumsy attempts
to bring to our cold world
the warmth of his love and friendship,
of his compassion and his integrity,
that people may see the day
when they can recognize among us
your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
Where is God’s kingdom among us? Can people see that Christ is here among us, in our communities? We hope in the Lord, but he is also hoping in us. Let the Lord come and activate us, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
29 November 2025
Luke 21:34-36
As the liturgical year draws to its close, Jesus leaves us with two final words that are as urgent today as they were two thousand years ago: “Be on your guard… and pray at all times.”
We often imagine vigilance as an anxious watching, like waiting for a storm to pass. But the vigilance Jesus speaks of is quite different — it is the attentive, loving awareness of a heart that remains awake to God’s presence. It means not allowing our hearts to become “coarsened,” dulled by distractions, pleasure, or worries.
How easily this happens! We live in an age overflowing with noise — endless information, news, and entertainment. We scroll, we react, we rush — and little by little, our spiritual sensitivity dulls. We stop seeing the suffering around us, stop noticing the quiet movements of grace. On the other hand, too much exposure to the pain of the world can also paralyse us with fear or fatigue. Jesus invites us to find a sacred balance — to remain aware, but not overwhelmed; engaged, but not enslaved.
And the key to this balance, He tells us, is prayer. “Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen.” Prayer keeps the heart soft and alive. It roots us again and again in God’s peace. It restores our clarity and gives us courage to “stand before the Son of Man” — that is, to face life honestly, faithfully, and without fear.
At the close of this year, perhaps Jesus is gently asking us: “Where is your heart? What fills it?” His call to “watch and pray” is not a threat of doom, but an invitation to live awake — to love deeply, to serve attentively, and to stand ready, not with dread but with trust.
For the one who watches with love and prays with perseverance will never be caught unprepared. The Lord comes quietly each day — may He always find us awake, praying, and at peace.
Communicate with God
Here Jesus issues a solemn warning and a call to readiness. He cautions against being weighed down by the anxieties and cares of life, emphasizing the potential for these distractions to dull our spiritual senses. As Christians, we are urged to be vigilant, to guard against the encumbrances that can divert our focus from the eternal matters at hand.
Jesus paints a vivid picture of the unexpectedness of certain events, emphasizing the need for continual spiritual preparedness. The image of a trap being set serves as a metaphor for the unforeseen challenges that may confront us. Hence, we are admonished to be watchful, ensuring that the concerns of this world do not entangle us to the point of spiritual lethargy.
The call to prayer features prominently in these verses, underlining its pivotal role in maintaining spiritual alertness. Through prayer, we connect with God, seeking strength, guidance, and the discernment needed to navigate life's complexities. It becomes a lifeline that keeps us grounded in faith.
Jesus concludes with an exhortation to stand before the Son of Man. This stance signifies more than physical posture; it symbolizes a posture of the heart. To stand before the Son of Man is to acknowledge His lordship, surrendering our lives to His authority.
As we navigate the uncertainties of life, these verses remind us of the imperative to stay spiritually awake. Let us not be ensnared by the transient concerns of this world but instead be anchored in prayerful communion with God. In doing so, we position ourselves to stand confidently before the Son of Man, ready to face whatever comes our way in the assurance of His grace and sovereignty.