Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Persevering Hope
Liturgical Cycle: A | Lectionary Cycle: II
Introduction
Year II. The book of Revelation gives us today an optimistic vision of the future: the river of life leads to the tree of life. It is God and the Lamb of God that give us a wonderfully fertile and lasting life.
Gospel. 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 have to 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
Then the angel showed me the river of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb,
down the middle of the street. On both sides of the river grew the trees of life, which produce fruit twelve times a year, once each month, and their leaves are for healing the nations.
There will no longer be a curse; the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and God’s servants will live in his presence.
They will look upon his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the sun, for God himself will be their light, and they will reign forever.
The Coming of Christ
Then, the angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true; the Lord God, who inspires the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon.”
“I am coming soon! Blessed are those who keep the prophetic words of this book.”
Responsorial Psalm
R. (1 Cor 16: 22b, see Rev. 22: 20c) Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
For the LORD is a great God,
and a great king above all gods;
In his hands are the depths of the earth,
and the tops of the mountains are his.
His is the sea, for he has made it,
and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
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, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Reflections
Gospel: Luke 21:34–36
A Heart with Room for God
Jesus warns that our hearts can become weighed down—not only by excess, but also by the anxieties of daily life. His words touch a familiar experience: we can be so occupied with getting through the day that we lose awareness of God, of others and even of our own needs.
This is not a rebuke to people who are already exhausted. It is an invitation to notice what is happening within us and to seek the help that keeps our hearts alive.
Pope Francis, reflecting on this passage, encouraged believers to keep their hearts light and awake by making room for Christ. When worries close us in on ourselves, prayer opens a wider horizon and renews our hope.
Prayer need not begin with many words. It may be a quiet breath before answering an upsetting message, a whispered request for help on the way to work, or a few honest words before sleep: “Lord, this has been difficult. Stay with me.”
As the Church’s year ends, we can place its unfinished business in God’s hands. Not everything has been resolved. Not every wound has healed. Still, we can enter Advent ready to welcome the Lord.
To reflect on: What is weighing on my heart, and how can I bring it honestly into prayer?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, receive our tiredness and our unfinished concerns. Keep our hearts awake to your presence, and prepare us to welcome you with simplicity and trust. Amen.