Tuesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Take Care Not To Be Misled

Liturgical Cycle: C | Lectionary Cycle: I

Introduction

In a time of unrest in the Church, as we seek to live our faith in a renewed way, today’s readings bring us a message of hope and trust. Kingdoms built without God will decay, destroy one another, and be ultimately replaced by God, the Lord of history, with God’s indestructible kingdom. This is the message of the Book of Daniel to the persecuted Jews.

Jesus speaks of times of trials, directly of the fall of Jerusalem, which is a symbol of the end times. We may not forget that for us here and now, the time of judgment is now: we prepare it now, we undergo, or better, create it now, by the way we live individually and as a community. “Do not be misled,” says Christ. In other words, his message is meant to shake us, to wake us up and encourage us to live the gospel now.

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
our faith is not a quiet possession
of the truth and of rites
that may give us security.
Make us realize that it is tested
and that you call us
to be credible witnesses
in our time and our situation
of the passion and resurrection of your Son.
Give us your Holy Spirit
to guide us and to keep our hope alive
that Jesus is our Lord
And you are our God forever.

First Reading

Daniel 2:31-45

Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar:
"In your vision, O king, you saw a statue,
very large and exceedingly bright,
terrifying in appearance as it stood before you.
The head of the statue was pure gold,
its chest and arms were silver,
its belly and thighs bronze, the legs iron,
its feet partly iron and partly tile.
While you looked at the statue,
a stone which was hewn from a mountain
without a hand being put to it,
struck its iron and tile feet, breaking them in pieces.
The iron, tile, bronze, silver, and gold all crumbled at once,
fine as the chaff on the threshing floor in summer,
and the wind blew them away without leaving a trace.
But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain
and filled the whole earth.

"This was the dream;
the interpretation we shall also give in the king's presence.
You, O king, are the king of kings;
to you the God of heaven
has given dominion and strength, power and glory;
men, wild beasts, and birds of the air, wherever they may dwell,
he has handed over to you, making you ruler over them all;
you are the head of gold.
Another kingdom shall take your place, inferior to yours,
then a third kingdom, of bronze,
which shall rule over the whole earth.
There shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron;
it shall break in pieces and subdue all these others,
just as iron breaks in pieces and crushes everything else.
The feet and toes you saw, partly of potter's tile and partly of iron,
mean that it shall be a divided kingdom,
but yet have some of the hardness of iron.
As you saw the iron mixed with clay tile,
and the toes partly iron and partly tile,
the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.
The iron mixed with clay tile
means that they shall seal their alliances by intermarriage,
but they shall not stay united, any more than iron mixes with clay.
In the lifetime of those kings
the God of heaven will set up a kingdom
that shall never be destroyed or delivered up to another people;
rather, it shall break in pieces all these kingdoms
and put an end to them, and it shall stand forever.
That is the meaning of the stone you saw hewn from the mountain
without a hand being put to it,
which broke in pieces the tile, iron, bronze, silver, and gold.
The great God has revealed to the king what shall be in the future;
this is exactly what you dreamed, and its meaning is sure."

Responsorial Psalm

Daniel 3:57, 58, 59, 60, 61

R. (59b) Give glory and eternal praise to him.
"Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
"Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
"You heavens, bless the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
"All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
"All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

Alleluia Verse

Revelation 2:10c

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain faithful until death,
And I will give you the crown of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Luke 21:5-11

While some people discussed the temple, remarking that it was decorated with fine stonework and abundant gifts, Jesus said to them:

“The days will come when not a single stone will be left on another of all that you now admire; everything will be torn down.”

And they asked him:

“Master, when will this happen, and what will be the sign that it is about to occur?”

Jesus said:

“Take care not to be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he; the time is near at hand!’ Do not follow them.

When you hear of wars and troubled times, don’t be frightened; for all these things must happen first, even though the end is not so soon.”

And Jesus said:

“Nations will fight against each other, and kingdoms will oppose kingdoms.

There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues; in many locations, strange and frightening signs from the sky will be seen.

Prayers of the Faithful

– For the Church of Jesus Christ, that its faith, trust and love may not waver in the difficulties and storms of our time, we pray:

– For those who doubt their faith or are afraid of the future, that God may give them courage and that we may refresh one another’s hope, we pray:

– For a world in the grip of war and violence, of dishonesty and abuse of power, that people of integrity and vision may draw inspiration from the gospel to lead the world back on the road of peace and love, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
as you will sanctify this bread and this wine
and change them into Jesus, your Son,
let the power of your Holy Spirit
change us into people
imbued with the mentality of Jesus Christ.
Make us more like him,
that we may live for one another
and have nothing to fear
when you call us to you,
our God for ever and ever.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
in this eucharist you have given to us
the word and the body of your Son.
Do not allow us to be misled
by anyone who speaks an easy message.
Let our only sure guide be
he who is our way and truth and life,
our hope and our resurrection,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

We are people of hope. We shouldn’t bother about the question when the end of the world will come but live as people who know that they have to be responsible Christians every day. If we do this, there is no reason for fear. May Almighty God keep you safe and bless you, the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

REFLECTIONS

25 November 2025

Luke 21:5-11

Hope That Does Not Fear

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of destruction, wars, and disasters — images that can easily fill us with fear. Yet His purpose is not to frighten, but to awaken hope. Jesus invites us to look beyond appearances and to trust that even when the world seems to crumble, God’s plan continues to unfold.

When the disciples admire the beauty of the Temple, Jesus reminds them that even the most magnificent stones can fall. Nothing in this world lasts forever. Our security cannot rest in buildings, power, or possessions, but only in the love of God — the one foundation that never collapses.

Then Jesus says, “Take care not to be deceived.” In times of turmoil, many voices claim to have the answers, to speak in His name. But Jesus warns us: do not be led astray. The truth is not found in fear or sensationalism, but in steadfast faith and discernment.

Throughout history, believers have lived through wars, plagues, and revolutions. The early Christians who first heard Luke’s Gospel knew all these realities too well. Yet Jesus tells them — and us — “Do not be terrified.” These words are not naive optimism; they are the deep peace of one who knows that God is still Lord of history.

Our faith calls us not to escape from the world, but to live in it with courage and compassion. Even amid chaos, we are invited to be witnesses of hope — people who trust that love is stronger than destruction, and that God’s Kingdom quietly grows in the hearts of those who believe.

So when fear rises, let us remember: Christ stands with us. His Cross and Resurrection assure us that no darkness is final, and that every ending in Him is the beginning of new life.

Perspective

Observe Jesus speaking of apocalyptic times and events in a matter-of-fact fashion. He is able to do so, precisely because he has perspective and sees the larger picture. When the 2004 earthquake and tsunami caused immense tragedy, many people asked: “How can a ‘good God’ allow these terrible things to happen?” Whereas no one can negate the scale of loss and suffering, the observation by Dutch geologist Jelle Zeilinga de Boer may help us see the bigger picture. Earthquakes happen when plates within the earth separate, crack, and run over each other. As a consequence, magmas form at the depths of the earth, which are then thrown up to the surface, releasing nutrients and water, which makes life possible and sustainable on earth. A long view of time and nature helps us see these events in perspective and trust God, even as we use the God-given scientific temper to reduce the tragic consequences.

26 November 2024

Finding Hope in Christ Amid Life's Uncertainties

Today’s Gospel introduces us to Jesus’ apocalyptic discourse, where He speaks about the temple’s eventual destruction, wars, natural disasters, and false messiahs. For many, these prophecies might sound mysterious, but these words were a source of hope for the persecuted Christians of Luke’s time. Jesus’ words helped early believers understand that, even amid turmoil and suffering, God was still in control of human history and that they could trust in His unwavering presence.

Jesus cautions His disciples against deception, urging them—and us—to stayfaithful,particularly during times of confusion and fear. In our own lives, we encounter situations that can evoke feelings of uncertainty or fear, such as global conflicts, natural disasters, or personal challenges. However, Jesus reassures uswith the words, “Do not be terrified.” Rather than inciting fear, His messageencourages us to remain steadfast in our faith and focus on Him, trusting that God’s plans surpass any turmoil we face.

The signs Jesus speaks of—wars, earthquakes, plagues—are reminders that our world is fragile and our lives are short. But rather than causing despair, these realities call us to deeper faith. They invite us to turn our focus from earthly securities to the eternal hope we have in Christ. His Kingdom endures beyond all that fades, and we are invited to live with that Kingdom in mind, loving one another and spreading hope.

In times of uncertainty, let’s remember Jesus’ words: “Do not be deceived.” Let us anchor our lives in His promise, knowing that, despite all appearances, He is the Lord of history. May we live each day with courage, knowing that, in Him, we are safe and that whatever happens, His love and His Kingdom remain unshaken.