32nd Week in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Dan 12:1–3
2nd Reading: Heb 10:11–14, 18
Gospel: Mk 13:24–32
Jesus said to his disciples, “Later on, in those days after that disastrous time, the sun will grow dark, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall out of the sky and the whole universe will be shaken. Then people will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And he will send the angels to gather his chosen people from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.
“Learn a lesson from the fig tree. As soon as its branches become tender and it begins to sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the time is near, even at the door. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all this has happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
“But, regarding that Day and that Hour, no one knows when it will come, not even the angels, not even the Son, but only the Father.”

Commentary
Remember death daily.” We would do well to follow this monastic instruction and never allow a day to pass without remembering that it could well be our last. We know neither the day nor the hour of our death. The Lord gives us today, but He does not promise us tomorrow. Therefore we must never put off for another day the task of doing good.
Jesus teaches His disciples that all good things here on earth must come to an end. Even the world itself is not meant to last forever, but only as long as it serves the Lord’s purpose. For this reason we must not become inordinately attached to the things of this earth. Material possessions attract us when we do not have them, but when we do have them they fail to satisfy us. What a shame that those with great monetary wealth often suffer the most dire spiritual poverty.
We know neither the day nor the hour of our death. Why then, should we spend so much time on things that do not really matter? “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,” the Lord tells us. The only lasting treasures are those things that money cannot buy.

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