SAINT Bibiana
Her parents were martyred in the persecution of Julian the Apostate, and Bibiana and her sister Demetria were turned over to a woman named Rufina who tried to force her into prostitution. Upon her continued refusal, Bibiana was imprisoned in a mad house, and then flogged to death.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 84: 9
The Lord speaks of peace to his people and his holy ones and to those who turn to him.
Collect
Stir up the will of your faithful, we pray, O Lord, that, striving more eagerly to bring your divine work to fruitful completion, they may receive in greater measure the healing remedies your kindness bestows. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Daniel 7:15-27
I, Daniel, was deeply disturbed and the visions that passed through my head alarmed me. So I approached one of those who were standing by and asked him to tell me the truth about all this. And in reply he revealed to me what these things meant. “These four great beasts are four kings who will rise from the earth. Those who are granted sovereignty are the saints of the Most High, and the kingdom will be theirs for ever, for ever and ever.” Then I asked to know the truth about the fourth beast, different from all the rest, very terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, eating, crushing and trampling underfoot what remained; and the truth about the ten horns on its head – and why the other horn sprouted and the three original horns fell, and why this horn had eyes and a mouth that was full of boasts, and why it made a greater show than the other horns. This was the horn I had watched making war on the saints and proving the stronger, until the coming of the one of great age who gave judgement in favour of the saints of the Most High, when the time came for the saints to take over the kingdom. This is what he said: “The fourth beast is to be a fourth kingdom on earth, different from all other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it underfoot and crush it. As for the ten horns: from this kingdom will rise ten kings, and another after them; this one will be different from the previous ones and will bring down three kings; he is going to speak words against the Most High, and harass the saints of the Most High. He will consider changing seasons and the Law, and the saints will be put into his power for a time, two times, and half a time. But a court will be held and his power will be stripped from him, consumed, and utterly destroyed. And sovereignty and kingship, and the splendours of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty and every empire will serve and obey him.”
Psalm Daniel 3:82-87
R/ Give glory and eternal praise to him!
Sons of men! Bless the Lord.
Israel! Bless the Lord.
Priests! Bless the Lord.
Servants of the Lord! Bless the Lord.
Spirits and souls of the virtuous! Bless the Lord.
Devout and humble-hearted men! Bless the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation: Mt 24: 42, 44
Alleluia, alleluia! Stay awake and stand ready, because you do not know the hour when the Son of Man is coming. Alleluia!
Gospel: Luke 21: 34-36
Jesus said to his disciples: “Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap. For it will come down on every living man on the face of the earth. Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.”
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, O Lord, the sacred offerings which at your bidding we dedicate to your name and, in order that through these gifts we may become worthy of your love, grant us unfailing obedience to your commands. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Ps 116: 1, 2
O praise the Lord, all you nations, for his merciful love towards us is great.
Prayer after Communion
We pray, almighty God, that those to whom you give the joy of participating in divine mysteries may never be parted from you. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Jesus speaks to us today about the end of time and warns us against things that can deviate our attention from life in the Spirit. Waiting might be long and tiredness might crop in at any time. So, faced with the diverse demands of the flesh, we might allow ourselves to be led by the evil one into a life of debauchery, drunkenness and the worries or cares of this passing life. What can we do in order to avoid being trapped in this life style? How do we make sure that the day of the Lord does not take us by surprise? Jesus’ response is very clear: Stay awake and pray at all times. Dearly beloved, we are invited to live our Christian identity in a dignifying manner through discernment and prayer.