November 27, 2014

Reading

The Book of Revelation    18: 1-2, 21-23; 19; 1-3, 9

18:1	And after these things, I saw another Angel, descending from heaven, having great authority. And the earth was illuminated by his glory.
18:2	And he cried out with strength, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great. And she has become the habitation of demons, and the keepsake of every unclean spirit, and the possession of every unclean and hateful flying thing.
18:21	And a certain strong Angel took up a stone, similar to a great millstone, and he cast it into the sea, saying: “With this force shall Babylon, that great city, be cast down. And she shall never be found again.
18:22	And the sound of singers, and musicians, and flute and trumpet players shall not be heard in you again. And every artisan of every art shall not be found in you again. And the sound of the mill shall not be heard in you again.
18:23	And the light of the lamp shall not shine in you again. And the voice of the groom and of the bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the leaders of the earth. For all the nations were led astray by your drugs.

19:1	After these things, I heard something like the voice of many multitudes in heaven, saying: “Alleluia! Praise and glory and power is for our God.
19:2	For true and just are his judgments, he who has judged the great harlot that corrupted the earth by her prostitution. And he has vindicated the blood of his servants from her hands.”
19:3	And again, they said: “Alleluia! For her smoke ascends forever and ever.”
19:9	And he said to me: “Write: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These words of God are true.”

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to Luke    21: 20-28

21:20	Then, when you will have seen Jerusalem encircled by an army, know then that its desolation has drawn near.
21:21	Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and those who are in its midst withdraw, and those who are in the countryside not enter into it.
21:22	For these are the days of retribution, so that all things may be fulfilled, which have been written.
21:23	Then woe to those who are pregnant or nursing in those days. For there will be great distress upon the land and great wrath upon this people.
21:24	And they will fall by the edge of the sword. And they will be led away as captives into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles, until the times of the nations are fulfilled.
21:25	And there will be signs in the sun and the moon and the stars. And there will be, on earth, distress among the Gentiles, out of confusion at the roaring of the sea and of the waves:
21:26	men withering away out of fear and out of apprehension over the things that will overwhelm the whole world. For the powers of the heavens will be moved.
21:27	And then they will see the Son of man coming on a cloud, with great power and majesty.
21:28	But when these things begin to happen, lift up your heads and look around you, because your redemption draws near.”