Rev 18:1-2.21-23; 19

Thursday, 34^th Week of Ordinary Time, Year II
Readings on p.1502 of Daily Missal

Entrance Antiphon

The Lord established for him a covenant of peace, and made him the prince, that he might have the dignity of the priesthood forever.

First Reading: Revelation 18:1-2.21-23; 19:1-3.9a

A reading from the Book of Revelation

I, John, saw another angel coming down from heaven,
having great authority;
and the earth was made bright with his splendour.
And he called out with a mighty voice,

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
It has become a dwelling place of demons,
a haunt of every foul spirit,
a haunt of every foul and hateful bird;

Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone
and threw it into the sea, saying,
“So shall Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,
and shall be found no more;
and the sound of harpers and minstrels, of flute players and trumpeters,
shall be heard in you no more;
and a craftsman of any craft
shall be found in you no more;
and the sound of the millstone
shall be heard in you no more;
and the light of a lamp
shall shine in you no more;
and the voice of bridegroom and bride
shall be heard in you no more;
for your merchants were the great people of the earth,
and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.

After this I heard what seemed to be
the mighty voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying,

“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
for his judgments are true and just;
he has judged the great harlot
who corrupted the earth with her fornication,
and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
Once more they cried,
“Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”

And the angel said to me, “Write this:
Blessed are those
who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial psalm: Ps 100:1-2.3.4.5 (R. Revelation 19:9a)

Let us now pray the Responsorial Psalm beginning and ending with the response:

R/. Blessed are those who are invited
to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy.

Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us; we belong to him.
We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with songs of praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name.

Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love.
He is faithful from age to age.

R/. Blessed are those who are invited
to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Please stand for the Gospel
Alleluia, Alleluia. Look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 21:20-28

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

At that time:
Jesus said to his disciples,
“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies,
then know that its desolation has come near.
Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains,
and let those who are inside the city depart,
and let not those who are out in the country enter it;
for these are days of vengeance,
to fulfil all that is written.
Alas for those who are with child
and for those who are nursing in those days!
For great distress shall be upon the earth
and wrath upon this people;
they will fall by the edge of the sword,
and be led captive among all nations;
and Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles,
until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars,
and upon the earth distress of nations
in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,
people fainting with fear and with foreboding
of what is coming on the world;
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud
with power and great glory.
Now when these things begin to take place,
look up and raise your heads,
because your redemption is drawing near.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Communion Antiphon
O praise the Lord all you nations, for his merciful love towards us is great.