Malachi 3:19-20
For the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble, And the day that is coming will set them on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch, says the LORD of hosts. But for you who fear my name, the sun of justice will arise with healing in its wings. [2]
2 Thessalonians 3:7-12
You know how you are supposed to imitate us: now we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we ever have our meals at anyone’s table without paying for them; no, we worked night and day, slaving and straining, so as not to be a burden on any of you. This was not because we had no right to be, but in order to make ourselves an example for you to follow.
We gave you a rule when we were with you: not to let anyone have any food if he refused to do any work. Now we hear that there are some of you who are living in idleness, doing no work themselves but interfering with everyone else’s. In the Lord Jesus Christ, we order and call on people of this kind to go on quietly working and earning the food that they eat. [3]
The Gospel reading this Sunday is from Luke 21:5-19. It has no connection to the last post but is related to the general theme of this blog. Quoted below is the passage, updated with this blogger's own words in brackets with original references omitted:
And while some were talking about the [Vatican], that it was adorned with beautiful stones and votive gifts, He said, “As for these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down.”
They questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the [a]sign when these things are about to take place?” And He said, “See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not go after them. When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.”
Things to Come
Then He continued by saying to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
“But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the [courts of secular public opinion and various news outlets, secular and religious] and [virtual prisons on the internet where your reputation would be tarnished and where you would be tormented by false allegations based on your accusers' carefully chosen and marshaled facts and self-serving rationalizations], bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all because of My name. Yet not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. [4]
[1] http://www.universalis.com/mass.htm
[2] http://www.catholicbiblesblog.com/2013/11/sunday-knox-malachi-319-20-41-2.html, accessed November 13, 2016.
[3] https://prayers4reparation.wordpress.com/2016/11/12/bible-reading-ii-2-thessalonians-37-12-november-13/, accessed November 13, 2016.
[4] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2021:5-19
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