Reading 1 Daniel 7:15-27 I, Daniel, found my spirit anguished within its covering of flesh, and I was terrified by the visions of my mind. I approached one of those present and asked him what all this meant in truth; in answer, he made known to me the meaning of the things: "These four great beasts stand for four kingdoms which shall arise on the earth. But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingship, to possess it forever and ever." But I wished to make certain about the fourth beast, so very terrible and different from the others, devouring and crushing with its iron teeth and bronze claws, and trampling with its feet what was left; about the ten horns on its head, and the other one that sprang up, before which three horns fell; about the horn with the eyes and the mouth that spoke arrogantly, which appeared greater than its fellows. For, as I watched, that horn made war against the holy ones and was victorious until the Ancient One arrived; judgment was pronounced in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, and the time came when the holy ones possessed the kingdom. He answered me thus: "The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth different from all the others; It shall devour the whole earth, beat it down, and crush it. The ten horns shall be ten kings rising out of that kingdom; another shall rise up after them, Different from those before him, who shall lay low three kings. He shall speak against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High, thinking to change the feast days and the law. They shall be handed over to him for a year, two years, and a half-year. But when the court is convened, and his power is taken away by final and absolute destruction, Then the kingship and dominion and majesty of all the kingdoms under the heavens shall be given to the holy people of the Most High, Whose Kingdom shall be everlasting: all dominions shall serve and obey him." Responsorial Psalm Daniel 3:82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87 R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. "You sons of men, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. "O Israel, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. "Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. "Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. "Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. "Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. Alleluia Luke 21:36 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Be vigilant at all times and pray That you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Luke 21:34-36 Jesus said to his disciples: "Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man." - - - Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Reading 1 Daniel 7:2-14 In a vision I, Daniel, saw during the night, the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea, from which emerged four immense beasts, each different from the others. The first was like a lion, but with eagle's wings. While I watched, the wings were plucked; it was raised from the ground to stand on two feet like a man, and given a human mind. The second was like a bear; it was raised up on one side, and among the teeth in its mouth were three tusks. It was given the order, "Up, devour much flesh." After this I looked and saw another beast, like a leopard; on its back were four wings like those of a bird, and it had four heads. To this beast dominion was given. After this, in the visions of the night I saw the fourth beast, different from all the others, terrifying, horrible, and of extraordinary strength; it had great iron teeth with which it devoured and crushed, and what was left it trampled with its feet. I was considering the ten horns it had, when suddenly another, a little horn, sprang out of their midst, and three of the previous horns were torn away to make room for it. This horn had eyes like a man, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly. As I watched, Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was snow bright, and the hair on his head as white as wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. I watched, then, from the first of the arrogant words which the horn spoke, until the beast was slain and its body thrown into the fire to be burnt up. The other beasts, which also lost their dominion, were granted a prolongation of life for a time and a season. As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed. Responsorial Psalm Daniel 3:75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! "Mountains and hills, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! "Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! "You springs, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! "Seas and rivers, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! "You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! "All you birds of the air, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! "All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! Alleluia Luke 21:28 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Luke 21:29-33 Jesus told his disciples a parable. "Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." - - - Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Readings for the Thursday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time-ThanksgivingReadings for the Thursday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time The following are a selection of the readings that may be chosen for this day. Reading I Sirach 50:22-24 And now, bless the God of all,     who has done wondrous things on earth; Who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb,     and fashions them according to his will! May he grant you joy of heart     and may peace abide among you; May his goodness toward us endure in Israel     to deliver us in our days. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11 R.    (see 1)  I will praise your name for ever, Lord. Every day will I bless you,     and I will praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;     his greatness is unsearchable.  R.    I will praise your name for ever, Lord. Generation after generation praises your works     and proclaims your might. They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty     and tell of your wondrous works.  R.    I will praise your name for ever, Lord. They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds     and declare your greatness. They publish the fame of your abundant goodness     and joyfully sing of your justice. R.    I will praise your name for ever, Lord. The LORD is gracious and merciful,     slow to anger and of great kindness. The LORD is good to all     and compassionate toward all his works. R.    I will praise your name for ever, Lord. Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,     and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom     and speak of your might. R.       I will praise your name for ever, Lord  Reading II 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Brothers and sisters: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, that in him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge, as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia 1 Thessalonians 5:18 R. Alleluia, alleluia. In all circumstances, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Luke 17:11-19 As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed.  And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.  He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?  Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”  Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” - - - Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Reading 1 Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28 King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his lords, with whom he drank. Under the influence of the wine, he ordered the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar, his father, had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, to be brought in so that the king, his lords, his wives and his entertainers might drink from them. When the gold and silver vessels taken from the house of God in Jerusalem had been brought in, and while the king, his lords, his wives and his entertainers were drinking wine from them, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. Suddenly, opposite the lampstand, the fingers of a human hand appeared, writing on the plaster of the wall in the king's palace. When the king saw the wrist and hand that wrote, his face blanched; his thoughts terrified him, his hip joints shook, and his knees knocked. Then Daniel was brought into the presence of the king. The king asked him, "Are you the Daniel, the Jewish exile, whom my father, the king, brought from Judah? I have heard that the Spirit of God is in you, that you possess brilliant knowledge and extraordinary wisdom. I have heard that you can interpret dreams and solve difficulties; if you are able to read the writing and tell me what it means, you shall be clothed in purple, wear a gold collar about your neck, and be third in the government of the kingdom." Daniel answered the king: "You may keep your gifts, or give your presents to someone else; but the writing I will read for you, O king, and tell you what it means. You have rebelled against the Lord of heaven. You had the vessels of his temple brought before you, so that you and your nobles, your wives and your entertainers, might drink wine from them; and you praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, that neither see nor hear nor have intelligence. But the God in whose hand is your life breath and the whole course of your life, you did not glorify. By him were the wrist and hand sent, and the writing set down. "This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, TEKEL, and PERES. These words mean: MENE, God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it; TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting; PERES, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians." Responsorial Psalm Daniel 3:62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67 R. (59b) Give glory and eternal praise to him. "Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. "Stars of heaven, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. "Every shower and dew, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. "All you winds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. "Fire and heat, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. "Cold and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. Alleluia Revelation 2:10c R. Alleluia, alleluia. Remain faithful until death, And I will give you the crown of life. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Luke 21:12-19 Jesus said to the crowd: "They will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives." - - - Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.