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| "Christ Retreats to the Mountain at Night" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: Daniel 7: 2-14
2
I saw in my vision by night, and behold the four winds of the heaven
strove upon the great sea.
3
And four great beasts, different one from another, came up out of the
sea.
4
The first was like a lioness, and had the wings of an eagle: I beheld
till her wings were plucked off, and she was lifted up from the
earth, and stood upon her feet as a man, and the heart of a man was
given to her.
5
And behold another beast like a bear stood up on one side: and there
were three rows in the mouth thereof, and in the teeth thereof, and
thus they said to it: Arise, devour much flesh.
6
After this I beheld, and lo, another like a leopard, and it had upon
it four wings as of a fowl, and the beast had four heads, and power
was given to it.
7
After this I beheld in the vision of the night, and lo, a fourth
beast, terrible and wonderful, and exceeding strong, it had great
iron teeth, eating and breaking in pieces, and treading down the rest
with its feet: and it was unlike to the other beasts which I had seen
before it, and had ten horns.
8
I considered the horns, and behold another little horn sprung out of
the midst of them: and three of the first horns were plucked up at
the presence thereof: and behold eyes like the eyes of a man were in
this horn, and a mouth speaking great things.
9
I beheld till thrones were placed, and the Ancient of days sat: his
garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like clean wool:
his throne like flames of fire: the wheels of it like a burning fire.
10
A swift stream of fire issued forth from before him: thousands of
thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times a hundred
thousand stood before him: the judgment sat, and the books were
opened.
11
I beheld because of the voice of the great words which that horn
spoke: and I saw that the beast was slain, and the body thereof was
destroyed, and given to the fire to be burnt:
12
And that the power of the other beasts was taken away: and that times
of life were appointed them for a time, and a time.
13
I beheld therefore in the vision of the night, and lo, one like the
son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and he came even to the
Ancient of days: and they presented him before him.
14
And he gave him power, and glory, and a kingdom: and all peoples,
tribes and tongues shall serve him: his power is an everlasting power
that shall not be taken away: and his kingdom that shall not be
destroyed.
PSALM:
Daniel 3: 75-81
75
O ye mountains and hills, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above
all for ever.
76
O all ye things that spring up in the earth, bless the Lord: praise
and exalt him above all for ever.
77
O ye fountains, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for
ever.
78
O ye seas and rivers, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all
for ever.
79
O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless the Lord: praise
and exalt him above all for ever.
80
O all ye fowls of the air, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above
all for ever.
81
O all ye beasts and cattle, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him
above all for ever.
GOSPEL:
Luke 21:
29-33
29
And he spoke to them in a similitude. See the fig tree, and all the
trees:
30
When they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is nigh;
31
So you also, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that
the kingdom of God is at hand.
32
Amen, I say to you, this generation shall not pass away, till all
things be fulfilled.
33
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
