The Old Testament                    Daniel 12:1-4a
The Lord spoke to Daniel, saying, "At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and the book sealed until the time of the end."

The Second Lesson                    Hebrews 10:31-39
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting. Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet "in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay; but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back." But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.

La Segunda Lectura                    Hebreos 10: 31-39
ˇTerrible cosa es caer en las manos del Dios viviente! Pero recuerden ustedes los tiempos pasados, cuando acababan ustedes de recibir la luz y soportaron con fortaleza los sufrimientos de una gran lucha. Algunos de ustedes fueron insultados y maltratados públicamente, y otros se unieron en el sufrimiento con los que fueron tratados así. Ustedes tuvieron compasión de los que estaban en la cárcel, y hasta con alegría se dejaron quitar lo que poseían, sabiendo que en el cielo tienen algo que es mucho mejor y que permanece para siempre. No pierdan, pues, su confianza, porque ella les traerá una gran recompensa. Ustedes necesitan tener fortaleza en el sufrimiento, para hacer la voluntad de Dios y recibir así lo que él ha prometido. Pues la Escritura dice: "Pronto, muy pronto, vendrá el que tiene que venir. No tardará. Mi justo por la fe vivirá; pero si se vuelve atrás, no estaré contento de él." Y nosotros no somos de los que se vuelven atrás y van a su condenación, sino de los que alcanzan la salvación porque tienen y por ente recibirán la salvación.

The Gospel                            Mark 13:14-23
Jesus said, "But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; the one on the housetop must not go down or enter the house to take anything away; the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that it may not be in winter. For in those days there will be suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, no, and never will be. And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut short those days. And if anyone says to you at that time, 'Look! Here is the Messiah!' or 'Look! There he is!'--do not believe it. False messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be alert; I have already told you everything."