Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

This is the Gospel of the poor,
liberation for the imprisoned,
sight for the blind,
freedom for the oppressed.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Luke 21,29-33

And he told them a parable, 'Look at the fig tree and indeed every tree. As soon as you see them bud, you can see for yourselves that summer is now near. So with you when you see these things happening: know that the kingdom of God is near. In truth I tell you, before this generation has passed away all will have taken place. Sky and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Jesus came to save us from all slavery, even from what we can call resignation to Evil. With Jesus' coming into the world, the new time of liberation from evil and the establishment of salvation has begun. Jesus is the dawn of a new world: his life, his love, his miracles, his resurrection are those buds that manifest the new springtime in human history. That is why he exhorts the disciples: "Then he told them a parable: 'Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near." Reading the Gospel and contemplating Jesus' work, we know that a new world has already begun, that of Jesus. And looking also at the many signs of love, perhaps as small as buds, we see in them already present and working the new future, the one outlined by the Gospel, that Jesus continues to make mature and grow. We could say that Jesus brought God's future into the world. Where love germinates, where forgiveness is manifested, where mercy grows, where dialogue is practiced and peace is established, there the shoots of God's kingdom have blossomed. By perceiving them, each one is called to make signs of love sprout in his or her own heart and life. Thus we hasten the full advent of his kingdom. Jesus guarantees that these words of his are steady, steadier than heaven and earth. The Gospel of love, in fact, is the true rock, the true foundation on which to build one's own life and that of the whole world.