The gospel For Friday, the 34th week in ordinary time is taken from Luke 21:29 33. Jesus told his disciples a parable. Consider the fig tree and all other trees. When their buds burst open, you will see for yourself 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. The image of feeling that summer is coming, that fruitfulness is coming, is a beautiful image of the way in which we live. In this kingdom of God we know that every day the kingdom becomes more real, more near to us. And so what we need to always have is a conviction that the Holy Spirit, the word of God, the truth is constantly touching everything and everything has a response that is a bursting forth of life. After the music, I will close with a prayer.

Satan sam foreign. There is something about the time of year when the cold and the empty seem to fade into a rich abundance of life and light. Help us to see that is what the kingdom is. It’s never losing sight that there’s a springtime, there’s a new lifetime always coming very near. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.