All week, the readings from Daniel and Luke have spoken of kingdoms rising and falling, of faith tested, of the end of all things.
And today, we reach the climax: Daniel’s great vision — the moment when the “Son of Man” comes on the clouds of heaven.

This is one of the most powerful moments in the whole of Scripture.
It’s the Old Testament’s window into eternity.

Daniel sees chaos —
the sea stirred up by the four winds,
and out of it come four beasts — monstrous, terrifying, each representing a kingdom of the earth.

It’s a vivid picture of history as we know it:
nations rising, wars raging, people devoured by ambition and pride.
The beasts are Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome —
and every empire that follows the same pattern of violence and self-worship.

Then, suddenly, the scene shifts.
The thrones are set up, the Ancient of Days takes His seat —
His clothing white as snow, His throne flames of fire.
A river of fire flows before Him,
and countless hosts stand in attendance.

And as the beasts lose their dominion, Daniel sees:

“One like a Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven…
To Him was given dominion, glory, and kingship,
that all peoples and nations should serve Him.
His kingdom is everlasting and shall never be destroyed.”

That’s the turning point of all history.
The beasts fall; the true King reigns.

That “Son of Man” isn’t just a symbol.
It’s Christ Himself.
Jesus uses this very title more than any other to describe Himself.
Every time He says “the Son of Man,”
He’s claiming the prophecy of Daniel as His own.

The powers of this world roar and devour — but they do not last.
The Kingdom of Christ begins in weakness but endures in glory.
The cross is the fulfilment of Daniel’s vision:
the moment when the beasts of sin and death are slain,
and the Son of Man ascends to the right hand of the Father.

What Daniel saw in a vision, the apostles saw in person —
Jesus ascending into heaven,
carrying our humanity into the heart of God.

The Ancient of Days gave Him dominion,
and that dominion will never end.

That’s why we can live with confidence in any age:
our faith doesn’t depend on the headlines.
The beasts of our own time — violence, corruption, relativism —
will have their hour, but not the last word.
Christ will.

In the Gospel, Jesus points to a fig tree.
He says,

“Look at the fig tree and all the trees.
When they begin to bud, you know that summer is near.
So when you see these things happening,
know that the Kingdom of God is near.”

He’s teaching us how to read the world with faith.
We can look at chaos and see only winter,
or we can look deeper and see spring.

The Kingdom isn’t far away — it’s already growing.
Every act of forgiveness, every Mass, every conversion —
each is a new leaf on the tree of God’s plan.

Even when faith seems small,
it’s the same mustard seed Daniel saw becoming a mountain,
the same vine Jesus said would one day fill the earth.

So when you see the world tremble,
don’t panic — recognise the signs of His nearness.
The Son of Man is not absent; He is at work.

Then Jesus ends with one of the most absolute statements in Scripture:

“Heaven and earth will pass away,
but My words will never pass away.”

Everything visible — empires, institutions, even this planet —
is temporary.
But the Word of God is eternal.

Every promise He has made will stand when the stars themselves fade.
That’s why the Church clings to Scripture and Tradition.
We are not chasing the next trend; we are holding to the only truth that will survive the fire.

And that’s what makes a Catholic life so different:
we’re not building for comfort; we’re building for eternity.

Daniel saw fire and judgment —
but he also saw peace on the other side of it.
He didn’t run; he worshipped.

That’s what faith looks like:
not fear of the end, but readiness for it.
The saints didn’t dread the day of the Lord — they longed for it.

Every Mass is a rehearsal for that final day —
the Son of Man coming on the clouds,
the faithful gathered around the throne,
and the cry that fills heaven: “The Kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.”

So stand firm, as Jesus said yesterday.
Pray daily.
Cling to His Word.
Keep your window open toward heaven like Daniel did.
And remember:
The beasts always fall.
The Word always stands.
And the Son of Man still reigns.