Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

REFLECTION:

There have been 266 popes who have sat in the Chair of St. Peter—the Vicar of Christ and the visible head of the Catholic Church. With Pope Leo XIV, we now stand at 267 successors of Peter. And it makes you wonder: Is there any civilization, empire, or dynasty that has lasted as long as the succession of Peter?  Kingdoms rise and fall. Dynasties come and go. Empires expand and collapse. Yet for over 2,000 years, the successors of a humble fisherman have continued unbroken. This endurance is itself a sign of God’s promise and fidelity—not human strength.

In today’s reading from Daniel, we hear about the fourth beast, the most terrifying of them all. It wages war against the holy ones and seems victorious for a time. Many scholars identify this fourth beast with Rome, the greatest empire of the ancient world—fierce, dominant, and relentless. Rome conquered nations, built roads, created laws, and crucified countless people, including our Lord Jesus Christ.

For a moment, Rome appeared invincible. It seemed as though nothing could stop this earthly power. But Daniel’s vision does not end with the beast. Suddenly, the Ancient of Days—God Himself—arrives, seated upon His throne. Judgment is rendered. Dominion is taken away. And the power that once terrorized the world is shown to be temporary. Then comes the promise: “The kingship and dominion and majesty of all kingdoms under heaven shall be given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom shall be everlasting.”

Earthly power collapses under the weight of divine authority. Rome had legions. Rome had emperors who claimed godlike power. Rome tried to crush the followers of Christ. Yet today, those emperors are gone, and the Church they tried to destroy now stands in the very heart of Rome. St. Peter’s Basilica rises where emperors once issued decrees.

Daniel’s vision exposes the truth: Earthly kingdoms are temporary. Earthly rulers fade away. Earthly glory never lasts.

But the kingdom God gives to His people is everlasting. The Church’s endurance—guided by 267 successors of Peter—is not due to political genius or military power. It is due to Christ’s promise that His Church will endure until the end of time.

While nations shift and ideologies change, the Gospel continues to spread across continents and cultures. Today there are billions of Christians and Catholics, witnessing to a kingdom not built by human hands.

This reading offers hope in our modern world, where we often face our own “beasts”: political instability, cultural pressure, moral confusion, hostility toward the faith and fear for the future

It reminds us that God’s kingdom is not threatened by human forces. The same God who outlasted the empires of the past will outlast whatever challenges we see today. Evil may roar for a time, but its reign is temporary. God’s reign is eternal.

Daniel’s vision reassures us that while empires crumble and earthly powers vanish, God’s kingdom endures forever. The succession of Peter, lasting longer than any empire in history, stands as a living witness of this truth.

So when we look at the world today and feel overwhelmed, let us remember: The Ancient of Days still reigns. Christ is still King. And His Church still stands.