Gospel (Mk 13,24-32) - At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: «In those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, the moon will no longer give its light, the stars will fall from the sky and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. He will send angels and gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. »From the fig tree, learn the parable: when its branch becomes tender and the leaves emerge, you know that summer is near. So also you: when you see these things happen, know that he is near, he is at the gates. Truly I say to you: this generation will not pass away before all this happens. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But as to that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, except the Father."

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

The Gospel reminds us that the "Son of man" does not come in the tiredness of our habits nor does he fit into the natural development of things. When he comes, he will bring a radical change both in the lives of men and in creation itself. To express this profound transformation, Jesus takes up the typical language of the apocalyptic tradition, which was very widespread at the time, and speaks of cosmic events that upset the order of nature. Jesus speaks of "the last days", but he also says that such upheavals will take place in "this generation". The "day of the Lord", prefigured by Daniel and the other prophets, breaks out in every generation, indeed in every day of history. Jesus says: «Know that this is at hand». This expression is used other times in the Scriptures to exhort believers to be ready to welcome the Lord who passes by. «Here: I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door for me, I will come to him and will sup with him, and he with me" (Rev 3:20). At the doors of every day of our lives there is the Lord who knocks, and today, on the Sunday in which the Church remembers the poor, we remember that at our door there is always Jesus who is in the flesh of the hungry, of the stranger , of the sick, of the prisoner. He is that Lazarus covered in wounds who today waits to be welcomed, and the judgment of God who intends to transform the time in which we are already living now depends on this welcome.
Pope Francis wanted the Sunday before the feast of Christ the King to be dedicated to the feast of the poor. All churches are invited to open their doors to the poor. He himself does it in San Pietro. And, at the end of the liturgy, he will offer them lunch. With this feast of the poor we can better understand what is said several times in the Gospel about the kingdom where Christ is king. Just read the first of the beatitudes: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." And again: the kingdom of heaven is similar to a banquet prepared by the Lord to which the poor are invited. This is the kingdom where Jesus commands or, better yet, serves. I am reminded of the Christmas lunch that takes place every year in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere and in many other places in the world. It is an event that will never be forgotten. Which should not be forgotten. And the teaching is clear: the link between the altar of the Eucharist and the table of the poor. Two inseparable altars, two inseparable cults. And we witness the miracle of an extraordinary friendship between the disciples of Jesus and the poor. It is the image of that universal brotherhood that knows neither barriers nor borders, which the Gospel has come to realize.