Reflections on the Daily Readings

November 16 - 22, 2008.

Thirty-third Week of Ordinary Time. Psalter Week I.

Sunday Cycle A; Weekday Cycle II.

Sunday 16:      The Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Psalm 127; 1Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-30

The reading from the Book of Proverbs speaks about the perfect wife and what a treasure is to be found in her. In the second reading from the first letter to the Thessalonians, St Paul reminds us to be always ready for the Lord’s coming because we do not know when it will happen. But when it does happen, we must not be found wanting. The Gospel parable tells of a man who entrusted his property to others and went away. When he came back some of his servants had improved on what he had given them while another just hid it away. It is not enough for us to simply say that we believe in God – we must put that faith into practice and live it out in our lives so that we may give glory to God and help others to come to know him. In this way we will have taken what he gave us and improved on it and helped build up his kingdom.

Monday 17:     Memorial of St Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious*

Revelation1:1-4, 2:1-5; Psalm 1; Luke 18:35-43

For the final two weeks of the Church’s year we turn to the last book of the Bible – the Book of Revelation or Apocalypse – attributed to St John. The book is written in a style common at the time of Christ and which John addresses to seven Churches in what is today Turkey. In today’s text the Church in Ephesus is told that even though it worked hard for the faith it does not love as much as it did in the past. We are reminded that we cannot slip back to our old ways but must keep striving forward towards heaven. In our Gospel text Jesus gives sight to a blind man because the man had faith and asked to be cured. This is a reminder that if we have faith then we can ask anything of God and will answer us.

Tuesday 18:     Of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22; Psalm 14; Luke 19:1-10

In our first reading from the Book of the Apocalypse we see the Lord telling the Churches of Sardis and Laodicea that he knows them well. He recounts their good points but also points out their flaws – for those in Sardis it is their selfishness which displeases the Lord, while he accuses the Laodiceans of being lukewarm in the faith. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us that he came to save those who were lost but, like Zaccheus, they will only be saved if they wish to be saved. Were the Lord to look closely at each of us what flaws would he point out? More importantly, we must ask ourselves if we are willing to do what we can to eradicate those flaws and so enter the kingdom of heaven.

Wednesday 19:           Of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

Revelation 4:1-11; Psalm 150; Luke 19:11-28

In our first reading from the Book of Revelation, or the Apocalypse, St John writes of the glory of God and of the praise given him by the host of heaven. The four principle creatures have been seen as the four Evangelists and indeed, the images found here are often used in art – the lion for Mark, the ox for Luke, the man for Matthew, and the eagle for John. This text was to give hope to those Christian communities who were being persecuted because of their faith. The Gospel today gives us the parable of the man who was to be made king and who gave money to three servants. The first two servants made a profit with the money entrusted to them and they were rewarded for this while the third man did nothing and was punished. The money can be seen as our faith which we have a duty to build up and to strengthen while also helping the growth of the faith in the world. Lip-service to the Lord will count for nothing.

Thursday 20:   Of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

Revelation 5:1-10; Psalm 149; Luke 19:41-44

We read in today’s passage from the book of Revelation that Christ – the Lamb who was sacrificed – has, by his blood, redeemed us from death and opened the way to salvation for us. In our Gospel text we see Jesus arriving at Jerusalem and he pauses before going in to the city. He pauses to weep at the stubbornness and the blindness of the people who have heard his teachings and seen his miracles and yet fail to see that he is their Messiah. Despite their rejection of him, Jesus still loves the people as he loves each one of us whether we wish to acknowledge that love or not.

Friday 21:        Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary*

Zechariah 2:14-17; Psalm – Luke 1:46-55; Matthew 12:46-50

As is so often the case on memorials of Our Lady, the readings focus very much on her Divine Son. Today’s memorial is no different for the first reading sees the Lord telling us that he is coming to dwell in the midst of his people, and that he will make Jerusalem his very own. This reminds us of Christ who lived among the people and for whom Jerusalem was so important. In the Gospel text we have the familiar story of Jesus being sought by his family. He tells the people that whoever does the will of God are his real family.

Saturday 22:    Memorial of St Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr*

Revelation 11:4-12; Psalm 143; Luke 20:27-40

We continue our readings from the book of Revelation in which St John speaks about two men who witness for God – which reminds us of Elijah and Moses in the Old Testament. The two men are attacked by a beast who kills them. However, they are restored to life showing that God is more powerful than the powers of evil. This was a reminder for the people that, even though they may have to suffer for the faith, the power of God is greater and the promises he made to them will be fulfilled. In the Gospel, Christ tells us that God is the God of the living for after this earthly life is over our soul goes to a place of never-ending life, as we have been reading from John’s vision of that life in our first reading. Perhaps we could ask ourselves today if we are worthy of that never-ending life and, if not, to resolve to make ourselves more worthy.

Memorials this Week:

November 17: Memorial of St Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious. Elizabeth, daughter of King Andreas II of Hungary and niece of St Hedwig, was born in Bratislava in 1207. At the age of fourteen she married Louis IV of Thuringia and they had three children. In 1227 her world was shattered when Louis died in a crusade. Eventually she gave up her finery and became a Third Order Franciscan and devoted her life to the poor – work which she had begun when Louis was alive. She died in 1231, aged 24.

November 21: Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today’s memorial commemorates the presentation of Our Lady in the Temple when was three years old. This memorial has been kept by the Church since the eighth century and symbolises the consecration of Mary’s life to the Lord.

November 22: Memorial of St Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr. Very little is actually known about Cecilia. Tradition has it that she was married at a young age to Valerian who later converted to Christianity and was martyred with his brother Tiburtius, both of them being later canonized. Cecilia was later martyred by beheading in her own home after the attempt to suffocate her failed. It is thought that perhaps her following comes from the belief that she founded a church in Rome. She is the patron saint of musicians though for reasons unknown.

© Irish Carmelites 2002-2008

The Holy Father’s Intentions for this month

General Liturgical Calendar for Ireland:

January - March;     April - June;     July - September;     October - December.

Carmelite Liturgical Calendar

The Seasons of the Church’s Year