Sunday
November 17th

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
St. Elizabeth of Hungary

1st Reading: Dn 12:1-3:
In those days, I Daniel, heard this word of the Lord: “At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace. “But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.”

2nd Reading: Heb 10:11-14, 18:
Brothers and sisters: Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated. Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.

Gospel: Mk 13:24-32:
Jesus said to his disciples: “In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. “And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.

“Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. 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. “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Reflection:
As is clearly stated in the Gospel, no one knows the day and the hour when it will come. We can only know by signs that it is near. But even then, there is no cause to be afraid. It is because the end time is not only about punishment; it is also about the renewal of creation. The old order of sin will pass away. The new order of righteousness will set in. What will perhaps sustain the most damage are the oppressive structures of sin and death. And so, those who believe in the Lord have no cause to worry. Many believers are oppressed by the fear provoked by those who use the end time as a tool to coerce people to do what they want them to do.

Am I helping ease their anxieties by pointing clearly the words of Jesus that the date and time is the Father’s secret? That if even Jesus the only begotten Son is not privy to this, others of lesser stature in front of God have no business knowing it at all. Lord, may I be courageous enough to speak your truth even in an assembly of the hostile. May I have the generosity to bear the inconveniences it will cause me if I do so. Make me ever vigilant to preserve and defend your word of life in this, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Monday
November 18th

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
Dedication of the Basilicas of the Apostles Peter and Paul

1st Reading: RV 1:1-4; 2:1-5:
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show his servants what must happen soon. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who gives witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near. John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne.

I heard the Lord saying to me: “To the angel of the Church in Ephesus, write this: “‘The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands says this: “I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate the wicked; you have tested those who call themselves Apostles but are not, and discovered that they are impostors. Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name, and you have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”’”

Gospel: LK 18:35-43:
As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

Reflection:
Did we realize the change of the name in the text? The people answered the blind man’s question with ‘Jesus of Nazareth’. Instead the beggar cried ‘Jesus, Son of David’. There is great difference. Nazareth was an unknown town of Galilee. ‘Son of David’ was a title of the Messiah. The blind person did not hesitate to call Jesus Messiah even if the crowd was scolding him. In fact, the renown of Jesus was growing and one could perceive already the proximity of his end.

The reaction of Jesus deserves reflection. He does not refuse the messianic title. He wants to approach the blind beggar. He ordered them to bring him and he asked: ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The answer of the blind is obvious. We do not know whether he was blind from his birth or no. But his longing for sight was deep and anxious. Jesus stresses the faith of this poor man and the miracle is done. The praise of God explodes in the general joy. As Christians, are we capable to call Jesus, Son of God, and invoke our needs with full faith?

Tuesday
November 19th

1st Reading: RV 3:1-6, 14-22:
I, John, heard the Lord saying to me: “To the angel of the Church in Sardis, write this: “‘The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this: “I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember then how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you. However, you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy.“‘

The victor will thus be dressed in white, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and of his angels. “‘Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”“ “To the angel of the Church in Laodicea, write this: “‘The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God’s creation, says this: “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,’ and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent.

“‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me. I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne. “‘Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Gospel: LK 19:1-10:
At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.”

But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

Reflection:
The conversion of Zaccheus, is an evangelical model. Let us follow him step by step. First, we stress the humility of this man. He acknowledges his shortness. He climbs a tree, hoping to see Jesus passing, but in a hidden way. Second, let us admire his prompt answer to the words of Jesus. In fact, as soon as Jesus manifests his wish to be his guest, his reaction is beyond expectation and becomes a public confession and repentance of his sin. The great temptation of tax collectors was in fact financial corruption. After his resolution, he is overflowing with joy.

This is already his full conversion. Jesus takes a simple apology from him against the grumbling of the people and reaffirms his mission among us. Truly, Zaccheus was a son of Abraham, and salvation entered his house and his heart. As in similar cases, Jesus reminds us about his messianic purpose: “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.” The example of Zaccheus can give us hope and optimism about the possibility of conversion to justice of officials who are under the shadow of corruption. They may need loving an invitation from the apostles of Jesus today.

Wednesday
November 20th

1st Reading: Rv 4:1-11:
I, John, had a vision of an open door to heaven, and I heard the trumpetlike voice that had spoken to me before, saying, “Come up here and I will show you what must happen afterwards.” At once I was caught up in spirit. A throne was there in heaven, and on the throne sat one whose appearance sparkled like jasper and carnelian. Around the throne was a halo as brilliant as an emerald. Surrounding the throne I saw twenty-four other thrones on which twenty-four elders sat, dressed in white garments and with gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder.

Seven flaming torches burned in front of the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. In front of the throne was something that resembled a sea of glass like crystal. In the center and around the throne, there were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back. The first creature resembled a lion, the second was like a calf, the third had a face like that of a man, and the fourth looked like an eagle in flight. The four living creatures, each of them with six wings, were covered with eyes inside and out. Day and night they do not stop exclaiming: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.”

Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before the one who sits on the throne and worship him, who lives forever and ever. They throw down their crowns before the throne, exclaiming: “Worthy are you, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things; because of your will they came to be and were created.”

Gospel: Lk 19:11-28:
While people were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately. So he said, “A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’ His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’

But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading. The first came forward and said, ‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’ He replied, ‘Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.’ Then the second came and reported, ‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’ And to this servant too he said, ‘You, take charge of five cities.’

“Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.’ He said to him, ‘With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding man, taking up what I did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’

“And to those standing by he said, ‘Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.’ But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’ He replied, ‘I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.’” After he had said this, he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.

Reflection:
It is easy to discover two different teachings in the Gospel of today. First, is the appointed king, his journey and rejection and the punishment of the enemies. Second are the servants that receive the same quantity of money, but negotiate in a different way. In the first we find an allusion to the Jewish people and the destruction of Jerusalem on 70, just 40 years after the death of Jesus and his resurrection. In the second let us remark on some aspects: the trust of the king who gave the same amount to each of his servants; his demand of an accounting of their profits; his congratulations to the first and the second, with an immediate award while he condemned the third servant.

Beware of that third servant who was aware of the severity of the king; he seemed idle and irresponsible. The final moral is simple. On the one hand let us pray for the conversion of Israel. On the other, let us be careful with the gifts of nature and grace the Lord has allotted us. Now is the time to “negotiate” with confidence and eagerness, to hear at the end: ‘Well done, my good servant, come and join in your Master’s joy’.

Thursday
November 21st

Presentation of Blessed Mary the Virgin

1st Reading: RV 5:1-10:
I, John, saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to examine it. I shed many tears because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to examine it. One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed, enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.”

Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and the elders a Lamb that seemed to have been slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes; these are the seven spirits of God sent out into the whole world. He came and received the scroll from the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. When he took it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones.

They sang a new hymn: “Worthy are you to receive the scroll and break open its seals, for you were slain and with your Blood you purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on earth.”

Gospel: LK 19:41-44:
As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace– but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

Reflection:
On the road from Bethany to Jerusalem, at the middle altitude of the Mount Olivet there is a little chapel called Dominus flevit – The Lord wept. In fact, from its window you can contemplate the whole city of Jerusalem. It is a living commemoration of the Gospel of today. Like in other moments of his life (Lk 13:34-35), Jesus shows his love for his people and the capital of Israel. His intention of gathering the Jews, like the hen gathers her young under her wings, was frustrated.

Truly, Jesus put his full interest in the conversion of Israel. This day, in his solemn entrance in the city, is the final opportunity to recognize its visit. The crowd acclaim Jesus as Messiah, but the heads of the people, once again, reject him. His success will increase their jealousy and opposition. Therefore Jesus announces once more the future destruction of the city under Roman army some years later. Can we think sometimes that Jesus cries over his Church? Can we share the feelings of his Heart? Do we find in the history of the Christian community moments of true punishment after grave infidelities? The Gospel invites us to reflect.

Friday
November 22nd

St. Cecilia

1st Reading: RV 10:8-11:
I, John, heard a voice from heaven speak to me. Then the voice spoke to me and said: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went up to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. He said to me, “Take and swallow it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey.” I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and swallowed it. In my mouth it was like sweet honey, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Then someone said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

Gospel: LK 19:45-48:
Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

Reflection:
Long ago, Jeremiah had similar expressions against the profanation of the temple by the sins of Israel. Like the bandits who, after their evil deeds, look for a cave as refuge and shelter, Israelites come to the temple looking for security against enemies, but they offend God in their deeds. God is telling to the prophet: ‘For your part, do not intercede for this people, nor offer a plea or petition because I will not listen when they cry to me in the time of their distress. What is my beloved doing in my House? She is plotting evil deeds.

Will your vows and the meat of your victims cleanse you from your wickedness and allow you to rejoice? The Lord had called you ‘Beautiful Green Olive Tree, fair and fruitful’…And the Lord, who planted you, has condemned you to shame. Indeed the nation of Israel and the nation of Jacob harmed themselves when they worshiped Baal and aroused my anger” (Jer 11: 14-17). Jesus acted in a similar way. The simple people were hanging on his words, but the elders wanted to kill him. In the end they would prevail. Isn’t this a serious admonition for Christian times?

Saturday
November 23rd

St. Clement I
St. Columban
Bl. Miguel Agustín Pro

1st Reading: Rv 11:4-12:
I, John, heard a voice from heaven speak to me: Here are my two witnesses: These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths and devours their enemies. In this way, anyone wanting to harm them is sure to be slain. They have the power to close up the sky so that no rain can fall during the time of their prophesying. They also have power to turn water into blood and to afflict the earth with any plague as often as they wish. When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will wage war against them and conquer them and kill them.

Their corpses will lie in the main street of the great city, which has the symbolic names “Sodom” and “Egypt,” where indeed their Lord was crucified. Those from every people, tribe, tongue, and nation will gaze on their corpses for three and a half days, and they will not allow their corpses to be buried. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and be glad and exchange gifts because these two prophets tormented the inhabitants of the earth. But after the three and a half days, a breath of life from God entered them. When they stood on their feet, great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven say to them, “Come up here.” So they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies looked on.

Gospel: Lk 20:27-40:
Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.”

Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” Some of the scribes said in reply, “Teacher, you have answered well.” And they no longer dared to ask him anything.

Reflection:
Is it necessary to remind ourselves that the Sadducees were the most secularized Jews, and their faith nearer to pagans? In any case, they were politically powerful. In the Gospel of today we find a controversy between them and Jesus. His teaching shall be wonderful. We are always anxious to know the other life. The case they present is perfect according to the Law of Moses and the result seems really impossible: one woman with seven husbands. Jesus points to marriage as an earthly realty.

We can extend these visions to other aspects: nourishment, work and resting, sleeping, and sicknesses. What does it mean to be like angels? This is our hope. But Jesus stresses his argument with a biblical quotation: the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived in the presence of God. That was also the tradition of Israel (Pharisees, and Scribes). This is also our faith and hope. As the African Tradition says: “Dead are not dead” (Les morts ne sont pas morts).