The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, November 18, 2001
The Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Malachi 3:19-20
Psalm 96:5-9
2 Thessalonians 3:7-12
Luke 21:5-19
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection on today's Scripture:
By your patience you will win your lives. (Luke 21:19)
This week's Gospel reveals the ultimate destructive consequences of sin
and rejection of God's gift of new life in Christ. Even the faithful
will suffer as victims of hatred because they bring God's light into the
world, exposing its corruption.
When Jesus speaks of not one stone remaining on another, He foresees the
destruction of the Temple (70 AD) allowed by God because of the
religious establishment's perverting the faith and failing to convey to
His chosen people the message of hope in His redemptive power, His plan
to gather together all His children throughout the world in the love and
truth revealed to them by Christ.
The latter part of the Gospel refers to Christ's end-times return.
Impostors will come during chaotic times, declaring themselves saviors;
but only those cleaving to Christ will not be deceived. Though some will
be killed for upholding Jesus as Savior, yet Christ's truth can never
die, as God's love for man endures forever -- the two are one.
In Matthew 16:4 Jesus tells the Pharisees, "You know then how to read
the face of the sky, but cannot read the signs of the times" (the
arrival of their Messiah). History is repeating itself today; we profess
living "under god" while violating every God-given moral tenet. We have
been led to believe God is an over-indulgent parent who never allows His
children to suffer the consequences of their actions. Therefore, we
believe our liberal courts, politicians and media when they tell us it
is our "right" to practice every form of depravity.
Blessed Jesus,
give us the courage, the fortitude and the love
to make Your truth known to our nation,
that it may repent and learn to live in You. Amen.
- Marie L. Bocko, ocds ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
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