34th Week in the Ordinary Time - Thursday (Year II)
24th November 2022 (Thursday) Readings and Reflection
Dear Brothers and Sisters, we are on the Thursday of 34th week in the ordinary time. Today's gospel reflection is on the theme Testing times are trusting times!
For more certainty the Readings are posted from the Latest Catholic Lectionary{alertInfo}
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Revelation 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a
I, John, saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. And he called out with a mighty voice, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast." Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more; and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more, and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery. After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants." Once more they cried out, "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever." And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb."
Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 4, 5 (R. Revelation 19:9a)
Response: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy. Response
Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us; we belong to him.
We are his people, the sheep of his flock. Response
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with songs of praise.
Give thanks to him, and bless his name. Response
Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love.
He is faithful from age to age. Response
Gospel : Luke 21:20-28
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfil all that is written. Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Testing times are trusting times!
Indicative: The description of the end times is so vivid and frightening as well. But the intention and the direction of all these details is not to create fear and terror but to make us cautious, judicious, and prepared{alertSuccess}
1. The Word of God in both readings continues to impress upon us the reality of the end times and God’s judgement. The details of the end-time occurrences are in fact devastating and terrifying. They will be surely times of destruction and desolation. They will be very frustrating because they would upset the thinking and designs of the world.
2. But as believers and followers of the Lord, our focus should not be so much on the details of what will happen. Rather we must be more concerned about their “sign” value. We must reflect and detect what they signify and indicate to us.
3. Clearly, all the disastrous, catastrophic, unpleasant, and unfavourable situations are signs of God’s impending judgement. That judgement will be just. Evil may be ruling high. Good and faithful people may be at the losing end. All sincerity and fidelity may be futile and just useless.
4. But our faith must make us realise and be convinced that God is the most powerful and no other force can withstand His power. The domination of evil is only temporary and short-lived. At the appointed time, on the day of reckoning, God will intervene and judge with justice.
5. On that day, all evil and uncleanness, symbolized by Babylon in the book of Revelation will be fallen and destroyed. He would “judge the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and avenge on her the blood of his servants.”
6. But on the other hand, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb,” and “Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,” and he will reward them to those who strive to merit them.
7. We can receive them if we “straighten up and raise our heads,” firmly hoping that “our redemption is drawing near.” We can straighten up if we try to stand erect and walk straight in the path of the Lord. We shall not bend or stoop down to the earth. We shall raise our heads and remain fallen on the ground.
Imperative: The reality of end times and God’s just judgment should not disturb and dissipate us with needless fear and worry. Rather we shall become more responsible, and grow in trust and entrustment{alertSuccess}
Video Reflection
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