33rd Week in Ordinary Time
28th November 2023 (Tuesday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 1
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Daniel 2:31-45
In those days: Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar, "You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. "This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all you are the head of gold. Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand for ever, just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure."
Daniel 3:57, 58, 59, 60, 61 (R. 57b)
R/. Sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. Be faithful unto death, says the Lord, and I will give you the crown of life.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Luke 21:5-11
At that time: As some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, Jesus said, "As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." And they asked him, "Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?" And he said, "See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven."
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Highlight: Be not deceived!
Guidlines: Worldly glories and human accomplishments may stand tall and great for some time. They may bring honour and popularity for a while. But nothing of these will stand long{alertSuccess}
1. The temple of Jerusalem was a symbol of pride for all the Jews for its splendour and magnificence. But all this vanished as it was destroyed in 70 AD. No glory and grandeur could spare it from the destruction. This is a stark indicator to all of us about the transience of anything worldly. Everything of this world and earth will pass away. It is futile and foolish to place our trust in them and seek glory from them.
2. The Jews pride themselves as the chosen people, as people of God and people of the temple. They forget the fact that it is not their race or the temple or city or their law or rich heritage that makes them great before God. Nothing of these would be guarantees to obtain God’s grace. Nothing of these would come to rescue in time of trial. Ultimately it is only fidelity to God and walking in His ways.
3. This is the same message that is conveyed through Daniel’s interpretation of the king’s dream. All the earthly kingdoms based on human power and ability will be destroyed. But the kingdom that is set up by God shall never be destroyed. This is the messianic kingdom, the kingdom of God, the reign of God.
4. Therefore, in the face of such perishability and passability of worldly things, what must be our response? Firstly, to take heed not to be led astray by worldly pomp and glory. Secondly, not to go after false prophets and false teachings. Thirdly, not to be frightened by disastrous events like wars, tumults, earthquakes, famines and pestilences. Fourthly, to be firm and persevering in living our life faithfully.
Practice: Let us not bother too much about when will be the end, or what will be the signs of the end. Rather let us be more concerned about living a life that is worthy of meeting the end{alertSuccess}