33rd Sunday of the Year (C)

Sunday Readings for Your Reflection: Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Liturgical readings
Malachi 3:19-20
Psalm 98
2 Thessalonians 3:7-12
Luke 21:5-19

The Lord says to us: "By patient endurance, you will save your lives."



Some were speaking
of how the temple was adorned
        with precious stones
        and votive offerings.


Jesus said,


"These things you are contemplating


- the day will come
when not one stone
will be left on another,


but it will all be torn down."


They asked him,


"When will this occur, Teacher?


And what will be the sign
it is going to happen?"


He said,


"Take care not to be misled.


Many will come in my name,


saying,


'I am he'


and


'The time is at hand.'


Do not follow them.


Neither must you be perturbed
when you hear
        of wars
        and insurrections.


These things are bound
to happen first,


but the end
does not follow immediately."


He said to them further:


"Nation will rise against nation
and kingdom against kingdom.


There will be great earthquakes,
        plagues,
        famines in various places


        - and in the sky
        fearful omens
        and great signs.


But before any of this,


they will manhandle and persecute you,


summoning you to synagogues
        and prisons,


bringing you to trial
        before kings
        and governors,


all because of my name.


You will be brought
to give witness
on account of it.


I bid you resolve
not to worry
about your defense beforehand,


for I will give you words


and a wisdom


which none of your adversaries
can take exception to
or contradict.


You will be delivered up
even by your parents,
        brothers,
        relatives
        and friends.


and some of you


will be put to death.


All will hate you
because of me,


yet not a hair
of your head will be harmed.


By patient endurance
you will save your lives.



Verses from the Sunday readings:
"There will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays." (Malachi 3)
"The Lord will rule the world with justice and the peoples with equity." (Psalm 98)
"Paul exhorts his brethren in Christ Jesus to earn the food they eat by working quietly." (2 Thessalonians)
"The Lord says: 'I will give you words and a wisdom which your adversaries cannot contradict.'" (Luke 20)

32nd Sunday of the Year (C): 2 Thes 2:16 - 3:5

Sunday Readings for Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Liturgical readings
2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14
Psalm 17
2 Thessalonians 2:16 - 3:5
Luke 20:27-38


"Not everyone has faith; but the Lord, however, keeps faith."



May our Lord Jesus Christ himself,


may God our Father


who loved us
and in his mercy


gave us eternal consolation


and hope,


console your hearts
and strengthen them


for every good work
and word.


For the rest, brothers,


pray for us


that the word of the Lord
may make progress
and be hailed by many others,


even as it has been by you.


Pray that we may be delivered


from confused
and evil men.


For not everyone
        has faith;


but the Lord,
however,


        keeps faith;


he it is
who will strengthen you
and guard you against
the evil one.


In the Lord
we are confident
that you are doing
and will continue
to do whatever we enjoin.


May the Lord rule your hearts
in the love of God
and the constancy of Christ.



Verses for reflection:
"The king and his attendants marveled at the young man's courage." (2 Maccabees)
"Hide me in the shadow of your wings." (Psalm 17)
"Paul prays: 'May our Lord console your hearts and strengthen them for every good work and word." (2 Thessalonians)
"The Lord says: 'God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.'" (Luke 20)

32nd Sunday of the Year (C)

Sunday Readings for Your Reflection: Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Liturgical readings
2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14
Psalm 17
2 Thessalonians 2:16 - 3:5
Luke 20:27-38

The Lord: the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob.



Some Sadducees came forward


(the ones who claim
there is no resurrection)


to pose this problem
to Jesus:


"Master,
Moses prescribed
that if a man's brother dies
leaving a wife and no child,
the brother should marry the widow
and raise posterity to his brother.


Now there were seven brothers.


The first one married
and died childless.


Next,
the second brother
married the widow,


then the third,


and so on.


All seven died
without leaving her
any children.


Finally
the widow herself died.


At the resurrection,
whose wife will she be?


Remember,
seven married her."


Jesus said to them:


"The children of this age marry
and are given in marriage,


but those judged worthy of a place
in the age to come
and of resurrection from the dead
do not.


They become like angels
and are no longer liable to death.


Sons of the resurrection,
they are sons of God.


Moses in the passage about the bush
showed that the dead rise again
when he called the Lord


        the God of Abraham,
        and the God of Isaac,
        and the God of Jacob.


God is not the God of the dead
but of the living.


All are alive for him."

Verses from the Sunday Readings:
"The king and his attendants marveled at the young man's courage." (2 Maccabees)
"Hide me in the shadow of your wings." (Psalm 17)
"Paul prays: 'May our Lord console your hearts and strengthen them for every good work and word." (2 Thessalonians)
"The Lord says: 'God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.'" (Luke 20)