33rd Sunday of the Year (B)

(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

33rd Sunday of the Year (B), November 18, 2012

Liturgical readings
Daniel 12:1-3
Psalm 16
Hebrews 10:11-14, 18
Mark 13:24-32

"The heavens and the earth will pass away, but my words will not."

Jesus spoke of His coming again - "in the clouds, with great power and glory". He spoke of the need to be watchful and vigilant, for no one knows that day or hour of His appearance again. Not the angels, not even Himself; only the Father knows. Much destruction will occur during those days. The heavens and the earth will pass away. But the Lord reassures everyone, that His words will not pass away. That is why He calls us to believe in His words, to have faith in Him and all what His words stand for. For both in Him and in His action within the sacramental community do we have hope of being saved by God our Redeemer and Saviour.

From biblical times, through centuries of Catholic spirituality, and until now, this important teaching of Christ of being ready and prepared for the Day of the Son of Man will always be relevant. Even already as early as the 1st century, St. Paul was getting the young Christian churches to be prepared.

He said: "stand firm ... keep the traditions ... let Jesus be your comfort and strength in everything that you do or say" (1 Thessalonians 2:15ff).

What he says is true, and holds true even though many centuries have passed since he preached and wrote the Letter to the Thessalonians. Whether the Day of the Son of Man comes during one's lifetime (or not), only Jesus will be each one's comfort and strength.

The End Times remind each and every one of death and God's judgment. But God's justice is always qualified by His mercy. His mercy gives a strong confidence of His saving presence and action during those days. St. Claude la Colombière (instrumental in propagating devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus) gives the Church a good attitude towards death:

"What would give me confidence before God's judgment would be nothing other than the number and greatness of my sins. Here is a confidence really worthy of God: far from allowing us to be depressed by the sight of our faults, it strengthens us ... by its infinite conception of the goodness of our Creator".

Memorial of Saints (November 17)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Elizabeth of Hungary
• Gregory the Wonderworker, bishop and confessor
• Dionysius of Alexandria, bishop
• Alphaeus and Zachaeus, martyrs
• Acislus and Victoria, martyrs
• Anianus or Aignan of Orleans, bishop
• Gregory of Tours, bishop
• Hilda, virgin
• Hugh of Lincoln, bishop

St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231 A.D.) was the daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary. At the age of fourteen she was married to Duke Louis IV of Thuringia who died while on a crusade. A widow at 20 with three children, she was expelled from the castle by the relatives of her husband. It was at this time that St. Elizabeth of Hungary decided to become a Franciscan Tertiary, founded a hospital where she worked and ministered to the sick until she died at the early age of 24 years old.

Memorial of Saints (November 16)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Margaret of Scotland
• Gertrude the Great, virgin
• Mechtilde, virgin
• Eucherius of Lyons, bishop
• Afan, bishop
• Edmund of Abingdon, bishop
• Agnes of Assisi, virgin

St. Margaret of Scotland (1046-1093 A.D.) was born in Hungary while her family was in exile. Upon returning back to England, she was urged to marry Malcolm III, King of Scotland. By her patience, Margaret was able to change the cruel manners of Malcolm. She reformed the Church in Scotland, built churches, monasteries and hospices. By this deeds she was already considered a saint during her lifetime.

St. Gertrude the Great (ca. 1256-1302 A.D.) was placed under the care of the Benedictine nuns at Helfta in Saxony when she was five years old. She became a pupil of St. Mechtilde. When she became a Benedictine nun at age twenty-six, she began to be versed in the Bible and the writings of Augustine, Gregory and Bernard. She also began to record her supernatural and mystical experiences, which were recorded in her Book of Extraordinary Grace. She is patroness of the West Indies.

Prayer attributed to St. Gertrude the Great

"Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory; for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my home and within my family. Amen."

This is a powerful prayer said to release 1,000 souls from Purgatory each time it is prayed.