Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary
Time
Lectionary: 508
Lectionary: 508
John said:
An angel showed me the river of life-giving water,
sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God
and of the Lamb down the middle of the street,
On either side of the river grew the tree of life
that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month;
the leaves of the trees serve as medicine for the nations.
Nothing accursed will be found anymore.
The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it,
and his servants will worship him.
They will look upon his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun,
for the Lord God shall give them light,
and they shall reign forever and ever.
And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true,
and the Lord, the God of prophetic spirits,
sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon."
"Behold, I am coming soon."
Blessed is the one who keeps the prophetic message of this book.
An angel showed me the river of life-giving water,
sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God
and of the Lamb down the middle of the street,
On either side of the river grew the tree of life
that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month;
the leaves of the trees serve as medicine for the nations.
Nothing accursed will be found anymore.
The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it,
and his servants will worship him.
They will look upon his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun,
for the Lord God shall give them light,
and they shall reign forever and ever.
And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true,
and the Lord, the God of prophetic spirits,
sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon."
"Behold, I am coming soon."
Blessed is the one who keeps the prophetic message of this book.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 95:1-2, 3-5, 6-7ab
R. (1 Cor 16: 22b, see Rev. 22: 20c) Marana
tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
For the LORD is a great God,
and a great king above all gods;
In his hands are the depths of the earth,
and the tops of the mountains are his.
His is the sea, for he has made it,
and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
For the LORD is a great God,
and a great king above all gods;
In his hands are the depths of the earth,
and the tops of the mountains are his.
His is the sea, for he has made it,
and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Gospel Lk 21:34-36
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man."
"Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man."
www.usccb.org
Meditation:"Don't
let your heart be weighed down"
The Lord Jesus also warns us of the temptation to slacken off – to become spiritually indifferent or inattentive to God's word and guidance for our lives. We can fall asleep spiritually if we allow other things to distract us from the reality of God and his kingdom. It is very easy to get caught up in the things of the present moment or to be weighed down with anxious cares and concerns. The Lord knows our struggles, weaknesses, and shortcomings. And he assures us that we do not need to carry our burdens alone nor struggle without his help. He is always very present and ready to give us whatever guidance and help we need to fight temptation and to stay the course which he has set for us. But there is one thing he doesn't tolerate: indifference, an attitude of not caring, and doing nothing! The Lord wants us to cast our anxieties on him and to trust in his guidance and help. Do you seek the Lord and his strength?
Until the Lord Jesus comes again we can expect that there will be troubles, trials, and temptations in this age. Our adversary the devil does not rest in his many attempts to lure us away from God and his will for our lives. If he cannot succeed in getting us to renounce our faith in Christ, he will try, little by little, to distract us from pursuing the things of God, especially prayer and listening to God's Word in Scripture. Ask the Lord Jesus to rekindle in you the fire of his love and the joyful hope of seeing him face to face when he returns again.
"Lord Jesus, rouse my spirit to the truth that this world is passing away. Give me a lively faith, a joyful hope, and a fervent love to see you face to face when you return in glory."
www.dailyscripture.net
 Ready or Not? |
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Saturday of the Thirty-Fourth Week in
Ordinary Time
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Father Edward
Hopkins, LC
Luke 21:34-36
Jesus said to his disciples: "Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man."
Introductory Prayer: Dear Jesus, I believe in you and in
the Kingdom you are building in and through me. I believe in the value of my
sacrifice and struggles united to yours. I hope to arrive to heaven when you
say it is time. I wish to spend myself for those I should love the most.
Petition: Rouse my heart, Lord, to live in you!
1. Drowsy Hearts: Our life is a time of preparation, not only
for an eternal friendship with God, but for the “assault” of the
“tribulations” that must come first. The spiritual battle is real, whether or
not we are aware of it, whether or not we want it. We fight each day and in many
ways, but the battle is ultimately won in the depths of our hearts. All that
puts our hearts to sleep and gives us a false sense of security must be
avoided. I may not “carouse and get drunk” in the typical fashion, but do I
wander about seeking satisfaction from the world? Am I superficial in my
judgments? Do I become so engrossed and absorbed in material matters, works
and worries that I am unable to pursue my spiritual life and vocation with a
clear and focused attention?
2. That Day: It seems that none of us will escape the
trial of that last day. For some it will be sudden and painful, for others it
will be prolonged and difficult. But we are all mortal creatures. The great
saints all lived with their end in mind. Death was a healthy meditation that
moved them to live the present day to the full. Death is the door to my real
life. The anticipation of that day need not rob us of joy; rather, it must
call us to love. How I live this day determines how I will live “that day”
and the everlasting day of eternal life with God. How do I want to live that
day?
3. Vigilance and Prayer: This is how Jesus
invited his closest friends, the apostles, to live “that day” of his Passion:
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Matthew 26:41). The
final words of the Our Father must find resonance with how we live. Vigilance
requires awareness not only of the enemies and threats that surround us, but
also of the weaknesses within us. These elements are at work each day, and so
we must be on guard each day to check their influence. This must be the
simple and serene priority in our life. But it must always lead us to Christ,
to stand before him sincerely and trustingly in prayer. Prayer and vigilance
lead to each other. If we do not make prayer the air we breathe, we will
suffocate in a polluted world. How much importance am I giving to my habits
and life of prayer?
Conversation with Christ: Grant me, dear Jesus,
a sense of urgency. Wake me up from any drowsiness or spiritual carelessness.
Allow me to see both the threats and opportunities for my life of grace. Keep
before my eyes the real meaning of my life and the limited time I have to
conquer and to grow in love.
Resolution:I will pray today for the soul in purgatory who was most
distracted or least prepared for “that day” of his death.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1
LUKE 21:34-36
(Revelation 22:1-7; Psalm 95)
KEY VERSE: "For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth" (v 35).
READING: Jesus often used the title "Son of Man" to describe his role as the humble servant of God who would be exalted through his death and resurrection. This was a reference to the Book of Daniel in which the "Son of Man" ascended to the throne of God to receive everlasting "dominion, glory, and kingship" (Dn 7:13-14). Jesus told his disciples not to be fearful of the cosmic events that would precede his arrival, but to be ever watchful for his return. He warned them not to indulge in carnal cravings and worldly anxieties that would dull their longing for that great day. He exhorted them to pray for the strength to endure the coming trials, and to be vigilant of his arrival (Greek,parousia).
REFLECTING: In what ways am I preparing myself for Christ's coming in Advent?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to live in faith as I await your glorious return.
OPTIONAL MEMORIAL OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Chapter V of the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, issued by the Holy See in December 2001, describes the Church's traditional dedication of Saturday to the Virgin Mary. "Saturdays stand out among those days dedicated to the Virgin Mary. These are designated as memorials of the Blessed Virgin Mary" (218). The chapter also describes the importance of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, in Catholic devotional life, including the Liturgy, and includes reflections on popular devotions to Mary, her feast days, and the Rosary. See the complete document on Vatican web site (www.vatican.va) Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy.
www.daily-word-of-life.com
Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
'Stay awake: praying at all times.’
Lord, it seems impossible to say yes to all the demands that are made upon me. My heart is strong with desire to help, but my time and energy are limited.
Some things need to be done right away: before they are complete there are more things! Everything seems important. Things start to go wrong, and I begin to wonder. Have I lost sight of what really is important. Please give me the discernment to be able to judge the more important, to be able to say yes to you.
www.churchresources.info
December 1
Blessed Charles de Foucauld
1858-1916
Blessed Charles de Foucauld
1858-1916
Born into an
aristocratic family in Strasbourg, France, Charles was orphaned at the age of
six, raised by his devout grandfather, rejected the Catholic faith during high
school and joined the French army. Inheriting a great deal of money from his
grandfather, Charles went to Algeria with his regiment, but not without his
mistress, Mimi.
When he refused
to give her up, he was dismissed from the army. Later he reenlisted in Algeria
after he had left Mimi. He resigned from the army when he was refused
permission to make a scientific exploration of nearby Morocco. With the help of
a Jewish rabbi, Charles disguised himself as a Jew and in 1883 began a one-year
exploration that he recorded in a book that was well received.
Inspired by the
Jews and Muslims whom he met, when he returned to France he resumed the
practice of his Catholic faith in 1886. He joined a Trappist monastery in
Ardeche, France, and later transferred to one in Akbes, Syria. He left them and
in 1897 began to work as gardener and sacristan for the Poor Clares nuns in
Nazareth and later in Jerusalem. He returned to France and was ordained a
priest in 1901.
Later that year
he returned to Beni-Abbes, Morocco, intending to found a monastic religious
community in North Africa, offering hospitality to Christians, Muslims, Jews or
people with no religion. He lived a peaceful, hidden life but attracted no
companions.
A former army
comrade invited him to live among the Tuareg people in Algeria. Charles learned
their language enough to write a Tuareg-French and French-Taureg dictionary and
to translate the Gospels into Tuareg. In 1905 he came to Tamanrasset, where he
lived the rest of his life. His two-volume collection of Tuareg poetry was
published after his death.
In early 1909 he
visited France and established an association of laypeople who pledged to live
by the Gospels. His return to Tamanrasset was welcomed by the Tuareg. In 1915
he wrote to Louis Massignon: “The love of God, the love for one’s neighbor…All
religion is found there…How to get to that point? Not in a day since it is
perfection itself: it is the goal we must always aim for, which we must
unceasingly try to reach and that we will only attain in heaven.”
The outbreak of
World War I led to attacks on the French in Algeria. Seized in a raid by
another tribe, Charles and two French soldiers coming to visit him were shot to
death on December 1, 1916.
Five religious
congregations, associations and spiritual institutes (Little Brothers of Jesus,
Little Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Little Sisters of Jesus, Little Brothers of
the Gospel and Little Sisters of the Gospel) draw inspiration from the
peaceful, largely hidden yet hospitable life that characterized Charles. He was
beatified on November 13, 2005.
Comment:
The life of Charles de Foucauld was eventually centered on God and was animated by prayer and humble service, which he hoped would draw Muslims to Christ. Those who are inspired by his example, no matter where they live, seek to live their faith humbly yet with deep religious conviction.
The life of Charles de Foucauld was eventually centered on God and was animated by prayer and humble service, which he hoped would draw Muslims to Christ. Those who are inspired by his example, no matter where they live, seek to live their faith humbly yet with deep religious conviction.
Quote:
In his homily at the beatification Mass, Cardinal José Saraiva Martins noted that Charles chose as his motto, "Iesus Caritas, Jesus Love." In 1916 Charles wrote: "There is, I believe, a word from the Gospel that has a more profound impression on me nor has transformed my life more than this: 'Whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me.' If we reflect that these words are those from the uncreated Truth, those from the mouth of He who said, 'This is my body...this is my blood,' what forces dives us to seek and to love Jesus in these 'least ones, these sinners, these poor ones.'"
In his homily at the beatification Mass, Cardinal José Saraiva Martins noted that Charles chose as his motto, "Iesus Caritas, Jesus Love." In 1916 Charles wrote: "There is, I believe, a word from the Gospel that has a more profound impression on me nor has transformed my life more than this: 'Whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me.' If we reflect that these words are those from the uncreated Truth, those from the mouth of He who said, 'This is my body...this is my blood,' what forces dives us to seek and to love Jesus in these 'least ones, these sinners, these poor ones.'"
www.americancatholic.org
St. Eligius
Feastday: December
1
Patron of
metalworkers
Eligius (also
known as Eloi) was born around 590 near Limoges in France. He became an
extremely skillful metalsmith and was appointed master of the mint under King
Clotaire II of Paris. Eligius developed a close friendship with the King and
his reputation as an outstanding metalsmith became widespread. With his fame
came fortune. Eligius was very generous to the poor, ransomed many slaves, and
built several churches and a monastery at Solignac. He also erected a major
convent in Paris with property he received from Clotaire's son, King Dagobert
I. In 629, Eligius was appointed Dagobert's first counselor. Later, on a
mission for Dagobert, he persuaded the Breton King Judicael, to accept the
authority of Dagobert. Eligius later fulfilled his desire to serve God as a
priest, after being ordained in 640. Then he was made bishop of Noyon and
Tournai. His apostolic zeal led him to preach in Flanders, especially Antwerp,
Ghent, and Courtai where he made many converts. Eligius died on December 1,
around 660, at Noyon. He is the patron of metalworkers and his feast day is
December 1. The use of one's talents and wealth for the welfare of humanity is
a very true reflection of the image of God. In the case of St. Eligius, he was
so well liked that he attracted many to Christ. His example should encourage us
to be generous in spirit and kind and happy in demeanor.
www.catholic.org
LECTIO: LUKE 21,34-36
Lectio:
Saturday,
December 1, 2012
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Lord,
increase our eagerness to do your will
and help us to know the saving power of your love.
You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
increase our eagerness to do your will
and help us to know the saving power of your love.
You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel reading -
Luke 21,34-36
Jesus said to his disciples: 'Watch
yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened by debauchery and drunkenness and
the cares of life, and that day will come upon you unexpectedly, like a trap.
For it will come down on all those living on the face of the earth.
Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to hold your ground before the Son of man.'
Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to hold your ground before the Son of man.'
3) Reflection
• We are reaching the end of the long
Apocalyptic Discourse and also getting to the end of the ecclesiastical year.
Jesus gives a last piece of advice, inviting us to watch (Lk 21, 34-35) and to
pray (Lk 21, 36).
• Luke 21, 34-35: Attention not to lose the critical conscience. “Watch yourselves or your hearts will be coarsened by debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will come upon you unexpectedly, like a trap; for it will come down on all those living on the face of the earth”. Jesus had already given a similar advice when they asked him about the coming of the Kingdom (Lk 17, 20-21). He answers that the coming of the Kingdom will arrive like lightening; unexpectedly, without previous warning. Persons must be attentive and prepared always (Lk 17, 22-27). When the wait is very long, there is the risk of not being attentive and of not paying attention to the events of life “the hearts become coarsened by debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life”. Today there are many distractions which render us insensitive and the propaganda can even pervert in us the sense of life. Being far away from the suffering of so many people in the world, we are not aware of the injustices which are committed.
• Luke 21, 36: Prayer, the source of a critical conscience and of hope. “Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to hold your ground before the Son of Man”. Constant prayer is quite an important means so as not to lose the presence of spirit. We must deepen in our hearts the knowledge, the awareness of God’s presence among us and, in this way, he gives us the strength and the light to bear the bad days and to increase our hope.
• Summary of the Apocalyptic Discourse (Lk 21, 5-36). We have spent five days, from Tuesday to Saturday, meditating on and deepening the sense of the Apocalyptic Discourse for our life. All the three Synoptic Gospels have this Discourse of Jesus, each one in his own way. Let us try to see closely the version which the Gospel of Luke offers us. Here we give a brief summary of what we have been able to meditate during these five days.
The whole of the Apocalyptic Discourse is an attempt to help the persecuted communities to place themselves in the general overall plan of God and in this way have hope and courage to continue on the way. In the case of the Apocalyptic Discourse of the Gospel of Luke, the persecuted communities were living in the year 85. Jesus speaks in the year 33. His discourse describes the stages or the signs of the realization of God’s plan. In all, there are eight signs and periods of time of Jesus up to our time. Reading and interpreting his life in the light of the signs given by Jesus, the communities discovered at what level the execution of the plan was found. The first seven signs had taken place already. They all belonged to the past. And especially in the 6th and 7th signs (persecution and destruction of Jerusalem) the communities found the image or the mirror of that which was happening in their present time. The following are the seven signs:
Introduction to the discourse (Lk 21, 5-7)
1st sign: the false Messiahs (Lk 21, 8);
2nd sign: war and revolutions (Lk 21, 9);
3rd sign: nations which fight against other nations, a kingdom against another kingdom (Lk 21, 10);
4th sign: earthquakes in different places (Lk 21, 11);
5th sign: hunger, plagues and signs in the sky (Lk 21, 11);
6th sign: persecution of Christians and mission that they have to carry out (Lk 21, 12-19) + Mission
7th sign: destruction of Jerusalem (Lk 21, 20-24)
Arriving at this 7th sign the communities conclude: “We are in the 6th and 7th signs. And this is the more important question: “How much is lacking for the end?” Anyone who is persecuted does not want to know or hear about a distant future. But he wants to know if he will be alive the following day or if he will have the strength to bear the persecution up to the following day. The response to this disturbing question comes in the eighth sign.
8th sign: changes in the sun and the moon (Lk 21, 25-26) they announce the coming of the Son of Man (Lk 21, 27-28).
Conclusion: little is lacking, all is according to God’s plan, and all is like birth pangs. God is with us. It is possible to bear all this. Let us try to give witness of our faith in the Good News of Jesus
At the end, Jesus confirms everything with his authority (Lk 21, 29-33).
• Luke 21, 34-35: Attention not to lose the critical conscience. “Watch yourselves or your hearts will be coarsened by debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will come upon you unexpectedly, like a trap; for it will come down on all those living on the face of the earth”. Jesus had already given a similar advice when they asked him about the coming of the Kingdom (Lk 17, 20-21). He answers that the coming of the Kingdom will arrive like lightening; unexpectedly, without previous warning. Persons must be attentive and prepared always (Lk 17, 22-27). When the wait is very long, there is the risk of not being attentive and of not paying attention to the events of life “the hearts become coarsened by debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life”. Today there are many distractions which render us insensitive and the propaganda can even pervert in us the sense of life. Being far away from the suffering of so many people in the world, we are not aware of the injustices which are committed.
• Luke 21, 36: Prayer, the source of a critical conscience and of hope. “Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to hold your ground before the Son of Man”. Constant prayer is quite an important means so as not to lose the presence of spirit. We must deepen in our hearts the knowledge, the awareness of God’s presence among us and, in this way, he gives us the strength and the light to bear the bad days and to increase our hope.
• Summary of the Apocalyptic Discourse (Lk 21, 5-36). We have spent five days, from Tuesday to Saturday, meditating on and deepening the sense of the Apocalyptic Discourse for our life. All the three Synoptic Gospels have this Discourse of Jesus, each one in his own way. Let us try to see closely the version which the Gospel of Luke offers us. Here we give a brief summary of what we have been able to meditate during these five days.
The whole of the Apocalyptic Discourse is an attempt to help the persecuted communities to place themselves in the general overall plan of God and in this way have hope and courage to continue on the way. In the case of the Apocalyptic Discourse of the Gospel of Luke, the persecuted communities were living in the year 85. Jesus speaks in the year 33. His discourse describes the stages or the signs of the realization of God’s plan. In all, there are eight signs and periods of time of Jesus up to our time. Reading and interpreting his life in the light of the signs given by Jesus, the communities discovered at what level the execution of the plan was found. The first seven signs had taken place already. They all belonged to the past. And especially in the 6th and 7th signs (persecution and destruction of Jerusalem) the communities found the image or the mirror of that which was happening in their present time. The following are the seven signs:
Introduction to the discourse (Lk 21, 5-7)
1st sign: the false Messiahs (Lk 21, 8);
2nd sign: war and revolutions (Lk 21, 9);
3rd sign: nations which fight against other nations, a kingdom against another kingdom (Lk 21, 10);
4th sign: earthquakes in different places (Lk 21, 11);
5th sign: hunger, plagues and signs in the sky (Lk 21, 11);
6th sign: persecution of Christians and mission that they have to carry out (Lk 21, 12-19) + Mission
7th sign: destruction of Jerusalem (Lk 21, 20-24)
Arriving at this 7th sign the communities conclude: “We are in the 6th and 7th signs. And this is the more important question: “How much is lacking for the end?” Anyone who is persecuted does not want to know or hear about a distant future. But he wants to know if he will be alive the following day or if he will have the strength to bear the persecution up to the following day. The response to this disturbing question comes in the eighth sign.
8th sign: changes in the sun and the moon (Lk 21, 25-26) they announce the coming of the Son of Man (Lk 21, 27-28).
Conclusion: little is lacking, all is according to God’s plan, and all is like birth pangs. God is with us. It is possible to bear all this. Let us try to give witness of our faith in the Good News of Jesus
At the end, Jesus confirms everything with his authority (Lk 21, 29-33).
4) Personal questions
• Jesus asks that we watch so as not to allow
ourselves to be surprised by facts or events. How do I live this advice of
Jesus?
•The last warning of Jesus, at the end of the ecclesiastical year is this one: Watch and pray at all times. How do I put into practice in my life this advice of Jesus?
•The last warning of Jesus, at the end of the ecclesiastical year is this one: Watch and pray at all times. How do I put into practice in my life this advice of Jesus?
5) Concluding prayer
For Yahweh is a great God,
a king greater than all the gods.
In his power are the depths of the earth,
the peaks of the mountains are his;
the sea belongs to him, for he made it,
and the dry land, moulded by his hands. (Ps 95,3-5)
a king greater than all the gods.
In his power are the depths of the earth,
the peaks of the mountains are his;
the sea belongs to him, for he made it,
and the dry land, moulded by his hands. (Ps 95,3-5)
www.ocarm.org
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