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
PsalmPS 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!
AlleluiaLK 21:36
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray
that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray
that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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.”
Meditation: "Lest your hearts be weighed
down"
Is there anything holding you back from the joy and
freedom of the Lord? God wants our hearts for him and for his kingdom of peace,
joy, and righteousness (Romans 14:17). But our hearts can be weighed down by
many different things. Jesus, our Lord and Master, offers us true freedom -
freedom from the power of sin and wasted life, and freedom from our unruly
desires and disordered passions - such as making food, drink or anything else
our master rather than our servant. Jesus wants our hearts to be ruled by one
thing only - his love and truth which enables us to choose whatever is good and
to reject whatever is evil and harmful for us.
Be ready to meet the Lord today
Jesus also warns us of the temptation to slacken off - to become spiritually idle, lazy, indifferent, or inattentive to God's presence and his 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 wants us to be ready at all times to meet him - whether it be in our rising, eating, working, or taking our rest. He comes to draw us to himself - are you alert and attentive to his voice?
Jesus also warns us of the temptation to slacken off - to become spiritually idle, lazy, indifferent, or inattentive to God's presence and his 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 wants us to be ready at all times to meet him - whether it be in our rising, eating, working, or taking our rest. He comes to draw us to himself - are you alert and attentive to his voice?
Speak your troubles to the Lord - he is listening
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 strength, 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 ask for his guidance and help. Do you pray for God's strength and wisdom?
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 strength, 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 ask for his guidance and help. Do you pray for God's strength and wisdom?
Until the Lord comes again we can expect troubles,
trials, and temptations. Our adversary the devil does not rest in his attempt
to lure us away from God's 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 God, especially in prayer and listening to his word. Ask the
Lord Jesus to rekindle the fire of his love in you so that you will be ready
and eager to meet him when he comes 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."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Drunkenness weakens both soul and body,
by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)
"'But take heed to yourselves
lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of
this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare.' You heard the
proclamation of the eternal King. You learned the deplorable end of
'drunkenness' or 'intoxication' Imagine a skilled and wise physician who would
say, 'Beware, no one should drink too much from this or that herb. If he does,
he will suddenly be destroyed.' I do not doubt that everyone would keep the
prescriptions of the physician's warning concerning his own health. Now the
Lord, who is both the physician of souls and bodies, orders them to avoid as a
deadly drink the herb 'of drunkenness' and the vice 'of intoxication' and also
the care of worldly matters. I do not know if any one can say that he is not
wounded, because these things consume him.
"Drunkenness is therefore destructive in all things. It is the only thing that weakens the soul together with the body. According to the apostle, it can happen that when the body 'is weak,' then the spirit is 'much stronger' (2 Corinthians 12:10), and when 'the exterior person is destroyed, the interior person is renewed' (2 Corinthians 4:16). In the illness of drunkenness, the body and the soul are destroyed at the same time. The spirit is corrupted equally with the flesh. All the members are weakened: the feet and the hands. The tongue is loosened. Darkness covers the eyes. Forgetfulness covers the mind so that one does not know himself nor does he perceive he is a person. Drunkenness of the body has that shamefulness." (excerpt from HOMILIES ON LEVITICUS 7.5–6)
"Drunkenness is therefore destructive in all things. It is the only thing that weakens the soul together with the body. According to the apostle, it can happen that when the body 'is weak,' then the spirit is 'much stronger' (2 Corinthians 12:10), and when 'the exterior person is destroyed, the interior person is renewed' (2 Corinthians 4:16). In the illness of drunkenness, the body and the soul are destroyed at the same time. The spirit is corrupted equally with the flesh. All the members are weakened: the feet and the hands. The tongue is loosened. Darkness covers the eyes. Forgetfulness covers the mind so that one does not know himself nor does he perceive he is a person. Drunkenness of the body has that shamefulness." (excerpt from HOMILIES ON LEVITICUS 7.5–6)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, LUKE 21:34-36
Weekday
(Revelation 22:1-7; Psalm 95)
Weekday
(Revelation 22:1-7; Psalm 95)
KEY VERSE: "For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth" (v. 35).
TO KNOW: 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, which 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 for his arrival (Greek, parousia).
TO LOVE: In what ways am I preparing myself for Christ's coming in Advent?
TO SERVE: 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, in the Liturgy, and reflections on popular devotions to Mary, her feast days, and the Rosary.
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, in the Liturgy, and reflections on popular devotions to Mary, her feast days, and the Rosary.
Saturday 1
December 2018
Apocalypse 22:1-7. Psalm 94(95):1-7. Luke 21:34-36.
Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus! – Psalm 94(95):1-7.
Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus! – Psalm 94(95):1-7.
‘Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!’
Today’s Gospel gives a warning to stay alert while also
reminding us of the comfort and support God can bring. When we focus too much
on the busyness of our lives or become slaves to our work, our passions, or any
form of addiction, we can lose sight of the life God can give us.
In the next verse of the Gospel, not in today’s reading, Jesus
leads by example and goes off to spend time with God on the Mount of Olives. He
put his relationship with his Father at the centre of his mission. We are
challenged to do the same. Sharing our life with God in prayer can lighten our
load and keep us awake to the presence of the Lord in our days.
Blessed Charles de Foucauld
Saint of the Day for December 1
(September 15, 1858 – December 1, 1916)
 |
| Monument Charles de Foucauld | photo by Rabanus Flavus |
Blessed Charles de Foucauld’s Story
Born into an aristocratic family in Strasbourg, France, Charles
was orphaned at the age of 6, raised by his devout grandfather, rejected the
Catholic faith as a teenager, 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 declined to give her up, he was dismissed from the army.
Still in Algeria when he left Mimi, Charles reenlisted in the army. Refused
permission to make a scientific exploration of nearby Morocco, he resigned from
the service. 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, Charles resumed
the practice of his Catholic faith when he returned to France in 1886. He
joined a Trappist monastery in Ardeche, France, and later transferred to one in
Akbes, Syria. Leaving the monastery in 1897, Charles worked as gardener and
sacristan for the Poor Clare nuns in Nazareth and later in Jerusalem. In 1901,
he returned to France and was ordained a priest.
Later that year Charles journeyed to Beni-Abbes, Morocco,
intending to found a monastic religious community in North Africa that offered
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-Tuareg dictionary, and to translate the Gospels into
Tuareg. In 1905, he came to Tamanrasset, where he lived the rest of his life. A
two-volume collection of Charles’ 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, Charles 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.
Reflection
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.
LECTIO DIVINA: LUKE 21:34-36
Lectio Divina:
Saturday, December 1, 2018
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 stand before the Son of man.”
Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand before the Son of man.”
3) Reflection
• We are reaching the end of the long
Apocalyptic Discourse and 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 to not lose conscientiousness. “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 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 and without warning. People must be attentive and always prepared (Lk 17: 22-27). When the wait is very long, there is a risk of not being attentive and 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 news, TV, Internet, and other propaganda can ruin our perspective on life. Being far away from the suffering of so many people in the world, we are not conscious of the injustices which are committed. The converse of this is also possible. The speed of communication today through satellite and Internet can overwhelm us with “bad news” and cause anxieties, fear, and worry and disturb our peace.
• Luke 21:36: Prayer, the source of critical conscience and 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 an important means to not lose the presence of spirit. We must deepen in our hearts the knowledge and awareness of God’s presence among us. 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 three Synoptic Gospels have this discourse of Jesus, each one in its own way. Let us try to see which version the Gospel of Luke offers us. Here we give a brief summary of what we have been able to meditate on during these five days.
The whole of the Apocalyptic Discourse is an attempt to help the persecuted communities place themselves in the 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 Jesus describes up through our time. Reading and interpreting their lives in the light of the signs given by Jesus, the communities discovered how the execution of the plan was to be found. It was thought that the first seven signs had already taken place and that they all belonged to the past. Especially in the 6th and 7th signs (persecution and destruction of Jerusalem), the communities found the image or reflection of what was happening in their present time.
• Luke 21: 34-35: Attention to not lose conscientiousness. “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 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 and without warning. People must be attentive and always prepared (Lk 17: 22-27). When the wait is very long, there is a risk of not being attentive and 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 news, TV, Internet, and other propaganda can ruin our perspective on life. Being far away from the suffering of so many people in the world, we are not conscious of the injustices which are committed. The converse of this is also possible. The speed of communication today through satellite and Internet can overwhelm us with “bad news” and cause anxieties, fear, and worry and disturb our peace.
• Luke 21:36: Prayer, the source of critical conscience and 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 an important means to not lose the presence of spirit. We must deepen in our hearts the knowledge and awareness of God’s presence among us. 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 three Synoptic Gospels have this discourse of Jesus, each one in its own way. Let us try to see which version the Gospel of Luke offers us. Here we give a brief summary of what we have been able to meditate on during these five days.
The whole of the Apocalyptic Discourse is an attempt to help the persecuted communities place themselves in the 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 Jesus describes up through our time. Reading and interpreting their lives in the light of the signs given by Jesus, the communities discovered how the execution of the plan was to be found. It was thought that the first seven signs had already taken place and that they all belonged to the past. Especially in the 6th and 7th signs (persecution and destruction of Jerusalem), the communities found the image or reflection of what 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)
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. So this is the more
important question: “How much is lacking until the end?” Anyone who is
persecuted does not want to know or hear about the distant future. He wants to
know if he will be alive the following day or if he will have the strength to
bear the persecution until 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) 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).
8th sign: changes in the sun and the moon (Lk 21: 25-26) 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 tells us to watch out so as not
to be surprised by news or events. How do I live this advice of Jesus?
• How do I balance being aware and compassionate
in my larger local community with the constant TV and Internet reporting of
injustice and disasters in real time from all over the world?
•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, molded 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, molded by His hands. (Ps 95:3-5)
