My
Sunday Daily Blessings
Be still, quiet your heart and
mind, the Lord is here loving you, talking to
you...............................................
Thirty-third in Sunday in Ordinary Time (Roman Rite
Calendar)
First Reading: Dn
12:1-3
In those days, Elijah the prophet went to
Zarephath.
As he arrived at the entrance of the city,
a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her,
"Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink."
She left to get it, and he called out after her,
"Please bring along a bit of bread."
She answered, "As the LORD, your God, lives,
I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar
and a little oil in my jug.
Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks,
to go in and prepare something for myself and my son;
when we have eaten it, we shall die."
Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid.
Go and do as you propose.
But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.
Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.
For the LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'"
She left and did as Elijah had said.
She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well;
the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry,
as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.
As he arrived at the entrance of the city,
a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her,
"Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink."
She left to get it, and he called out after her,
"Please bring along a bit of bread."
She answered, "As the LORD, your God, lives,
I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar
and a little oil in my jug.
Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks,
to go in and prepare something for myself and my son;
when we have eaten it, we shall die."
Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid.
Go and do as you propose.
But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.
Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.
For the LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'"
She left and did as Elijah had said.
She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well;
the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry,
as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 16:5, 8,
9-10, 11
"You are my
inheritance, O Lord!
Second Reading: Heb 10:11-14,
18
Brothers and sisters:
Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins.
But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool.
For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.
Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.
Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins.
But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool.
For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.
Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.
Gospel: Mk
13:24-32
Jesus said to his
disciples:
"In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
"And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds'
with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels
and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.
"Learn a lesson from the fig tree.
When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.
In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates.
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
"But of that day or hour, no one knows,
neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
"In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
"And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds'
with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels
and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.
"Learn a lesson from the fig tree.
When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.
In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates.
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
"But of that day or hour, no one knows,
neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
**
Reflection:
How good are you
at reading signs? The people of Jesus' time expected that the coming of the
Messiah would be accompanied by extraordinary signs and wonders. Jesus' first
coming was clouded in mystery and wonderment – a son of David born in a cave at
Bethlehem, magi from the East guided by a star to worship the newborn king of
Israel, a carpenter miracle-worker who gave sight to the blind and raised the
dead, a Suffering Servant who bore the sins of many upon a cross, a Risen Lord
who stormed the gates of Hell to release its captives. Jesus on a number of
occasions prophesied that he would return again at the end of the world to
finish the work he came to accomplish through his death and resurrection. The
image of a "Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory" is taken
from the vision of the prophet Daniel (Daniel 7:13-14). Daniel's vision is a
royal investiture of a human king before God's throne. This king, whose
authority comes from God, is given world-wide rulership and power which lasts
forever. The Jews of Jesus' day were looking for a Messianic king who would free
them from foreign oppression. Jesus tells them that when he returns he will
establish a universal kingdom of peace, righteousness, and justice for all.
Jesus' prophetic description of the end of time and the day of judgment was
not new to the people of Israel. The prophets had foretold these events many
centuries before. "Behold the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and
fierce anger to make the earth a desolation and to destroy its sinners from
it" (Isaiah 13:9-13; see also Joel 2:1-2; Amos 5:18-20; Zephaniah 1:14-18).
Jesus speaks of the second coming as a known fact, a for certain event we can
expect to take place. This coming will be marked by signs that all will
recognize; signs which will strike terror in those unprepared and wonder in
those who are ready to meet the Lord. When the Lord returns he will establish
justice and righteousness and he will vindicate all who have been faithful to
him. His judgment is a sign of hope for those who trust in him.
What lesson does the Lord Jesus want us to learn from the parable of the
budding fig tree? The fig tree was a common and important source of food for the
Jews. It bore fruit twice a year, in the autumn and in the early spring. The
prophet Joel mentions its fruitbearing as a sign of favor from the Lord (Joel
2:22). The Talmud said that the first fruit came the day after Passover. The
Jews believed that when the Messiah came he would usher in the kingdom of God at
Passover time. This parable fortells the joy of God's kingdom – the joy of new
life and the promise of a new age of peace and blessing. The signs of spring are
evident for all who can see. Just so are the signs of God's kingdom. The
"budding" of God's kingdom begins first in the hearts of those who are receptive
to God's word. Those who trust in God's word will bear the fruits of his
kingdom. And what are the fruits of that kingdom? "The kingdom of God ..is
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
We do not know the day or hour when the Lord will return again in glory.
But the Lord does give us signs, not only to "wake us up" as a warning, but also
to "rouse our spirits" to be ready and eager to see his kingdom come in all its
power and glory. The Lord wants us to be filled with joyful anticipation for his
coming again. He surely comes to us each day and speaks to our hearts like a
lover who whispers in the ear of the beloved. As he promised, the Lord will
surely come again in all his glory. Do you look for the signs pointing to the
Lord's return and do you pray that he come quickly to establish peace and
justice on the earth?
**
Prayer:
"Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the
end of all history, and the lord of all creation. Give me joyful hope and
confidence that I will see you face to face when you return in glory ."
Amen.Source:
Lectionary for Mass
for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright
© 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm
refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy,
Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be
reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including
electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright
owner.
**Don
Schwager
Author and
Writer
Sword of the
Spirit
and The Word Among
Us
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