Friday, November 25, 2022

 Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(Revelation 20:1-4.11-21.2; Luke 21:29-33)

Today, the penultimate day of the liturgical year, the first reading enters the penultimate chapter of the Bible.  It has been quite a saga.  From creation when God called all that he had made “very good” through periods of human failure and folly to the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death.  Now the holy city appears as glorious a habitat as can be imagined.  It seems to question the people if they wish to live in it.

One would think that the answer to the question could not be simpler.  Why wouldn’t anyone want to take part in Christ’s victory?  Unfortunately, humans are as mischievous as they are unpredictable.  They sometimes prefer to be considered bad rather than good, lazy rather than industrious, and even unique rather than beautiful.

Hopefully, we will opt for the holy city.  It means that we do good works so that our names may be written in the book of life.  We will find some of our companions along the way to have not been to our liking.  But then in the light of Christ which illumines the city we will know them for all the good that they have done.

Thursday, November 24, 2022

 Thanksgiving Day

(Sirach 50:22-24; I Corinthians 1:3-9; Luke 17:11-19)

Several characteristic Christian themes converge in today’s celebration of Thanksgiving.  We give thanks to God for all the good of creation.  Nature is abundant so that humans may have more than what is necessary to survive.  We also recognize how European immigrants needed the assistance of native people to overcome the challenges of settlement.  Thanksgiving then represents reconciliation among peoples, one of the great benefits of Christ.

A third characteristic of Thanksgiving is community.  Thanksgiving alone would be almost meaningless.  We come together in love with family and friends.  We also remember those who live in need, at least with our prayers and quite possibly after some practical effort of support.

Although thanksgiving is not an expressly Christian feast, we can hardly not show gratitude to God for giving us His Son, Jesus Christ.  He cleanses us of the desire to eat and drink too much today.  More than that, he brings us the hope that that the joy and love we experience will be multiplied innumerable times in eternal life.

Thursday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

 (Revelation 18:1-2.21-23.19:1-3a.9; Luke 21:20-28)

Four years ago, a man entered a religious goods store and committed horrible crimes.  He sexually violated two women and killed one of them.  The barbarism resembles the happenings which Jesus foresees in today’s gospel.  He says that lawlessness and destruction will take place everywhere at the end of time.

In all likelihood the evangelist Luke embellished the prediction of Jesus with accounts of actual events.  Not long before he wrote his gospel Roman troops decimated Jerusalem.  They not only destroyed the Temple beyond hope of rebuilding but evidently ravaged the people.  Such marauding is typical of foreign soldiers sent to punish a nation.  It is no wonder then that the first reading describes the downfall of Rome in such graphic terms.  “Babylon” is a code word for Rome since both were associated with extravagant hedonism.  According to the reading, Rome is completely devastated.  It is as if an earthquake swallowed up the city.

Both Luke and the author of Revelation mean to encourage Christians to live righteous lives.  They see Jesus as coming to save his people when the situation becomes most desperate.  He will recognize them by their courage to stand erect in hope of being rescued.  The righteousness and courage which the Scriptures bespeak include efforts to build a society of justice.  We cannot be able to eliminate all crime and misfortune in the world.  But guided by the gospel and with the help of the Holy Spirit we can approximate the peace of the Kingdom of God.

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

 Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(Revelation 15:1-4; Luke 21:12-19)

As the seer nears the end of his Revelation, he has favorable news to report.  In today’s passage he sees seven angels carrying seven bowls of plagues that will wipe out Christian persecutors.  Like the ten plagues liberated the Israelites in Egypt, the seven plagues of the Apocalypse will crush Roman oppression.

But before the plagues take their toll, John reports a heavenly recital evoking more memories of Passover.  Those who have come through the trials with intact innocence play the victory song of Moses.  They use harps -- instruments of sweet, peaceful sounds. 

Sometimes the Book of Revelation is exploited to defend anger and revenge.  But its message is deeper and more subtle than the wrathful images it contains.  It tells of God’s care for those who do His will.  It promotes both righteous living and turning to God for help.  It endeavors to free us from worry when we face challenges.  It assures that God is ready to help us when we call on Him.

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

Memorial of Saint Cecilia, virgin and martyr

(Revelation 14:14-19; Luke 21:5-11)

Today’s passage from the Book of Revelation describes the judgment at the end of time.  It is depicted as a double harvest.  The first, performed by “ä son of man” who is probably Christ, cuts and gathers good fruit, which is to say, the righteous of the earth.  The second harvest cuts down the grapes that are associated with the ungodly.  They will be crushed, and their remains will be burned.

The harshness of the imagery need not be taken as a completely negative judgment on the whole reality.  Not all people involved in evil are fully responsible for their actions.  Yet a verdict of guilty for some should not be dismissed as outmoded.  Even though Jesus continually warns of judgment in the gospels, people knowingly persist in doing evil. 

The scene is intended to comfort those who try to live moral lives.  Equally, it is meant to cast fear into those who do what they know to be wrong.  In the end we cannot escape judgment.  It is as inevitable as the setting of the sun.

Monday, November 21, 2022

 Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Revelation 14:1-3.4b-5; Luke 21:1-4)

Once a young worker was heard singing a hymn from a church service. Later she said that she wanted to be included among the 144,000 who as today’s first reading declares, “follow the Lamb wherever he goes.”  Would she really?

The 144,000 are likely to be those who gave their lives in witness to the Lamb.  They are the martyrs who through the centuries have shed their life-blood proclaiming that Jesus is Lord.  Although the number 144,000 is symbolic for this group, it does not represent all those who are saved through faith.

We can be grateful that we are not called upon to die as martyrs. Some who have been called have apostatized.  Nevertheless, we, like the Virgin Mother Mary whom we celebrate today, are called to proclaim Jesus by word and deed.  Let our actions always comply with the dictates of the Lord while our words never cease to glorify his name.