Come to me
all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads,
and I will give you rest.
November 22, 2010
Memorial of Saint Cecilia, virgin and martyr
Memorial of Saint Cecilia, virgin and martyr
I, John, looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion
and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand
who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
I heard a sound from heaven
like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder.
The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.
They were singing what seemed to be a new hymn before the throne,
before the four living creatures and the elders.
No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand
who had been ransomed from the earth.
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
They have been ransomed as the first fruits
of the human race for God and the Lamb.
On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished.
and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand
who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
I heard a sound from heaven
like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder.
The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.
They were singing what seemed to be a new hymn before the throne,
before the four living creatures and the elders.
No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand
who had been ransomed from the earth.
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
They have been ransomed as the first fruits
of the human race for God and the Lamb.
On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished.
The Lamb is Christ and the 144,000 represent the Church in heaven. They belong to the Father: I have called you by name, you are mine. They are marked with the sign of God which is the Holy Spirit. They are the first fruits of the human race. They are now fully members of the Family of the Father. The 144,000 of Chapter seven represent the Church on earth. Why 144,000. There were twelve tribes in the Old Testament and there were Twelve Apostles in the New. They represent the New Israel. 144.000 is a multiple of 12. It doesn’t mean only 144,000. These numbers like everything else in the Book are symbols. It means they come from all tribes both of the Old and New Testaments. Those who truly follow Christ are victorious.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
Gospel
When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, “I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, “I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”
Who has trust in God like this widow? She “offered her whole livelihood”. The original says she offered her ‘life’. She, then, risked her life for the sake of God, trusting that he would provide her ‘daily bread’. This is radical trust and puts the saints in a category of their own. We may give to charity but often we give of what we can spare, but this widow gave everything she had, even what she needed to live on. To trust as she did needs a deep relationship with the Father, just as a small children have. The widow didn’t actually give everything she had to live on, because she had her Father on whom she could rely. Likewise Jesus gave everything because he knew his Father was with him and would save him. Can you dare to even pray to have such radical trust in God?
November 23, 2010
Tuesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Tuesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
I, John, looked and there was a white cloud,
and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man,
with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.
Another angel came out of the temple,
crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud,
“Use your sickle and reap the harvest,
for the time to reap has come,
because the earth’s harvest is fully ripe.”
So the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth,
and the earth was harvested.
and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man,
with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.
Another angel came out of the temple,
crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud,
“Use your sickle and reap the harvest,
for the time to reap has come,
because the earth’s harvest is fully ripe.”
So the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth,
and the earth was harvested.
Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven
who also had a sharp sickle.
Then another angel came from the altar, who was in charge of the fire,
and cried out in a loud voice
to the one who had the sharp sickle,
“Use your sharp sickle and cut the clusters from the earth’s vines,
for its grapes are ripe.”
So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage.
He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury.
who also had a sharp sickle.
Then another angel came from the altar, who was in charge of the fire,
and cried out in a loud voice
to the one who had the sharp sickle,
“Use your sharp sickle and cut the clusters from the earth’s vines,
for its grapes are ripe.”
So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage.
He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury.
John sees the white cloud. This means he has another vision and it is of the second coming of Jesus. The ‘son of man’ indicates the Lord Jesus. The ‘sharp sickle’ indicates that the time for judgement has come. The age has come to its conclusion. Jesus is Lord. An angel comes from the Temple
Responsorial Psalm
R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Gospel
While some people were speaking about
how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said, “All that you see here–
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”
how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said, “All that you see here–
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”
Then they asked him,
“Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”
He answered,
“See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’
Do not follow them!
When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end.”
Then he said to them,
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
from place to place;
and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”
“Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”
He answered,
“See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’
Do not follow them!
When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end.”
Then he said to them,
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
from place to place;
and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”
The Temple Jerusalem Temple Temple
November 24, 2010
Memorial of Saint Andrew Dũng-Lac, priest and martyr, and his companions, martyrs
Memorial of Saint Andrew Dũng-Lac, priest and martyr, and his companions, martyrs
I, John, saw in heaven another sign, great and awe-inspiring:
seven angels with the seven last plagues,
for through them God’s fury is accomplished.
seven angels with the seven last plagues,
for through them God’s fury is accomplished.
Then I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire.
On the sea of glass were standing those
who had won the victory over the beast
and its image and the number that signified its name.
They were holding God’s harps,
and they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God,
and the song of the Lamb:
On the sea of glass were standing those
who had won the victory over the beast
and its image and the number that signified its name.
They were holding God’s harps,
and they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God,
and the song of the Lamb:
“Great and wonderful are your works,
Lord God almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
O king of the nations.
Who will not fear you, Lord,
or glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All the nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Lord God almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
O king of the nations.
Who will not fear you, Lord,
or glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All the nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Satan is an intractable enemy of God. There are humans who join him and become like him. They become eternal enemies of God. God will not annihilate them but he will judge them with justice. Sin like any poison brings its own punishment, but there is also the just judgement of God on those who refuse to repent. There follows then the just punishment. “God’s fury” is a way of expressing God’s just judgement. The sins of nations as of individuals bring calamities in their wake and as a result people suffer. Much of the suffering in the world can be traced directly to the sinfulness of men. The ‘bowls’ are symbols for this. The plagues are the final judgement of God. As the Israelites saw their enemies destroyed in the Red Sea , so those who have been faithful to Christ will see the defeat of Satan and his allies by the ‘sea of glass’. “Those who have won the victory” praise God for defeating and clearing creation of evil.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (Rev. 15: 3b) Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
Gospel
Jesus said to the crowd:
“They will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
“They will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
Jesus clearly says that persecution will be part of discipleship. Jesus was persecuted, so will his disciples be. We often prefer to forget this. Persecution is an opportunity to witness to Jesus. We need not be afraid. The Holy Spirit will be with us to defend us and give us invincible power. There will be persecutions from enemies but also from family members. Fidelity to Jesus will lead to divisions in families and denouncement to civil authorities. This will lead on to martyrdom. Outsiders will misunderstand disciples and hate them. But those who suffer for the sake of Jesus are blessed. We may lose everything, even our life, but ours is a faithful God. He will reward out of all proportion those who suffer for his Son. Do you pray to persevere in a world alien to Jesus? Do you see fidelity to Jesus’ Word as an opportunity to witness?
Revelation 18:1-2, 21-23, 19:1-2,9.
After this, I saw another angel come down from heaven, with great authority given to him; the earth shone with his glory. 2 At the top of his voice he shouted, 'Babylon has fallen, Babylon
21 Then a powerful angel picked up a boulder like a great millstone, and as he hurled it into the sea, he said, 'That is how the great city of Babylon
19:1. After this I heard what seemed to be the great sound of a huge crowd in heaven, singing, 'Alleluia! Salvation and glory and power to our God! 2 He judges fairly, he punishes justly, and he has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her prostitution; he has avenged the blood of his servants which she shed.'
9 The angel said, 'Write this, "Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb," ' and he added, 'These words of God are true.'
Psalm 100:1-5
1 Alleluia! Give thanks to Yahweh, call on his name, proclaim his deeds to the peoples! 2 Sing to him, make music for him, recount all his wonders! 3 Glory in his holy name, let the hearts that seek Yahweh rejoice! 4 Seek Yahweh and his strength, tirelessly seek his presence! 5 Remember the marvels he has done, his wonders, the judgements he has spoken.
Luke 21:20-28.
20 'When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you must realise that it will soon be laid desolate. 21 Then those in Judaea must escape to the mountains, those inside the city must leave it, and those in country districts must not take refuge in it. 22 For this is the time of retribution when all that scripture says must be fulfilled. 23 Alas for those with child, or with babies at the breast, when those days come! 24 'For great misery will descend on the land and retribution on this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive to every gentile country; and Jerusalem will be trampled down by the gentiles until their time is complete. 25 'There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the turmoil of the ocean and its waves; 26 men fainting away with terror and fear at what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.'
The Word of God is clear. There is no hope except in Jesus. To trust in anyone or anything else is folly and doomed to total loss. Abandon Jesus and we face only destruction in one form or another. This is what happened to Jerusalem Jerusalem Jerusalem
November 26, 2010
Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
I, John, saw an angel come down from heaven,
holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a heavy chain.
He seized the dragon, the ancient serpent,
which is the Devil or Satan,
and tied it up for a thousand years and threw it into the abyss,
which he locked over it and sealed,
so that it could no longer lead the nations astray
until the thousand years are completed.
After this, it is to be released for a short time.
holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a heavy chain.
He seized the dragon, the ancient serpent,
which is the Devil or Satan,
and tied it up for a thousand years and threw it into the abyss,
which he locked over it and sealed,
so that it could no longer lead the nations astray
until the thousand years are completed.
After this, it is to be released for a short time.
Then I saw thrones; those who sat on them were entrusted with judgment.
I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded
for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God,
and who had not worshiped the beast or its image
nor had accepted its mark on their foreheads or hands.
They came to life and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded
for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God,
and who had not worshiped the beast or its image
nor had accepted its mark on their foreheads or hands.
They came to life and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Next I saw a large white throne and the one who was sitting on it.
The earth and the sky fled from his presence
and there was no place for them.
I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne,
and scrolls were opened.
Then another scroll was opened, the book of life.
The dead were judged according to their deeds,
by what was written in the scrolls.
The sea gave up its dead;
then Death and Hades gave up their dead.
All the dead were judged according to their deeds.
Then Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire.
(This pool of fire is the second death.)
Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life
was thrown into the pool of fire.
The earth and the sky fled from his presence
and there was no place for them.
I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne,
and scrolls were opened.
Then another scroll was opened, the book of life.
The dead were judged according to their deeds,
by what was written in the scrolls.
The sea gave up its dead;
then Death and Hades gave up their dead.
All the dead were judged according to their deeds.
Then Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire.
(This pool of fire is the second death.)
Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life
was thrown into the pool of fire.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.
The former heaven and the former earth had passed away,
and the sea was no more.
I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
The former heaven and the former earth had passed away,
and the sea was no more.
I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
The meaning of the thousand years is obscure and there is much discussion regarding it. Rather than trying to understand this as here it is better to follow the clear teaching of the rest of the New Testament revelation. This clearly teaches that Jesus the Christ will prevail over Satan and he will make all things new. There will be a new heaven and new earth and God’s Family will live together. Salvation includes our bodies. Before the Second Coming those who are in Christ are saved and live with God in what we might call an ‘interim period’ although it is eternity. Satan has no power over them. There will also be a final triumph of Christ and good and this will inaugurate the eternal world where God lives with his people in the new heaven and new earth. Let us make the Responsorial Psalm our own.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (Rev. 21:3b) Here God lives among his people.
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
Gospel
Jesus told his disciples a parable.
“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
When their buds burst open,
you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;
in the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that theKingdom of God
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.”
“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
When their buds burst open,
you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;
in the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that the
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.”
We are to read the signs of the times and take appropriate action. We are not to be complacent. Everything is passing away, including us, and there is a day of reckoning. There is only one thing that will last and it is the Word of Christ. He is the only Person who is master of the passing world. It may not look like that but we are not to be deceived. The wisest policy in this world is to accept the offer of friendship made by Jesus. The closer we can come to him in this life and the more sincere we are in listening to his Word, will be the key to salvation when our world crumbles around us. Life in this world has one goal for those wise in the Spirit. It is to make Jesus the centre of our life. Do you? You can decide today.
November 27, 2010
Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
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.
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.
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.
The truth of the Book of Revelation is that evil and all the evil consequences of sin from the time of Adam onwards will be reversed. As in Eden and Ezekiel there will be a river of life flowing again. This has all been won for us by the Lamb who lived and was slain for us. He has won for us a human life with God when we will become like him. This will soon be fulfilled for each one at their death and for the whole of creation with the Second Coming. Then creation will reach its goal for which it now groans and longs. The prayer of the believer is Come, Lord Jesus.
Responsorial Psalm
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.
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.
Gospel
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 ofMan.
“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
It is so easy to get so involved in the affairs of this life that we can hardly think of nothing else. Who has not? Our faith can become a part of our life that we turn to like other activities. We have our church-going time, times for saying prayers etc. and at other times we can live as if we have no faith. Jesus warns us about allowing our hearts to ‘become drowsy’. To be always awake we need to pray constantly. We need to build up a personal relationship with Jesus – in faith, but true. He is going to come to you one day. May he come as your friend. May he welcome you as the father the son who returned home. Now is the opportunity to use your time well. “Now” is the only moment you have. Is Jesus your life or something or someone else?
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