Tuesday of 34th Week in Ordinary Time

Tuesday November 22, 2022

Tuesday of 34th Week in Ordinary Time

CECILIA, Virgin, Martyr 

Introduction

We know little more about this popular Roman saint than that she was the daughter of a rich pagan family. She had become a Christian. Her family tried in vain to marry her off to a young pagan. She said that “Christ was her bridegroom,” according to the legend. And also, the rest is legend, that she sang to God at the day of her marriage to Christ. That made her the patroness of musicians.

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
the celebration of St. Cecilia reminds us
that you want us to encounter your Son
as our companion in life and in death.
Keep us always awake and responsive to his love
which he offers us in this Eucharist,
in his forgiveness, in the events of life,
in the brothers and sisters he entrusts to us.
Let him be our peace in our tensions,
our joy even when we suffer,
our life and happiness beyond death.
Let him admit us to your lasting feast of joy,
for he is our Lord for ever.

Reading 1 RV 14:14-19

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.
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.

Responsorial Psalm PS 96:10, 11-12, 13

(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.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice 
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Alleluia RV 2:10C

Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain faithful until death,
and I will give you the crown of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 21:5-11

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."
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."

Intercessions

–          For the Church of Jesus Christ, that its faith, trust and love may not waver in the difficulties and storms of our time, we pray:

–          For those who doubt their faith or are afraid of the future, that God may give them courage and that we may refresh one another’s hope, we pray:

–          For a world in the grip of war and violence, of dishonesty and abuse of power, that people of integrity and vision may draw inspiration from the gospel to lead the world back on the road of peace and love, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
we, your people on the march,
bring before you this bread and this wine
as an offering and a prayer
that Jesus may go with us our weary way
and sustain us in faith and hope.
Let him fill each of our days
with deeds of goodness and wisdom,
May this meal of the Eucharist prepare us
to share in your feast that lasts for ever.

Prayer after Communion

God of our hope and joy,
we are sure that we have encountered your Son Jesus
in this Eucharistic celebration.
We have recognized his voice;
he has nourished us with the bread of himself.
Let Jesus himself be the lamp
that shines brightly on our life
and make us always hear his voice
crying out in our needy brothers and sisters,
that he may find us ready when he comes
to gather us into the feast of your kingdom
and to sing your praises for ever.

Blessing

We are people of hope. We shouldn’t bother about the question when the end of the world will come but live as people who know that they have to be responsible Christians every day. If we do this, there is no reason for fear. May almighty God keep you safe and bless you, the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Commentary

Perspective

Observe Jesus speaking of apocalyptic times and events in a matter-of-fact fashion. He is able to do so, precisely because he has perspective and sees the larger picture. When the 2004 earthquake and tsunami caused immense tragedy, many people asked: “How can a ‘good God’ allow these terrible things to happen?” Whereas no one can negate the scale of loss and suffering, the observation by Dutch geologist Jelle Zeilinga de Boer may help us see the bigger picture. Earthquakes happen when plates within the earth separate, crack, and run over each other. As a consequence, magmas form at the depths of the earth, which are then thrown up to the surface, releasing nutrients and water, which makes life possible and sustainable on earth. A long view of time and nature helps us see these events in perspective and trust God, even as we use the God-given scientific temper to reduce the tragic consequences.

Reflection taken from Bible Diary 2022;

written by Fr.Paulson Velyannoor, CMF

Coffee With God: God has a plan for us, a plan of hope!