Thursday of 34th Week in Ordinary Time

Thursday November 24, 2022

Thursday of 34th Week in Ordinary Time

ANDREW, Dung-Lac and Companion, Martyrs from Vietnam           

Introduction

St. Andrew Dung-Lac and his 116 companions were martyred when Christians in Vietnam were persecuted from 1625 to 1886. Among them were twenty-one foreign missionaries. Thirty-seven of the Vietnamese were priests and 59 were lay people. Rather than renounce the faith, they chose to suffer countless suffering and dreadful torture. Andrew Dung-Lac, who represents the group, was a diocesan priest, who was beheaded in 1839. The group was canonized on 19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II.

Opening Prayer

Our living and loving God,

you commanded us to proclaim the Good News

throughout the world,

that everyone may know your offer of life and love.

Through the life and witness of St. Andrew Dung-Lac and companions,

the message of salvation was proclaimed;

they did live in the world

but chose to live not of this world.

May the prayers of these martyrs help us

to stand firm in the midst of the present world,

and to give witness to your love and justice.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

Reading 1 RV 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9A

I, John, saw another angel coming down from heaven,
having great authority,
and the earth became illumined by his splendor.
He cried out in a mighty voice:

"Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great.
She has become a haunt for demons.
She is a cage for every unclean spirit,
a cage for every unclean bird,
a cage for every unclean and disgusting beast."
A mighty angel picked up a stone like a huge millstone
and threw it into the sea and said:
"With such force will Babylon the great city be thrown down,
and will never be found again.
No melodies of harpists and musicians,
flutists and trumpeters,
will ever be heard in you again.
No craftsmen in any trade
will ever be found in you again.
No sound of the millstone
will ever be heard in you again.
No light from a lamp
will ever be seen in you again.
No voices of bride and groom
will ever be heard in you again.
Because your merchants were the great ones of the world,
all nations were led astray by your magic potion."
After this I heard what sounded like
the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying:
"Alleluia!
Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God,
for true and just are his judgments.
He has condemned the great harlot 
who corrupted the earth with her harlotry.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants."
They said a second time:
"Alleluia! Smoke will rise from her forever and ever."
Then the angel said to me, "Write this:
Blessed are those who have been called
to the wedding feast of the Lamb."

Responsorial Psalm PS 100:1B-2, 3, 4, 5

(Rev. 19: 9a) Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
For he is good:
the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.

Alleluia LK 21:28

Alleluia, alleluia.
Stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 21:20-28

Jesus said to his disciples:
"When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies,
know that its desolation is at hand.
Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.
Let those within the city escape from it,
and let those in the countryside not enter the city,
for these days are the time of punishment
when all the Scriptures are fulfilled.
Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days,
for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth
and a wrathful judgment upon this people.
They will fall by the edge of the sword
and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles;
and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles
until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand."

Intercessions

–          Lord Jesus, when we are confused and discouraged, tell us: “Stand up and raise your heads, because your salvation is near,” we pray:

–          Lord Jesus, make us people of hope, not of fear, we pray:

–          Lord Jesus, we pray for people who despair of themselves and of the meaning of life; give them courage and hope, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,

your Son came to live in our midst

to be the living bread

that gives life and strength to us,

even as he shared with us his words

of love and hope.

Let Jesus be our hope,

that we may never waver in our faith

and be strong in witnessing

that he is our Lord and Savior for ever.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,

we have celebrated the strength and determination

of your martyrs who stood firm in their faith.

Grant us that same determination and courage

to be living witnesses to your love and justice

for our sisters and brothers.

Make us strong and able to love you,

even as you have loved us

through Christ, our Lord.

Blessing

Keep your heads high in hope was the message of today. Keep hoping when there are wars and violence. Keep hoping when there is much injustice. Keep hoping when there is much hatred and discrimination. Keep hoping, for there is a future. Christ is with you, and with him we can do away with evil in us and in our world. Keep your heads high, and may God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Commentary

“Jesus is Gonna Win”

Do you have difficulty understanding all these cryptic narratives in the Book of Revelation? Here is an incident that might be of help to you to understand the Book better: James Hewett, in his book Illustrations Unlimited, narrates the story of Bernard Travaieille, a student at a theological seminary. One day, while playing basketball, he noticed that the aged janitor, who waited patiently for the kids to finish their games before he locked up the gym, was reading the Bible. Bernard realized that the man, who evidently had little formal schooling, was reading the Book of Revelation that even biblical scholars had difficulty grasping. Surprised, Bernard asked the janitor: “Do you understand it?” the janitor replied: “Oh yes, I understand it.” Now really intrigued, Bernard probed: “You understand the Book of Revelation? What do you think it means?” The janitor replied calmly: “It means that Jesus is gonna win.”

Reflection taken from Bible Diary 2022;

written by Fr.Paulson Velyannoor, CMF

Coffee With God: Do not miss the opportunities to trust, love and forgive