Sunday 19 November
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time First reading - Proverbs 31:10-13,19-20,30-31 The Word of God is picturing the image of a perfect wife. This passage refers to the bride of Christ, the Church. The Church is the spouse in whom Christ has confidence. The Church brings all the days of her existence, what the bride needs. The Church is always busy doing the mission entrusted to her by the bridegroom. The mission of evangelization. She works with her own hands. Church is not an organization which exploits but Church works a wife who does her work with eager hands, uses the resources at her disposal, with the opportunities available to her. And her main concern is the poor. She opens her arms to the needy. She does not go behind the vanity of beauty as she is wise. Let’s reflect: How much I admire the wisdom of Church, the bride of Christ?
Saturday 18 November
Saturday of week 32 in Ordinary Time Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary First reading - Wisdom 18:14-16,19:6-9 The passage gives us the picture to meditate about incarnation of the Word of God. In the peaceful silence down from the heavens, from the royal throne, “leapt your all-powerful Word”. The Word of God incarnated in the silence of Nazareth. Not with pomp or as a spectacle. The Word of God carried the divine Will like a sharp sword and the revelation of God is not ambiguous anymore. It is so clear. He touched the sky yet trod the earth. He was both God and man. He fashioned the whole creation in a new way. The Red Sea became an unimpeded way. The way to Salvation became a clear unimpeded way by incarnation. The entire creation praises the Lord, the deliverer. Let’s reflect: Do I praise the Almighty for the incarnation of the Word of God?
Friday 17 November
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious Friday of week 32 in Ordinary Time First reading - Wisdom 13:1-9 Everything around us must lead us to the real Artificer. This is very important. Otherwise, we will remain half the way with all what we have. Whatever impresses us, whatever charms us, must lead to the Author of that beauty who is the Creator. The grandeur and beauty of the creatures contemplate the Author. So, whenever we are before anything grand and beautiful, our eyes must towards the Creator who created these. When we stuck with the grandeur or beauty without moving towards the Creator, we are blocked and reduced to this level, instead of moving to the realm of the Creator. The choice is ours always. Whether you want to be with the Creator or with the creatures. If we chose the former, our life will be tied around this limited space. If we chose the latter, our life will be freed to be in eternity. Let’s reflect: Am I able to be free from the things I like towards the Author of these things?
Thursday 16 November
Thursday of week 32 in Ordinary Time Saint Margaret of Scotland Saint Gertrude, Virgin First reading - Wisdom 7:22-8:1 “She is a reflection of the eternal light, untarnished mirror of God’s active power, image of his goodness”. The passage is a deep meditation in the action of God in the world and in our lives. After the revelation of the Holy Trinity we understand more this in the action of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and in our lives. One of the beautiful images by which the action of the Holy Spirit is explained in this passage is comparing it to a mirror. A mirror which reflects the eternal light of God. A mirror which perfectly reflects the power of God. When we let God act in our life, we become like a mirror which reflects the power of God which is love. The more we are untarnished the more will be correspond our love to the love of God. Let’s reflect: How much untarnished is my capacity to reflect the love of God which I receive?