Wednesday 23 November
Wednesday of week 34 in Ordinary Time Gospel-Luke 21:12-19 “Keep this carefully in mind: you are not to prepare your defence, because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict.”. When we have difficulties regarding our faith, we try to prepare our defence. But Jesus is saying. We should not prepare our defence because He will give us the eloquence to defend ourselves. So, the question is how are we facing the difficulties of our faith? With our defence or with the defence given to us by our Lord. Our defence is human, and His defence is divine. Our defence is limited, and His defence is unlimited. Our defence is short-sighted, and His defence is farsighted. Our defence is selfish, and His defence is selfless. So, let’s reflect: do I have the patience to wait for the defence of the Lord or do I act on my own accord?
Tuesday 22 November
Saint Cecilia, Virgin, Martyr on Tuesday of week 34 in Ordinary Time Gospel - Luke 21:5-11 “When some were talking about the Temple, remarking how it was adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings, Jesus said, ‘All these things you are staring at now – the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another: everything will be destroyed.’” Before God who became man, they are speaking about the beauty of the manmade temple where God is believed to be present. This happens also in our life. We don’t see where God is really present, but we see the beauty of manmade things where God is supposedly present. We don’t see “Jesus” present in the poor in the city, but we speak about the beauty of the Cathedral in the city. We don’t see “Jesus” present in the Word of God, but we speak about the beauty of the Bible made in leather and printed in beautiful fonts. We don’t see “Jesus” present in the Eucharist, but we see the beauty of the chalice. Let’s reflect: am I seeking Jesus where He is really present or am I seeking Him in the superficialities?
Monday 21 November
The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Monday of week 34 in Ordinary Time Gospel - Luke 21:1-4 “but she from the little she had has put in all she had to live on”. So, what is this widow going to do? She goes out of the temple without anything. Here we can see the blessedness behind giving offerings. Offerings we give so that we can overcome our unnecessary fears of existence. You start trusting completely in the Lord. Not anymore in what we have in the pocket but in the Lord, we have in our heart. Moreover, it is important in the offerings, the will to give everything. The will to give totally and completely is the foundation to make the true offering.
Sunday 20 November
Christ the King - Solemnity Gospel - Luke 23:35-43 Jesus is the King on the Cross. Crucified and humiliated in the Cross. But that King is the real king. Because in Jesus the Kingship is redefined. It is the not anymore, the earthly powers what determine the King. But it is the power to bridge the heaven and earth in love. It is the power to grant forgiveness in love. It is the power to embrace the sinner in love. It is the power to give one’s own life to the other in love. It’s the power to carry all the sins of the world out of love. That is the real power, the power of love. That is the real King. He saves us from our sins with His love. He embraces us with our weaknesses with His love. He does not judge. He does repairs for my sins. That is the King. Because He is God and became man out of His love for us to take to Him all our sins, weaknesses, and infirmities. In His love He becomes the absolution, becomes our strength, and becomes our healing. His love builds a community around that love. His love is the Kingdom, and He is the King.