Friday 24 November
Saints Andrew Dũng-Lạc and his Companions, Martyrs Friday of week 33 in Ordinary Time First reading - 1 Maccabees 4:36-37,52-59 “There was no end to the rejoicing among the people, and the reproach of the pagans was lifted from them”. The passage explains the consecration of the Temple after regaining it from the Seleucids. This verse explains how much people of God were attached to the Temple. The Temple was the center of their life. It gave meaning to their life. In the New Testament this Temple is replaced by the living presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Sacrament. Every time when we have the possibility to make a visit to the Holy Eucharist and when we can receive the Holy Sacrament, we have the possibility to be more joyful than the people in the Old Testament. But the question is that many times we are not aware of this fact. Let’s reflect: Am I sufficiently happy at the possibility of having in my life the living presence of God in the Holy Eucharist?
Thursday 23 November
Thursday of week 33 in Ordinary Time Saint Clement I, Pope, Martyr Saint Columbanus, Abbot and Missionary First reading - 1 Maccabees 2:15-29 “Let everyone who has a fervor for the Law and takes his stand on the covenant come out and follow me.’ Then he fled with his sons into the hills, leaving all their possessions behind in the town”. This is the beginning of the Maccabean Revolt, campaign against the Seleucid Empire. Mattathias, the Jewish priest, leads the revolt. It highlights the zeal of the people for their faith, willing to die rather than compromise their beliefs. They are not falling into temptations offered by the commissioners of the King Antiochus. Mattathias and his family left everything behind and fled to the hills. In these lines we see the zeal of Mattathias and his family in following the instructions of the covenant of God at any cost. Their method of fighting is not the model of the New Testament but the zeal for the faith is the same. Instead of fighting by violence, we fight with our faith to give up ourselves to follow Jesus. We must give up everything to follow Jesus in the Cross, overcoming temptations and giving up everything. Let’s reflect: How much zealous am I in following my faith in Jesus Christ?
Wednesday 22 November
Saint Cecilia, Virgin, Martyr Wednesday of week 33 in Ordinary Time First reading - Hosea 2:16,17,21-22 In this reading we can find how is the relationship of the Lord with the person who wants to totally entrust oneself to the Lord. The Lord leads that person out from all the disturbances into the silence of the wilderness so that He can speak to the heart. He wants to make a relationship with that person for ever. A relationship with integrity and justice, with tenderness and love. This relationship of the Lord with us is total. There is nothing withheld from us. He gives completely to us. And the justice of the Lord is the justice with mercy and with compassion. He sees our defects and weaknesses but still He love us. In this love there comes together integrity and justice. Moreover, He loves us with tenderness and love. Tenderness to heal our wounds and love to enhance the grace in us. Let’s reflect: How much I want a deep personal relationship with the Lord?
Tuesday 21 November
The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Tuesday of week 33 in Ordinary Time First reading - Zechariah 2:14-17 In unity with Eastern Christianity and commemorating the dedication in 543 of the New Basilica of Saint Mary, built next to the Temple at Jerusalem, this feast celebrates Mary’s “dedication” of herself to God from her infancy, inspired by the Holy Spirit, whose grace had filled her ever since her immaculate conception. As with Mary’s birth, we read of Mary’s presentation in the temple only in apocryphal literature. In what is recognized as an unhistorical account, the Protoevangelium of James tells us that Anna and Joachim offered Mary to God in the Temple when she was 3 years old. This was to carry out a promise made to God when Anna was still childless. The first reading announces how God is preparing for incarnation, “Sing, rejoice, daughter of Zion; for I am coming to dwell in the middle of you”. He incarnates and dwells among us. And He comes from His holy dwelling which is Mother Mary. Let’s reflect: Do I recognize the holiness of Mother Mary?