Nov. 18: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Michelangelo Buonarroti, The Father with Wisdom Creating Adam (detail), Cappella Sistina, The Vatican, 1510

Readings for Mass

First Reading: Malachi 3:19-20

Responsorial Psalm: 98:5-6, 7-8, 9

Second Reading: Second Thessalonians 3:7-12

Gospel: Luke 21:5-19

‘So make up your minds not to prepare your defence in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict (NRSV, Luke 21:14-15).’

Let us pray.

Father, even from the womb you speak your Word to us, revealing yourself once and for all, yet in every moment. In times of difficulty, indeed in every situation, may we open our minds to the Word always present, revealing and challenging, that we may grow in our understanding but also accept more fully your life always offered to us. May we not only grow in understanding but may we speak that truth so as to confound those who stand against you.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Nov. 9: Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome

Hans Memling, The Resurrection, Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest 15th cent.

Readings for Mass
First Reading: Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
Responsorial Psalm: 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
Second Reading: 1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17
Gospel: Jn 2:13-22

Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up (NRSV, John 2:19).’

Let us pray.

Father, Jesus rose from the dead by power received from you but which he had made truly his own. We too shall pass through physical death not by some special invervention but because we have accepted your life and made it our own. We, like Jesus, will rise from the dead by our own power. Father, thank you for the gift of your life which truly becomes ours. May we grow in that life in every situation in this world and in the world to come.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Nov. 8: Thursday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time, Year I

William James Webb, The Lost Sheep, Manchester City Galleries, 1864

Readings for Mass
First Reading: Romans 14:7-12
Responsorial Psalm: 27:1-4, 13-14
Gospel: Luke 15:1-10

“Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost (NRSV, Luke 15:6b).”

Let us pray.

Father, No matter how many times I turn away from you in sin, your Word is always present to me offering forgiveness and reconciliation in the Holy Spirit. I need not even ask. Your love pursues me without fail. How can I resist you when you demand nothing in return, only that I accept your divine life into my own and then grow in it at every moment?

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Nov. 7: Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time, Year I

Jean-François Millet, The Good Samaritan, National Museum and Gallery of Wales, Cardiff, 1846

Readings for Mass
First Reading: Romans 12:5-16
Responsorial Psalm: 131:1, 2, 3
Gospel: Luke 14:15-24

‘Love your neighbour as yourself (NRSV, Romans 13:9b).’

Let us pray.

Father, it is your one life that you share with all of us. We are all sisters and brothers, closer one to the other than we can possibly imagine. That the concern that I have for myself may be expressed towards all others, especially towards those most in need.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Nov. 6: Tuesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time, Year I

Unknown, Parable of the Great Banquet, 1563

Readings for Mass
First Reading: Romans 12:5-16
Responsorial Psalm: 131:1, 2, 3
Gospel: Luke 14:15-24

‘Then the master said to the slave, “Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled (NRSV, Luke 14:23).”’

Let us pray.

Father, how difficult it is for us to realize that we are not the only ones, that you call everyone. Your Word is present to all, even from the womb, revealing to all once and for all, yet in every moment, the fullness of your truth, and summoning all to accept your gift of divine life and to grow in it in every situation. May we recognize in all of humanity our sisters and brothers. All are your children in grace.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Nov. 5: Monday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time, Year I

Jesus Mafa, The Poor Invited to the Feast

Readings for Mass
First Reading: Romans 11:29-36
Responsorial Psalm: 69:30-31, 33-34, 36-37
Gospel: Luke 14:12-14

‘But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind(NRSV, Luke 14:13).’

Let us pray.

Father, If only I could recognize and accept how poor I am. There is nothing that I am or have that comes from me. All is gift from you, Father, through the Word, in the Holy Spirit. Sharers in your divine life, we are all brothers and sisters, poor in ourselves but rich in you. May I be ready therefore to share with others everything that I am and have, especially with those most in need, that we may all share your blessings one with the other.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Nov. 4: 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Nicholas Papas, Zacchaeus in the Sycamore

Readings for Mass
First Reading: Wisdom 11:22--12:1
Responsorial Psalm: 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14
Second Reading: Second Thessalonians 1:11--2:2
Gospel: Luke 19:1-10

All who saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner (NRSV, Luke 19:7).’

Let us pray.

Father, no matter how much we turn away from you in sin, you never abandon us. Your Word is always present to us offering us forgiveness and reconciliation even before it is asked. Jesus went to the house of Zacchaeus the tax collector which changed Zacchaeus' life. My your presence to us through Jesus, the Word now made flesh, bring us also to repentance for our sins that we may continue to grow in the divine life which you offer to us in every situation.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Nov. 3: Saturday of the 30th Week in Ordinary time, Year I

William Blake, Abraham and Isaac.

Readings for Mass
First Reading: Romans 11:1-2, 11-12, 25-29
Responsorial Psalm: 94:12-13, 14-15, 17-18
Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-11

I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin (NRSV, Romans 11:1b).

Let us pray.

Father, of all peoples, Israel was the first to recognize you as God. Paul claimed to be a blood descendant of Abraham but also a descendant in faith. Everyone who accepts your life into their own is daughter and son to you and descendant of Abraham even as was Isaac. May we recognize each other, all of humanity, as sister and brother, and all of us, therefore, with Abraham, as your children. May your life and love fill us all and bring us as one family to eternity with you our only true father.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Nov. 2: The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

Ruth to Naomi: 'Wherever you go I will go, and wherever you stay I will stay.'

Readings for Mass
First Reading: Wisdom 3:1-9
Responsorial Psalm: 27:1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 13-14
Second Reading: Romans 6:3-9
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life (NRSV, Romans 6:3-4).

Let us pray.

Father, your life that you share with us in Christ is one. It is one life that enlivens us all. We are all one with you through the Word in the Holy Spirit. The bounds that are forged here in this world, bonds of life and love, can never be broken. Our loved ones, indeed all of our sisters and brothers, are so intimately united with us that not even physical death can separate us. May the life that we all share, your life, be manifest in this world and beyond in all of our actions as we love, serve and encourage one another.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Nov. 1: Solemnity of All Saints

Fra Angelico, Christ Glorified in the Court of Heaven (detail), National Gallery, London, 1428-30

Readings for Mass
First Reading: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
Responsorial Psalm: 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Second Reading: First John 3:1-3
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb (NRSV, Revelation: 7:10b)!’

Let us pray.

Father, we are all your saints because we live in your divine life which you freely share with us. May we overcome the selfishness and sin which still distracts so many of us from the great destiny to which you call us. May we be inspired by the sanctity of those who have gone before that, in response to your grace, we may live like them and eventually join them to sing your praises in the court of heaven. May we, who still journey along the way, encourage one another that we may not slip and fall and, when we do, help each other in the power of your Spirit to begin again.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.