Monday, November 18, 2019
WEDNESDAY, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time
November 20, 2019 – WEDNESDAY, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time
Green.
2 Mc 7: 1, 20 – 31 / Lk 19: 11 – 28
FROM THE 1ST READING: 2 Mc 7: 20 – 23
More than all of them, their mother ought to be admired and remembered.. She saw her seven sons die in a single day. But she endured it with joy for she had put her hope in the Lord. Full of a noble sense of honor, she encouraged each one of them in the language of their fathers.
Her woman's heart was moved by manly courage, she told them: "I wonder how you were born of me; it was not I who gave you breath and life, nor I who ordered the matter of your body. The Creator of the world who formed man in the beginning and ordered the unfolding of all creation shall in his mercy give you back breath and life, since you now despise them for love of his laws."
FROM THE GOSPEL READING: Lk 19: 26 – 27
Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you: everyone who has will be given more; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for my enemies who did not want me to be king, bring them in and execute them right here in my presence."
REFLECTION
In the first reading we hear about the faith and courage of the mother of seven sons killed for their adherence to Jewish law, "I ask you now, my son, that when you see the heavens, the earth and all that is in it, you know that God made all this from nothing, and the human race as well. Do not fear these executioners, but make yourself worthy of your brothers – accept death that you may again meet your brothers in the time of mercy." (2 Mc 7: 28 – 29)
In the parable of the talents in the Gospel reading, we are told that we must make the best use of the gifts given us in life: we will be rewarded or punished accordingly.
Our God-given gifts win for us much coveted worldly honors: power, prestige, fame. They could be boon or bane depending on how we use them. Success and fame could be all-consuming passions, leading to our own destruction. Our talents could remain dormant in us for a variety of reasons: such would be great lack of responsibility on our part.
No one is without talents and gifts. Everyone has something to offer and to work with. Even in old age, we can give good example and guidance.
FINALLY, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:
+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GoogleGroup Address: http://groups.google.com/group/daily_homily
Archive: http://biblereflection.blogspot.com/
To subscribe from this free mailing service, send email to: dailyhomily@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe: daily_homily-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
© 2018 Daily-Homily
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "DAILY-HOMILY" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to daily_homily+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/daily_homily/bcd72dff-d2d5-4616-926b-e27918e9825f%40googlegroups.com.
TUESDAY, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time
Green.
2 Mc 6: 18 – 31 / Lk 19:1 – 10
FROM THE 1ST READING: 2 Mc 6: 18 – 19a, 30 – 31
Eleazar, one of the prominent teachers of the Law, already old and of noble appearance, was forced to open his mouth to eat the flesh of a pig. But he preferred to die honorably than to live in disgrace. . .
When he was at the point of death, he said groaning, "The Holy Lord, who sees all, knows that though I could have saved myself from death, I now endure terrible sufferings in my body. But in my soul, I suffer gladly because of the respect I have for him." In his death, he left a noble example and a memorial of virtue and strength, not only to the young but to the whole nation.
GOSPEL READING: Lk 19: 1 – 10
When Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the city, a man named Zaccheus was there. He was a tax collector and a wealthy man. He wanted to see what Jesus was like, but he was a short man and could not see because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree. From there he would be able to see Jesus who had to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zaccheus, come down quickly, for I must stay at your house today." So Zaccheus hurried down and received him joyfully.
All the people who saw this began to grumble and said, "He has gone to the house of a sinner as a guest." But Zaccheus spoke to Jesus, "The half of my goods, Lord, I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times as much." Looking at him, Jesus said, "Salvation has come to this house today for he is also a true son of Abraham. The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost."
REFLECTION
In the first reading we see the heroism of Eleazar, a leader of the Jewish people, and many others who preferred to give up their lives than violate God's law and regulations: "In his death, he left a noble example and a memorial of virtue and strength, not only to the young but to the whole nation."
In the Gospel reading we see Jesus living out his mission "to seek and to save the lost."
Zaccheus, a tax collector and a rich man, wished to see Jesus. Short in stature he climbs a sycamore tree where Jesus would pass. Jesus invites him down and invites himself to dine at his house, much to the surprise and disapproval of many: "He has gone to the house of a sinner as a guest."
Zaccheus confirms his conversion and reform: "The half of my goods, Lord, I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times as much."
Jesus confirms the conversion of Zaccheus, "Salvation has come to this house today for he is also a true son of Abraham. The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost."
Like Zaccheus may we have the resolve to see and know Jesus. Knowing him, may we listen to him and follow his commandments.
FINALLY, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:
+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GoogleGroup Address: http://groups.google.com/group/daily_homily
Archive: http://biblereflection.blogspot.com/
To subscribe from this free mailing service, send email to: dailyhomily@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe: daily_homily-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
© 2018 Daily-Homily
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "DAILY-HOMILY" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to daily_homily+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/daily_homily/7c0d80b6-38f3-4c9f-a7f1-030d49041389%40googlegroups.com.
