November 24
Memorial of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs
First Reading
Revelation 14:14-19
I, John, looked and there was a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man, with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap the harvest, for the time to reap has come, because the earth’s harvest is fully ripe.” So the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven who also had a sharp sickle. Then another angel came from the altar, who was in charge of the fire, and cried out in a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and cut the clusters from the earth’s vines, for its grapes are ripe.” So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage. He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 96:10, 11-12, 13
R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Alleluia
Revelation 2:10C
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain faithful until death,
and I will give you the crown of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Luke 21:5-11
While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here– the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”
Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”
Give a Mass Offering
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
“The Lord comes to judge the earth.”
Readings & Reflection
_-_stained_glass,_arcade,_Saint_Andrew_Dung_Lac.jpg)
Today Jesus speaks of radical love. Radical? Yes, radical in the idea that we have to take our love of Christ that we extol as Christians and use that Christ centered love to love those who may hate us and even persecute us.
Today, the church honors over one hundred Vietnamese martyrs who freely gave their life in honor of their faith in Jesus Christ. How does one accomplish this feat? Martyrs have in common a love and joy found only in Christ. It is their steadfast knowledge that Christ will not fail them, not leave them orphaned, that propels them to defend their faith even to the point of death. How strong is our faith? Do we feel that our faith and the right to express that faith is threatened? Most of us would probably say no, because we feel that we live in a free society. However, there are those among us that would beg to differ. These people point to what they see as a systematic effort to deconstruct faith in favor of secular humanism, which is a belief that the human does not need God to achieve happiness or fulfillment.
We all can agree, I believe, faith in Christ does not hold the preeminent place in society the way it did a century ago. As we approach a day in which our country gives thanks for freedoms of democracy, let us not forget to be thankful for and watchful of our right to worship our Savior Jesus Christ and to pray for those who may not agree with our beliefs as we hold fast to ours.
Peace,
Fr. John Kurgan
Readings for the Memorial of Saint Andrew Dũng-Lạc, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs
Read the story of St Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions
Would you like to receive Readings & Reflections, and a link to join us for Mass? Subscribe to The Daily Bread newsletter.