November 17
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
“You are my inheritance, O Lord!”
Readings
Reflection
This week, we are offered a glimpse of the end of the world as we know it. This is a time when the justice and mercy of God will be manifested on the world.
The reading from the book of Daniel is the earliest statement of belief in the resurrection of the dead in the Old Testament. Daniel speaks of those who have been “sleeping in the dust” coming back to life. Of those who come back to life some will go on to everlasting life while others to eternal shame. The Psalm asks God to keep us faithful to him.
In the second reading, the writer of the book of Hebrews reminds us that through Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross, he has made us perfect. We no longer have to make offerings for sins, for Christ has made the one eternal offering which was himself. To enter heaven therefore, we need only to believe in Christ, to confess our sins and to live out our faith as we are called to do. In the gospel, Jesus tells us that the Son of Man will come in his glory and will gather to himself all those who have been faithful to him. We are reminded that no one will know the day or the hour that these things will take place, so we must always be prepared.
Jesus also tells us that his words will never pass away but will always be there to remind the people of the faith. We will always have the warnings of Jesus to help us to be ready for the coming of the Kingdom.
As we progress through our lives, we who are faithful to Jesus must find ways to serve him. As we pass by those who are less fortunate than we are, we need to recognize them and their poverty. When we offer our time, talent and treasure to the world, we are not only making our world a better, more just place, but we are also paving the way for our future life in heaven. No one knows when this will happen, so we always have to be ready. We say in faith; “Come Lord Jesus.”
Peace,
Deacon Dare
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