The Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

The Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

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November 18, 2018

Daniel 12:1-3; Psalm 16; Hebrews 10:11-14, 18; Mark 13:24-32

As we approach the end of the church year and the end times of the world, the readings talk about gloom and doom before the Lord returns in glory to collect us. We will pass through distressing and confusing times and just when we think it is too dark, it gets darker, but it is not the end of the story.

In our troubling times in the church, we just do not know when the bad news will end. On Monday morning, just as the U.S. Catholic bishops were beginning their annual meeting, they received word from the Pope asking them not to vote on any proposed protocols for sanctions against bishops who were not adhering to the abuse norms set in 2002. For many, it was a major failure by the Vatican for impeding the progress of the bishops who wanted to show they were serious about setting the church along the path to integrity. Articles and news commentators were discouraged; victims relived their pain once again, and the church was portrayed as being insensitive and backwards, but that is not the whole story.

Before I continue, I want to do two things. I want to say thanks. Thank you for coming to mass. Thank you for sticking with the church and for standing by one another. I know it is not easy, and I wish I knew what to say to you. Thanks for continuing to believe because Christ is still to be found in this church. I’m just glad that you are here. The second thing I want to say is that I am not being defensive of the church in my next statements, but I hope to provide a further rationale for the Pope’s pause with the bishops.

The main reason for the delay is that in ten weeks, that is, in February, the Pope asked all the heads of the world’s bishop’s conferences to gather in Rome to talk about a worldwide response to the crisis. These are the real decision makers. I trust the mission of mercy and reform of Pope Francis and I believe his heart and mind is in the place. The Pope realizes this is a problem that has engulfed the whole world and he needs a sweeping response, not just a single response from a solitary country. Believers in the U.S. make up about six percent of the entire Catholic population. From my reading of this situation, the Pope wants a deliberate, well-articulated, comprehensive approach to address these major issues. This is greater than the U.S. bishops.

         The Gospel gives us a sliver of hope. It asks us to read the signs of the times and to thoughtfully anticipate what is coming. We need to respond rather than to react and take the time to get additional information before making swift, conclusive judgments. Both the first reading and the Gospel reminds us that in the darkness, we will soon know that Christ is near. It helps me to keep my faith. Death is always followed by life, and we are experiencing the necessary death of parts of our church. The final chapter is not written until we recognize Christ in our midst, that Our Lord has not forgotten us, that he is at work reconciling all things. Christ is at work in ways that we cannot yet detect, but he will give us signs, signs as small as the bud on the fig tree, small, but certain signals of things to come.

         My prayer is that you please do not lose hope yet. You are the buds of the fig tree, the signs that springtime will come. You are the hope. Your faith and goodwill are signs to me that Christ is among us. Somehow, Christ will reveal himself to you, and you will know of his care for you. When I wonder, “Where are you in this chaos, O Lord,” I come to mass and find him before me present in the People of God, and I give thanks. Thomas Merton once made a statement, that I think speaks well of your lives, “There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun.” Knowing that, I am content.

Scripture for Daily Mass

First Reading: 

Monday: (Revelation 1) The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show his servants what must happen soon. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who gives witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw.

Tuesday: (Revelation 3) The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this: "I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.

Wednesday: (Revelation 4) At once I was caught up in spirit. A throne was there in heaven, and on the throne sat one whose appearance sparkled like jasper and carnelian. Around the throne was a halo as brilliant as an emerald.

Thursday: (Sirach 50) And now, bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth; Who fosters people's growth from their mother's womb, and fashions them according to his will! May he grant you joy of heart and may peace abide among you.

Friday (Revelation 10) "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land." So I went up to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. He said to me, "Take and swallow it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey."

Saturday (Revelation 11) When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will wage war against them and conquer them and kill them.

Gospel: 

Monday: (Luke 18) As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."

Tuesday: (Luke 19) At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was.

Wednesday (Luke 19) A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, 'Engage in trade with these until I return.' His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, 'We do not want this man to be our king.'

Thursday (Luke 17) As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!"

Friday (Luke 19) And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

Saturday (Luke 20) “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. 

Saints of the Week

November 18: The Dedication of the Basilicas of Peter and Paul celebrates churches in honor of the two great church founders. St. Peter's basilica was begun in 323 by Emperor Constantine - directly over Peter's tomb. A new basilica was begun in 1506 and it was completed in 1626. Many great artists and architects had a hand in building it. St. Paul Outside the Walls was built in the 4th century over Paul's tomb. It was destroyed by fire in 1823 and subsequently rebuilt.

November 18: Rose Philippine Duchesne (1769-1852) joined the Sisters of the Sacred Heart and at age 49, traveled to Missouri to set up a missionary center and the first free school west of the Mississippi. She then founded six more missions. She worked to better the lives of the Native Americans.

November 21: The Presentation of Mary originated as a feast in 543 when the basilica of St. Mary's the New in Jerusalem was dedicated. The day commemorate the event when Mary's parent brought her to the Temple to dedicate her to God. The Roman church began to celebrate this feast in 1585.

Fourth Thursday: Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. is derived from a mix of European and Native American traditions. Joyous festivals were held in Europe to give thanks for a good harvest and to rejoice with others for their hard work. It is a day to give thanks for the many blessings we have received through God's generosity throughout the year.

November 22: Cecilia, martyr (2nd or 3rd century), is the patron saint of music because of the song she sang at her wedding. She died just days after her husband, Valerian, and his brother were beheaded for refusing to sacrifice to the gods. She is listed in the First Eucharistic prayer as an early church martyr.

November 23: Clement I, pope and martyr (d. 99) is also mentioned in the First Eucharistic prayer. He is the third pope and was martyred in exile. He is presumed to be a former slave in the imperial court. He wrote a letter to the Corinthians after a revolt and as pope he restored ordered within the ministries.   

November 23: Columban, abbot (d. 615) was an Irish monk who left Ireland for France with 12 companions to found a monastery as a base for preaching. They established 3 monasteries within 10 years. Columban opposed the king's polygamy and was expelled. He set up monasteries in Switzerland and Italy before he died. Though he was expelled, the monasteries were permitted to remain open.

November 23: Miguel Pro, S.J., martyr (1891-1927) lived in Guadalupe, Mexico before entering the Jesuits. Public worship was forbidden in Mexico so Miguel became an undercover priest often wearing disguises. He was arrested and ordered to be shot in front of a firing squad without benefit of a trial. Before he died she shouted out, "Long live Christ the King."

November 24: Andrew Dung-Lac and companion martyrs (1785-1839) were missionaries to Vietnam during the 17th through 19th centuries. Over 130,000 Christians were killed, including priests, sisters, brothers, and lay people. Many of these were Vietnamese citizens.

This Week in Jesuit History

·      Nov 18, 1538. Pope Paul III caused the governor of Rome to publish the verdict proclaiming the complete innocence of Ignatius and his companions of all heresy.

·      Nov 19, 1526. The Inquisition in Alcala, Spain examined Ignatius. They were concerned with the novelty of his way of life and his teaching.

·      Nov 20, 1864. In St Peter's, Rome, the beatification of Peter Canisius by Pope Pius IX.

·      Nov 21, 1759. At Livorno, the harbor officials refused to let the ship, S Bonaventura, with 120 exiled Portuguese Jesuits on board, cast anchor. Carvalho sent orders to the Governor of Rio de Janeiro to make a diligent search for the supposed wealth of the Jesuits.

·      Nov 22, 1633. The first band of missionaries consisting of five priests and one brother, embarked from England for Maryland. They were sent at the request of Lord Baltimore. The best known among them was Fr. Andrew White.

·      Nov 22, 1791: Georgetown Academy opened with one student, aged 12, who was the first student taught by the Jesuits in the United States.

·      Nov 23, 1545: Jeronimo de Nadal, whom Ignatius had known as a student at Paris, entered the Society. Later Nadal was instrumental in getting Ignatius to narrate his autobiography.

·      In 1927: the execution of Fr. Michael Augustine Pro, SJ, by leaders of the persecution of the Church in Mexico.

·      Nov 24, 1963: The death of John LaFarge, pioneer advocate of racial justice in the United States.