November 20, Saturday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time We are told in the first reading about the end of King Antiochus IV. After he had failed to rob the temple of Artemis in Mesopotamia and heard about the restoration of Jerusalem and its Temple, he died in discouragement. “God is the God of […]
Category Archives: Daily Readings
November 19, Friday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time After his first military victories over the Syrians, Judas Maccabeus wanted to restore legitimate worship. He had the desecrated Temple cleansed and consecrated anew, rebuilt the altar, and offered the sacrifice in accordance with the Law. Jesus drove out the merchants from the Temple and […]
November 18, Thursday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time The priest and leader Matthatias turns down the honors and power promised him if he renounces his faith and offers sacrifice in honor of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes of Syria. He starts the open revolt of the Jewish people, a revolt that is both religious and […]
November 17, Wednesday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time We hear the inspiring story of the mother and her seven sons who with great courage preferred to die for their faith rather than to sin against the Law. Faith, the Gospel and the life of Christ are rich gifts which we have received to work […]
November 16, Tuesday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time The first book of the Maccabees is historical and gives us the story of the struggle of the faithful Jews to preserve their religion and culture. The second book of the Maccabees is a more edifying book that gives us inspiring examples of the people’s struggles […]
November 15, Monday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time This week the first reading in Year I will be taken from the two canonical books of the Maccabees. These tell the story of the epic fight of the Jews against the Syrian empire. The Syrian king wanted to unify the kingdom under Hellenistic culture. Many […]
November 14, Sunday Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Some parts of Scripture, like today’s readings, speak of calamities and disasters as signs of an old world decaying and Jesus coming in judgment. Today’s television and other media bring into our homes the disasters and violence and suffering of the whole world; and people ask: […]
November 13, Saturday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Their salvation through the Red Sea and their journey through the desert were like a new creation for the Hebrew people. God protected them and led them to freedom. This reminds us how our passing through the saving waters of baptism has recreated us as the People […]
November 12, Friday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time The author of Wisdom accuses non-Jews of being blind. They see the beauty of creation, but they fail to recognize the creator behind them, so much so, that they begin to adore created things. Jesus reprimands those who fail to see the signs of his […]
November 11, Thursday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time The author of the book of Wisdom gives high praise to wisdom. She is personified, she is like a spirit that moves. She is like the breath of God that orders all things well. To the Pharisees and perhaps to the disciples too, anxiously looking […]