Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection November 18, 2024
Thirty-Third Week of Ordinary Time
18th November 2024 (Monday)
Psalter: Week 1
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Revelation 1:1-4; 2:1-5a
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne. [I heard the Lord saying to me] To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.’ I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.
Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6 (R. Revelation 2:7b)
R/. To the one who conquers, I will grant to eat of the tree of life.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. I am the light of the wold, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 18:35-43
It happened that, as Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Monday – Thirty-Third Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: It happens in the case of many that there is a lot of enthusiasm initially. But in course of time, it declines because priorities change
1. Often many start great with a lot of focus, determination, and dedication in their life of faith. This is their first love in which there is passion and intensity. This is testified in the initial faith of the church of Ephesus in the book of Revelation.
2. Some of the details of this first love are very vivid and striking: There is Toil and patient endurance in bearing up for the Lord’s sake. They are judicious and discerning concerning false teachers. They shun the evil ones and refrain from them. They never grew weary but zealous and vibrant.
3. But they have abandoned their first love. They have fallen away from their heights of faith and fidelity. This is exactly the blindness that is typified in the gospel. There is a blind man of Jericho sitting by the roadside begging. But he is aware of his blindness. He desires to be healed. He approaches Jesus. And he receives his sight.
4. We are also expected to be and do. We must realise that we too have abandoned our first love. How? We do not stand tall and still in our journey of faith. We do not toil hard. We are not cautious and judicious concerning false influences. Neither do keep away from them nor resent them. We do not endure patiently and do not bear up for the Lord’s sake. We easily grow weary and thus lack a sustained zeal and vibrancy.
5. Therefore one must come to sense where we have fallen. We must repent and regain what we have lost. We must restart the works that we did first
Practice: Alas! How easily we have fallen away from our first love, the Lord, and fallen to secondary and unworthy loves, that is undoing cravings and pursuits
