Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection November 25, 2024

25th November 2024 (Monday)

Psalter: Week 2

Readings of the Day

First Reading: Revelation 14:1-3, 4b-5

I, John, looked and behold, on Mount Sion stood the Lamb, and with him one hundred forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the one hundred forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.

Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 (R. see 6)

R/. These are the people who seek your face, O Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. Stay awake, and be ready, the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

R/. Alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 21:1-4

At that time: Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Daily Gospel Reflection

Monday – Thirty-Fourth Week of Ordinary Time

Guidelines: What makes giving meritorious is not so much the quantity of what is given but the quality of heart that gives

1. God looks at the heart and the quality of life. He is not carried away by mere externals and appearances. He estimates and values the purity of intention, generosity of heart, and integrity of life. These are the one hundred and forty-four thousand in the first reading and the poor widow in the gospel.

2. The 144,000 had the Lamb’s name and the Father’s name written on their foreheads. This would mean they were totally committed to God, with loyalty imprinted on their hearts.

3. These had been redeemed from the earth, from mankind as first-fruits for God. They alone would learn the new song sung in heaven before the throne. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. In their mouth, no lie was found and they are blameless.

4. In the gospel, we have a poor widow who belongs to this redeemed category. She is singled out among many and highly appreciated by Jesus himself. He presents her to us as a model for giving. Many offer rich and abundant gifts at the temple but this woman gives only two small copper coins.

5. But the difference between her and them is they gave out of the abundance of things while she gave out of the abundance of her heart. She gave all she had to live on. It was a measureless and self-emptying giving. It was possible only because of her deepest love for God and trust in Him.

6. She stands today before us as an inspiration and challenge as well. She challenges our spirit of calculation in terms of gain or loss, profit or waste. She questions our craving to accumulate money and things and our displeasure to give up and part with something.

7. She inspires and motivates us to give to God and others without reserve and measure. This is possible only when we are holy and lovers of God like the 144, 000.

Practice: The world can become more just and happy if only people learn to give more generously and joyfully. This needs a spirit of humility to realise that all that we are and have is all given by God