Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection November 26, 2024
Thirty-Fourth Week of Ordinary Time
26th November 2024 (Tuesday)
Psalter: Week 2
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Revelation 14:14-19
I, John, looked and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped. Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Psalm 96:10, 11-12, 13 (R. 13b)
R/. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Be faithful unto death, says the Lord, and I will give you the crown of life.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 21:5-11
At that time: As some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, Jesus said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Tuesday – Thirty-Fourth Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: The end is sure and judgment is sure. What will be our fate will be determined by what is the quality of life here on earth till we die
1. Today’s Word of God draws our attention to the end times and the subsequent judgment of God. It is very sad that many become so earth-bound and deeply engrossed in the affairs of the world. Consequently, they lose sight of what is beyond earth and human existence.
2. This is the biggest problem of our times: we have become so short-sighted. We are caught up with goals and targets till the end of our earthly life. It is not wrong to be goal-oriented, to strive to reach the set targets.
3. But we need to examine and question what kind of targets and goals these are. Mostly, these are materialistic, connected to money, success, power, position, popularity, and enjoyment in life. Mostly it is about how to enjoy this life with comfort and convenience, with name and fame, with prestige and privilege.
4. Most of the time, the whole struggle and search is for temporary and temporal benefit, pleasure, and satisfaction. Many live and act as if they are permanent here on earth. They place their excessive trust in material accomplishments and worldly glories.
5. It is in this context, both the readings of the day remind and caution us about the end times and God’s judgment. We may not know the exact time but the end is sure. It will be preceded by times of deception, falsity, terror, violence, and destruction. These are the signs of the end times.
6. In such times, we are exhorted to be wise and sober so that we are not led astray by false teachers and deviating assurances. We should also not be terrified by them. Instead, it is better to prepare ourselves, striving to live a life that makes us worthy to face the day of judgment.
Practice: It is high time that we extricate ourselves from our fetters of excessive entanglements with the affairs and interests of the world. We should raise our sight on life after
