- Admin
- Nov 23, 2024
- 3 min read
November 25 - November 30, 2024
St Clement 1, bishop of Rome, martyr; St Catherine of Alexandria, virgin and martyr; St Colman of Cloyne, bishop.
Apocalypse 14:1-5 A vision of heaven opens—for those who following the Lamb. The 144,000 is symbolic (12x12x1000) meaning the whole world, everyone.
Luke 21:1-4 Though brief, this is a powerful story. We all recognise that quantity is not the measure of the gift but quality of the giving, the attitude of the heart. The little anecdote is in sharp contrast to the preceding avarice of the scribes.
Apocalypse 14:14-19 In this vision, the sufferings of the end of time are read using harvest imagery. Harvest, suggesting fruitfulness and ingathering, is a natural metaphor for the end of time.
Luke 21:5-11 Luke wrote long after the destruction of the Temple. The issue for him is not the destruction but the link between its ruin and the end of time. He writes to prevent useless speculation and insists that the end will not be at all secret but public.
St Fergal, bishop and missionary
Apocalypse 15:1-4 In this vision, the victory over evil is accomplished. The hymn quoted was probably used in the regular worship of the hearers. It’s use here is to encourage those still undergoing signicant harassment if not persecution.
Luke 21:12-19 Our gospels is a demanding teaching on the cost of bearing witness. As such, it looks forward to the Acts of the Apostles and there we see the early church suffering and courageously confessing Jesus. Jesus asks his disciples to follow his own example of costly faithfulness.
Apocalypse 18:1-2, 21-23, 19:1-3, 9 Today’s reading is a fantastical mock funeral for the forces of evil, represented by Babylon (= the Roman Empire). Thankfully, it ends positively.
Luke 21:20-28 There are two fairly distinct parts to our Gospel today. Firstly, Luke looks back on the actual destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 by the Romans. He reads the tragedy in the light of Old Testament predictions. The second part looks forward to the future coming of the Son of Man. For Luke, the extended “time of the church” leads to the end of time itself, at which point the believers will have nothing to fear.
Apocalypse 20:1-4,11-21 A dramatic vision of the end, with the destruction of evil, illustrated with ancient imagery of Satan, the Abyss and the book of life. Then God will establish the New Jerusalem, presenting her like a bride adorned.
Luke 21:29-33 A little horticulture may help. The g blossoms in late spring so it means that summer will soon arrive. The reference to “this generation” was already out of date, so to speak, when Luke wrote. Perhaps for him it points not to this very generation but to the generation at the end of time.
St Andrew, apostle
Romans 10:9-18 Paul is convinced that the Word of God is very near to us, “in our hearts and on our lips.” We need, nevertheless, bearers of that Word, more than ever…perhaps I could be a carrier myself ?
Matthew 4:18-22 As usual in the call stories, human things that would interest us—how did their wives and children feel?—are left out and we stand before the sovereign call of Jesus. Have I heard that call in my own life? coming is not a reason for complacency.
References
-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024aa, November 24). The solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112424.cfm
-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/
