Sunday November 17, 2024
THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR B
Office: Psalter Week 1, Te Deum
Mass prop. Gloria. Creed.
Preface of the Sunday
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mystery
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
WORLD DAY OF THE POOR
Vespers II of the 33rd Sunday of the Year
THEME OF THE SUNDAY: Courage, the Liberation Is Near at Hand!
There is a proverb that goes, ‘“No night is so long and dark that it has no dawn.” In the life of the Church, of the world, of a nation, of every man and woman, no situation is so bad that it does not contain signs of hope. The first reading and the gospel invite us to discover the signs of the coming of a new world. The second reading compares the priesthood of Christ with that of the Old Covenant. Not even the worst thing that can happen to us, sin, can be a cause of discouragement to us, because Christ has already overpowered it.
THE GLORIA
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you. We bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
FIRST READING
“At that time your people shall be delivered.”
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel (Daniel 12:1-3)
At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time; but at that time your people shall be delivered, every one whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 16:5 and 8.9-10.11 (R. 1)
R/. Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;
you yourself who secure my lot.
I keep the Lord before me always;
with him at my right hand, I shall not be moved. R/.
And so, my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;
even my flesh shall rest in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to hell,
nor let your holy one see corruption. R/.
R/. Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand, bliss forever. R/.
SECOND READING
“By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 10:11-14.18)
Every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, then to wait until his enemies should be made a stool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Luke 21:36
Alleluia. Watch at all times, praying that you may be able to stand before the Son of man. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“He will gather his elect from the four winds.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 13:24-32)
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “In those days, after that [great] tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Creed (I Believe)
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Celebrant:
At the end of time, the Lord will come in clouds with great power and glory to gather us into his kingdom. Let us pray that we may always stand ready in preparation for his coming.
FOR THE CHURCH: that she may be more present among all peoples of the world, especially the poor, the marginalized, the sick, and those who have no voice. We pray O Lord.
FOR OUR CIVIL LEADERS: that in fulfilling their work of governance, they may promote dialogue and mutual understanding among peoples of different tribes and religions, and so contribute to the building of a peaceful society. We pray O Lord.
FOR THE POOR: that we may grow in our awareness of their needs, constantly share our resources with them, and do all within our power to restore their lost dignity. We pray O Lord.
FOR OUR COMMUNITY: that we may always strive to prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ by persistent prayer, by fraternal charity, and by being faithful to God’s teaching in the ordinary situation of our lives. We pray O Lord.
FOR OTHER INTENTIONS: (the sick, church projects or other activities).
FOR THE DEAD, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF OUR PARISH COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MEMBERS: that they may find eternal rest with the Lord. We pray O Lord.
We pray in silence for our private intentions.
Celebrant:
Father, in you we find our hope. Do not abandon us, your children. Deliver us from the corruptions of the world and grant that, at the end of our earthly lives, we may reign with you forever in your kingdom. Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
The last Sunday before the Feast of Christ the king that marks the end of the Liturgical year reminds us of the last things. The readings from the book of Daniel and the gospel of mark teach us of the second coming of Christ and the resurrection of the dead. According to Daniel, the wise and the righteous will shine like stars. Jesus reminds us that the Son of Man will come in the clouds and his angels will gather the elect. We often hear preachers using these apocalyptic passages to frighten people and to scare them into repenting. They preach about the imminent coming of the Lord. But Jesus is very clear on this: “But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mk 13:32). The church wants to remind us of the need to remain prepared, not in worry and fear, but in the love of God and in charity and compassion towards the needy. We need to read the signs of the times. The events of everyday life, like natural calamities, accidents, epidemics, wars, terrorist attacks, economic recession etc., should lead us to think of the shortness and vulnerability of our life on earth and of our true destiny which is heaven where we shall enjoy eternal happiness. Jesus, by his singular sacrifice on the cross, has sanctified all of us and obtained for us the key to heaven (2nd Reading).
Today’s Saint and Quote: St Elizabeth of Hungary – November 17th
-Everything I own really belongs to the poor.
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL
“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.” – Isaiah 30:18
-Pray for mercy for the times you have allowed envy to reign in your heart.
-Pray for victims of envy, that God would vindicate and restore them
-Pray for the grace to work in God’s vineyard trusting in his merciful judgement.
Let Us Pray,
God of justice and mercy, open our eyes to see you in the face of the poor. Open our ears to hear you in the cries of the exploited open our mouths to defend you in the public squares as well as in private deeds. Remind us that what we do to the least ones, we do to you. In the name of Jesus – Amen.
