Monday of the Thirty fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for Monday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time
Commentary:
Reading 1 Rev 14:1-3, 4b-5
The symbolism is clear in this passage from Revelations. Mount Zion represents the heavenly kingdom and the Lamb of God Jesus. In spite of what has been written in the “Left Behind” series of books popularizing the idea that the one hundred and forty four thousand is an actual number, in the context of St. John’s numerology; “One hundred and forty-four thousand: the square of twelve (the number of Israel's tribes) multiplied by a thousand, symbolic of the new Israel (cf Rev 14:1-5; Gal 6:16; James 1:1) that embraces people from every nation, race, people, and tongue (Rev 7:9).[1]” These faithful and unblemished (” On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished”) seem to be the faithful nucleus that forms the immediate worshipers of the Christ.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
This is part of a hymn of entrance, sung as the Arc of the Covenant was brought into the Temple followed by the faithful. Once again in this song we find a reference borrowed in the passage from John’s Revelation. Who are the ones allowed full access to God? They are those; “whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.” In other words they are clean in heart, body, and spirit.
Gospel Lk 21:1-4
The widow in this Gospel story represents the poor whose focus must be on God rather than on material wealth. This focus brings them the blessing of God because of their genuine praise and love.
Reflection:
It is appropriate on the eve (metaphorically speaking) of Advent we are given a scriptural arrow that points us to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Notice how in Revelations we hear of the 144 Thousand who are unblemished and in the presence of the Lamb of God and then again in the Psalm we hear of the ones who are clean in thought, in body, and in intent or spirit.
Finally we are given the story of the widow in the Gospel who gives from her need rather than her excess, the purity of her intent is praised by Jesus himself. The message begs us to evaluate our own worthiness to stand before the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
We are asked to have the courage to look inside ourselves and see there the blemish that is a barrier to Jesus and to hold it up in contrition so that the Lord of Mercy can forgive it and it can be washed away.
Readings for Monday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time
Commentary:
Reading 1 Rev 14:1-3, 4b-5
The symbolism is clear in this passage from Revelations. Mount Zion represents the heavenly kingdom and the Lamb of God Jesus. In spite of what has been written in the “Left Behind” series of books popularizing the idea that the one hundred and forty four thousand is an actual number, in the context of St. John’s numerology; “One hundred and forty-four thousand: the square of twelve (the number of Israel's tribes) multiplied by a thousand, symbolic of the new Israel (cf Rev 14:1-5; Gal 6:16; James 1:1) that embraces people from every nation, race, people, and tongue (Rev 7:9).[1]” These faithful and unblemished (” On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished”) seem to be the faithful nucleus that forms the immediate worshipers of the Christ.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
This is part of a hymn of entrance, sung as the Arc of the Covenant was brought into the Temple followed by the faithful. Once again in this song we find a reference borrowed in the passage from John’s Revelation. Who are the ones allowed full access to God? They are those; “whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.” In other words they are clean in heart, body, and spirit.
Gospel Lk 21:1-4
The widow in this Gospel story represents the poor whose focus must be on God rather than on material wealth. This focus brings them the blessing of God because of their genuine praise and love.
Reflection:
It is appropriate on the eve (metaphorically speaking) of Advent we are given a scriptural arrow that points us to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Notice how in Revelations we hear of the 144 Thousand who are unblemished and in the presence of the Lamb of God and then again in the Psalm we hear of the ones who are clean in thought, in body, and in intent or spirit.
Finally we are given the story of the widow in the Gospel who gives from her need rather than her excess, the purity of her intent is praised by Jesus himself. The message begs us to evaluate our own worthiness to stand before the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
We are asked to have the courage to look inside ourselves and see there the blemish that is a barrier to Jesus and to hold it up in contrition so that the Lord of Mercy can forgive it and it can be washed away.
There are some, especially in the bible based protestant denominations that argue that the Sacrament of reconciliation is not necessary, that if we say we are sorry to Jesus in prayer, that is enough. We argue that there is an analogy that shows how wrong they are.
If you go to the doctor because you are not felling well and he says he’d like to do some tests, and then if you went home and some time later started feeling better, you might think, I’m OK. In this, you would be in the position of the person who does not go along with the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Would it not be better though to have the doctor call you up and say; “I’ve looked at the test results and you are fine” than just to guess.
That’s what happens in Reconciliation, the Priest, standing in the place of Christ, tells you directly, you’re all right. God’s love operates through the sacraments; grace is transmitted through them. We are foolish not to take advantage of it as we approach the make of God’s great gift in the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord.
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