The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, November 20, 2003
Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Maccabees 2:15-29
Psalm 50:1-2,5-6,14-15
Luke 19:41-44

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

As we approach the end of the Church year, we are confronted with tragedy and tears in the daily readings as Mattathias and his sons begin the revolt against foreign oppression. It will not end until Jerusalem itself is destroyed and a million of its inhabitants are killed in the year 70 A.D. In our own days, it seems terror is approaching apocalyptic proportions, and blood is everywhere. How important for us to have faith in the power of Christ's own blood which has conquered death. We must never abandon hope in the victory of Jesus' death and resurrection over satanic forces.

In the Gospel, Jesus weeps over his beloved Jerusalem, knowing that it is their ingratitude which will bring about the destruction of the city and its people. It is a terrible example of free will bringing destruction and those who have freely and coldly rejected God. Ingratitude drys up love, generosity and compassion. On the other hand, St. Augustine tells us that the shortest and most effective prayer is "Deo Gratias." The great St. Bernard wrote that ingratitude is the greatest hindrance to progress in the spiritual life, because God withholds future graces from those who fail to thank Him.

May every day of our lives be a Thanksgiving Day. In the grace God pours on us, we will have the courage to endure these troubled times.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore (smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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posted by joachim at 4:18 AM