Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C
November 13, 2016
Gospel: Lk 21:5-19
While some people were speaking about how the temple
was adorned (1) with costly stones and votive offerings (2), Jesus said, “All
that you see here-- the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon
another stone that will not be thrown down.”
Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” He
answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying,
‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’
Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and
insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it
will not immediately be the end.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise (3)
against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful
earthquakes, famines (4), and plagues (5) from place to place; and awesome
sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.
“Before all this happens, however, they will seize (6)
and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It
will lead to your giving testimony (7). Remember, you are not to prepare your
defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all
your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute (8). You will even be
handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put
some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name (9), but not
a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure
your lives.”
http://www.usccb.org
The difficult words
(1)Adorned means decorated.
(2)Votive offerings are gifts or money given to God
or the temple as a sign of prayer or in hope of getting a certain wish.
(3)To rise here means to move against
someone in battle.
(4)Famines are severe shortages of food in
which many people die from hunger.
(5)Plagues are widespread outbreaks of
disease or other destructive forces.
(6)To seize means to capture or arrest.
(7)Testimony is witness to the truth.
(8)To refute means to disagree or to prove
wrong.
(9)Someone’s name represents their power and the
truth of their message. Jesus is saying that his followers will be hated
because they believe in him.
This week’s spotlight
The Epistles to the Thessalonians
Thessalonica is a port situated in northern Greece. Paul went there to
announce the Gospel and he founded a small community. He wrote two letters (or
"epistles") to the Christians of Thessalonica. Bible specialists
think that these are the oldest texts of the New Testament. They date from the
years 50 to 52 A.D., about twenty years after the death and resurrection of
Jesus.
The priest’s prayer after the Our Father
After the people pray the Our Father together, the
priest adds a special prayer. It builds on the last part of the Our Father -
"deliver us from evil." As long as we are on earth, there will be
hard times, and we will have to face the effects of sin. The priest is asking
God to keep his loving arms around us. We ask for peace, protection, and the
strength to go on.
Reflection
Jesus' promise
You have heard talk about crimes and wars before. The
world is not always friendly; people can be nasty to each other. Jesus knows
this very well. That’s why he promises us in this week’s Gospel that he will
never abandon us. Even if we are hated because of him, we don’t have to be
afraid; he is near. This doesn’t mean that we will never have to suffer, but
that we can be confident in our difficulties, knowing that Jesus loves us.
God is not a magician who whisks away danger and
stress. Rather, he is a father who knows our struggles and stands by us always.
He teaches us to live in peace and trust. He helps us to deal with our problems
with courage and hope.
Discussion questions
1.What does Jesus tell his followers about the final days?
2.What do the people ask Jesus?
3.What warning does Jesus give?
4.How does Jesus offer hope and reassurance to his followers?
After
receiving Holy Communion,
you can say this prayer silently to yourself. If you
have not yet
received your First Communion, you can still say this prayer because of your desire to
receive Jesus.
Father, through Jesus, in
communion with the whole Church, I thank you for coming into my heart. This
communion gives me the strength and confidence I need to do what is loving.
Help me to be always fair and just.
This week…
Make peace where there is conflict
Perhaps there has been a fight at
school recently or just arguments among friends. You can try to bring a little
peace to the situation by getting together those who have argued so that they
can talk to one another.
Don’t join in the teasing
This week, be careful not to let
yourself be influenced by those who make fun of others at school or in sports.
No one likes to be teased. If you're the one being made fun of, try to remember
God’s love for you, and do your best to ignore the teasing.
Crossword Puzzle
Source: usccb.org
- Magnifikid - sermons4kids.com – rclblectionary.com
–usccb.org/bible/readings-audio.cfm