November 22nd, 2018

Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr

LECTIONARY
500

FIRST READING
RV 5:1-10

I, John, saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne.
It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.
Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice,
“Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”
But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth
was able to open the scroll or to examine it.
I shed many tears because no one was found worthy
to open the scroll or to examine it.
One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep.
The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed,
enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.”

Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne
and the four living creatures and the elders
a Lamb that seemed to have been slain.
He had seven horns and seven eyes;
these are the seven spirits of God sent out into the whole world.
He came and received the scroll from the right hand
of the one who sat on the throne.
When he took it,
the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders
fell down before the Lamb.
Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense,
which are the prayers of the holy ones.
They sang a new hymn:

“Worthy are you to receive the scroll
and break open its seals,
for you were slain and with your Blood you purchased for God
those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation.
You made them a kingdom and priests for our God,
and they will reign on earth.”

PSALM
Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b

Response: The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.

Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.

Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.

Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
LK 19:41-44

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem,
he saw the city and wept over it, saying,
“If this day you only knew what makes for peace–
but now it is hidden from your eyes.
For the days are coming upon you
when your enemies will raise a palisade against you;
they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.
They will smash you to the ground and your children within you,
and they will not leave one stone upon another within you
because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

Daily Reflection

22nd November 2018

Since ancient times, in adversity and danger of attack, people would seek out a powerful God to help them overcome their problems or their menacing enemies. The Jews were constantly attacked by superior military powers. They believed that if their God was with them nothing could overpower them. And that is why Jerusalem was of such importance; it housed the Temple with the holy of holies, where they believed God dwelt.

But while the people believed in the presence of God in the Temple, they failed to recognize Jesus – the visible face of God in their midst. In fact, the Jewish religious leaders were scheming to eliminate Him; and this is how they had responded to the prophets and other messengers from God.

That is why Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, a city whose people were soon to bring destruction upon themselves!

How aware am I of the presence of God in my midst… at all times?