Letters From Home

Readings:
Isaiah 2:1–5
Psalm 122:1–9
Romans 13:11–14
Matthew 24:37–44

Jesus exaggerates in today’s Gospel when He claims not to know the day or the hour when He will come again. Christ occasionally makes such overstatements to drive home a point we might otherwise miss (see Matthew 5:34; 23:9; Luke 14:26).

His point here is that the exact “hour” is not important. What is crucial is that we not postpone our repentance, that we be ready for Him—spiritually and morally—when He comes. For He will surely come, He tells us—like a thief in the night, like the flood in the time of Noah.

In today’s Epistle, Paul too compares the present age to a time of advancing darkness and night.

Though we sit in the darkness, overshadowed by death, we have seen arise the great light of our Lord who has come into our midst (see Matthew 4:16; John 1:9; 8:12). He is the true light, the life of the world. And His light continues to shine in His Church, the new Jerusalem promised by Isaiah in today’s First Reading.

In the Church, all nations stream to the God of Jacob, to worship and seek wisdom in the House of David. From the Church goes forth His word of instruction, the light of the Lord—that all might walk in His paths toward that eternal day when night will be no more (see Revelation 22:5).

By our Baptism we have been made children of the light and day (see Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5–7). It is time we start living like it: throwing off the fruitless works of darkness, rejecting the desires of the flesh, and walking by the light of His grace.

The hour is late as we begin a new Advent. Let us begin again in this Eucharist.

As we sing in today’s Psalm, “let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” Let us give thanks to His name, keeping watch for His coming, knowing that our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday of the Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time by Mr. Clement Harrold.

Ordinary Weekday / Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary First Reading: Revelation 22: 1-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 95: 1-2, 3-5, 6-7ab
Alleluia: Luke 21: 36
Gospel: Luke 21: 34-36

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday of the Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. John Bergsma.

Ordinary Weekday / Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin, Martyr First Reading: Revelation 20: 1-4, 11-21: 2
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 84: 3, 4, 5-6a and 8a
Alleluia: Luke 21: 28
Gospel: Luke 21: 29-33

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time by Ms. Joan Watson.

Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest, Martyr, & Companions, Martyrs Obligatory Memorial, Thanksgiving Day / Ordinary First Reading: Sirach 50:22-24
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11  Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Alleluia: 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Gospel: Luke 17: 11-19

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Wednesday of the Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. John Bergsma.

Col 1:24–2:3, Psalm 62:6-7, 9, Lk 6:6-11

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Cecilia by Dr. Shane Owens.

Cecilia, Virgin, Martyr Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Revelation 14: 14-19
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 96: 10, 11-12, 13
Alleluia: Revelation 2: 10c
Gospel: Luke 21: 5-11

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Revelation 14: 1-3, 4b-5
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 24: 1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
Alleluia: Matthew 24: 42a, 44
Gospel: Luke 21: 1-4

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Readings:
2 Samuel 5:1–3
Psalm 122:1–5
Colossians 1:12–20
Luke 23:35–43

Week by week, the Liturgy has been preparing us for the revelation to be made on this, the last Sunday of the Church year.

Jesus, we have been shown, is truly the Chosen One, the Messiah of God, the King of the Jews. Ironically, in today’s Gospel we hear these names on the lips of those who don’t believe in Him—Israel’s rulers, the soldiers, a criminal dying alongside Him.

They can only see the scandal of a bloodied figure nailed to a cross. They scorn Him in words and gestures foretold in Israel’s Scriptures (see Psalm 22:7–9; 69:21–22; Wisdom 2:18–20). If He is truly King, God will rescue Him, they taunt. But He did not come to save Himself, but to save them—and us.

The good thief shows us how we are to accept the salvation He offers us. He confesses his sins and acknowledges he deserves to die for them. And he calls on the name of Jesus, seeking His mercy and forgiveness.

By his faith he is saved. Jesus “remembers” him—as God has always remembered His people, visiting them with His saving deeds, numbering them among His chosen heirs (see Psalm 106:4–5).

By the blood of His cross, Jesus reveals His Kingship—not in saving His own life, but in offering it as a ransom for ours. He transfers us to “the kingdom of His beloved Son,” as today’s Epistle tells us.

His kingdom is the Church, the new Jerusalem and House of David that we sing of in today’s Psalm.

By their covenant with David in today’s First Reading, Israel’s tribes are made one “bone and flesh” with their king. By the New Covenant made in His blood, Christ becomes one flesh with the people of His kingdom—the head of His body, the Church (see Ephesians 5:23–32).

We celebrate and renew this covenant in every Eucharist, giving thanks for our redemption, hoping for the day when we too will be with Him in Paradise.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time by Mr. Clement Harrold.

Ordinary Weekday / Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary First Reading: Revelation 11: 4-12
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 144: 1, 2, 9-10
Alleluia: Second Timothy 1: 10
Gospel: Luke 20: 27-40

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Lecturas:
Isaías 2,1–5
Salmo 122,1–9
Romanos 13,11–14
Mateo 24,37–44

En el Evangelio de hoy, Jesús exagera cuando dice que no conoce el día o la hora en que vendrá de nuevo.

En ciertas ocasiones, Él hace esas exageraciones para tocar un punto que de otra manera podríamos pasar por alto (cf. Mt 5,32; 23,9; Lc 14,26).

Su punto acá es que la “hora” exacta no es importante. Lo crucial es que no dejemos nuestro arrepentimiento para después, que estemos preparados – espiritual y moralmente – para cuando Él venga. Pues de seguro llegará, según nos dice, como ladrón en la noche, como el diluvio en tiempos de Noé.

También San Pablo, en su epístola de hoy, compara la época actual con un tiempo de tinieblas y noche avanzada.

Aunque estamos en la oscuridad, en sombras de muerte, hemos visto levantarse la gran luz de nuestro Señor, que ha venido en medio de nosotros (cf. Mt 4,16; Jn 1,9; 8,12). Él es la luz verdadera, la vida del mundo. Y su luz sigue brillando en su Iglesia, la nueva Jerusalén prometida por Isaías en la primera lectura de hoy.

En la Iglesia, todas las naciones acuden al Dios de Jacob; a adorar y buscar sabiduría en la Casa de David. De la Iglesia proviene la luz del Señor, su palabra instructora para que todos puedan andar Sus caminos hacia el día eterno en que la noche dejará de existir (cf. Ap 22,5).

Por nuestro Bautismo hemos sido constituidos hijos de la luz y del día (cf. Ef 5,8; 1 Ts 5,5–7). Es tiempo de que comencemos a vivir de acuerdo a ello, apartando las estériles obras de las tinieblas y los deseos de la carne, caminando por la luz de Su gracia.

La hora es avanzada al comenzar un nuevo Adviento. Comencemos de nuevo en esta Eucaristía.

Como cantamos en el salmo de hoy, vayamos con alegría a la casa del Señor. Demos gracias a su Nombre, vigilando su venida, sabedores de que nuestra salvación está más cerca ahora que cuando creímos por primera vez.