Daily Reading and Questions for Reflection November 17, 2024

Daily Reading for Sunday, November 17th, 2024

Reading 1, Daniel 12:1-3

1                   'At that time Michael will arise -- the great Prince, defender of your people. That will be a time of great distress, unparalleled since nations first came into existence. When that time comes, your own people will be spared -- all those whose names are found written in the Book.

2                   'Of those who are sleeping in the Land of Dust, many will awaken, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting disgrace.

3                   Those who are wise will shine as brightly as the expanse of the heavens, and those who have instructed many in uprightness, as bright as stars for all eternity.

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11

5 My birthright, my cup is Yahweh; you, you alone, hold my lot secure.

8     I keep Yahweh before me always, for with him at my right hand, nothing can shake me.

9     So my heart rejoices, my soul delights, my body too will rest secure,

10  for you will not abandon me to Sheol, you cannot allow your faithful servant to see the abyss.

11  You will teach me the path of life, unbounded joy in your presence, at your right hand delight for ever.

Reading 2, Hebrews 10:11-14, 18

11  Every priest stands at his duties every day, offering over and over again the same sacrifices which are quite incapable of taking away sins.

12  He, on the other hand, has offered one single sacrifice for sins, and then taken his seat for ever, at the right hand of God,

13  where he is now waiting till his enemies are made his footstool.

14  By virtue of that one single offering, he has achieved the eternal perfection of all who are sanctified.

18 When these have been forgiven, there can be no more sin offerings.

Gospel, Mark 13:24-32

24  'But in those days, after that time of distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light,

25  the stars will come falling out of the sky and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

26  And then they will see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

27  And then he will send the angels to gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the world to the ends of the sky.

28  'Take the fig tree as a parable: as soon as its twigs grow supple and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.

29  So with you when you see these things happening: know that he is near, right at the gates.

30  In truth I tell you, before this generation has passed away all these things will have taken place.

31  Sky and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

32  'But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son; no one but the Father.

Questions for Reflection for November 17, 2024

1.      This excerpt is from the Book of Daniel in the Hebrew scriptures, or Old Testament refers to the end of time, the final judgement, the Resurrection of the Dead and the establishment of the Kingdom of God. The Michael spoken of is Michael the Archangel.

The passage is referred to by Jesus during His earthly ministry (See, Mt. 24:21, Mk 13:19) and similar imagery is used by the Apostle John in the Book of Revelation. (Rev. 12:7, Rev. 16:18) The Catechism explains: "The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls "angels" is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition." (CCC#328)

2.      The letter to the Hebrews affirms that Jesus is the Eternal High Priest whose sacrifice of Himself, for us, has freed us from sin, capacitated us to change by cooperating with grace, and to grow in holiness, in Christian perfection. He is our intercessor at the right hand of the Father. 

Are we progressing on the way of holiness? As we move toward the end of the Church year, it is a good time to make an examination of conscience and go to confession. When was the last time you received that Sacrament of New Beginning?  

3.      The Catholic Catechism tells us that: “Before Christ's second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers. The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth will unveil the "mystery of iniquity" in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh. (CCC #675) 

As we come to the end of the liturgical year of the Church, we are invited to reflect on the fact that time will come to a close, Jesus will return, the final judgement is real - and His Kingdom will be established. Do these facts, these doctrinal truths, change the way we live our daily lives?