Category: Prayers

“It will be like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed.” –Luke 17:30 Mass Readings: November 17 First: Sirach 26:1-3,15-18,24; Resp: Psalm 31:4-5,8-9,20,24-25; Gospel: Matthew 25:31-40 Listen to the Mass Readings Jesus will return and the world will end: when we least expect it (Lk 12:40), when it is “business as usual” (see Lk 17:27-28), suddenly (see Lk 17:24, 31), after a most severe persecution of the Church (Lk 21:12), after “great earthquakes, plagues, and famines in various places – and in the sky fearful omens and great signs” (Lk 21:11), after the mass apostasy (2 Thes...

“Indeed, she reaches from end to end mightily and governs all things well.” –Wisdom 8:1 Mass Readings: November 16 First: Wisdom 7:22–8:1; Resp: Psalm 119:89-91,130,135,175; Gospel: Luke 17:20-25 Listen to the Mass Readings The writer of the Book of Wisdom had such a deep awareness of God’s wisdom that he personified wisdom and saw it as being more than a quality of God. He said of wisdom: “She, who is one, can do all things, and renews everything while herself perduring” (Wis 7:27). The writer of Wisdom may have had an intimation of the Trinity. If the Lord had never...

“He threw himself on his face at the feet of Jesus and spoke His praises. This man was a Samaritan.” –Luke 17:16 Mass Readings: November 15 First: Wisdom 6:1-11; Resp: Psalm 82:3-4,6-7; Gospel: Luke 17:11-19 Listen to the Mass Readings “Recall that Jews have nothing to do with Samaritans” (Jn 4:9). The Jews and the Samaritans had a long history of being enemies. Yet Jesus spoke to and brought salvation to a Samaritan woman (see Jn 4:42). This surprised both the Samaritan woman (Jn 4:9) and Jesus’ disciples (Jn 4:27). Jesus also made a Samaritan the hero of His story...

“We are useless servants. We have done no more than our duty.” –Luke 17:10 Mass Readings: November 14 First: Wisdom 2:23–3:9; Resp: Psalm 34:2-3,16-19; Gospel: Luke 17:7-10 Listen to the Mass Readings To serve the Lord is the most awesome privilege possible for a human being. One day serving in His courts is better than a thousand elsewhere (Ps 84:11). To take out the garbage for Jesus is better than being the CEO for a multi-national conglomerate. Therefore, in serving the Lord, we should not focus on how much we’re doing for Him but on how much He’s doing for...

Jesus “said to His disciples: ‘Scandals will inevitably arise, but woe to him through whom they come.’ ” –Luke 17:1 Mass Readings: November 13 First: Wisdom 1:1-7; Resp: Psalm 139:1-10; Gospel: Luke 17:1-6 Listen to the Mass Readings Throughout the history of Christianity and humanity, scandals have inevitably arisen. Talking about these scandals makes matters worse. However, we can make even scandals work together for the good of all who love God (Rm 8:28), if we: are on guard so as not to cause scandals (Lk 17:3), are on guard to prevent scandals (Lk 17:3), correct our brothers and sisters...