Greetings on this the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Dn 12:1-3; Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11; Heb 10:11-14, 18; Mk 13:24-32
Notes: Next Sunday – Christ the King!
Through the week we read from the Book of Wisdom (one break in sequence for the feast).
We began with:
Love righteousness, you who judge the earth;
think of the LORD in goodness,
and seek him in integrity of heart.
The primary purpose of the author was the edification of his co-religionists in a time when they had experienced suffering and oppression, in part at least at the hands of apostate fellow Jews (NABRE, Introduction).
Apostate:
- Not lovers of righteousness or justice.
- Not seeing the Lord in goodness.
- Not doers of goodness.
- Not with integrity of heart.
First reading
But the wise shall shine brightly
like the splendor of the firmament,
and those who lead the many to justice
shall be like the stars forever.
We are all under the need for judgment.
The Four Final Things:
- Death.
- Judgment.
- Heaven.
- Hell.
Responsorial Psalm
You are my inheritance, O Lord!
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
Second reading
But this one offered one sacrifice for sins,
and took his seat forever at the right hand of God.
Alleluia Verse
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
Gospel Portion
At that time your people shall escape,
everyone who is found written in the book.
Yesterday, a member of the far right on LinkedIN threatened me with violence, an IRS Audit and FBI Investigation. He ‘has friends’ in the government, he said. Friends committed to destruction and injustice, it seems. How can it be so dark for you that the very corruption you decry in government is your solution to your particular grievance? And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be (Matt 6:23).
Why?
Because I am of the opinion that Kyle Rittenhouse (a boy of 17) did not act with justice but with recklessness.
The jury shall decide in their best efforts to make a conclusion of the matter.
It is a most difficult thing to do, to reconcile the violence and the immaturity of a boy who wants to be a man.
Justice and mercy must kiss.
Learn a lesson from the fig tree.
The time is now for each of us to see the presence of the Kingdom of God.
And to see the perversion of our ideas of justice and mercy.
Christian Apostate:
- Not lovers of righteousness or justice.
- Not seeing the Lord in goodness.
- Not doers of goodness.
- Not with integrity of heart.
The Four Final Things:
- Death.
- Judgment.
- Heaven.
- Hell.
It is better to be reconciled with God and be written in the Book.
Then we will survive the current darkness which we have made of our own creation.
In those days after that tribulation
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Put away your violence.
But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths. Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator (COL 3:8-10).
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Deacon Gerry Palermo 