THE DAY OF THE LORD

Readings for Sunday, NOVEMBER 13, 2022

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 159

 

It-Tlieta u Tletin Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

 

 
Reading 1               MALACHI 3:19-20a

Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven,  when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble,  and the day that is coming will set them on fire,  leaving them neither root nor branch,  says the LORD of hosts.  But for you who fear my name, there will arise  the sun of justice with its healing rays.

 Qari 1                 mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Malakija 3:19-20a

Ara, jiġi l-Jum, jaqbad qisu forn, u l-kburin kollha u dawk kollha li jagħmlu l-ħażen ikunu tiben, u l-jum li ġej għad jaħraqhom, jgħid il-Mulej tal-eżerċti: hekk li ma jħallilhom la għerq u lanqas fergħa. Imma għalikom li tibżgħu minn ismi titla’ x-xemx tal-ġustizzja, bis-salvazzjoni fuq ġwenħajha. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm              PSALM 98: 5-6, 7-8, 9

Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.

Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.

Before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to rule the earth,
he will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.

 Salm Responsorjali                Salm 97(98):5-6,7-8,9a,9bċ

R/. Il-Mulej jagħmel ħaqq mill-popli.

Għannu lill-Mulej biċ-ċetra,
biċ-ċetra u bil-ħlewwa tal-għana,
bit-trombi u bid-daqq tat-trumbetti;
għajtu bil-ferħ quddiem il-Mulej is-sultan! R/.

Ħa jriegħed il-baħar u kulma fih,
id-dinja u kulma jgħammar fiha.
Ħa jċapċpu x-xmajjar idejhom,
u l-muntanji flimkien jgħajtu bil-ferħ quddiem il-Mulej. R/.

Għax il-Mulej ġej
biex jagħmel ħaqq mill-art;
hu jagħmel ħaqq mid-dinja bil-ġustizzja,
u mill-popli bis-sewwa. R/.

Reading 2               2 THESSALONIANS  3:7-12

 Brothers and sisters:  You know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you, nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you. Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we w nted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us. In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat. We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in a disorderly way, by not keeping busy but minding the business of others. Such people we instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and to eat their own food.

Qari 2                 mit-Tieni Ittra lit-Tessalonikin 3:7-12

Ħuti, intom stess tafu kif jeħtieġ li timxu fuq l-eżempju tagħna. Aħna ma tgħażżinniex meta konna fostkom; il-ħobż li kilna, ħadd ma tahulna b’xejn; imma lejl u nhar ħdimna u tħabatna u batejna biex ma nkunu ta’ piż għal ħadd minnkom. Imxejna hekk mhux għax ma għandniex dritt li żżommuna intom, imma ridna nagħtukom eżempju biex timxu fuqu. Meta konna fostkom aħna ordnajnielkom li jekk xi ħadd ma jridx jaħdem, dan anqas ma għandu jiekol. Issa aħna smajna li hemm xi wħud fostkom li qegħdin jitgħażżnu; mhumiex jaħdmu, imma qed jinħlew fix-xejn. Lil dawn in-nies nordnawlhom u nwissuhom, f’isem il-Mulej Ġesù Kristu, biex jaħdmu sewwa u għajxienhom jaqilgħuh. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel               LUKE 21:5-19

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, "All that you see here-- the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down." Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?" He answered, "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky. Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking  that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives."

Evanġelju               Qari skont San Luqa 21:5-19

F’dak iż-żmien, kien hemm xi wħud li bdew jgħidu fuq kemm it-tempju kien imżejjen b’ġebel sabiħ u għotjiet; iżda Ġesù qalilhom: “Kulma qegħdin taraw, għad jiġi żmien li ma tibqax ġebla fuq oħra minnu li ma tiġġarrafx”. U huma staqsewh u qalulu: “Mgħallem, issa dan meta għad jiġri? U x’se jkun is-sinjal li dawn il-ħwejjeġ ikunu waslu biex iseħħu?”. Qalilhom: “Araw li ma titqarrqux. Għax għad jiġu ħafna f’ismi u jgħidu: ‘Jien hu’, u: ‘Iż-żmien wasal’. Tmorrux warajhom! Meta tisimgħu min jitkellem fuq gwerer u taqlib fil-pajjiżi, tinħasdux, għax jeħtieġ li l-ewwel jiġri dan, iżda t-tmiem ma jasalx minnufih”. Imbagħad qalilhom: “Għad iqum ġens kontra ġens u saltna kontra saltna, l-art titheżżeż bil-kbir, f’ħafna bnadi jkun hemm il-ġuħ u mard li jittieħed, u fis-sema jidhru ħwejjeġ tal-biża’ u sinjali tal-għaġeb. Imma qabel dan kollu jixħtu jdejhom fuqkom u jippersegwitawkom, jagħtukom f’idejn il-mexxejja tas-sinagoga u jitfgħukom il-ħabs, u jeħdukom quddiem slaten u gvernaturi minħabba f’ismi. Dan ikun jiswielkom biex tistgħu tagħtu xhieda. U żommu sewwa f’moħħkom: toqogħdux taħsbu minn qabel kif se tiddefendu ruħkom, għax jien nagħtikom kliem u għerf li kull min ikun kontra tagħkom ma jkunx jista’ jiqaflu jew imerih. U jittradukom saħansitra l-ġenituri tagħkom u ħutkom u qrabatkom u ħbiebkom, u lil xi wħud minnkom joqtluhom, u kulħadd isir jobgħodkom minħabba f’ismi. Imma xagħra waħda minn raskom ma tintilifx. Jekk tibqgħu sħaħ sal-aħħar issalvaw ħajjitkom!”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Eight-minute  Gospel reflection by Fr Antony Kadavil   

THE SECOND COMING

Introduction:

The central theme of Sunday’s readings is “The Day of the Lord” or the “Second Coming” of Jesus in glory, as Judge, at the end of the world. The readings warn us about the final days of the world, our own death, and the final judgment.

Scripture readings summarized:

Malachi, in the first reading, foretells this Day, which will bring healing and reward for the just and punishment in fire for the “proud and all evil doers.” Although St. Paul expected that Jesus would return during his lifetime, he cautions the Thessalonians, in the second reading, against idleness in anticipating the end of the world. Paul advises the Thessalonians that the best preparation for welcoming Jesus in his “Second Coming” is to keep working and doing one’s duties faithfully, as he did.

Sunday’s Gospel passage underlines the truth that the date of the end of the world is uncertain. Signs and portents will precede the end, and the Christians will be called upon to testify before kings and governors. The Good News is that those who persevere in faithfulness to the Lord will save their souls and enter God’s eternal kingdom. Christ’s Second Coming is something to celebrate because he is going to present all creation to his Heavenly Father. That is why we say at Mass, “We proclaim Your death, O Lord, and profess Your Resurrection, until You come again.”

Since Luke’s community had experienced much persecution, today’s Gospel would have given them a cheering reminder: “Don’t give up because God is always with us!” Jesus’ promise of the protective power of a providing God was meant to encourage His disciples to persevere in their Faith and its practice. Jesus later adds the signs for the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world to prepare His disciples and to remind them to rely upon him for Salvation, not their own power.

Life messages:

1) We must be prepared daily for our death and private judgment. We make this preparation by trying to do God’s will every day, leading holy lives of selfless love, trust in God, mercy, compassion, and unconditional forgiveness. In order to do this, we must recharge our spiritual batteries every day by personal prayer, that is, by talking to God, and by listening to Him through reading the Bible. Daily examination of our conscience at bedtime and asking God’s pardon and forgiveness for the sins of the day will also prepare us to face God any time to give Him an account of our lives.

2) We need to attain permanence in a passing world by leading exemplary lives. We must remember that our homes, our Churches, and even our own lives are temporary. Our greatness is judged by God, not on our worldly achievements, but on our fidelity to our Faith, and our practice of that Faith in loving service of others.

How our faithfulness is expressed each day is the most important thing. We are to persevere in our Faith in spite of worldly temptations, attacks on our religion and moral values by the atheistic or agnostic media, threats of social isolation, and direct or indirect persecution because of our religious beliefs.

Let us conclude this Church year by praying for the grace to endure patiently all our trials, for they are essential to our affirmation of Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.


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