Thirty-Fourth Week of Ordinary Time: Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2007
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Authors
Alexander, Andy, S.J.
Issue Date
2007-11-25
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Language
en_US
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Abstract
Jesus said, "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood." Luke 21
The Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time|Sunday is the Thirty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time and the last week of the liturgical year. As always on this last Sunday, we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. The readings remind us of God's faithfulness to us as he promises to shepherd the people of Israel. In Luke's Gospel we are taken to the crucifixion and Jesus being mocked as "King of the Jews." The man crucified next to him asks Jesus to remember him when he gets into his Kingdom. Jesus replies, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."|Friday is the Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle, with special readings.|The readings in the last few weeks of the liturgical year are "end time" readings about the coming of the Kingdom; readings to prepare us for the beginning of Advent. The first reading this last week of the liturgical year is from the Book of Daniel. These apocalyptic and mystical readings were written to give encouragement to the Jewish people in the face of persecution.|The stories in the Gospel of Luke this week offer a look at the meaning of generosity as the poor widow offers her two small coins. Jesus cautions against those who will come in his name promising salvation: "Do not follow them!" The cost of following his teaching is made clear, "You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed." In a dramatic look at the end time, echoing the Daniel readings, Jesus says, "And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." The week ends with Jesus' presence as an obvious sign of the Kingdom of God at hand and a caution not to let our hearts be sidetracked by the pleasures and anxieties of daily life. "Be vigilant at all times."|The First Sunday of Advent begins a new liturgical year and the beginning of a season filled with the riches of our scripture readings. For the next few weeks, the main focus will be on the first reading, with the gospel chosen to accompany it. Isaiah offers the peopel of God a promise of peace: "They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks." Matthew's gospel is the story of Noah and a caution from Jesus to prepare "for an hour you do not expect"
Daily Prayer This Week|It is wonderful how the end of the liturgical year and the beginning of the new year overlap here. We begin this week still reflecting that Jesus is our Savior and King and how this means we are called to help build up the kingdom by loving Jesus in our poorest brothers and sisters. We will encounter readings about the generosity of a poor widow and the warning of the approaching end of time. This is meant to help us begin our preparations for Advent. The actual end of the world may not be at hand, but the Kingdom of God is always at hand for us. It takes focus and paying attention to notice the signs, the ways the Lord makes himself available to us in the midst of our busy days.|In this last week before Advent, we begin to prepare with a small, but honest prayer, "Come, Lord, Jesus. Come into this place and into that conflict. Let me be attentive and open to see the places where I am restless, distracted and too busy. Come into my real situation - not the way I present myself to others. Come to me - the real me that needs you." We need this kind of preparation. These are challenging times. Holidays stretch us and test us. Sometimes, under the stress of it all, we regress into behaviors that are bad and destructive, because they are familiar and what so many others are doing. Relationships get strained. Alcohol may temporarily bring cheer but often includes risking bad patterns. So, praying these days - while very busy - praying out of our needs and even our pain - roots us in relationship with the One who always comes to save us.|For all of us, this is a week to be grateful and to experience the beginning of Advent on Sunday. We can prepare to walk into Church more alert, more ready to explore our longing. We can take advantage of the many resources offered on the "Praying Advent" pages at: www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent.|As we grow in our practice of connecting with our Lord and friend in brief moments throughout each day, we can develop the habit of giving thanks each night for what we have received.
The Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time|Sunday is the Thirty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time and the last week of the liturgical year. As always on this last Sunday, we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. The readings remind us of God's faithfulness to us as he promises to shepherd the people of Israel. In Luke's Gospel we are taken to the crucifixion and Jesus being mocked as "King of the Jews." The man crucified next to him asks Jesus to remember him when he gets into his Kingdom. Jesus replies, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."|Friday is the Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle, with special readings.|The readings in the last few weeks of the liturgical year are "end time" readings about the coming of the Kingdom; readings to prepare us for the beginning of Advent. The first reading this last week of the liturgical year is from the Book of Daniel. These apocalyptic and mystical readings were written to give encouragement to the Jewish people in the face of persecution.|The stories in the Gospel of Luke this week offer a look at the meaning of generosity as the poor widow offers her two small coins. Jesus cautions against those who will come in his name promising salvation: "Do not follow them!" The cost of following his teaching is made clear, "You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed." In a dramatic look at the end time, echoing the Daniel readings, Jesus says, "And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." The week ends with Jesus' presence as an obvious sign of the Kingdom of God at hand and a caution not to let our hearts be sidetracked by the pleasures and anxieties of daily life. "Be vigilant at all times."|The First Sunday of Advent begins a new liturgical year and the beginning of a season filled with the riches of our scripture readings. For the next few weeks, the main focus will be on the first reading, with the gospel chosen to accompany it. Isaiah offers the peopel of God a promise of peace: "They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks." Matthew's gospel is the story of Noah and a caution from Jesus to prepare "for an hour you do not expect"
Daily Prayer This Week|It is wonderful how the end of the liturgical year and the beginning of the new year overlap here. We begin this week still reflecting that Jesus is our Savior and King and how this means we are called to help build up the kingdom by loving Jesus in our poorest brothers and sisters. We will encounter readings about the generosity of a poor widow and the warning of the approaching end of time. This is meant to help us begin our preparations for Advent. The actual end of the world may not be at hand, but the Kingdom of God is always at hand for us. It takes focus and paying attention to notice the signs, the ways the Lord makes himself available to us in the midst of our busy days.|In this last week before Advent, we begin to prepare with a small, but honest prayer, "Come, Lord, Jesus. Come into this place and into that conflict. Let me be attentive and open to see the places where I am restless, distracted and too busy. Come into my real situation - not the way I present myself to others. Come to me - the real me that needs you." We need this kind of preparation. These are challenging times. Holidays stretch us and test us. Sometimes, under the stress of it all, we regress into behaviors that are bad and destructive, because they are familiar and what so many others are doing. Relationships get strained. Alcohol may temporarily bring cheer but often includes risking bad patterns. So, praying these days - while very busy - praying out of our needs and even our pain - roots us in relationship with the One who always comes to save us.|For all of us, this is a week to be grateful and to experience the beginning of Advent on Sunday. We can prepare to walk into Church more alert, more ready to explore our longing. We can take advantage of the many resources offered on the "Praying Advent" pages at: www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent.|As we grow in our practice of connecting with our Lord and friend in brief moments throughout each day, we can develop the habit of giving thanks each night for what we have received.
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University Ministry, Creighton University.
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