Daily Readings - Sun Nov 17 2019

¹For, behold, the day will arrive, kindled like a furnace, and all the arrogant and all those who act impiously will be stubble. And the approaching day will inflame them, says the Lord of hosts; it will leave behind for them neither root, nor sprout²But unto you, who fear my name, the Sun of justice will arise, and health will be in his wings. And you will go forth and leap like the calves of the herd

2 Thessalonians

Chapter 3

⁷For you yourselves know the manner in which you ought to imitate us. For we were not disorderly among you⁸Nor did we eat bread from anyone for free, but rather, we worked night and day, in hardship and weariness, so as not to be burdensome to you⁹It was not as if we had no authority, but this was so that we might present ourselves as an example to you, in order to imitate us¹⁰Then, too, while we were with you, we insisted on this to you: that if anyone was not willing to work, neither should he eat¹¹For we have heard that there are some among you who act disruptively, not working at all, but eagerly meddling¹²Now we charge those who act in this way, and we beg them in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they work in silence and eat their own bread

Luke

Chapter 21

⁵And when some of them were saying, about the temple, that it was adorned with excellent stones and gifts, he said⁶"These things that you see, the days will arrive when there will not be left behind stone upon stone, which is not thrown down.⁷Then they questioned him, saying: "Teacher, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when these things will happen?⁸And he said: "Be cautious, lest you be seduced. For many will come in my name, saying: ‘For I am he,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ And so, do not choose to go after them⁹And when you will have heard of battles and seditions, do not be terrified. These things must happen first. But the end is not so soon.¹⁰Then he said to them: "People will rise up against people, and kingdom against kingdom¹¹And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and pestilences, and famines, and terrors from heaven; and there will be great signs¹²But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, handing you over to synagogues and into custody, dragging you before kings and governors, because of my name¹³And this will be an opportunity for you to give testimony¹⁴Therefore, set this in your hearts: that you should not consider in advance how you might respond¹⁵For I will give to you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries will not be able to resist or contradict¹⁶And you will be handed over by your parents, and brothers, and relatives, and friends. And they will bring about the death of some of you¹⁷And you will be hated by all because of my name¹⁸And yet, not a hair of your head will perish¹⁹By your patience, you shall possess your souls

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of preparation, faithfulness, and perseverance in the face of uncertainty and trial. In the first reading, Malachi speaks of the Day of the Lord, a time of purification when the wicked will face judgment, but the righteous will find healing and joy in the “Sun of Justice.” This passage reminds us that God’s justice is both purifying and restorative, calling us to live with integrity and hope. The second reading from 2 Thessalonians emphasizes the importance of living responsibly and working diligently, even as we await the Lord’s return. Paul and his companions set an example of hard work and self-sufficiency, encouraging the community to avoid idleness and disorder. Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus warns his disciples about the signs of the end times—wars, natural disasters, and persecutions—but assures them that even in the midst of chaos, their perseverance will ultimately lead to victory. These readings are interconnected in their call to faithfulness and preparedness. Malachi and Luke both point to a future day of reckoning, while 2 Thessalonians provides practical wisdom for living in the present. Together, they remind us that our lives must be rooted in trust in God’s providence, even as we face challenges and uncertainties. The destruction of the Temple in Luke’s Gospel serves as a metaphor for the impermanence of earthly things, urging us to focus on what truly endures: our relationship with God and our commitment to living according to His will. As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are called to live with integrity, diligence, and hope. Like the disciples, we may face trials and persecutions, but these are opportunities to bear witness to our faith. Let us embrace the wisdom of Paul’s example, working hard and avoiding idleness, not only for our own sake but for the sake of others. And when we encounter difficulties, let us remember Jesus’ promise: “Not a hair of your head will perish. By your patience, you shall possess your souls.” May we trust in God’s plan, remain steadfast in our faith, and live each day with the hope of eternal life.