Saints + Scripture: XXXIII Sunday in Ordinary Time

'Tis the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time: Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Thirty-third Sunday Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Daniel, chapter twelve, verses one, two, & three;
Psalm Sixteen, verses five, eight, nine & ten, & eleven;
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter ten, verses eleven thru fourteen & eighteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter thirteen, verses twenty-four thru thirty-two.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, our Gospel for today features apocalyptic musings. Recall that "apocalypse" means unveiling, a revelation. And Jesus uses, once again, the language from the seventh chapter of the prophet Daniel: "The powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory."

Daniel spoke of a succession of four kingdoms, which would be followed by the arrival of God’s definitive kingdom. This is the fulfillment of Nathan’s prophecy that a son of David would reign forever.

I realize how strange all of this can sound, but there is a spiritual point of enormous significance behind all of it. We should not trust in any of the powers of the world to give us security and peace. Such peace will come only with the arrival of God’s kingdom.

What you should look to is the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven. Now, is this meant in an ultimate sense? Yes, the second coming signals the end of the world as we know it. But the Son of Man is coming on the clouds of heaven even now, in the life of the Church.

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Video reflection by Father Claude Burns (uCatholic): Weekend Reflection with Father Pontifex.

Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D. (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Breaking the Bread.

Mass Journal: Week Forty-seven
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute:

Mass is not about whom you sit next to. It's not about which priest says Mass. it is not about what you wear or who is there. Mass is not about the music. It's not even about great preaching. It is about gathering as a community to give thanks to God for all the blessings He fills our lives with. It is about receiving the Body & Blood of Christ, not just physically, but spiritually. Perhaps you have been receiving the Eucharist physically every Sunday for your whole life. Next Sunday, prepare yourself, be conscious of the marvel, the wonder, the mystery, & receive spiritually.

†

Otherwise, 18 November would be the festival of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter & Paul, Apostles (fourth century): Dedication-link ūnus, Dedication-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Saint Peter's & Wikipedia-link Saint Paul's Outside the Walls.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Constant, Priest & Martyr (died 777), martyred by parties known only to God: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Odo of Cluny, Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 879-942), second abbot of the influential Cluny Abbey: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Abbey-link, Wikipedia-link Abbey, & Wikipedia-link Abbot.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, Virgin, R.S.C.J. (1769-1852, "Woman-Who-Prays-Always"): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"In order to become apostles, as the Church wishes us all to be today, there is need of a deep love for Christ, a personal love, a true love, & a full love. The apostolate is an overflowing of love, an outburst of love, turning into witness & action."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"The good God gave me a father & mother more worthy of Heaven than of earth."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Commentary: The Church has duly recognized the veracity of the Little Flower's words: her parents, Ss. Louis & Marie-Azélie Guérin Martin [12 July], are now canonized saints.

Mere Christian Quote o' the Day

"Either this man was, & is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him & kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet & call Him Lord & God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us."
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)