November 19, 2012

Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary TimeLectionary: 497

Reading 1 Rv 1:1-4; 2:1-5

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him,to show his servants what must happen soon.

The book of Revelations is the record of a vision which St. John had when he was in the Spirit.

He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
who gives witness to the word of God
and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw.

Jesus sent an Angel to St. John to reveal the will of God for the future of mankind which he saw in a dream.

Blessed is the one who reads aloudand blessed are those who listen to this prophetic messageand heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near.

Happy are they who explain this message and happy are they who are taught this message and obey what is taught in this message.  For the time is near.

John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you and peace
from him who is and who was and who is to come,
and from the seven spirits before his throne.

It is believed that St. John is writing to his Churches where he is the Bishop.

I heard the Lord saying to me:"To the angel of the Church in Ephesus, write this:

An angel is a messenger of God.  Therefore, this message is written to the Pastor, the ambassador of God, in the Church of Ephesus.

"'The one who holds the seven stars in his right handand walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands says this:

This is a description of Jesus.  Jesus explains that the seven stars are the seven Pastors.  And the seven lampstands are the seven Churches which they lead.

"I know your works, your labor, and your endurance,and that you cannot tolerate the wicked;

Jesus says to the Pastor of Ephesus, that He knows he is persevering in good works and combatting evil;

you have tested those who call themselves Apostles but are not,
and discovered that they are impostors.

Jesus also knows that this Pastor has revealed fraudulent people pretending to be Apostles of the Lord.

Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name,
and you have not grown weary.

And Jesus knows that this Pastor has suffered in the name of Christ and persevered.

Yet I hold this against you:
you have lost the love you had at first.

But Christ says that this Pastor has grown cold in his love for Him.

Realize how far you have fallen.
Repent, and do the works you did at first.
Otherwise, I will come to you
and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent."'"

And Christ warns him that if he doesn't return to his former fervor for the faith, He will take away his authority in the Church.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 And 6

R. (Rev. 2:17) Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.

Happy is the man who follows the Word of God and avoids evil and evil doers.

He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.

The water represents God's grace.
The fruits represent the good works which the man produces.

He is united to God and will be filled by God's grace and filled with God's grace will produce many good works in accordance with God's will.

Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.

But the wicked will be punished.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke
Lk 18:35-43

As Jesus approached Jerichoa blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.

As Jesus was passing by, a blind man heard the din of the crowd which followed Him and asked what was going on?

They told him,"Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."

They responded, "it is Jesus coming."

He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"

He immediately called out the name of the Lord and asked for His mercy.

The people walking in front rebuked him,
telling him to be silent,
but he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me!"

The people told him to be quiet, but he persisted.

Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;
and when he came near, Jesus asked him,

Jesus heard him and said, "bring him to me."

"What do you want me to do for you?"

"What do you ask of me? " Jesus asked him.

He replied, "Lord, please let me see."

"That I may see,"  he replied.

Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you."

"You may see", Jesus said, "your faith has saved you."

He immediately received his sight
and followed him, giving glory to God.
When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

Immediately, he could see and he followed Christ praising God.  When the people saw this, they also gave glory to God.

Sincerely,

De Maria