A Daily Readings Reflection
by Deacon Mike Manno
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
34th week in Ordinary Time
This is the last week in Ordinary Time, on Sunday we will celebrate the 1st Sunday in Advent. Advent, of course is our time for quiet reflection, prayer and conversion in anticipation of the coming of Christ. The readings and the liturgies during Advent prepare us for his birth, and like the readings for today, prepare us for his Second Coming.
Advent, as you know, is the beginning of the Church year; thus we are now celebrating the end of the current Church year. Today we are reminded of his Second Coming, in Revelation we read how St. John (probably not the Apostle John) “sees” the end times as Jesus is preparing his return. In it the sickle is used to reap the earth’s harvest, symbolizing Christ’s “scooping up” the saved for life with him; and the second sickle which is used to gather up the bad vines which are thrown into the “great wine press” of God’s fury.
One of the things we must note here is what Jesus told us about the thief that comes in the night, unexpected. This, of course, reminds us that it is never too late to make amends for our sinful lives, and, indeed, we need to do so before it is too late and we wind up in the wine press.
The Gospel reminds us not only to be ready for his Second Coming, but to prepare ourselves for false Christs and charlatans who will deceive us about what we should believe and ought to do. “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.”
Unfortunately we sometimes want to anthropomorphize or personalize those obstacles as people. That’s not always so. Pleasure, money, hate, and violence, among others, also comes in the form of stumbling blocks that Jesus warns us about.
So this week is a good time to take stock of ourselves and our relationship with God as we look forward to the New Year starting Sunday. Advent is a great time to get your spiritual life in order by developing your spiritual resolutions for the new year.
This Thursday is Thanksgiving and it has been a difficult year for most of us. But let us remember what we are truly thankful for and let’s be sure to let God know! He’s the author of every good thing and deserves our humble thanks. After all, he gave us turkey and football – not necessarily the highlight of our year, but at least a simple diversion from our daily struggles for us to remember He who gave us life and made all good things possible.
God bless you all.
