READINGS FOR THE THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B, 14TH NOVEMBER, 2021
First Reading Daniel 12:1-3
Psalm: 15:5. 8-11
Second Reading: Hebrews 10:11-14. 18
Gospel: Mark 13:24-32
REFLECTION BY FR. CORNELIUS NWAOGWUGWU, CM.
THANKSGIVING, AN EXPRESSION OF GOD’S LOVE AND LIGHT
My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today is the Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Today celebrates World Day of the Poor and we also celebrate the Solemnity of St. Laurence O’ Toole.
We gather in the presence of God our Father who loves each one of us dearly. We are urged to participate in this Mass in such a way that we may become better able to live out the Father’s love for us in gratitude.
Today’s reflection demonstrates how thanksgiving can be an expression of love and light in our darkness. To do justice to this reflection, I will draw insight from the readings of today, the feast of St. Laurence O’Toole and the celebration of the World Day of the Poor.
Sometimes we worry too much about the non-essentials. Sometimes our priorities are not right. We seem not to have faith and trust in God. We have lost sight of the power of Divine Providence. Our worry will not change anything. Worry rather compounds issues. Worry worsens our problems. It is unchristian to worry too much about things we cannot change. Worrying too much is unnecessary. Jesus described these unnecessary worries as lack of faith.
Today’s readings refer to things that can cause us to worry, a time of anguish such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. It speaks of a time of suffering, the sun being darkened, the moon not giving its light, the stars falling from heaven, and the powers of Heaven being shaken. It will be a time when Heaven and earth will pass away.
It is against this background that Jesus urges us not to worry. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Mark 13: 24-30). Think of what Jesus said: “Can any of you, for all his worrying, add one single cubit to his span of life?’ (Matthew 6:27).
In contrast to our worrying, the First Book of Chronicles 16:8 empowers us to: “Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, and make known his deeds among the people”. The Psalmist urges us: “to enter into God’s gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” (Psalm 100:4). In the same manner, Psalm 95:2-3 encourages us to “come before God with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all Gods.
Reading these verses, we realize we are to be thankful to God at all times in our lives. There is power in the act of thanksgiving and praise. Thanksgiving to God for favours received helps us to receive further favour from God.
In support of these views, St. Louis 1X, King of France, said, “Give thanks frequently to God for all the benefits he has conferred on you that you may be worthy to receive more”.
It is against this background, that I sincerely welcome all of you as we gather here this day to give thanks to God for all He has done in our lives through this challenging period of this pandemic.
Today, we thank God for the gift of St Laurence O’Toole. We join the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin to celebrate the Feast of St. Laurence O’Toole, the Patron Saint of the Archdiocese of Dublin. St. Laurence was born in Castledermot, Co. Kildare in 1128. He was Abbot of Glendalough in 1153 and Archbishop of Dublin in 1162. He died on the 14th of November 1180 and was canonised in 1225. St. Laurence O’Toole experienced darkness, hostility and was treated with great inhumanity. The Good News is that, at the end of the tunnel, St. Laurence experienced the light of God’s Love.
We also thank God for our good health, our wellbeing and everything in our lives. Thanksgiving is an expression of love and light. Christian love should be rooted in gratitude. God wants us to love one another as he has loved us. The book of Exodus says that love demonstrates justice, fair play, generosity, kindness and selflessness. (Exodus 22:20-26). Loving God entails giving ourselves totally to him in an intimate relationship through prayer and worship.
Today, we also gather to celebrate in prayer and worship the Fifth World Day of the Poor. Pope Francis entitled this year’s World Day of the Poor as “The poor you will always have with you”. This theme was inspired by the Gospel Mark 14:7. This is a celebration of the unconditional love of God whose presence we see in the poor. Love for the poor is supreme. Love for the poor must be authentic. Showing love to those experiencing challenges gives a sense of worth and value to their lives. Love gives genuine meaning to our lives and existence. Love for the poor is very important. Love is everything for us all. Love is central to our Christian message. God is love. To love is to be Godly. To be Godly is to love. Indeed love elicits love. The price of love is love. We are saved through the unconditional love of God.
To be able to perceive God’s unconditional love, it suffices to have a heart that is alert and open, filled with the light of gratitude and praise. This will enable us to be constantly aware of how good God is to us; how he thinks of us precisely in little things, thus helping us to achieve important ones.
It is reassuring to know that God is love and just in all his ways and actions. Our love must be coupled with goodwill, love and light of justice.
It is through word and action that we become fully and totally Christians. Love demands demonstration in an unconditional way. Our love must be celebrated in a tangible and evident manner. Love is celebrated not only in families but also among communities of faith.
Today, we thank God for everything. We let the poor know that they are remembered. Today, we also salute St. Laurence O’Toole. We are sincerely delighted to be associated with him and the Church in Dublin. These warm gestures can be encouraging and spiritually uplifting.
May God continue to support us at this challenging time. May our hearts leap for joy, and with songs may we continue to praise God for many more years ahead. May God continue to keep us and our families in His hands now and for ever, Amen.
Fr. Cornelius Nwaogwugwu, CM