Gospel: November 16, 2025
November 16, 2025 (Sunday)
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 1/(Green)
Ps 98:5-6, 7-8, 9
The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
1st Reading: Malachi 3:19-20a
2nd Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12
Gospel: Luke 21:5-19
While some people were talking about the temple, remarking that it was adorned with fi ne stonework and rich gifts, Jesus said to them, “The days will come when there shall not be left one stone upon another of all that you now admire; all will be torn down.”
And they asked him, “Master, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?”
Jesus said, “Take care not to be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he; the time is near at hand!’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and troubled times, don’t be frightened; for all these things must happen first, even though the end is not so soon.”
And Jesus said, “Nations will fight each other and kingdom will oppose kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, faminesand plagues; in many places strange and terrifying signs from heaven will be seen.
Before all these things happen, people will lay their hands on you and persecute you; you will be delivered to thesynagogues and put in prison, and for my sake you will be brought before kings and governors. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. So keep this in mind: do not worry in advance about what to say, for I will give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death. But even though, because of my name, you will be hated by everyone, not a hair of your head will perish. By your patient endurance you will save your souls.
Lectio Divina:
“We should take comfort from our faith.”
Read: Malachi speaks of God’s severe judgment of the unjust and of his comfort to those who have blessed his name. Saint Paul encourages perseverance in a virtuous life. Jesus warns the disciples not to confuse wars and great trials with the end of time. Instead, they are to persevere in their faith and witness.
Reflect: The kind of world Christ describes sounds very familiar; exactly like the one we live in today, with its wars, revolutions, persecution of Christians and attacks upon Christian values. Christ foresaw that there would be obstacles and difficulties for all those who desire to follow him. But he wants us to keep following him through it all. “By your patient endurance you will save your souls,” says the Lord. The purpose of our endurance is to apply our faith to the challenges we face rather than use religion as an escape. We should take comfort from our faith, but that comfort is not to shield us from the world or the problems we face. Through our prayer may we experience the healing and comforting of God, so that we might persevere in facing future trials with hope in him.
Pray: Pray for persecuted Christians and for all who live in war zones.
Act: Visit a sick relative or friend to bring God’s comfort.
