Thirty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time [C]

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Readings
Malachi 3:19-20a
2 Thessalonians 3:7-12
Luke 21:5-19

Calendar
November 14: Id al Fitr (End of Ramadan)
November 16: International Day for Tolerance
November 16: Anniversary of the deaths of the 6 Jesuits and 2 women at the University of Central America in 1989

Quotes
"We have no reason to harbor any mistrust against our world, for it is not against us. If it has terrors, they are our terrors; if it has abysses, these abysses belong to us; if there are dangers, we must try to love them. . . .How could we forget those ancient myths that stand at the beginning of all races, the myths about dragons that at the last moment are transformed into princesses? Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love."
Rainer Maria Rilke

"The individual today is often suffocated between two poles represented by the State and the marketplace. At times it seems as though the individual exists only as a producer and consumer of goods, or as an object of State administration. People lose sight of the fact that life in society has neither the market nor the State as its final purpose."
John Paul II, Centesimus Annus, 49

"We must repeat that the superfluous goods of wealthier nations ought to be placed at the disposal of poorer nations. The rule, by virtue of which in times past those nearest us were to be helped in time of need, applies today to all the needy throughout the world. And the prospering peoples will be the first to benefit from this. Continuing avarice on their part will arouse the judgment of God and the wrath of the poor, with consequences no one can foresee. If prosperous nations continue to be jealous of their own advantage alone, they will jeopardize their highest values, sacrificing the pursuit of excellence to the acquisition of possessions. We might well apply to them the parable of the rich man. His fields yielded an abundant harvest and he did not know where to store it: 'But God said to him, "Fool, this very night your soul will be demanded from you . . ."'"
Paul VI, Populorum Progressio, 49

"May people learn to fight for justice without violence, renouncing class struggle in their internal disputes, and war in international ones."
John Paul II, Centesimus Annus, 23

Thoughts for your consideration
Difficulty, opposition, confusion, mess, uncertainty, and ambiguity are all part of life. (Some people report feeling some of these things after the recent US election.) Good religion does not guarantee that this will not sometimes be the case. Good religion does not remove all of the mess of life. However, God says through Malacchi, ". . . for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays." Jesus says, "by your perseverance you will secure your lives." In the challenges of our life, we can find God.

With this vision of hope, we can challenge many of the voices of our culture í¢â‚¬" the voice of consumerism and materialism í¢â‚¬" the voice calling for control and domination of others í¢â‚¬" the voice that calls for violence and military power to rule í¢â‚¬" the voice of policies that refuse to consider the needs of the poor - the voice of discrimination and fear of others.

We are invited to work for justice, even when it challenges the value system of our world or culture.

Questions for Reflection in your Faith Sharing Group
Share an example of a contemporary situation that has felt to you to be a time "unsurpassed in distress." How has your faith challenged you in this situation? Has it challenged you to work for justice or peace?

Actions - Links
November 16 is the International Day for Tolerance.

• For info go to: http://www.coc.org/bin/view.fpl/1200/article/2272.html

• Ten Ideas for Observing the International Day for Tolerance, November 16, can be found at: http://www.unesco.org/tolerance/teneng.htm

Prayer
God of life, help us to choose life, not death.
God of life, help us to respect, not destroy.
God of life, help us treasure, not control.
God of life, help us see our value not in things, but in your gifts.

God of life, beat our swords into plowshares,
Beat our spears into pruning hooks,
Replace our shopping sprees with celebrations of community
Replace our busyness with contemplation
Change our things into gifts.
Change our violence into your peace.

God of life, help us to choose life, not death.