Monday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

Preface: Throughout this coming week, we will ponder the daily Mass readings from the perspective of the liturgical texts given to us in the Roman Missal and the Lectionary—the entrance and communion antiphons, the responsorial refrains, and the gospel acclamations. These texts provide a unique perspective on the scripture passages of each day and often provide a key for understanding the profound spiritual interconnections between these liturgical readings.

The liturgy today opens with the words of the antiphon “The Lord speaks of peace to his people and his holy ones and to those who turn to him” (Cf. Ps 84:9). Our first reading from the Book of Revelation paints a scene of these holy ones who delight in eternal peace: …with him [the Lamb] a hundred and forty-four thousand…were singing what seemed to be a new hymn before the throne. This continues the same theme presented yesterday on the Solemnity of Christ the King when Jesus was described as both Shepherd and as the sacrificial Lamb of God: “These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes” (Rev 14:4). Who are these one hundred and forty-four thousand who follow the Lamb? The answer is in the last verse of the reading: “On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished” (Rev 14:5). Using the language of St. Matthew’s Gospel from Sunday (Mt 25:31-46), these are the ones who recognized Christ in the neighbor, gave food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothing to the naked, care to the sick and who visited prisoners. This is further elaborated in the responsorial psalm taken from Psalm 24: “…who may stand in his holy place? He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain” (3-4).

The Gospel from St. Luke presents us with the example of one of these holy ones who long to see the face of God. Jesus takes notice of a poor widow who contributes to the temple treasury more than all other donors because she has given not of out surplus wealth, but every penny that she had left on which to live. The widow is not only a representative of the righteous but also a symbol of the magnanimity of God’s love. We sing the communion antiphon “O praise the Lord, all you nations, for his merciful love towards us is great” (Ps 117:1, 2). Just as the widow gave her whole livelihood, so does our God give the fullness of his merciful love, witnessed by the sacrificial gift of his only-begotten Son, Jesus.

Thought for today: Have I shared with others from the surplus of my time, gifts, and talents or have I given from the entire store of my being?

Reflection by Br. Michael Marcotte, OSB