Friday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
November 19, 2021
Friday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 501
Reading I
Judas and his brothers said,
“Now that our enemies have been crushed,
let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it.”
So the whole army assembled, and went up to Mount Zion.
Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month,
that is, the month of Chislev,
in the year one hundred and forty-eight,
they arose and offered sacrifice according to the law
on the new altar of burnt offerings that they had made.
On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had defiled it,
on that very day it was reconsecrated
with songs, harps, flutes, and cymbals.
All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven,
who had given them success.
For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar
and joyfully offered burnt offerings and sacrifices
of deliverance and praise.
They ornamented the facade of the temple with gold crowns and shields;
they repaired the gates and the priests’ chambers
and furnished them with doors.
There was great joy among the people
now that the disgrace of the Gentiles was removed.
Then Judas and his brothers and the entire congregation of Israel
decreed that the days of the dedication of the altar
should be observed with joy and gladness
on the anniversary every year for eight days,
from the twenty-fifth day of the month Chislev.
Responsorial Psalm
1 Chronicles 29:10bcd, 11abc, 11d-12a, 12bcd
- (13b) We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
“Blessed may you be, O LORD,
God of Israel our father,
from eternity to eternity.”
R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
“Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,
majesty, splendor, and glory.
For all in heaven and on earth is yours.”
R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
“Yours, O LORD, is the sovereignty;
you are exalted as head over all.
Riches and honor are from you.”
R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
“You have dominion over all,
In your hand are power and might;
it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.”
R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
Alleluia
- Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out
those who were selling things, saying to them,
“It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer,
but you have made it a den of thieves.”
And every day he was teaching in the temple area.
The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile,
were seeking to put him to death,
but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose
because all the people were hanging on his words.
Reflection: DEFEND THE CHURCH
On the feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, on the 9th of November, we reflected on a similar passage from the Gospel of St. John (2:13-22). No one likes to be criticized for any reason whatsoever. Let us not take very seriously people who say that they would like to be told in all frankness. This is not easy and only a very few will have the courage to do so. Jesus is seen quoting the Scriptures to point out to the chief priests, teachers of the law and the leaders that their behaviour in the sacred space is not right even according to their holy tradition. Of course, it angered them. They were trying to kill him. To the contrary, everyone hung on his words. We can imagine how Jesus might have been walking a tight rope all his life and placed in an existential dilemma either to accept tradition and authority (on the side of the powerful and their deceit) or to accept his conscience that obeys the Father's will (on the side of hapless victims and truth). All through his life he should have faced this contradiction. When he chose resolutely to be on the side of truth, he knew his fate was not very far. Very interesting is to make a comparison today in India with regard to the dilemma in speaking the truth on the one hand (freedom of speech for speaking the truth about situations and persons) or to toe the line of the powerful government (that sows advertently hatred and untruth). Of course, the danger for Jesus and for anyone who will attempt like Jesus to speak the truth will be literally lynched in more than one way (raids, branded anti-national, urban Naxalite, etc.). It is important to realize like Jesus that those in authority may persecute you and even kill you, but it is good to leave a message to the people of what is true and just. Even if people are not able to defend you, their consciences will give rise to many like you in the future.