Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Also Read: Mass Readings for 19 November 2023 Homily for 19 November 2023 – Sunday
First Reading: Proverbs 31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31
Living in Wisdom!
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her share in the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city gates. (30-31)
This reading teaches everyone not only women how to conduct themselves. Living in wisdom is to work and earn the daily bread, to be kind, to be generous to those in need, and above all to have the fear of the Lord! Then the work of our hands will be blessed.
In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 128: 1-5
Happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways. You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you. (1-2)
Help us O Lord to truly fear you and walk in your ways always! Amen!
Second Reading: First Thessalonians 5: 1-6
Living in Discipline!
But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. (5-6)
We must not let ourselves be fooled into complacency. We have been forewarned by the Lord Jesus Christ and by the apostles through the Gospels and the Letters. Let us be of sober mind. “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.” (1Peter 5: 7-8)
The Bible defines “sober” as having a disciplined, controlled, and sound mind! This involves having a command over our emotions too. This could be a bastion we might have left unguarded! Therefore let us regain our power in all aspects of our lives, through Jesus Christ. Amen!
Gospel: Matthew 25: 14-30
Exercising Wisdom and Faith!
For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. (29)
As in last Sunday’s gospel, we remember the wise and foolish virgins here too! We are to work out of the resources we have at our disposal daily! We will be able to discern through wisdom how we must fulfill this command! If we are able to exercise from a mustard seed faith, we will realize that our efforts will surely be blessed! Yet again, we must approach any task in humility before God. We can act on our faith only through wisdom from God!
Let us humbly ask the Good Lord God our Father to grant us the wisdom to exercise our faith! “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but power, love, and self-discipline.” (I Tim 2:7) Once we work in our faith, we will actualize the blessing of an abundance in our faith and wisdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
