November 28, 2017

Nov. 28

November 28, 2017:  Tuesday, 34th week, Ordinary Time

See 16 connections with today?Legend below
Listen
Pope Francis in Myanmar

Respect all ethnic groups:  People have suffered from civil conflict and hostilities, and still do.  Each ethnic group, bar none, must be respected.  Conflicts must be resolved through dialogue, not force.  We can run education and health programs and try to improve living conditions, but there can be no real development without peace.  The healing of the wounds of war must be a paramount priority, and religious communities are to play a privileged role....  Full text

To religious leaders:  How beautiful to see brothers united!  Unity is not uniformity.  Each person has values, riches, and shortcomings, but we're all different.  We can only share our riches and traditions if we live in peace.  Peace is a chorus of differences; unity comes about in differences.  Peace is harmony, but there's a trend towards uniformity, to make everyone equal.  But such “cultural colonization” kills.  When you understand the richness of your differences, dialogue ensues and we can learn from our differences.  Build the country.  Nature is rich in differences; don't be afraid of them.  Let us be brothers, children of our common Father.  If you must debate, do it as brothers, and continue to reconciliation and peace.  Build peace; don't let cultural colonization make you uniform.  We build divine harmony through differences.  Differences are a richness for peace. 
Read
  • Dn 2:31-45  Daniel to King Nebuchadnezzar re vision and interpretation:  “You saw a statue of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and clay tile, being crumbled by stone.  You're the head.  Kingdoms replacing yours are the silver, bronze, iron with clay.  Last won't stay united.  God will set up a permanent kingdom.”
  • Dn 3:57-61  "Give glory and eternal praise to him."  Works of the Lord, angels, heavens, waters, and hosts, bless the Lord.
  • Lk 21:5-11  “Days will come when nothing you see here will remain.  Don't be deceived, follow the false prophets, or be terrified of wars/insurrections.  There will be earthquakes, famines, and signs from the sky.” 
Reflect
  • Creighton:  When asked to interpret the meaning of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel began with, “You are the king of kings” (which likely got the king’s attention), then compared him to the statue's golden head.  Each element of the statue would crumble and blow away, but the kingdom God has for us will stand forever.  Today’s gospel also warns about the destruction of a revered object, the Jerusalem temple:  every stone will be thrown down.  We know this happened when the Romans destroyed the temple in 70.  What we build is fragile; only God endures.  Jesus says there will be signs “the [end] time has come.  God reminds us of our fragility, gullibility, and our world's impermanence to give us the incentive and time to prepare for our eternal home with him....
    Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream
    (courtesy LDS.org)
  • Passionist:  In this pre-Advent time, celebrating the end of the church year and getting ready to welcome a new year, today's readings give a dismal picture:  Daniel and Jesus warn of passing kingdoms, turmoil, and destruction!  How do we stay positive and hopeful in a world apparently headed for destruction?  The world seems beset with crisis, violence, and chaos.  We're called to be faithful, to trust in a God who won't let us down.  Bad times will come, but so will love and generosity.  God is alive and well and working through us.  It my be natural to fear the end times, but remember Jesus is our hope, and eternal life holds more promise than we can imagine....
  • DailyScripture.net:  "Take heed":  Jesus foretold signs that would shake peoples, to point us to the truth of his eternal kingdom.  God works to renew us in hope and help us set our hearts on him alone.  His prophecy of the destruction of their temple was a warning of judgment. When they asked for a sign about when it would happen, he admonished them to pray for God's grace and mercy instead.  Jesus said there would be many signs of disasters leading to the last days, when God's anointed King would usher in the reign of God and the last judgment.  But Jesus' prophecy also pointed to God's saving action and mercy.  Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem, knowing he'd be betrayed, rejected, and crucified, but his death brought freedom and victory for all who would accept him.  God extends grace and mercy to all who heed his call....
Dress legend
  • 'Crown' tie bar:  King Nebuchadnezzar
  • Gold- and silver-colored accessories:  Statue's head was pure gold; chest and arms were silver (1st reading)
  • 'Stone' tie pin, 'feet' pin:  While you looked, a stone struck and broke its feet (1st reading); "there won't be left a stone upon another that won't be thrown down"; temple adorned with stones; stones will be thrown down adorned the temple (gospel)
  • 'Alps' pin:  The stone became a great mountain; the statue was hewn from a mountain... (1st reading)
  • 'Hand' tie pin:  ...without a hand being put to it; God has 'hand'ed... (1st reading)
  • 'Beast' and 'bird' pins:  ...people, beasts, and birds over to you,... (1st reading)
  • 'Ruler' tie bar:  ...making you 'ruler' of all (1st reading); Christ the King, 'ruler' of all (Sunday's celebration)
  • 'Angel' pin:  Angels, bless the Lord (canticle)
  • 'Signs' tie:  "What sign will there be when these things are about to happen?...  Mighty signs will come from the sky." (gospel)
  • 'Abacus' tie pin, 'feet' pin:  The feet and toes, of tile and iron, mean the kingdom shall be divided... (1st reading)
  • 'Clocks' suspenders:  Don't follow those who say, ‘The time has come.’ (gospel); last week of Ordinary Time season
  • DISC T-shirt (though not visible):  Planning DISC 2018 in Detroit
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