The Lord will speak peace to his people and his faithful, and to those who turn to him.

 

The Lord will speak peace to his people and his faithful, and to those who turn to him. (Ps 84:9). (Ps 84:9).

Those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb are welcomed into the holy dwelling of God: those who have innocent and generous hands and pure hearts. Gathered for this Eucharist, let us seek the face of the Lord with confidence and offer ourselves to him without reserve, with all sincerity of our hearts.

First Reading: Revelation 14:1-5

A reading from the Book of Revelation by Saint John – I, John, 1 saw this vision: The Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with him were the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2I heard a voice from heaven, like the roar of rushing waters and the rumble of loud thunder. The sound I heard was like the sound of musicians playing harps. 3They stood before the throne, before the four living creatures and the elders, and they sang a new song. It was a song that no one could learn except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who were chosen and redeemed from the earth. 4They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were redeemed from among men, the first offering to God and to the Lamb. 5No lie was found in their mouths. They are blameless. – The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: 23(24)

Such is the race of those who seek your face, / Lord, God of Israel.

1. The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, / the world and its inhabitants; / for he established it on the seas, / and established it on the waters. – R.

2. “Who shall ascend the mountain of the Lord, / who shall dwell in his holy dwelling?” / “Whoever has clean hands and a pure heart, / who does not set his mind on evil. – R.

3. Upon him comes the blessing of the Lord / and the reward of his God and Savior.” / “Such is the generation of those who seek him / and seek the face of the God of Israel.” – R.

Gospel: Luke 21,1-4

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Watch, says Jesus, watch, for on the day you do not expect it, your Lord will come (Mt 24,42.44). – R.

Proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ according to Luke – At that time, 1Jesus looked up and saw rich people putting their offerings into the temple treasury. 2He also saw a poor widow who put in two small coins. 3When she saw this, he said to her, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4For they all put in their surplus offerings to God. But the widow, out of her poverty, put in all she had to live on.” – Word of salvation.

Reflection:

Jesus had strongly criticized the commerce in the temple, which had become a “haven for thieves” (cf. Lk 19:46). He then announced that this temple, luxuriously built thanks to the offerings of the faithful, would be destroyed. Now, his gaze falls on a poor widow who puts “all she had to live on” into the temple treasury. I can imagine that Jesus, faced with such a noble and moving scene, felt the urge to run to the poor woman and say to her: “Madam, save your money, it is indispensable for your survival.” Such an attitude would be in complete harmony with Jesus’ warnings against a society that exploits and punishes the poor and marginalized. Jesus would recommend that the rich be less vain and less attached to money.

(Day by Day with the Gospel 2024)