25 Further, he did not enter heaven to offer himself over and over again, like the cohen hagadol who enters the Holiest Place year after year with blood that is not his own; 26 for then he would have had to suffer death many times — from the founding of the universe on. But as it is, he has appeared once at the end of the ages in order to do away with sin through the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as human beings have to die once, but after this comes judgment, 28 so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,[Hebrews 9:28 Isaiah 53:12] will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to deliver those who are eagerly waiting for him.
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Christ … will appear a second time … to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.(Hebrews 9:28)November marks the final month in the Church year, a time when we reflect on death, the Second Coming of Christ, and the life that is to come. In his first coming, Jesus entered the world humbly, as a child. But his return will be much different. This time, he will come in glory as Judge and Ruler.
The Old Testament prophets foretold “new heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 65:17). Isaiah prophesied that when the Messiah comes in glory, the whole earth will be made new. There will be no fighting between people or between nations. Evil will be destroyed; peace will reign. “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,” and perfect peace will reign (11:6).
In the New Testament, the Book of Revelation gives us an even richer set of images. John tells us, “I saw a new heaven and a new earth” and “the holy city” (Revelation 21:1, 2). He saw a place where God “will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain” (21:4). Such a beautiful description would make any of us long to see the kingdom come!
Instead of trying to push aside any thoughts about death and dying, let’s treasure passages like these. Let’s welcome the thought of one day being with Jesus, and let’s eagerly await his coming. There will always be a fearful element in the thought of death, and our fear of the unknown may never go away completely. But fear doesn’t have to control us. We worship a God who is faithful and merciful!
Scripture promises, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). This is a free gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). So let’s embrace this gift, and look forward to our heavenly home.
“Jesus, I believe in you! Fill my heart with a longing for heaven.” Amen.
1 Kings 17:10 So he set out and went to Tzarfat. On reaching the gate of the city, he saw a widow there gathering sticks. He called out to her, “Please bring a little water in a container for me to drink.” 11 As she was going to get it, he called after her, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.” 12 She answered, “As Adonai your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a pot and a little oil in the jug. Here I am, gathering a couple sticks of wood, so that I can go and cook it for myself and my son. After we have eaten that, we will die.” 13 Eliyahu said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go; and do what you said; but first, use a little of it to make me a small loaf of bread; and bring it out to me. After that, make food for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what Adonai the God of Isra’el, says: ‘The pot of meal will not get used up, nor will there fail to be oil in the jug, until the day Adonai sends rain down on the land.’” 15 She went and acted according to what Eliyahu had said; and she, he and her household had food to eat for a long time. 16 The pot of meal did not get used up, nor did there fail to be oil in the jug, in fulfillment of the word of Adonai spoken through Eliyahu.
Psalm 146:7 He secures justice for the oppressed,
he gives food to the hungry.
Adonai sets prisoners free,
8 Adonai opens the eyes of the blind,
Adonai lifts up those who are bent over.
Adonai loves the righteous.
9 Adonai watches over strangers,
he sustains the fatherless and widows;
but the way of the wicked he twists.
10 Adonai will reign forever,
your God, Tziyon, through all generations.
Halleluyah!
Mark 12:38 As he taught them, he said, “Watch out for the kind of Torah-teachers who like to walk around in robes and be greeted deferentially in the marketplaces, 39 who like to have the best seats in the synagogues and take the places of honor at banquets, 40 who like to swallow up widows’ houses while making a show of davvening at great length. Their punishment will be all the worse!”
41 Then Yeshua sat down opposite the Temple treasury and watched the crowd as they put money into the offering-boxes. Many rich people put in large sums, 42 but a poor widow came and put in two small coins. 43 He called his talmidim to him and said to them, “Yes! I tell you, this poor widow has put more in the offering-box than all the others making donations. 44 For all of them, out of their wealth, have contributed money they can easily spare; but she, out of her poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion:Mass Readings:
1st Reading: 1 Kings 17:10 So he set out and went to Tzarfat. On reaching the gate of the city, he saw a widow there gathering sticks. He called out to her, “Please bring a little water in a container for me to drink.” 11 As she was going to get it, he called after her, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.” 12 She answered, “As Adonai your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a pot and a little oil in the jug. Here I am, gathering a couple sticks of wood, so that I can go and cook it for myself and my son. After we have eaten that, we will die.” 13 Eliyahu said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go; and do what you said; but first, use a little of it to make me a small loaf of bread; and bring it out to me. After that, make food for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what Adonai the God of Isra’el, says: ‘The pot of meal will not get used up, nor will there fail to be oil in the jug, until the day Adonai sends rain down on the land.’” 15 She went and acted according to what Eliyahu had said; and she, he and her household had food to eat for a long time. 16 The pot of meal did not get used up, nor did there fail to be oil in the jug, in fulfillment of the word of Adonai spoken through Eliyahu.
Responsorial: Psalm 146:7 He secures justice for the oppressed,
he gives food to the hungry.
Adonai sets prisoners free,
8 Adonai opens the eyes of the blind,
Adonai lifts up those who are bent over.
Adonai loves the righteous.
9 Adonai watches over strangers,
he sustains the fatherless and widows;
but the way of the wicked he twists.
10 Adonai will reign forever,
your God, Tziyon, through all generations.
Halleluyah!
2nd Reading: Hebrews 9:24 For the Messiah has entered a Holiest Place which is not man-made and merely a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, in order to appear now on our behalf in the very presence of God.25 Further, he did not enter heaven to offer himself over and over again, like the cohen hagadol who enters the Holiest Place year after year with blood that is not his own; 26 for then he would have had to suffer death many times — from the founding of the universe on. But as it is, he has appeared once at the end of the ages in order to do away with sin through the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as human beings have to die once, but after this comes judgment, 28 so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,[Hebrews 9:28 Isaiah 53:12] will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to deliver those who are eagerly waiting for him.Gospel: Mark 12:38 As he taught them, he said, “Watch out for the kind of Torah-teachers who like to walk around in robes and be greeted deferentially in the marketplaces, 39 who like to have the best seats in the synagogues and take the places of honor at banquets, 40 who like to swallow up widows’ houses while making a show of davvening at great length. Their punishment will be all the worse!”
41 Then Yeshua sat down opposite the Temple treasury and watched the crowd as they put money into the offering-boxes. Many rich people put in large sums, 42 but a poor widow came and put in two small coins. 43 He called his talmidim to him and said to them, “Yes! I tell you, this poor widow has put more in the offering-box than all the others making donations. 44 For all of them, out of their wealth, have contributed money they can easily spare; but she, out of her poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”
1. In the First Reading, we meet a widow who is down on her luck, and who is about to run out of the little bit of flour and oil she had left. Elijah comes along and asks her to bake him some bread, and then she hears these astounding words from him: “For the Lord, the God of Israel says, ‘The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry until the day when the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” Because of her great faith and trust in God, and in what Elijah told her, “She left and did as Elijah had said.” Her act of obedience was greatly rewarded. In what way does this reading stress the importance of faith in God and the fruits of being obedient to his words? Was there ever a time when you were obedient to something difficult that you believed the Lord wanted you to do? What was the result of that obedience?2. The Responsorial Psalm speaks of the Lord’s faithfulness to the most needy—the oppressed, hungry, captives, blind, fatherless, widows, and those who are bowed down. In what way is this a call for us to imitate the Lord by reaching out to others less fortunate than we are? What are some specific ways you can respond to this call?
3. The Second Reading speaks of Jesus’ first coming and second coming with these words: “Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.” In light of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins at his first coming, why should we be joyful and expectant when we think of his second coming? If you do not “eagerly await” Jesus’ second coming, what are the reasons?
4. In the Gospel reading, Jesus contrasts the difference between the behavior of the scribes and that of the poor widow. Why do you think Jesus did this? How would you describe the difference? How does it apply to your own life?
5. In what way is the poor widow’s action in the Gospel reading similar to actions of the poor widow in the first reading?
6. The meditation uses many Scriptures from the Old and New Testament to describe the Second Coming of Christ: “new heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 65:17), “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb” (Isaiah 11:6), “I saw a new heaven and a new earth” and “the holy city” (Revelation 21:1, 2) , a place where God “will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain” (Revelation 21:4). What do these words mean to you? How do these and other Scriptures help us to “look forward to our heavenly home”?
7. Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord to deepen your faith in him and give you a greater longing for heaven. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.“Jesus, I believe in you! Fill my heart with a longing for heaven.” Amen.
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