Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection: 23 November 2020 – The Widow’s Mite

Readings at Mass for Monday November 23, 2020

Weekday (34)
Vestment: Red/Green/White
Today’s Rosary: The Joyful Mystery

ST CLEMENT I, P.M. & ST COLUMBANUS,ABB (Opt Mem)

FIRST READING

They had the name of Christ and his Father written on their foreheads.
A reading from the Book of Revelation Revelation 14:1-3.4b-5

I, John, looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; the voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes; these have been redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are spotless.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 24:1-2.3-4ab.5-6 (R. see 6)

R/. These are the people who seek your face, O Lord.

The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness,
the world, and all who dwell in it.
It is he who set it on the seas;
on the rivers he made it firm. R.

Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The clean of hands and pure of heart,
whose soul is not set on vain things. R.

Blessings from the Lord shall he receive,
and right reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the people who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob. R.

ALLELUIA Matthew 24:42a.44

Alleluia. Watch, therefore, and be ready; the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

“He saw the poor widow put in two copper coins.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 21:1-4 )

At that time: Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury; and he saw a poor widow put in two copper coins. And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

In the gospel reading of today, Jesus sets the poverty stricken widow as an example of a generous giver. He sees beyond the physical appearance and beyond human calculations. He noted the generosity of the poor widow. She gave all that she had to live on. Others gave out of their super abundance. What she did could only be motivated by deep faith, trust, total reliance and dependence on God. According to mother Teresa of Kolkata, it is when we empty ourselves that God can fill us with an abundance of his blessings. It shows also that the woman in the gospel story is detached from earthly possessions. The more detached we are to worldly possessions, the lighter we are to climb the mountain of the Lord.

Today’s Saint: ST CLEMENT I, P.M. & ST COLUMBANUS,ABB (Opt Mem)

Clement, chosen as the third successor of Peter after Linus and Cletus, wrote a renowned letter to the Corinthians in order to encourage them to preserve unity, and to challenge them to live in holiness and charity. He suffered martyrdom around the year 97.

Columban, the most famous Irish monk, founded several monasteries in France and devoted himself to preaching the Gospel wherever he went. Eventually he moved to Italy where he founded his last monastery at Bobbio. His writings are an inspiration to all those who want to live the Christian life to the full. He died in the year 615.

Blessed Miguel – November 23rd

Blessed Miguel had to carry out the duties of the priesthood in secret, adopting disguises to conceal his identity from the Mexican government.

We ought to speak, shout out against injustices, with confidence and without fear. We proclaim the principles of the Church, the reign of love, without forgetting that it is also a reign of justice.

Personal Devotional

– Pray for grace and strength to depart from sinful associations.

Let Us Pray

Lord Jesus Christ, I believe that you took the pain of the Cross to give me new life. I ask you to come into my life and to give me your peace and Joy. I confess that I am a sinner, that I have gone my own way and have done wrong. Please forgive me for my sins. I receive you now as my Lord and Saviour. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit. Help me to follow you and to serve you all my life. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Blessing for the New Week

The giver of life has given us this new day and this new week and for this we remain ever grateful.

Dear Lord, watch over us as we begin this day, guide and protect us and grant success to the work of our hands.

Lead us in the right path and may we remain submissive under your authority and power.

May your light shine through us in our world so that the works of darkness will continue to be destroyed and souls will continue to be saved.

I offer you my all and I ask that you give me the grace to be generous with the gifts you have given me and may my little effort yield abundant of fruits in my life and in the life of those who come in contact with me.

I wish you all the best as you begin this new day my dear friend and may God’s favour rest upon you in abundance. Do not be afraid, go out and work hard and everything will go well for you.

Do have a blessed day and new week ahead. Give your best for God and God’s best will come to you. Share your little with others and you will have more in abundance