Tuesday 22nd November

Speak up

Once Saint Paul’s letters were collected in the third century, he got heat from Christians for “Wives, be submissive to your husbands”—adding that neither should they speak in church. For the third century also saw the martyrdom of Saint Cecilia. Paul’s critics pointed out that Cecilia’s eloquent words persuaded her husband and led him (and others) to convert. As for not speaking in church? It was Cecilia who allowed an underground church to worship in her home. Cecilia’s story is told in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, recounted by a nun who praises her for evangelizing with both words and example. Men and women of faith, glorify God today with your own words and example!

MEMORIAL OF CECILIA, MARTYR

Today's readings: Revelation 14:14-19; Luke 21:5-11 (504).

Wednesday 23rd November

We owe You

We naturally think of Saint Paul when we think of letters written to the early Christians in Corinth, but Saint Clement I—a disciple of the apostles and later a pope—had occasion to write to the Corinthian church as well. From one of those letters comes advice that’s fitting for Americans celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow: “If you are wise, then display your wisdom by good deeds; and if you are modest, let others speak of your modesty instead of proclaiming the fact yourself. To God we owe everything, and therefore on every count we are under obligation to thank him.”

MEMORIAL OF CLEMENT I, POPE, MARTYR

Today's readings: Revelation 15:1-4; Luke 21:12-19 (505).

Thursday 24th November

Saved in the cloud 

Thanksgiving is a time to recall the blessings in our lives. Most who are reading these words can give thanks to God for the freedom to worship, something absent for the saints and martyrs memorialized on this date. Today’s memorial is unusual in that it honors 117 Vietnamese martyrs, the “companions” of Father Andrew Dũng-Lạc. In fact, those 117 actually represent the 100,000 to 300,000 Vietnamese Christians killed or severely persecuted for their faith between the 17th and 19th centuries. May your actions of gratitude today give honor to this “cloud of witnesses.”

MEMORIAL OF ANDREW DŨNG-LẠC, PRIEST, AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS

Today's readings: Revelation 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a; Luke 21:20-28 (506).

Friday 25th November

Called to speak out 

The early church was a place of great religious fervor and danger. Prior to 313 Christianity was outlawed, and many adherents were put to death. This was the age of the martyrs, including Catherine of Alexandria. Catherine was well educated and known for her keen intellect. As she grew in the faith, she became an outspoken critic of the dominant religion of the Roman empire. Though given many unconscionable “outs” to avoid death, Catherine held firmly to her beliefs and continued to speak out. What compels you to speak out, even when it costs you?

MEMORIAL OF CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA, MARTYR

Today's readings: Revelation 20:1-4, 11—21:2; Luke 21:29-33 (507).

Saturday 26th November

The last day

It’s the last day of the year—the liturgical year, that is. Tomorrow is the beginning of a new liturgical year, a new cycle of readings, and a new season of joyful hope. Good thing, because the readings for the past few weeks, like today’s, have been words of warning and apprehension regarding the “eschaton,” which means the end of the world. It all sounds terrifying, but it is good news, for however you prefer to interpret it, literally or figuratively, unless this world passes away in some way, the kingdom Jesus preached isn’t fully realized. Pray God’s kingdom come!

Today's readings: Revelation 22:1-7; Luke 21:34-36 (508). “Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations.”