Year 35 No.

20 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) — Green November 14, 2021

A s the liturgical year draws

to a close, we hear again
the apocalyptic language used
in Mark’s Gospel this Sunday,
giving us a glimpse of what
it is like when the Son of
Man returns. Walking
on the streets and
alleys in the Metro
and riding the public
transport, we may find
bible preachers using
this passage to strike
fear and panic to their
listeners.
In their original
c o n t e x t , h o w e v e r, t h e
evangelist Mark used these
words to deliver a message of
hope and encouragement to the
Christian community in Rome
who struggled to believe in God’s
goodness and love in the face of
trials and persecutions inflicted
by the Roman Empire. For those
persecuted Christians, their world
was collapsing, and their faith was
crumbling. They felt that there
was no hope for their future. And
so, Mark sent Jesus’ message of
hope to them, reminding them that
despite darkness and tribulation,
their Mighty God would come to
save his faithful people.
The ordeal of the Markan
community in Rome is not far
f r o m wh a t w e a r e c u r r e n t l y
GOD
IN TIME
OF
DARKNESS
by Emerald John
C. Paladin
experiencing. The Covid-19 health
crisis has been overwhelming
for most of us. The daily Covid
tallies showing the exponential
growth of cases of infection have
caused anxiety, depression, and
hopelessness among people. The
rising rates of unemployment,
illiteracy, and corruption have
added to our grim and chaotic
situation.
Given our present predicament,
it may be good for us to know
where the passage we are reflecting
on today is found in Mark’s Gospel.
It is right before Jesus undergoes
his passion and death. Jesus is on
his way to Calvary. There he will
enter the darkness and chaos
of human existence and
plunge into suffering
and betrayal by his
friends, transforming
it into a self-
sacrificing love
for humanity. God
is present amid
senseless death and
social injustice.
As the persecuted
Christians in Rome were exhorted
to remember, Jesus in the Gospel
reminds us of his message of hope
and faith. God is not found in
a grandiose palace distant from
the sufferings of his people, but
he dwells in this world of chaos
and suffering. Many people are
tempted to believe that God is
punishing the world for its sins and
has abandoned his people. Jesus
in Mark says otherwise. Despite
how things appear to be, God still
reigns and has given his own Son
to embrace humanity.
Let Jesus’ words this Sunday
remind us not to be swallowed by
sadness and despair when we face
challenges and tribulations. Let us
hold on to his message of hope:
“Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.”

PASTORAL CATECHESIS FOR THE YEAR OF MISSIO AD GENTES

Jesus Never Lets Us Down
Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM
In his homily on January 17, 2015, in Tacloban, Pope
Francis proclaimed a profound message of faith. “Jesus goes
before us always; when we experience any kind of cross, he
is already there before us. And, if today we find ourselves
here … fourteen months precisely after the Typhoon Yolanda
hit, it is because we have the security of knowing we will not
weaken in our faith, because Jesus has been here before us.”
“I’d like to tell you something close to my heart. When
I saw from Rome that catastrophe, I had to be here. And on
those very days I decided to come here. I am here to be with
you—a little bit late, but I’m here! I have come to tell you that
Jesus is Lord. And he never lets us down. Father—you might
say to me—I was let down because I have lost so many things,
my house, my livelihood. It’s true if you say that and I respect
those sentiments. But, Jesus is there, nailed to the cross, and
from there he does not let us down.”
“The Lord from the cross is there for you…. So many of
you have lost everything. I don’t know what to say to you.
But the Lord knows…. All I can do is keep silence and walk
with you all with my silent heart.” Truly, heartfelt words from
a compassionate and loving father!

THE INTRODUCTORY RITES
Entrance Antiphon
(Jer 29:11, 12, 14)
(Recited when there is no opening song.)
The Lord said: I think thoughts
of peace and not of affliction.
You will call upon me, and
I will answer you, and I will
lead back your captives from
every place.
Greeting
(The sign of the cross is made here.)
P—The Lord be with you.
All—And with your spirit.
Introduction
(These [or similar words] may be used
to address the assembly.)
P—As the liturgical year draws
to a close, the readings in today’s
Mass speak of the end times.
But God’s word strengthens us
in hope. The budding forth of
the fig tree that Jesus points out
in the Gospel symbolizes this
hope: life comes after death,
a new world is being born in
pain and toil. This is something
that nature itself seems to take
for granted. What is true in the
change of the season is also
true in the life of the Spirit in
us. The Spirit transforms old to
new, chaos to order, sorrow to
joy, death to life.
Penitential Act
P—Brethren (brothers and
sisters), let us acknowledge our
sins, and so prepare ourselves to
celebrate the sacred mysteries.
(Pause)
All—I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and
sisters, that I have greatly sinned
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in
what I have failed to do, (Strike
your breast) through my fault,
through my fault, through my
most grievous fault; therefore I
ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all
the Angels and Saints, and you,
my brothers and sisters, to pray
for me to the Lord our God.
P—May almighty God have
mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
All—Amen.
P—Lord, have mercy.
All—Lord, have mercy.
P—Christ, have mercy.
All—Christ, have mercy.
P—Lord, have mercy.
All—Lord, have mercy.
Gloria
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people
of good will. We praise you,
we bless you, we adore you,
we glorify you, we give you
thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King, O
God, almighty Father. Lord
Jesus Christ, Only Begotten
Son, Lord God, Lamb of God,
Son of the Father, you take
away the sins of the world, have
mercy on us; you take away the
sins of the world, receive our
prayer; you are seated at the
right hand of the Father, have
mercy on us. For you alone are
the Holy One, you alone are
the Lord, you alone are the
Most High, Jesus Christ, with
the Holy Spirit, in the glory of
God the Father. Amen.
Collect
P — Let us pray. (Pause)
Grant us, we pray, O Lord
our God, the constant gladness
of being devoted to you, for it
is full and lasting happiness to
serve with constancy the author
of all that is good.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ
your Son, who lives and reigns
with you in the unity of the Holy
2. Therefore my heart is glad and
Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
my soul rejoices,/ my body, too,
All — Amen.
abides in confidence;/ because
you will not abandon my soul
to the netherworld,/ nor will
Liturgy of the word
you suffer your faithful one to
First Reading (Dn 12:1–3) (Sit) undergo corruption. (R)
The apocalyptic visions of Daniel
were meant to strengthen the Jews
who bore the brunt of Antiochus’
persecution. God will intervene
to usher in the deliverance of his
people.
A reading from the book of
the Prophet Daniel
IN THOSE DAYS, I, Daniel,
heard this word of the LORD:
“At that time there shall arise
Michael, the great prince,
guardian of your people; it shall
be a time unsurpassed in distress
since nations began until that
time. At that time your people
shall escape, everyone who is
found written in the book.
“Many of those who sleep
in the dust of the earth shall
awake; some shall live forever,
others shall be an everlasting
horror and disgrace.
“But the wise shall shine
brightly like the splendor of
the firmament, and those who
lead the many to justice shall
be like the stars forever.”
—The word of the Lord.
All—Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm (Ps 16)
R—You are my inheritance,
O Lord!
E. C. Marfori
 
C F
      
  
You are my in he ri tance,
C
 
3
   
O Lord!
1. O LORD, my allotted portion
and my cup,/ you it is who
hold fast my lot./ I set the LORD
ever before me;/ with him at
my right hand I shall not be
disturbed. (R)
3. You will show me the path
to life,/ fullness of joys in your
presence,/ the delights at your
right hand forever. (R)
Second Reading
(Heb 10:11–14, 18)
Christ’s offering is the most perfect
of all sacrifices. It frees us from our
sins. All we await is God’s final
intervention to make our redemption
complete.
A reading from the Letter to
the Hebrews
BROTHERS AND SISTERS:
Every priest stands daily at his
ministry, offering frequently
those same sacrifices that can
never take away sins. But this
one offered one sacrifice for
sins, and took his seat forever
at the right hand of God; now
he waits until his enemies are
made his footstool. For by one
offering he has made perfect
forever those who are being
consecrated.
Where there is forgiveness
of these, there is no longer
offering for sin.
—The word of the Lord.
All —Thanks be to God.
Alleluia (Lk 21:36) (Stand)
All—Alleluia, alleluia. Be
vigilant at all times and pray
that you have the strength to
stand before the Son of Man.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel (Mk 13:24–32)
P—A reading from the holy
Gospel according to Mark
All—Glory to you, O Lord.
JESUS SAID to his disciples: “In
those days after that tribulation
the sun will be darkened, and
the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling
from the sky, and the powers
in the heavens will be shaken.
“And then they will see
‘the Son of Man coming in
the clouds’ with great power
and glory, and then he will send
out the angels and gather his
elect from the four winds, from
the end of the earth to the end
of the sky.
“Learn a lesson from the fig
tree. When its branch becomes
tender and sprouts leaves, you
know that summer is near. In the
same way, when you see these
things happening, know that he
is near, at the gates. Amen, I say
to you, this generation will not
pass away until all these things
have taken place. Heaven and
earth will pass away, but my
words will not pass away.
“But of that day or hour, no
one knows, neither the angels
in heaven, nor the Son, but
only the Father.”
—The Gospel of the Lord.
All—Praise to you, Lord Jesus
Christ.
Homily (Sit)
Profession of Faith (Stand)
All—I believe in one God,
the Father almighty, maker of
heaven and earth, of all things
visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus
Christ, the Only Begotten Son
of God, born of the Father
before all ages. God from God,
Light from Light, true God from
true God, begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were
made. For us men and for our
salvation he came down from
heaven, (at the words that follow, up
to and including and became man,
all bow) and by the Holy Spirit
was incarnate of the Virgin
Mary and became man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate, he
suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third
day in accordance with the
Scriptures. He ascended into
heaven and is seated at the
right hand of the Father. He will
come again in glory to judge
the living and the dead and
his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life, who
proceeds from the Father and
the Son, who with the Father
and the Son is adored and
glorified, who has spoken
through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy,
catholic, and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the
forgiveness of sins and I look
forward to the resurrection
of the dead and the life of the
world to come. Amen.
Prayer of the Faithful
P—Let us pray to God our
Father, that he may guide our
hearts towards the fulfillment
of his Kingdom on earth. Full
of hope, we say:
R—Lord, hear our prayer.
C—For Pope Francis, bishops,
priests, deacons, and all who
exercise authority in the Church:
may they be faithful in their
service for the people of God.
We pray: (R)
C—For all public servants:
may they become responsible
stewards of all that God
has entrusted to them, and
a c c o u n t a b l e g ove r n m e n t
officials to the people they have
promised to serve. We pray: (R)
C—For the end of the pandemic:
may You, grant us the healing
we need and the grace to
recover from the detrimental
effects brought about by
Covid-19. We pray: (R)
C—For all of us gathered today:
may we see everything through
the eyes of faith that we may
realize that everything is God’s
gift to us. We pray: (R)
C—For all the faithful de­parted:
May they be welcomed by
all the saints and angels in
heaven, where Lazarus is poor
no longer. We pray: (R)
C—Let us pray for the urgent
concerns of our community
and our personal intentions
(pause). We pray: (R)
P—God our Father, listen to the
prayer of your faithful people
who look forward in hope for
the fullness of your Kingdom.
We ask this through Christ
our Lord.
All—Amen.
Liturgy of
the eucharist
Presentation of the Gifts
(Stand)
P—Pray, brethren…
All—May the Lord accept the
sacrifice at your hands for the
praise and glory of his name,
for our good and the good of
all his holy Church.
Prayer over the Offerings
P—Grant, O Lord, we pray,
that what we offer in the sight
of your majesty may obtain for
us the grace of being devoted
to you and gain us the prize of
everlasting happiness.
Through Christ our Lord.
All—Amen.
Preface IV
(Sundays in Ordinary Time)
P—The Lord be with you.
All—And with your spirit.
P—Lift up your hearts.
All—We lift them up to the Lord.
P—Let us give thanks to the
Lord our God.
All—It is right and just.
P—It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give
you thanks, Lord, holy Father,
almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord.
For by his birth he brought
renewal to humanity’s fallen
state, and by his suffering,
canceled out our sins; by his
rising from the dead he has
opened the way to eternal life,
and by ascending to you, O
Father, he has unlocked the
gates of heaven.
And so, with the company of
Angels and Saints, we sing the
hymn of your praise, as without
end we acclaim:
All—Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God
of hosts. Heaven and earth are
full of your glory. Hosanna in
the highest. Blessed is he who
comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.(Kneel)
Acclamation (Stand)
All—We proclaim your Death,
O Lord, and profess your Resur-
rection until you come again.
THE COMMUNION RITE
The Lord’s Prayer
All — Our Father…
P — Deliver us, Lord…
All — For the kingdom, the
power and the glory are yours
now and forever.
Invitation to Peace
Invitation to Communion
(Kneel)
P—Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away
the sins of the world. Blessed
are those called to the supper
of the Lamb.
All—Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under
my roof, but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed.
Communion Antiphon
(Ps 73 [72]:28)
To be near God is my happi­
ness, to place my hope in God
the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
(Stand)
P—Let us pray. (Pause)
We have partaken of the gifts
of this sacred mystery, humbly
imploring, O Lord, that what
your Son commanded us to do
in memory of him may bring
us growth in charity.
Through Christ our Lord.
All—Amen.
THE CONCLUDING RITES
P—The Lord be with you.
All—And with your spirit.
Solemn Blessing
P—Bow down for the blessing.
(Pause)
May almighty God always
keep every adversity far from
you and in his kindness pour
out upon you the gifts of his
blessing.
All—Amen.
P—May God keep your hearts
attentive to his words, that they
may be filled with everlasting
gladness.
All—Amen.
P—And so, may you always
understand what is good
and right, and be found ever
hastening along in the path of
God’s commands, made coheirs
with the citizens of heaven.
All—Amen.
P—And may the blessing of
almighty God, the Father, and
the Son, + and the Holy Spirit,
come down on you and remain
with you for ever.
All—Amen.
Dismissal
P— The Mass has been offered.
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord
by your life.
All—Thanks be to God.
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