4th Sunday of the Great Advent with the readings of 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, year C

Fourth week of the Great Advent: Moses



Exodus 19: 16-18. 20: 1-17

On the morning of the third day there were peals of thunder and lightning, and a heavy cloud over the mountain, and a very loud blast of the shofar, so that all the people in the camp trembled. But Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stationed themselves at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had come down upon it in fire. The smoke rose from it as though from a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled violently.

Then God spoke all these words:

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall not have other gods beside me. You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; you shall not bow down before them or serve them. For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their ancestors’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation; but showing love down to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

You shall not invoke the name of the LORD, your God, in vain. For the LORD will not leave unpunished anyone who invokes his name in vain.

Remember the sabbath day—keep it holy. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God. You shall not do any work, either you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your work animal, or the resident alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD has blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

You shall not kill.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Malachi 3: 19-20a

Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch, says the LORD of hosts. But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.

Psalm 98: 5-9

Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,

with the harp and melodious song.

With trumpets and the sound of the horn

sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.

Let the sea and what fills it resound,

the world and those who dwell in it;

let the rivers clap their hands,

the mountains shout with them for joy.

Before the LORD, for he comes,

for he comes to rule the earth,

he will rule the world with justice

and the peoples with equity.

2 Thessalonians 3: 7-12

Brothers and sisters: You know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you, nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you. Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us. In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat. We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in a disorderly way, by not keeping busy but minding the business of others. Such people we instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and to eat their own food.

Luke 21: 5-19

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, "All that you see here-- the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."

Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?" He answered, "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky. Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives."

Questions:

- It is written in the book of Exodus: “Then God spoke all these words: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall not have other gods beside me…” – What are the “other gods” worshipped in our generation? What enslaves me, my family, the society around me? What can I do to be a really free person?

- It is written in the book of Psalms: “(…) the LORD (…) comes to rule the earth, he will rule the world with justice and the peoples with equity.” – How does God see our world? Do I try to see current events through God’s eyes? How do I feel God looks at me, and will see me on the day I stand before him at the end of my life? What would I want to I tell him? What would I want him to say to me?

- It is written in the Second Letter to the Thessalonians: “You know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you.” – What is St Paul’s message here, when he gives himself as an example? Why is it so important, that each in the Christian community contributes their part? What example do I give, or would I like to give to others? When do I feel I give a good example, and when would I not like others to follow my example?

- Jesus said in the Gospel: “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified” – How do I react when I hear about the wars or disasters? What is the role of faith and prayer in the way we read or listen to news? To what extent does my faith give me hope, trust in God, and peace in my heart, even when the news is painful or threatening?

Questions for children:

- It is written in the book of Exodus: “Then God spoke all these words: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall not have other gods beside me…” – Even if I don’t literally worship idols, do my phone and the Internet take up to much room in my life? What else can be an “idol” which keeps us from serving God freely? How can I free myself from bondage to all these things? What should I do to be a really free person?

- It is written in the book of Psalms: “(…) the LORD (…) comes to rule the earth, he will rule the world with justice and the peoples with equity.” – How would I feel if Jesus appeared before me today? What would I want to say to him? What do I think he would say to me? What is Christ’s Second Coming? Why do we await him, and with joyful expectation?

- It is written in the Second Letter to the Thessalonians: “You know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you.” – Let us think of some people who can be an example for us. In which aspect(s) would I like to resemble them?

- Jesus said in the Gospel: “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified” – What do I feel when I hear about the wars or disasters? With whom do I talk about things that frighten me? How can prayer and faith help us to not be terrified when we hear the news? Do I pray for peace and for those in trouble? Why is this prayer important?