Reflection for November 16, 2025

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Malachi 3:19-20A | Psalm 98:5-6, 7-8, 9 | 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12 | Luke 21:5-19

​This Sunday marks the second to the last Sunday of our liturgical year. As we draw near the end of the Church calendar, the Gospel calls us to reflect deeply on the virtues of justice, hard work, and perseverance. As the Church year closes, the readings remind us that time itself is passing—and so must our complacency. The Word of God shakes us awake, urging us to prepare our souls for the day when Christ will return in glory and judge the living and the dead.

Ann, a newly commissioned Minister of the Word, was assigned to proclaim the second reading one Sunday in a church packed to the rafters. She was a walking bundle of nerves—hands clammy, knees knocking, and heart pounding like a drumline. When her turn came, she marched to the ambo looking brave on the outside but falling apart inside. Then came her big moment. With a shaky voice, she began, “A proclamation from the letter of Saint Paul to the Philippines.” The crowd tried to stay reverent, but a few shoulders started trembling from silent laughter. She soldiered on, bravely mispronouncing words left and right, determined to finish strong. And for the grand finale, she announced with conviction, “The end of the world.” Without missing a beat, the congregation—ever faithful—responded in unison, “Thanks be to God.”
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In the first reading, the prophet Malachi thunders a warning to the people who have returned from exile: “The day of the Lord is coming!” For the arrogant and the wicked, it will be a day of fire—a blaze that burns away hypocrisy, pride, and deceit. But for those who fear the Lord’s name, it will be a day of healing and light. This message is not only for ancient Israel—it is for us today. When we cheat, gossip, ignore the poor, or live as if God does not see, we join the ranks of the proud and rebellious. Yet when we choose honesty over convenience, forgiveness over revenge, prayer over indifference, we walk in the mercy of God. Malachi reminds us that divine justice is not about destruction—it is about purification. The fire of the Lord will burn, yes, but it burns to cleanse, to make us whole, and to call us back to the holiness He desires.

Mark, a call center agent, walked into his doctor’s clinic one morning looking absolutely exhausted—or so he claimed. “Doc Erin,” he groaned, “I need a medical certificate. I can’t go to work. I’m just… tired.” Dr. Erin raised an eyebrow. “Tired? You’re not sick, Mark. You’re just plain lazy.” Mark grinned sheepishly. “I know, Doc. But could you at least give it a medical name? My team leader won’t accept ‘lazy’ as a diagnosis.” Rolling her eyes, Dr. Erin scribbled on her pad and handed him the note: Diagnosis: Mores desidiosus (chronic laziness). Prescription: 30 days bed rest without pay. Mark stared at it and sighed, “Doc, that’s not the cure I was hoping for.”

In his letter to the Thessalonians, St. Paul issues a stern rebuke to those who had become idle, thinking the Lord’s return was already at hand. Some had stopped working, abandoned their responsibilities, and become burdens to others. Paul warns them—and us—that laziness is not a form of holiness but a hidden act of disobedience. The Christian life is not a waiting room for heaven; it is a battlefield of daily faithfulness. “Those who will not work should not eat,” he declares, reminding us that discipleship demands perseverance and discipline. If Christ were to return today, would He find you serving or scrolling? Building up your home or wasting your gifts? True believers show their faith through action—earning an honest living, caring for their families, helping the poor, and offering every task as worship to God. The idle heart becomes fertile soil for sin, but the working heart is transformed into a living temple of grace. So rise up! Shake off spiritual sloth, get to work, and be found faithful when He comes.

Fr. Matthew Chu Li-teh, S.J., was arrested in Shanghai simply for preaching the Gospel. Thrown into prison, one might expect despair—but he chose faith over fear. Even behind bars, he continued to share Christ, turning his confinement into a mission field. His trial was a farce, yet he was sentenced to 27 long years. During those decades, Fr. Matthew discovered a profound truth: ministry is not limited to churches or pulpit sermons. In prison, both inmates and guards sought his wisdom and guidance. He later reflected, “We had a more fruitful ministry there than we could have expected in church. God was better served by our presence in prison than if we had been free.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus shatters the illusion of permanence. Standing before the magnificent Temple, He declares, “The days will come when not one stone will be left upon another.” Imagine the disciples’ shock! Yet Jesus was not condemning architecture—He was exposing our dangerous attachment to worldly security. Everything we take pride in—our possessions, our achievements, our comforts—will one day crumble to dust. Only faith in God will stand the test of eternity. Then comes His harshest truth: persecution will come. Families will turn against you. Friends will mock your faith. You will be hated for His name. Yet Christ calls us not to despair, but to endure. When the world tempts you to stay silent in the face of injustice—speak the truth anyway. When living your faith becomes inconvenient—remain steadfast. When fear whispers, “Give up,” remember His promise: “By your perseverance, you will save your souls.” The world may shake, kingdoms may fall, and even the proudest temples may collapse—but the heart rooted in Christ will never be moved. So don’t just admire the Temple—become one: a living, breathing dwelling place of God, built on the unshakable foundation of faith, justice, and perseverance.

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