Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection,  17 November 2020 – The Son Of Man Came To Seek And To Save The Lost

Readings at Mass for Tuesday November 17, 2020

Weekday (33) ordinary Time
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: The Sorrowful Mystery
SAINT ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY, Religious (Memorial)

FIRST READING

“If any one opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him.”
A reading from the Book of Revelation (Revelation 3 : 1-6.14-22)

I, John, heard the Lord saying to me: “To the angel of the Church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works; you have the name of being alive, and you are dead. Awake, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. Remember then what you received and heard; keep that, and repent. If you will not awake, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. He who conquers shall be clothed like them in white garments, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life; I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ “And to the angel of the Church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. ”’

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 115:2-3a.3bc-4ab.5 (R. Rv 3 :21)

R/. He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne.

Whoever walks without fault;
who does what is just,
and speaks the truth from his heart.
Who does not slander with his tongue. R

Who does no wrong to a neighbour,
who casts no slur on a friend,
who looks with scorn on the wicked,
but honours those who fear the Lord. R.

Who lends no money at interest,
and accepts no bribes against the innocent.
Such a one shall never be shaken. R.

ALLELUIA 1 John 4:10b

Alleluia. God loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

“The Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 19:1-10)

At that time: Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

Jesus’ encounter with people is mainly to restore them to friendship with God. He came to save what was lost. Hence, he does not make any distinction between class, race or religion. All are dear to him. He stands at the door and knocks. He “enters and shares a meal” with anyone who opens the door and receives him, offering salvation. The psalmist in Psalm 15 enumerates the qualities of a transformed person. These qualities can be attributed to Zacchaeus after his encounter with Jesus. Personal encounter with Jesus is very important. It brings about the needed transformation and salvation.

Today’s Saint and Quote: