November 16, 2025・33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time ( C )

Malachi 3.19-20a・Psalm 98.4+5,6+7b+8b・2 Thessalonians 3.7-12・Luke 21.5-19

We have a common understanding in this world about what is good and what is bad.  Good people are those who are doing a commonly understood good things. Bad people are those who are committing a commonly understood bad things. Doing good brings good things, peace, and true happiness for all. Doing bad brings bad things, unrest and pain and stress to people. With the common understanding we do have about the good and the bad, indeed a person becomes good or bad because of what he/she desires, chooses and does.  Let us start our reflection today with our common understanding in our society about good and bad , and with what we have in the context of our faith (Christian faith).

In the context of faith (Christian faith), we have the greatest Good (the only Good) who is God, our creator. He created us in His image and likeness, and all He created are good. From Him all good things come from, and all good people and good things comes back to Him. From this particular context of our Christian faith, we will try to better substantiate our reflection today. Our first reading today from the book of prophet Malachi gives us a sort of reminder about our Lord saying that a fierce day will consume the arrogant and the wicked, while those who honor Him will find justice & healing.

Our readings today specifies some end times warnings. Following our liturgical calendar, we are towards the end of our calendar year (C). Next Sunday, we will be celebrating the Feast of Christ the King. In our Gospel reading, Jesus talks about the destruction of the temple, trials against persecution in following Him. The description of these trials includes wars, natural disasters. The message however reminds us that our hearts should center more on His promise of divine wisdom, as well as on the grace of endurance that comes from Him. We are being advised to persevere in doing good and in proclaiming the Good News of Salvation in Him ( mercy, forgiveness, & [daily] conversion). , and love (charity - generosity).

Our second reading today gives us a more specific thing to ponder upon. Indeed, love of neighbors seems to be a very broad Gospel command. To be charitable or generous may specifically mean helping other people by giving material things in which they are insufficient, and it is good. There are many other ways on how to be generous, mindful and considerate of others. The more we become generous, mindful and considerate of others, the more we become just. To be just is another big expression of loving (on how to love, on how we love each day) our own selves and our neighbors. Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians specifies one of the good traits they (most probably his’ and his fellow leaders’ good conduct about work ethics) have acquired, and that should be imitated by others. The premise (preamble/ basic idea) is about “to work” in order to live. We do not take what others have worked hard for in order to survive/live. It is love, it is generosity, and it is justice when we work in order to live. We are being advised to refrain from being idle and lazy. We have a saying that the devil is working in our laziness. Let us therefore preserve the dignity of work and good employment, spend our days busy in doing good to others, be just, and honest, and really generous and considerate.