Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time
Friday November 20, 2026
Daily Mass Readings for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
- First Reading – Revelation 10:8-11: I, John, was commanded by a heavenly voice to eat a scroll from an angel, which tasted sweet but soured my stomach, signifying a call to prophesy anew.
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 119: I find joy in your decrees and treasure your words more than wealth; they guide me and are sweeter than honey, forever the joy of my heart.
- Gospel – Luke 19:45-48: Jesus enters the temple in Jerusalem and drives out the merchants, accusing them of turning it into a den of robbers. He teaches daily in the temple. The religious leaders want to kill him, but they can’t find a way because the people are very attentive to his words.
Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.“
Luke 19:45=46
Themes for the Readings for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
On Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 2, the readings from Revelation and Luke invite us to reflect on God’s message and our response to it. We see God’s call to share His Word and Christ’s zeal for His Father’s house.
- God’s Call to Speak: In Revelation, John is called to share God’s message with others. This shows that God’s Word is meant to be shared, even if the message is challenging.
- Obedience to God’s Word: John receives and consumes the scroll, symbolizing obedience to God’s message. We are also called to accept God’s Word and let it guide our actions.
- Jesus’ Zeal for Worship: Jesus cleanses the temple to restore true worship. This action shows the importance of respecting sacred spaces and proper worship of God.
- Purity of God’s House: Jesus drives out those misusing the temple. This teaches us to keep God’s house pure, focusing on prayer and worship, not personal gain.
- Repentance and Reform: Jesus challenges the wrongful use of the temple. This shows the need for ongoing repentance and reform in our lives and communities.
- Resistance to Truth: The religious leaders reject Jesus’ message. This reminds us that sometimes people resist God’s truth because it challenges their ways.
These themes remind us of the importance of hearing God’s message and acting on it. They also highlight the need for respect in worship and openness to God’s truth.
Thoughts for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
The readings for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 invite us to reflect on the power of God’s Word, the challenge of accepting it, and the call to repentance. In these passages, we see God’s desire to communicate His truth, and we are reminded of our responsibility to respond with courage and openness.
Sharing God’s Message
In the first reading for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, John is called to share God’s message. He receives the scroll and is told to spread its words to others. This shows that God’s Word is not meant to stay hidden. It must be shared openly with courage, even when it is challenging.
John’s mission is not easy. God’s message often includes warnings and calls to change. We might find it uncomfortable to share this message, especially when it goes against popular beliefs. But like John, we are called to bring God’s truth to others, even when it is difficult.
In our own lives, sharing God’s message can happen in many ways. It might be through a conversation, an act of kindness, or a simple example of faith. We need to be willing to speak and live God’s truth in every situation. This is the challenge we hear in the readings for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2.
Resistance to God’s Truth
In the Gospel reading for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, we see how the religious leaders react to Jesus’ actions and teachings. Instead of accepting the truth, they resist it. Jesus challenges their ways, but they choose to hold onto their own ideas and power.
This theme of resistance appears throughout Scripture. God’s message often asks us to change. It may confront our behaviors, priorities, or beliefs. Like the religious leaders, we might find it easier to resist God’s truth than to change our ways.
We need to be aware of this tendency in our own lives. We might resist God’s call to forgive someone, be more generous, or pray more often. The readings for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 remind us to let go of pride and stubbornness. Instead, we should accept God’s truth and let it guide our hearts.
The Need for Repentance
Both the first reading and the Gospel for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 call for repentance. John eats the scroll, which is both sweet and bitter. The sweetness comes from God’s promise, but the bitterness comes from the need for change and repentance.
In the Gospel, Jesus drives out the merchants from the temple. This is a powerful call to purify not just a physical space, but also our hearts. Jesus wants the temple to be a house of prayer, and He wants our hearts to be places of love and goodness. This means repentance—turning away from sin and turning back to God.
Repentance is not just a one-time action. It is an ongoing part of the Christian life. We are called to regularly examine our lives, admit our failings, and seek God’s mercy. The readings for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 show us that repentance leads to deeper faith and closeness with God.
Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 teaches us about the importance of sharing God’s message, accepting His truth, and repenting from sin. As we seek to live out these lessons, may we find strength in God’s Word and be willing to let it shape our lives each day.
Prayer
Lord, help us to be open to Your Word and to share it with others. Give us the courage to accept Your truth, even when it is hard. Guide us to repentance, that we may turn away from sin and draw closer to You. Amen.
Reflection Questions
- How can you share God’s message with those around you?
- Are there areas in your life where you resist God’s truth?
- What might God be calling you to repent from right now?
- How can you make God’s Word a stronger part of your daily life?
Homilies and Reflections for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
USCCB Reflection: Embracing God’s Word Fully
In a USCCB video reflection for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, Dr. Oswald John Nira highlights the transformative power of God’s word. He compares scripture to a love letter that excites and challenges us, much like John’s experience of the sweet and sour scroll in Revelation. Dr. Nira also reflects on Jesus clearing the temple, where people were drawn to His words of mercy and love. This reflection encourages us to embrace God’s word completely, allowing it to shape our lives and bring us closer to Him, even as we continue to grow in faith.
Order of Preachers: Fiery Love
In a reflection for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, Sr. Ruth Anne Henderson explores Jesus’ boldness in cleansing the temple. She challenges the idea of Jesus as gentle and mild, emphasizing moments where He showed righteous anger and took decisive action, such as overturning tables and confronting injustice. Sr. Ruth Anne highlights how Jesus’ actions, like befriending outcasts and breaking societal norms, reveal His courage and commitment to truth. She encourages us to follow His example by standing firm in our convictions, even when it is uncomfortable, and speaking out for what is right.
Dynamic Catholic: Your Three Temples
Matthew Kelly reflects on Jesus cleansing the temple in the Gospel of Luke for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2. He challenges listeners to think beyond physical temples, asking if our churches, homes, and bodies serve as places of prayer. Kelly invites us to reflect on what Jesus might drive out from these spaces to make them more holy. He encourages us to consider how we can actively cleanse and renew these “temples” in our lives, making room for prayer and God’s presence. This reflection inspires deeper awareness of holiness in all areas of life.
Word on Fire: Temple Cleansing
In this reflection on the gospel for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Bishop Barron examines the episode where Jesus clears the temple, interpreting it as a declaration of Jesus’ identity and mission. By challenging the temple’s authority, Jesus asserts his own lordship and foreshadows the establishment of a new covenant through his death and resurrection. Bishop Barron views this as Jesus judging flawed religious practices and instituting a new way of communion with God, with Jesus himself as the new temple where divine presence resides, and by extension, those united with him.
USCCB Reflection: Decluttering the Inner Temple
This USCCB video reflection for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time emphasizes the importance of making room for God in our lives by metaphorically decluttering our “inner temples.” Jesus clearing the temple in Jerusalem signifies the need to remove distractions that prevent us from connecting with God. We are reminded that we are God’s temple, and at times, we need to examine ourselves for emotional clutter like anger, resentment, or guilt that may hinder our spiritual growth. By inviting Jesus to cleanse our inner selves, we can fully experience His love and mercy, allowing us to be living embodiments of His love in the world.
Questions and Answers for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
What date is Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?
The next date is Friday November 20, 2026.
Cycle 1 is used in odd numbered years and Cycle 2 is used in even numbered years. The gospel is the same for both years. For odd numbered years see Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1.
What are the Mass readings for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?
The Mass readings for Friday November 20, 2026 are:
First Reading – Revelation 10:8-11: John’s Prophetic Commission
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 119: Joy in Your Decrees
Gospel – Luke 19:45-48: Temple Cleansing
What does the scroll represent in the reading from Revelation for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?
The scroll represents God’s message to the world. It shows that God’s Word is meant to be shared, even if it is difficult to accept.
Why does John eat the scroll?
John eats the scroll to show that God’s Word must be fully accepted. It means taking it into our lives, even when it is challenging.
Why is Jesus angry in the Gospel for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?
Jesus is angry because people are using the temple for selfish gain. He wants the temple to be a place of prayer, not business.
What lesson can we learn from Jesus cleansing the temple?
We learn that worship should be respectful and focused on God. We should not let distractions or selfish actions take away from prayer.
How can we apply the message of repentance?
We can reflect on our own lives and see where we need change. We should be open to God’s call to turn away from sin and live better.
Why do the religious leaders resist Jesus?
The religious leaders resist Jesus because His words challenge their actions. This reminds us that following God’s way is not always easy.
What does Jesus’ action in the temple mean for our churches?
It means that churches should be treated as places for prayer and worship. We should respect and honor them, keeping them focused on God.
How should we respond to God’s Word?
We should respond with obedience and courage. Even when it is hard, we need to share and live out God’s message.
Sharing God’s Message and Repenting from Sin
The readings for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 focus on God’s Word, our response to it, and the need for repentance. In Revelation, John is given a scroll to consume, symbolizing the need to accept and internalize God’s message. This reminds us that God’s Word should guide our lives and be shared with others, even when it is challenging. God calls us to speak His truth boldly and to trust in His guidance when we feel unsure or afraid.
The Gospel describes Jesus cleansing the temple, emphasizing the importance of respect for sacred spaces and proper worship. Jesus challenges those misusing the temple, reminding us to examine our own lives and hearts. His actions highlight the need for repentance and reform, urging us to turn back to God with sincerity and humility. This is not just about outward actions but an internal conversion that leads to deeper faith.
Both readings highlight the resistance to God’s truth. The religious leaders reject Jesus’ call, clinging to their own ways. This resistance serves as a warning for us to remain open to God’s Word and to avoid letting pride or fear block our willingness to change. Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 encourages us to hear God’s call, share His message, and live a life of ongoing repentance and faith.
Your Turn
The readings for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 challenge us to reflect on how we respond to God’s Word. Are there areas in your life where you resist change or struggle to share your faith?
Take time to pray and ask for courage to accept God’s truth and act on it. Share your thoughts and reflections in the comments below!
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