Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time

• First Reading – 1 Maccabees 2:15-29: Mattathias, refusing to obey the king’s command to abandon his faith, kills a Jew complying with pagan sacrifice and the king’s messenger, sparking a zealous revolt for religious freedom.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 50: God summons the earth, declaring His justice from Zion. He calls His faithful, judging righteously, and urges praise as sacrifice, promising rescue in distress.
• Gospel – Luke 19:41-44: Approaching Jerusalem, Jesus wept over it, lamenting its ignorance of what brings peace. He prophesied its besiegement and destruction by enemies, with not one stone left upon another, sorrowing that the city did not recognize its time of divine visitation.

They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.

Luke 19:44

On Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, the readings call us to reflect on faithfulness, commitment to God, and the consequences of turning away from Him. The examples from Maccabees and the warnings of Jesus in the Gospel invite us to think about how we live our faith today.

• Faithfulness to God: The story of the Maccabees shows the importance of staying faithful, even in difficult times. It challenges us to prioritize God, no matter the cost.
• Sacrifice for Belief: The people in Maccabees make great sacrifices for their faith. This shows that true commitment may require letting go of comfort and security.
• Rejection of Sinful Practices: The Maccabees refuse to follow sinful customs. This highlights the need to resist the world’s influence when it goes against God’s will.
• Consequences of Disobedience: Jesus weeps over Jerusalem’s future because of its rejection of Him. This reminds us that ignoring God’s call can lead to suffering.
• God’s Judgment: The Gospel shows that ignoring God’s message has consequences. Jesus warns that choosing sin over God’s ways leads to destruction.
• God’s Mercy and Patience: Despite Jerusalem’s disobedience, Jesus’ sorrow shows His love. This calls us to turn back to God, who always welcomes us.

In these readings, we see examples of courage, sacrifice, and God’s call to stay true. They remind us that our decisions have real consequences, and God wants us to live faithfully.

On Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, the readings challenge us to consider our commitment to God and to reflect on the choices we make each day. The stories from Maccabees and the Gospel invite us to stay faithful, even when faced with pressure to compromise or turn away. These reflections explore themes of sacrifice, God’s enduring love, and the cost of rejecting His call, encouraging us to look honestly at our lives and align our actions with our faith.

Letting Go for God

On Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, the people in Maccabees show a deep commitment to their faith, even when it means giving up comfort, security, and even beliefs that don’t align with God. They face the difficult choice of remaining faithful to God or compromising to fit in. This decision demands courage and a willingness to place God above all else, even when it means losing something important.

This story challenges us to look at our own priorities. Sometimes, we place personal security, social acceptance, or long-held ideas above our faith. Letting go of these things is difficult, but it can deepen our relationship with God and help us grow in faith. Like the Maccabees, choosing to give up what keeps us from God will always bring us closer to Him.

In today’s world, many things compete for our attention, pulling us away from the commitment we owe to God. Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 reminds us that our relationship with God deserves our highest loyalty. Like the Maccabees, we may find that letting go of certain habits, ideas, or attachments will draw us nearer to God’s purpose for us.

A Call to Return

In the Gospel for Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, seeing the suffering that will come from their choice to turn away from God. Even though the people reject Him, His love and care for them do not fade. This moment reveals Jesus’ sorrow for those who stray and His deep desire to call them back to God’s love.

Jesus’ sorrow shows how deeply God cares about our choices. When we turn away from Him, we are the ones who suffer. Yet, Jesus is always ready to forgive and welcome us back, no matter how far we may have wandered. This Gospel message calls us to look at our lives, see where we may have turned from God, and respond by coming back to Him with a sincere heart.

Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 reminds us that God’s love is constant, even when we fail. Jesus’ tears for Jerusalem are a reminder that God always wants us near Him. We can always choose to return, confident in His mercy and readiness to forgive.

The Cost of Turning Away

In both readings for Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, we see examples of what happens when people turn away from God. The people of Jerusalem face suffering because they reject Jesus, and those who resist in Maccabees face pressure to abandon their faith. These stories show that our choices matter and that ignoring God’s call leads to consequences, often painful ones.

Turning away from God, as Jerusalem did, can lead us down a path of difficulty and sorrow. Choosing to ignore God’s teachings and go our own way may seem easy, but it does not bring real peace or lasting happiness. Like the people in Jerusalem, we face struggles and often end up in situations that we could have avoided by trusting in God’s guidance from the beginning.

Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 is a reminder that following God’s ways is ultimately the safest and most joyful path. The choices we make today affect our future and, most importantly, our relationship with God. Listening to God’s voice and choosing to follow His way may take sacrifice, but it leads us to a life filled with His peace and closeness.

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The readings for Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 call us to trust that God’s ways, though sometimes challenging, lead us to true peace. Each choice we make in faith brings us closer to Him, and He always welcomes us back with open arms. May we choose each day to live fully for God, grounded in His love and mercy.

Prayer

Lord, give us the courage to follow You faithfully, even when it is difficult. Help us let go of anything that keeps us from loving You fully. When we fail, guide us back to You and strengthen our desire to live in Your truth. Amen.

Reflection Questions

• What attachments or habits may be keeping me from giving my full heart to God?
• How does Jesus’ sorrow for Jerusalem help me understand His love for me?
• Where in my life am I facing pressure to go against my faith? How can I rely on God’s strength?
• What might God be asking me to let go of to grow closer to Him?

Word on Fire: Thanksgiving as True Freedom

In his reflection for Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, Bishop Robert Barron teaches that gratitude to God is liberating, not a burden. Since God needs nothing from us, our thanks is a gift that blesses us, drawing us closer to Him. Bishop Barron points to the Eucharistic prayer, which reminds us that our gratitude doesn’t add to God’s greatness but is instead His gift to us. Offering praise connects us to God’s grace and increases our joy without taking away from His fullness.

What date is Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

The next date is Thursday November 20, 2025.

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 even numbered years see Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2.

What are the Mass readings for Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

The Mass readings for Thursday November 20, 2025 are:
First Reading – 1 Maccabees 2:15-29: Mattathias’ Defiant Stand
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 50: God’s Call for Faithfulness
Gospel – Luke 19:41-44: Jesus Weeps for Jerusalem

What can we learn from the Maccabees’ commitment to God in the first reading for Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

The Maccabees show strong dedication to God, even when pressured to give in to other practices. This teaches us to stay true to God’s ways, especially when the world around us pushes us to go against our beliefs.

Why did the Maccabees refuse to follow the new laws?

The Maccabees refused because the new laws went against their faith in God. This reminds us that we must not do things that take us away from God, even when these choices are popular or easy.

What does Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 teach us about sacrifice?

The Maccabees show that following God can sometimes require sacrifice. This encourages us to be ready to let go of things that keep us from fully following Him.

How can I stay strong in my faith when I feel pressure to go against it?

The example of the Maccabees helps us see the importance of standing firm. Prayer, reading Scripture, and relying on our Church community can help us keep our faith strong.

What if I feel like I have not been faithful?

God is always ready to welcome us back if we want to return. We can pray, confess our sins, and try again to live as God calls us to.

How can we apply Jesus’ warning about Jerusalem in the Gospel for Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

Jesus’ warning about Jerusalem shows that ignoring God’s call has consequences. This calls us to listen to God and follow Him, not just by words but by actions that reflect true faith.

Why does Jesus weep over Jerusalem?

Jesus weeps because Jerusalem chose to turn away from God. His sadness shows how much He wants us to know Him, reminding us that our decisions to follow or ignore Him matter deeply.

How does Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 show God’s mercy?

Jesus’ sorrow for Jerusalem shows that He cares for us deeply, even when we turn away. This calls us to trust in His mercy and to come back to Him when we have strayed.

What does Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 say about the results of turning away from God?

Both readings show that choosing against God leads to hardship and loss. This reminds us that God’s ways are always for our good, even if they are difficult.

What is the main lesson of Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

The main lesson is to stay faithful to God, no matter the pressures we face. When we keep God first, we can be sure we are on the right path.