Sunday Readings for November 15-16, Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Lyn Zahorik | For On Mission
If the Gospel of Luke had a movie rating, it might be R for rugged realism. St. Luke’s images of earthquakes, famines, betrayals, and public shame capture more than headline drama; they name the felt experience of living when everything that once promised safety no longer holds. That terror is both outward — the collapse of institutions and the sudden violence of history — and inward — the loneliness of having those we love betray us and the shame of standing accused.
It makes popular shows and movies like “Survivor,” “The Hunger Games,” and “Afterburn” — or even the evening news — feel like a walk in the park. Lately, my inbox has been flooded with “preppers” offering advice on how to prepare for the very world St. Luke describes. When I see their bunker photos and neatly labeled caches of supplies, I think, “Well, I guess I’ll be a goner.”
Since I prefer comedy to melodrama, I’ll leave the Gospel of Luke to your prayerful reflection (and trepidation) and turn instead to St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians. St. Paul says, “ …in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you” (2 Thes 3:8). I could not suppress my laughter as I heard St. Paul say, “We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in a disorderly way, by not keeping busy but minding the business of others” (2 Thes 3:11). Then he tells the laggards to get to work!
St. Paul models a holiness that’s practical and humble — earning one’s keep, doing one’s part, and living quietly so the Gospel can breathe in the room. When a few people shoulder all the work while others loaf, the whole body limps.
In every parish, there is a handful of people who always step forward and get the job done. If you are part of this holy and blessed group, thank you, but please also gently recruit others to lighten the load. That can be a challenge, because newcomers bring new ideas which might challenge your well‑established routines. (Oh no, say it isn’t so!) Be inviting, show the ropes, and pair new hands with seasoned volunteers.
Pastors and pastoral staff: Don’t underestimate the power of thanks. A short public acknowledgement in the bulletin, a note after worship, or a quiet word of appreciation keeps hearts warm and sustains generosity.
Jesus is coming! It is not enough to look busy. Instead, show up, pitch in, and let your faith be measured in small, steady acts — the unnoticed setting of tables, the straightening of books in the pews after Mass, bringing a dozen cookies for a parish event. These ordinary practices stitch the community together. Keep your hands ready, your heart light, and your gratitude frequent, and the work of the Church will remain a joyful offering rather than a heavy chore.
And the next time you encounter a “church potato,” borrow from St. Paul and say with a smile, “I urge you, in Christ Jesus, to do your work.” Pause for the bewildered look. Then hand them a sponge.
The readings for Sunday, November 16, can be found at Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB.