Monday thru Friday: 9am-12pm & 1pm-5pm
Lunes a Viernes: 9am-12pm Y 1pm-5pm
Our parish is staffed by the
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (M.S.C.)
November 16, 2025
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
16 de Noviembre de 2025
Trigésimo Tercer Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario
Jesus said: "All that you see here –
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone
that will not be thrown down."
Jesús dijo: "Todo lo que veis aquí,
llegará el día en que no quedará piedra
sobre piedra que no sea derribada."
Reflection on Sunday Readings by Fr. Luis
Reflexión sobre las lecturas dominicales del P. Luis
TRIGÉSIMO TERCER DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO 2025
Queridos hermanos y hermanas: las lecturas de este domingo nos invitan a reflexionar sobre el fin del mundo. Permítanme compartir algunas preguntas con ustedes:
¿Se han preguntado alguna vez cuándo llegará el fin del mundo? ¿Conocen a alguien que sepa la fecha? ¿Están haciendo algo para preservar o para destruir el planeta? ¿Creen que las guerras y los desastres naturales son señales claras del fin del mundo? ¿Cómo se sienten cuando piensan en el fin de este mundo? ¿Somos conscientes de que el abuso irracional del plástico y otros materiales está deteriorando nuestro planeta?
Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas: el papa Francisco ha designado este trigésimo tercer domingo del tiempo ordinario como Día Mundial de los Pobres. Quiere que reflexionemos sobre la situación en la que viven los pobres del mundo y sobre si estamos compartiendo nuestros bienes con los más necesitados. El papa Francisco afirma:
«No se trata, pues, de acercarse a los pobres con una mentalidad asistencialista, como suele ocurrir, sino de garantizar que a nadie le falte lo necesario. No es el activismo lo que salva, sino la preocupación sincera y generosa que nos lleva a acercarnos a un pobre como a un hermano o hermana que me tiende la mano para ayudarme a salir del letargo en el que he caído».
Hermanos y hermanas, nos acercamos al final de este tiempo litúrgico ordinario. Solo nos queda un domingo antes de que termine y comience el Adviento. Por eso, nuestra Iglesia católica nos invita a reflexionar sobre el fin del mundo. La pregunta sobre cuándo terminará el mundo no es nueva. Desde hace mucho tiempo, los seres humanos se han preguntado cuándo ocurrirá.
Recientemente, los científicos y las organizaciones medioambientales nos advierten de que la destrucción del planeta se está acelerando debido al efecto devastador que la humanidad está causando en la Tierra. Incluso algunos dicen que la IA (inteligencia artificial) ya ha predicho cuándo será el fin de la Tierra.
El calentamiento global y la desaparición de los hielos polares parecen estar acelerándose debido a este proceso de cambio climático. Hoy podemos preguntarnos si será Dios quien destruirá este planeta o si seremos los propios seres humanos quienes lo haremos.
En el pasaje del Evangelio de Lucas que leemos hoy, Jesús predice la destrucción de Jerusalén, acaecida en el año 70 d. C., y también ofrece algunas señales sobre la posibilidad de la destrucción definitiva del planeta. Jesús ofrece algunas pautas a sus oyentes para que eviten la desesperación y la confusión, confíen en él y perseveren en su amor.
1. No dejarse engañar ni seguir a quienes dicen: «Yo soy el Señor, y el tiempo se ha cumplido».
2. No se aterroricen por las guerras y las insurrecciones. Esas cosas han sucedido y seguirán sucediendo en todo el mundo.
3. Los desastres naturales y las señales en el cielo no son indicios suficientemente fiables de que el fin del mundo esté cerca.
Todas estas señales, e incluso las persecuciones, serán una oportunidad para que sus seguidores den testimonio de su presencia en el mundo.
La perseverancia nos lleva a la salvación. Jesús deja claro hoy que la única manera de obtener la vida eterna es mediante la perseverancia y siendo testigos de la presencia de Dios en nuestras vidas. Les invitó a no dejarse engañar ni asustar, ya que muchas cosas malas le sucederán a la gente antes del fin. Incluso las cosas que consideramos más valiosas serán destruidas, como sucedió con el Templo de Jerusalén. Debemos tener presente que Jesús es nuestro único tesoro, que permanece firme más allá de toda la eternidad; debemos confiaren él y en su palabra.
Queridos hermanos y hermanas: creo que nuestra tarea como cristianos no es saber cuándo será el fin del mundo, sino dar testimonio de la presencia de Jesús en este mundo a través de nuestras acciones y no contribuir a su destrucción.
Por último, permítanme dar las gracias a Dios, porque hace 26 años, el 13 de noviembre de 1999, fui ordenado sacerdote de la Iglesia católica en Colombia. Es un privilegio para mí haber sido elegido por Dios para este gran ministerio que supera mi entendimiento. Le estoy agradecido y, por ello, les pido sus oraciones para que Dios siga guiando mi vida y ayudándome a responder con humildad y amor a su llamada. Amén.
P. Luis Segura M.S.C.
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Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2025
Dear brothers and sisters: the readings for this Sunday invite us to reflect on the end of the world. Allow me to share some questions with you:
Have you ever wondered when the end of the world will come? Do you know anyone who knows the date? Are you doing something to preserve or to destroy the planet? Do you believe that wars and natural disasters are clear signs of the end of the world? How do you feel when you think about the end of this world? Are we aware that the irrational abuse of plastic and other materials is deteriorating our planet?
My dear brothers and sisters: Pope Francis has designated this Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time as the World Day of the Poor. He wants us to reflect on the situation in which the poor of the wor ld live, and on whether we are sharing our goods with those most in need. Pope Francis says:
“It is not a matter, then, of approaching the poor with a welfare mentality, as often happens, but of ensuring that no one lacks what is necessary. It is not activism that saves, but the sincere and generous concern that leads us to approach a poor person as a brother or sister who extends a hand to help me rise from the lethargy into which I have fallen.”.
Brothers and sisters, we are approaching the end of this liturgical season of Ordinary Time. Only one Sunday remains before it ends and Advent begins. That is why our Catholic Church invites us to reflect on the end of the world. The question of when the world will end is not new; for a long time, human beings have asked when it will happen.
Recently, scientists and environmental organizations have been warning us that the destruction of the planet is accelerating due to the devastating effects humanity is inflicting upon the Earth. Some even claim that artificial intelligence (AI) has already predicted when the end of the Earth will occur.
Global warming and the disappearance of the polar ice caps appear to be accelerating as a result of climate change. Today we may ask ourselves whether it will be God who destroys this planet, or if it will be we humans who bring about its destruction.
In today’s passage from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus predicts the destruction of Jerusalem—which occurred in the year 70 A.D.—and also gives some signs concerning the possible ultimate destruction of the planet. Jesus offers his listeners some guidance to help them avoid despair and confusion, to trust in him, and to persevere in love.
1. Do not be deceived or follow those who say, “I am the Lord, and the time has come.”
2. Do not be terrified by wars and uprisings. Such things have happened and will continue to happen throughout the world.
3. Natural disasters and signs in the sky are not sufficiently reliable indicators that the end of the world is near.
All these signs—and even persecutions—will be opportunities for his followers to bear witness to his presence in the world. Perseverance leads us to salvation. Jesus makes it clear today that the only way to obtain eternal life is through perseverance and by being witnesses of God’s presence in our lives. He invites us not to be deceived or frightened, since many bad things will happen to people before the end. Even the things we consider most valuable will be destroyed, as happened with the Temple of Jerusalem. We must remember that Jesus is our only treasure, who remains firm beyond all eternity; we must trust in him and in his word.
Dear brothers and sisters: I believe that our task as Christians is not to know when the end of the world will come, but to bear witness to the presence of Jesus in this world through our actions and not contribute to its destruction.
Finally, allow me to give thanks to God, for 26 years ago—on November 13, 1999—I was ordained a priest of the Catholic Church in Colombia. It is a privilege for me to have been chosen by God for this great ministry, which surpasses my understanding. I am deeply grateful, and for this reason, I ask for your prayers so that God may continue guiding my life and helping me to respond to his call with humility and love. Amen
Rev. Luis Segura M.S.C.
33 Sunday C – 2025
My friends, our Gospel Reading today is appropriate as we approach the end of our Liturgical Year. Today is the second last Sunday of the year.
When people were admiring the beauty of the Temple with all costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus warned them about being attached to earthly possessions, explaining that nothing lasts forever and Jesus talked about the end times, “…not even a stone upon another stone will be left.”
Regarding the End Times, our Gospel prompts the question about trust and where we place our trust. Do we trust in the world with its promises and leadership – or do we place our trust in God ? The answer seems obvious but does it change when things in our world or our personal life turn into chaos and it seems as though God is nowhere to be found ?
Our Gospel Reading today sounds kind of depressing with wars, famines, plagues and earthquakes – but this is a form of Apocalyptic Writing, which is used to convey an important message. There are two Apocalyptic books in the Bible: The Book of Daniel in the Old Testament and Book of Revelation in the New Testament. However, there is Apocalyptic type of writing throughout the bible – especially writings about the prophets when they preached about justice for all people. We hear that today in the First Reading from the Book of Malachi. The Prophets preached that everyone is entitled to the basic necessities of food, clothing and medical care, not just the wealthy and powerful. We see Apocalyptic Writing predominately in today’s Gospel.
Now, our Western Culture is not used to Apocalyptic style of writing. We’re more accustomed to movies, plays, books, and fairy tales with happy endings. There’s usually a struggle, ending with a fight and the good guys always win. Many times, we hear or read at the end, “And they lived happily ever after.”
In the Biblical Apocalyptic story, the bad guys are almost always in charge and there is every good reason to despair. The assumption is that the bad guys are writing history. Almost none of us were raised along biblical story lines. We like happy endings.
The paradox in today’s Gospel is that there is Hope – and our Hope is absolute and unqualified by trusting in Jesus. It’s a completely different approach to history. That’s the Apocalyptic writing in today’s gospel. And the means to getting there is always non-violent, with prayer, trust in God, and love – even love of enemies.
The perfect Apocalyptic story is encapsulated in the Life, Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. There is our Hope. In the final chapter of history, God will win. Justice will prevail.
Many times, it is a struggle to see hope in our world with so many things that are unjust and violent. We know, deep down inside, placing trust in people is not the answer. Rather, placing our trust in the Persons of the Holy Trinity – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is where our answer lies.
As Jesus said in the beginning or our gospel, nothing lasts: "All that you see here – the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down." That not only applies to the Temple – but it applies to all possessions.
A very important affirmation of Hope to the world was preached by Jesus in Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount and in Luke’s Sermon on the Plain.
My friends, that is why we put our Trust in Jesus – to live in joy and hope in the midst of what’s going on. That’s the basis of today’s Gospel – and all of the Gospels. To live as Jesus lived: with joy while serving and loving everyone, without exception. We place our trust in God because God never gives up on us.
Today’s gospel ends with the ultimate message of Hope: “By your perseverance you will secure your lives."
“Before you speak of peace, you must first have it in your heart.” –Francis of Assisi
“Antes de hablar de paz, primero debes tenerla en tu corazón”. –Francisco de Asís
