November 16, 2025
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sacrificial Love
You will be hated by all because of my name…
Luke 21:17

Jesus tells his followers that being his disciple will not always be easy and pleasurable. He warns them that they will suffer ridicule, hatred, persecution, betrayal, imprisonment and even death—“all because of my name.” His words remind us that the great symbol of Christianity is not a comfortable recliner; it is the Cross. And the central action of our Christian faith is not preserving ourselves at all costs; it is giving ourselves away in sacrificial love—as Jesus did.

And what can sacrificial love look like? It is driving our kids to practice, encouraging someone who’s down, cooking supper again and again, doing the honest and right thing, reaching out to someone in need, being patient with another’s foibles, showing kindness to a stranger, writing to an elected official, playing with a child, being gracious when inconvenienced, donating to a good cause and praying every single day.  

Jesus, may all the loving I do today be done because of your name.

- Sr. Melannie Svoboda, S.N.D.

Malachi 3:19-20a ✚ Psalm 98:5-9 ✚ 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12 ✚ Luke 21:5-19
Silhouette of a roadside shrine between trees against the sky at sunset. Image by Grzegorz Sulkowski | stock.adobe.com
Image of the day

Comments

san2kls
November 16, 2025 at 03:26 PM

Hi there, Just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful Sunday. I pray for all of you everyday. May God bless you.

Scott
November 16, 2025 at 02:15 PM

God bless us all the time in our daily lives. Sunday blessings, as some of us have gone to church, mass or maybe are going later on today. I have felt the worship service is a time to get myself prepared to do and be renewed in Christ’s service. I just came back from hearing a sermon of ridiculous blessings. Ridiculous blessings when you are struggling, going through challenges, getting interrupted, and everything Sister Melanie shared in the devotion. I will share with this community what I learned years ago, “You come into worship and go out in service” sharing...
Read more

freeter
November 16, 2025 at 10:18 AM

Amen. :)

CBR
November 16, 2025 at 08:50 AM

Amen Amen Amen God bless you all thank you Lord for all you do for me and my family I love you Lord.

Gary
November 16, 2025 at 08:35 AM

Thanks for the reading today. Amen!

Anne L.
November 16, 2025 at 08:07 AM

I was somewhat surprised when I read through the list of what were ways that we could practice sacrificial love, the one that spoke to me was “to be gracious when inconvenienced “. And it mainly brought to mind the times that my plans for the day/evening were very much focused on something in service to the Lord and then something interfered with those plans - my husband being late in coming home from work and dinner being delayed, or one of my children vying for my attention in order to tell me about something that had upset them at...
Read more

Salina (not in control)
November 16, 2025 at 07:21 AM

*** Is there a reason for the persecution because of the Name of Jesus? In Luke 21:12, “But before all this, people will arrest you and treat you badly. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison. You will be brought to kings and governors. All this will happen to you because of My Name!” *** Yes, to give us the opportunity to tell others the Good News of Jesus Christ in Luke 21:13, “And so you will be witnesses about Me!” *** What are “all this” in Luke 21:12? Luke 21:10-11, “Then Jesus said to...
Read more

Cheryl
November 16, 2025 at 06:12 AM

Amen

Silhouette of a roadside shrine between trees against the sky at sunset. Image by Grzegorz Sulkowski | stock.adobe.com
Image of the day

STAY CONNECTED

Living Faith provides brief daily Catholic devotions based on one of the Mass readings of the day. Published new each quarter, these reflections are written by women and men from a variety of backgrounds - lay people as well as clergy and religious. Learn more.

Receive a free reflection for Sundays every week via email

About Living Faith Living Faith Foundation Ambassador Privacy Policy F.A.Q. Contact Us

© 2026 Creative Communications for the Parish, a division of Bayard, lnc. All Rights Reserved.