Our current liturgical year, Year A comes to a close this month with the final four Sundays of Ordinary Time; the season of Advent begins on November 29. Our gospel readings for the end of this liturgical year are all from Matthew, beginning with the one for the Solemnity of All Saints (November 1) which features the well-known Beatitudes. November 8 gives us the parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins who are awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom. The parable of the talents is the gospel for November 15. The final Sunday of the liturgical year is November 22, the Solemnity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, and the gospel for this day is the parable of the Last Judgment. Other readings during this month are also ripe for consideration and meditation. They include the responsorial psalm for November 8, “My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord, my God”; the second reading for November 15, from 1 Thessalonians, reminding us to stay sober and alert; and the first reading for November 22 from the book of the prophet Ezekiel, telling us that God says “I myself will look after and tend my sheep” (that’s us). You can prepare for each Sunday’s readings at bit.ly/liturgyslu. Click on “Year A”, then click on “November”.

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