Monday, September 19, 2011 {St. Francis Mary Croese of Camporosso (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The Infinite Mass causes the whole heavenly court to rejoice. It alleviates the pain of the souls in purgatory. It draws down all types of blessings upon earth, and gives more glory to God than all the sufferings of all the martyrs together, more glory than the penances of all the saints, than all the tears shed by them since the beginning of the world and all that they may do till the end of time.
-- St. John Vianney
READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Ezra 1:1-6
(Cyrus Commands the Jews to Return)
1 In the first year that Cyrus of Persia was emperor,  the Lord made what he had said through the prophet Jeremiah come true. He prompted Cyrus to issue the following command and send it out in writing to be read aloud everywhere in his empire:
2 “This is the command of Cyrus, Emperor of Persia. The Lord, the God of Heaven, has made me ruler over the whole world and has given me the responsibility of building a temple for him in Jerusalem in Judah. 
3 May God be with all of you who are his people. You are to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is worshiped in Jerusalem.

4 If any of his people in exile need help to return, their neighbors are to give them this help. They are to provide them with silver and gold, supplies and pack animals, as well as offerings to present in the Temple of God in Jerusalem.”
5 Then the heads of the clans of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and Levites, and everyone else whose heart God had moved got ready to go and rebuild the Lord's Temple in Jerusalem. 
6 All their neighbors helped them by giving them many things: silver utensils, gold, supplies, pack animals, other valuables, and offerings for the Temple.
Psalms: Psalm 126:1-6
(A Prayer for Deliverance)
1 When the Lord brought us back to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!
2 How we laughed, how we sang for joy! Then the other nations said about us, “The Lord did great things for them.”
3 Indeed he did great things for us; how happy we were!
4 Lord, make us prosperous again, just as the rain brings water back to dry riverbeds.
5 Let those who wept as they planted their crops, gather the harvest with joy!
6 Those who wept as they went out carrying the seed will come back singing for joy, as they bring in the harvest.
Gospel: Luke 8:16-18
(A Lamp under a Bowl)
(Mark 4.21-25)
16 “No one lights a lamp and covers it with a bowl or puts it under a bed. Instead, it is put on the lampstand, so that people will see the light as they come in.
17 “Whatever is hidden away will be brought out into the open, and whatever is covered up will be found and brought to light.
18 “Be careful, then, how you listen; because those who have something will be given more, but whoever has nothing will have taken away from them even the little they think they have.”