Monday, August 01, 2011 {St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Numbers 11:4-15
4      Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving; and the people of Israel also wept again, and said, "O that we had meat to eat!
5     We remember the fish we ate in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic;
6     but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at."
7     Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium.
8     The people went about and gathered it, and ground it in mills or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it; and the taste of it was like the taste of cakes baked with oil.
9     When the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell with it.
10     Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent; and the anger of the LORD blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased.
11     Moses said to the LORD, "Why hast thou dealt ill with thy servant? And why have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou dost lay the burden of all this people upon me?
12     Did I conceive all this people? Did I bring them forth, that thou shouldst say to me, `Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries the sucking child, to the land which thou didst swear to give their fathers?'
13     Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, `Give us meat, that we may eat.'
14     I am not able to carry all this people alone, the burden is too heavy for me.
15     If thou wilt deal thus with me, kill me at once, if I find favor in thy sight, that I may not see my wretchedness."

Psalms: Psalm 81:12-17
12      So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.
13     O that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!
14     I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their foes.
15     Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him, and their fate would last for ever.
16     I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."

Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21
13      Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.
14     As he went ashore he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
15     When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves."
16     Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."
17     They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish."
18     And he said, "Bring them here to me."
19     Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
20     And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.
21     And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.


REFLECTION FOR TODAY
This is a Friend who will not terrify you, who will not abandon you. Hope in Him, and Heaven is yours!

-- St Joseph Cafasso

Sunday, July 31, 2011 {Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Isaiah 55:1-3
1     "Ho, every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2     Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in fatness.
3     Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

Psalms: Psalm 145:8-9, 15-18
8     The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9     The LORD is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.
15     The eyes of all look to thee, and thou givest them their food in due season.
16     Thou openest thy hand, thou satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
17     The LORD is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.
18     The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.

Second Reading: Romans 8:35,37-39
35 Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death?
37 In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us.
38 I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future,
39 and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21
13     Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.
14     As he went ashore he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
15     When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves."
16     Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."
17     They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish."
18     And he said, "Bring them here to me."
19     Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
20     And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.
21     And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Nothing seems tiresome or painful when you are working for a Master who pays well; who rewards even a cup of cold water given for love of Him.

-- St Dominic Savio

Saturday, July 30, 2011 {Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Leviticus 25:1, 8-17
1     The LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai,
8     "And you shall count seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, so that the time of the seven weeks of years shall be to you forty-nine years.
9     Then you shall send abroad the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the day of atonement you shall send abroad the trumpet throughout all your land.
10     And you shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants; it shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his family.
11     A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be to you; in it you shall neither sow, nor reap what grows of itself, nor gather the grapes from the undressed vines.
12     For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you; you shall eat what it yields out of the field.
13     "In this year of jubilee each of you shall return to his property.
14     And if you sell to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another.
15     According to the number of years after the jubilee, you shall buy from your neighbor, and according to the number of years for crops he shall sell to you.
16     If the years are many you shall increase the price, and if the years are few you shall diminish the price, for it is the number of the crops that he is selling to you.
17     You shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the LORD your God.

Psalms: Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 7-8
2     that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving power among all nations.
3     Let the peoples praise thee, O God; let all the peoples praise thee!
5     Let the peoples praise thee, O God; let all the peoples praise thee!
7     God has blessed us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!

Gospel: Matthew 14:1-12
1     At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus;
2     and he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist, he has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him."
3     For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison, for the sake of Hero'di-as, his brother Philip's wife;
4     because John said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."
5     And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.
6     But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Hero'di-as danced before the company, and pleased Herod,
7     so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.
8     Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter."
9     And the king was sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given;
10     he sent and had John beheaded in the prison,
11     and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.
12     And his disciples came and took the body and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him "Follow me." And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.

-- Lk 5:27-28

Friday, July 29, 2011 {St. Martha (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34-37
1     The LORD said to Moses,
4     "These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them.
5     In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening, is the LORD's passover.
6     And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread to the LORD; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.
7     On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work.
8     But you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD seven days; on the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work."
9     And the LORD said to Moses,
10     "Say to the people of Israel, When you come into the land which I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest;
11     and he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, that you may find acceptance; on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
15     "And you shall count from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven full weeks shall they be,
16     counting fifty days to the morrow after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a cereal offering of new grain to the LORD.
27     "On the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present an offering by fire to the LORD.
34     "Say to the people of Israel, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the feast of booths to the LORD.
35     On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work.
36     Seven days you shall present offerings by fire to the LORD; on the eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the LORD; it is a solemn assembly; you shall do no laborious work.
37     "These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the LORD offerings by fire, burnt offerings and cereal offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day;

Psalms: Psalm 81:3-6, 10-11
3     Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.
4     For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
5     He made it a decree in Joseph, when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a voice I had not known:
6     "I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket.
10     I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11     "But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would have none of me.

Gospel: John 11:19-27 or Luke 10:38-42
John 11:19-27
19     and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.
20     When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary sat in the house.
21     Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
22     And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you."
23     Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
24     Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
25     Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
26     and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
27     She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world."

OR
Luke 10:38-42
38     Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house.
39     And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.
40     But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."
41     But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things;
42     one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her."

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Look what fame he had, what a worldwide following gathered around him! But why? Perhaps because he was a philosopher? Because he was wise? Because he had resources at his disposal? Because he said Mass humbly, heard confessions from dawn to dusk and was-it is not easy to say it-one who bore the wounds of our Lord. He was a man of prayer and suffering.


-- Pope Paul VI (21 Feb. 1971) commenting on the life of Padre Pio

Thursday, July 28, 2011 (Weekday)

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Exodus 40:16-21, 34-3816     Thus did Moses; according to all that the LORD commanded him, so he did.
17     And in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected.
18     Moses erected the tabernacle; he laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars;
19     and he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent over it, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
20     And he took the testimony and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark, and set the mercy seat above on the ark;
21     and he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony; as the LORD had commanded Moses.
34     Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
35     And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting, because the cloud abode upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
36     Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would go onward;
37     but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not go onward till the day that it was taken up.
38     For throughout all their journeys the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.

Psalms: Psalm 84:3-6, 8, 11
3     Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at thy altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
4     Blessed are those who dwell in thy house, ever singing thy praise! [Selah]
5     Blessed are the men whose strength is in thee, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6     As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.
8     O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! [Selah]
11     For the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Gospel: Matthew 13:47-53
47     "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind;
48     when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad.
49     So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous,
50     and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.
51     "Have you understood all this?" They said to him, "Yes."
52     And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."
53     And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there,

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
For His exceeding charity wherewith God loved us He sent His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.
-- Romans viii. 3

Wednesday, July 27, 2011 (Weekday)

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Exodus 34:29-35
29     When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tables of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.
30     And when Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.
31     But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them.
32     And afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in Mount Sinai.
33     And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face;
34     but whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the people of Israel what he was commanded,
35     the people of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone; and Moses would put the veil upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

Psalms: Psalm 99:5-7, 9
5     Extol the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!
6     Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the LORD, and he answered them.
7     He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his testimonies, and the statutes that he gave them.
9     Extol the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy!

Gospel: Matthew 13:44-46
44     "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45     "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,
46     who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
God must be loved first, in order that one's neighbor, too, may be loved in God.
-- St Bernard

Tuesday, July 26, 2011 {Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Sirach 44:1, 10-15
1     Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers in their generations.
10     But these were men of mercy, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten;
11     their prosperity will remain with their descendants, and their inheritance to their children's children.
12     Their descendants stand by the covenants; their children also, for their sake.
13     Their posterity will continue for ever, and their glory will not be blotted out.
14     Their bodies were buried in peace, and their name lives to all generations.
15     Peoples will declare their wisdom, and the congregation proclaims their praise.

Psalms: Psalm 132:11, 13-14, 17-18
11     The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.
13     For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation:
14     "This is my resting place for ever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
17     There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
18     His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon himself his crown will shed its luster."

Gospel: Matthew 13:16-17
16     But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
17     Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
She was full of faith, yet all her life had been tormented by thoughts against it. While apparently enjoying the peace and easiness of mind of souls who have reached a high state of virtue, she suffered such interior trials that she often told me her mind was so filled with all sorts of temptations and abominations that she had to strive not to look within herself...But for all that suffering her face never lost its serenity, nor did she once relax in the fidelity God asked of her. And so I regard her as one of he holiest souls I have ever met on this earth.

-- St. Francis de Sales (speaking of St. Jane Frances de Chantal)

Monday, July 25, 2011 {St. James, Apostle (Feast)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15
7     But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.
8     We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
9     persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10     always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
11     For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12     So death is at work in us, but life in you.
13     Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak,
14     knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.
15     For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Psalms: Psalm 126:1-6
1     When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
2     Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
3     The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.
4     Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb!
5     May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy!
6     He that goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

Gospel: Matthew 20:20-28
20     Then the mother of the sons of Zeb'edee came up to him, with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something.
21     And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom."
22     But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able."
23     He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."
24     And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.
25     But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.
26     It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
27     and whoever would be first among you must be your slave;
28     even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Spiritual joy arises from purity of the heart and perseverance in prayer.

-- St. Francis of Assisi

Sunday, July 24, 2011 (Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12
5     At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I shall give you."
7     And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.
8     And thy servant is in the midst of thy people whom thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered or counted for multitude.
9     Give thy servant therefore an understanding mind to govern thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to govern this thy great people?"
10     It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.
11     And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,
12     behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.

Psalms: Psalm 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-130
57     The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep thy words.
72     The law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
76     Let thy steadfast love be ready to comfort me according to thy promise to thy servant.
77     Let thy mercy come to me, that I may live; for thy law is my delight.
127     Therefore I love thy commandments above gold, above fine gold.
128     Therefore I direct my steps by all thy precepts; I hate every false way.
129     Thy testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.
130     The unfolding of thy words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

Second Reading: Romans 8:28-30
28     We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.
29     For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren.
30     And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Gospel: Matthew 13:44-52 or Matthew 13:44-46
44     "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45     "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,
46     who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47     "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind;
48     when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad.
49     So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous,
50     and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.
51     "Have you understood all this?" They said to him, "Yes."
52     And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."

or Matthew 13:44-46
44     "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45     "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,
46     who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

-- Matt. 16:16-19

Saturday, July 23, 2011 {Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Exodus 24:3-8
3     Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, "All the words which the LORD has spoken we will do."
4     And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD. And he rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
5     And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD.
6     And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar.
7     Then he took the book of the covenant, and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient."
8     And Moses took the blood and threw it upon the people, and said, "Behold the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words."

Psalms: Psalm 50:1-2, 5-6, 14-15
1     The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2     Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
5     "Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!"
6     The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! [Selah]
14     Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High;
15     and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."

Gospel: Matthew 13:24-30
24     Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field;
25     but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
26     So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.
27     And the servants of the householder came and said to him, `Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?'
28     He said to them, `An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, `Then do you want us to go and gather them?'
29     But he said, `No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.
30     Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The rosary is said not with the lips alone, muttering Hail Marys one after the other. … For a Christian vocal prayer must spring from the heart, so that while the rosary is said, the mind can enter into contemplation of each one of the mysteries.

-- St. Josemaria Escriva

Friday, July 22, 2011 {St. Mary Magdalen (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Exodus 20:1-17
1     And God spoke all these words, saying,
2     "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3     "You shall have no other gods before me.
4     "You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
5     you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,
6     but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7     "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
8     "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9     Six days you shall labor, and do all your work;
10     but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your manservant, or your maidservant, or your cattle, or the sojourner who is within your gates;
11     for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it.
12     "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the LORD your God gives you.
13     "You shall not kill.
14     "You shall not commit adultery.
15     "You shall not steal.
16     "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17     "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's."

Psalms: Psalm 19:8-11
8     the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9     the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
10     More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
11     Moreover by them is thy servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Gospel: John 20:1-2, 11-18
1     Now on the first day of the week Mary Mag'dalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
2     So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."
11     But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb;
12     and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.
13     They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him."
14     Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.
15     Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."
16     Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rab-bo'ni!" (which means Teacher).
17     Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."
18     Mary Mag'dalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Take heed not to foster thy own judgment, for, without doubt, it will inebriate thee; as there is no difference between an intoxicated man and one full of his own opinion, and one is no more capable of reasoning than the other.

-- St. Francis de Sales

Thursday, July 21, 2011 {St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest, Doctor of the Church (Feast)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Wisdom 8:9-16 or 2 Corinthians 5:14-21
9     Therefore I determined to take her to live with me, knowing that she would give me good counsel and encouragement in cares and grief.
10     Because of her I shall have glory among the multitudes and honor in the presence of the elders, though I am young.
11     I shall be found keen in judgment, and in the sight of rulers I shall be admired.
12     When I am silent they will wait for me, and when I speak they will give heed; and when I speak at greater length they will put their hands on their mouths.
13     Because of her I shall have immortality, and leave an everlasting remembrance to those who come after me.
14     I shall govern peoples, and nations will be subject to me;
15     dread monarchs will be afraid of me when they hear of me; among the people I shall show myself capable, and courageous in war.
16     When I enter my house, I shall find rest with her, for companionship with her has no bitterness, and life with her has no pain, but gladness and joy.

OR
2 Corinthians 5:14-21
14     For the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.
15     And he died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
16     From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once regarded Christ from a human point of view, we regard him thus no longer.
17     Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.
18     All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
19     that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
20     So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21     For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Psalms: Psalm 67:2-5, 7-8
2     that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving power among all nations.
3     Let the peoples praise thee, O God; let all the peoples praise thee!
4     Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for thou dost judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. [Selah]
5     Let the peoples praise thee, O God; let all the peoples praise thee!
7     God has blessed us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!

Gospel: Luke 9:1-6
1     And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,
2     and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal.
3     And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.
4     And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.
5     And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them."
6     And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Strive to acquire the virtues you think your brothers lack, and then you will no longer see their defects, because you yourselves will not have them.

-- St. Augustine

Wednesday, July 20, 2011 (Weekday)

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15
1     They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt.
2     And the whole congregation of the people of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness,
3     and said to them, "Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."
4     Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law or not.
5     On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily."
9     And Moses said to Aaron, "Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, `Come near before the LORD, for he has heard your murmurings.'"
10     And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
11     And the LORD said to Moses,
12     "I have heard the murmurings of the people of Israel; say to them, `At twilight you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.'"
13     In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning dew lay round about the camp.
14     And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as hoarfrost on the ground.
15     When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.

Psalms: Psalm 78:18-19, 23-28
18     They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved.
19     They spoke against God, saying, "Can God spread a table in the wilderness?
23     Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven;
24     and he rained down upon them manna to eat, and gave them the grain of heaven.
25     Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance.
26     He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind;
27     he rained flesh upon them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas;
28     he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their habitations.

Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9
1     That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.
2     And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the beach.
3     And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow.
4     And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.
5     Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,
6     but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away.
7     Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
8     Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
9     He who has ears, let him hear."

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The first temptation, my dear brethren, which the Devil tries on anyone who has begun to serve God better is in the matter of human respect. He will no longer dare to be seen around; he will hide himself from those with whom heretofore had been mixing and pleasure seeking. If he should be told that he has changed a lot, he will be ashamed of it! What people are going to say about him is continually in his mind, to the extent that he no longer has enough courage to do good before other people. If the Devil cannot get him back through human respect, he will induce an extraordinary fear to possess him that his confessions are not good, that his confessor does not understand him, that whatever he does will be all in vain, that he will be damned just the same, that he will achieve the same result in the end by letting everything slide as by continuing to fight, because the occasions of sin will prove too many for him.

-- St. John Vianney

Tuesday, July 19, 2011 (Weekday)

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Exodus 14:21 -- 15:1
21     Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
22     And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
23     The Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
24     And in the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down upon the host of the Egyptians, and discomfited the host of the Egyptians,
25     clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily; and the Egyptians said, "Let us flee from before Israel; for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians."
26     Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen."
27     So Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its wonted flow when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled into it, and the LORD routed the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
28     The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen and all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not so much as one of them remained.
29     But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
30     Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore.
31     And Israel saw the great work which the LORD did against the Egyptians, and the people feared the LORD; and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

15:1
1     Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, "I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.

Psalms: Exodus 15:8-10, 12, 17
8     At the blast of thy nostrils the waters piled up, the floods stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.
9     The enemy said, `I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.'
10     Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them; they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
12     Thou didst stretch out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.
17     Thou wilt bring them in, and plant them on thy own mountain, the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thy abode, the sanctuary, LORD, which thy hands have established.

Gospel: Matthew 12:46-50
46     While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.
48     But he replied to the man who told him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"
49     And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!
50     For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother."

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
It is a matter of real sorrow when God has given those strength to break stronger fetters, those of vanity and sin, that they neglect their own progress and the attainment of such great blessings because they will not detach themselves from trifles. Not only do they not advance, they fall back. For it is well known that on the spiritual road not to go on overcoming self is to go backwards, and not to increase our gain is to lose.As wood can never be transformed into fire if one necessary degree of heat is missing, so the soul that has even one imperfection can never be perfectly transformed in God.

-- St. John of the Cross

Monday, July 18, 2011 (Weekday)

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Exodus 14:5-18
5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, "What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?"
6 So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him,
7 and took six hundred picked chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them.
8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt and he pursued the people of Israel as they went forth defiantly.
9 The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-ha-hi'roth, in front of Ba'al-ze'phon.
10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were in great fear. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD;
11 and they said to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, in bringing us out of Egypt?
12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt, `Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."
13 And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.
14 The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be still."
15 The LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.
16 Lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go on dry ground through the sea.
17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen.
18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen."

Psalms: Exodus 15:1-6
1 Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, "I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
2 The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.
3 The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name.
4 "Pharaoh's chariots and his host he cast into the sea; and his picked officers are sunk in the Red Sea.
5 The floods cover them; they went down into the depths like a stone.
6 Thy right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, thy right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.

Gospel: Matthew 12:38-42
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you."
39 But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign; but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nin'eveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
42 The queen of the South will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
To harbor no envy, no anger, no resentment against an offender is still not to have charity for him. It is possible, without any charity, to avoid rendering evil for evil. But to render, spontaneously, good for evil - such belongs to a perfect spiritual love.

-- St. Maximus the Confessor

Sunday, July 17, 2011 (Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Wisdom 12:13, 16-19
13     For neither is there any god besides thee, whose care is for all men, to whom thou shouldst prove that thou hast not judged unjustly;
16     For thy strength is the source of righteousness, and thy sovereignty over all causes thee to spare all.
17     For thou dost show thy strength when men doubt the completeness of thy power, and dost rebuke any insolence among those who know it.
18     Thou who art sovereign in strength dost judge with mildness, and with great forbearance thou dost govern us; for thou hast power to act whenever thou dost choose.
19     Through such works thou has taught thy people that the righteous man must be kind, and thou hast filled thy sons with good hope, because thou givest repentance for sins.

Psalms: Psalm 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16
5     For thou, O Lord, art good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on thee.
6     Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; hearken to my cry of supplication.
9     All the nations thou hast made shall come and bow down before thee, O Lord, and shall glorify thy name.
10     For thou art great and doest wondrous things, thou alone art God.
15     But thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
16     Turn to me and take pity on me; give thy strength to thy servant, and save the son of thy handmaid.

Second Reading: Romans 8:26-27
26     Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.
27     And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Gospel: Matthew 13:24-43 or 13:24-30
24     Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field;
25     but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
26     So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.
27     And the servants of the householder came and said to him, `Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?'
28     He said to them, `An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, `Then do you want us to go and gather them?'
29     But he said, `No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.
30     Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
31     Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field;
32     it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."
33     He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened."
34     All this Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed he said nothing to them without a parable.
35     This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world."
36     Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field."
37     He answered, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of man;
38     the field is the world, and the good seed means the sons of the kingdom; the weeds are the sons of the evil one,
39     and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels.
40     Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age.
41     The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers,
42     and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.
43     Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

OR

13:24-30

24     Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field;
25     but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
26     So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.
27     And the servants of the householder came and said to him, `Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?'
28     He said to them, `An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, `Then do you want us to go and gather them?'
29     But he said, `No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.
30     Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Go to Jesus. He loves you and is waiting for you to give you many graces. He is on the altar surrounded by angels adoring and praying. Let them make some room for you and join them in doing what they do.

-- St. Mary Joseph Rossello

Friday, July 15, 2011 {St. Bonaventure, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (Feast)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Wisdom 8:2-7, 16-18 or 1 Corinthians 2:6-13 
Wisdom 8:2-7, 16-18
2 I loved her and sought her from my youth, and I desired to take her for my bride, and I became enamored of her beauty.
3 She glorifies her noble birth by living with God, and the Lord of all loves her.
4 For she is an initiate in the knowledge of God, and an associate in his works.
5 If riches are a desirable possession in life, what is richer than wisdom who effects all things?
6 And if understanding is effective, who more than she is fashioner of what exists?
7 And if any one loves righteousness, her labors are virtues; for she teaches self-control and prudence, justice and courage; nothing in life is more profitable for men than these.
16 When I enter my house, I shall find rest with her, for companionship with her has no bitterness, and life with her has no pain, but gladness and joy.
17 When I considered these things inwardly, and thought upon them in my mind, that in kinship with wisdom there is immortality,
18 and in friendship with her, pure delight, and in the labors of her hands, unfailing wealth, and in the experience of her company, understanding, and renown in sharing her words, I went about seeking how to get her for myself.

OR
1 Corinthians 2:6-13
6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.
7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glorification.
8 None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him,"
10 God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
11 For what person knows a man's thoughts except the spirit of the man which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.
13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit.

Psalms: Psalm 16:5-9, 11
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; thou holdest my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure.
11 Thou dost show me the path of life; in thy presence there is fulness of joy, in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.

Gospel: Matthew 5:13-19
13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.
14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.
15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
17 "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them.
18 For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.
19 Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
All who undertake to teach must be endowed with deep love, the greatest of patience, and, most of all, profound humility. They must perform their work with earnest zeal. Then, through their humble prayers, the Lord will find them worthy to become fellow workers with him in the cause of truth. He will console them in the fulfillment of this most noble duty, and finally, will enrich them with the gift of heaven.

-- Saint Joseph Calasanz

Wednesday, July 13, 2011 (Weekday)

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12
1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Mid'ian; and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
2 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and lo, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.
3 And Moses said, "I will turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt."
4 When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here am I."
5 Then he said, "Do not come near; put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."
6 And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring forth my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt."
11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?"
12 He said, "But I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought forth the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God upon this mountain."

Psalms: Psalm 103:1-4, 6-7
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
6 The LORD works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.

Gospel: Matthew 11:25-27
25 At that time Jesus declared, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes;
26 yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will.
27 All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

REFLECTION FOR TODAY 
God created man to be straightforward, but he has entangled himself with an infinity of questions. -- St. John of Damascus

Monday, July 11, 2011 {St. Benedict, Abbot (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Exodus 1:8-14, 228 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.
9 And he said to his people, "Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.
10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war befall us, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land."
11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens; and they built for Pharaoh store-cities, Pithom and Ra-am'ses.
12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel.
13 So they made the people of Israel serve with rigor,
14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field; in all their work they made them serve with rigor.
22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, "Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live."

Psalms: Psalm 124:1-8
1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, let Israel now say --
2 if it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us,
3 then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us;
4 then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us;
5 then over us would have gone the raging waters.
6 Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth!
7 We have escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped!
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Gospel: Matthew 10:34 -- 11:1
34 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
36 and a man's foes will be those of his own household.
37 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
38 and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.
41 He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."

11:1
1 And when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
You should permit yourself to be tormented by every kind of martyrdom before you allow yourself to commit a mortal sin.

-- King St. Louis IX of France

Sunday, July 10, 2011 {Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11
10 "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it

Psalms: Psalm 65:10-14
10 Thou waterest its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.
11 Thou crownest the year with thy bounty; the tracks of thy chariot drip with fatness.
12 The pastures of the wilderness drip, the hills gird themselves with joy,
13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.

Second Reading: Romans 8:18-23
18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God;
20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope;
21 because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now;
23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Gospel: Matthew 13:1-23 or Matthew 13:1-9
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.
2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the beach.
3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow.
4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.
5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,
6 but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away.
7 Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
9 He who has ears, let him hear."
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"
11 And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
12 For to him who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
14 With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says: `You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive.
15 For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them.'
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
17 Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
18 "Hear then the parable of the sower.
19 When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was sown along the path.
20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
OR
Matthew 13:1-9
1 That same day Jesus left the house and went to the lakeside, where he sat down to teach. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and
sat in it, while the crowd stood on the shore. 3 He used parables to tell them many things.
“Once there was a man who went out to sow grain. 4 As he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some of it fell on rocky ground, where there was little soil. The seeds soon sprouted, because the soil wasn't deep. 6 But when the sun came up, it burned the young plants; and because the roots had not grown deep enough, the plants soon dried up. 7 Some of the seed fell among thorn bushes, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 But some seeds fell in good soil, and the plants bore grain: some had one hundred grains, others sixty, and others thirty.”
9 And Jesus concluded, “Listen, then, if you have ears!”
REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The liturgy then is rightly seen as an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ. It involves the presentation of man's sanctification under the guise of signs perceptible by the senses and its accomplishment in ways appropriate to each of these signs. In it full public worship is performed by the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, that is, by the Head and his members. From this it follows that every liturgical celebration, because it is an action of Christ the priest and of his Body which is the Church, is a sacred action surpassing all others. No other action of the Church can equal its efficacy by the same title and to the same degree.

-- Sacrosanctum concilium

Saturday, July 09, 2011 {Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Genesis 49:29-32; 50:15-26
29 Then he charged them, and said to them, "I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
30 in the cave that is in the field at Mach-pe'lah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place.
31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah --
32 the field and the cave that is in it were purchased from the Hittites."

50:15-26
15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil which we did to him."
16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this command before he died,
17 `Say to Joseph, Forgive, I pray you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.' And now, we pray you, forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
18 His brothers also came and fell down before him, and said, "Behold, we are your servants."
19 But Joseph said to them, "Fear not, for am I in the place of God?
20 As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones." Thus he reassured them and comforted them.
22 So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father's house; and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years.
23 And Joseph saw E'phraim's children of the third generation; the children also of Machir the son of Manas'seh were born upon Joseph's knees.
24 And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to die; but God will visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob."
25 Then Joseph took an oath of the sons of Israel, saying, "God will visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here."
26 So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Psalm: Psalm 105:1-4, 6-7
1 O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples!
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works!
3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
4 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his presence continually!
6 O offspring of Abraham his servant, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
7 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth

Gospel: Matthew 10:24-33
24 "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master;
25 it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Be-el'zebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.
26 "So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
27 What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops.
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's will.
30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32 So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven;
33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
 
REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Mary is more blessed because she embraces faith in Christ than because she conceives the flesh of Christ.

-- St. Augustine, De virginitate 3

Friday, July 08, 2011 (Weekday)

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30
1 So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night, and said, "Jacob, Jacob." And he said, "Here am I."
3 Then he said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt; for I will there make of you a great nation.
4 I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again; and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes."
5 Then Jacob set out from Beer-sheba; and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.
6 They also took their cattle and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him,
7 his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters; all his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.
28 He sent Judah before him to Joseph, to appear before him in Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.
29 Then Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.
30 Israel said to Joseph, "Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive."

Psalms: Psalm 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so you will dwell in the land, and enjoy security.
4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
18 The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will abide for ever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times, in the days of famine they have abundance.
27 Depart from evil, and do good; so shall you abide for ever.
28 For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. The righteous shall be preserved for ever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their refuge in the time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Gospel: Matthew 10:16-23
16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
17 Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues,
18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles.
19 When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour;
20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death;
22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes.
REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Into your hands Lord I commend my Spirit.

-- St. Stephen

Thursday, July 07, 2011 (Weekday)

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Genesis 44:18-21, 23-29, 45:1-5
Genesis 44:
18 Judah went up to Joseph and said, “Please, sir, allow me to speak with you freely. Don't be angry with me; you are like the king himself.
19 Sir, you asked us, ‘Do you have a father or another brother?’
20 We answered, ‘We have a father who is old and a younger brother, born to him in his old age. The boy's brother is dead, and he is the only one of his mother's children still alive; his father loves him very much.’
21 Sir, you told us to bring him here, so that you could see him,

23 Then you said, ‘You will not be admitted to my presence again unless your youngest brother comes with you.’
24 “When we went back to our father, we told him what you had said.
25 Then he told us to return and buy a little food.
26 We answered, ‘We cannot go; we will not be admitted to the man's presence unless our youngest brother is with us. We can go only if our youngest brother goes also.’
27 Our father said to us, ‘You know that my wife Rachel bore me only two sons.
28 One of them has already left me. He must have been torn to pieces by wild animals, because I have not seen him since he left.
29 If you take this one from me now and something happens to him, the sorrow you would cause me would kill me, as old as I am.’
(45:1-5)
1 Joseph was no longer able to control his feelings in front of his servants, so he ordered them all to leave the room. No one else was with him when Joseph told his brothers who he was.
2 He cried with such loud sobs that the Egyptians heard it, and the news was taken to the king's palace.
3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” But when his brothers heard this, they were so terrified that they could not answer.
4 Then Joseph said to them, “Please come closer.” They did, and he said, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.
5 Now do not be upset or blame yourselves because you sold me here. It was really God who sent me ahead of you to save people's lives.

Psalms: Psalm 105:16-21
16 When he summoned a famine on the land, and broke every staff of bread,
17 he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 His feet were hurt with fetters, his neck was put in a collar of iron;
19 until what he had said came to pass the word of the LORD tested him.
20 The king sent and released him, the ruler of the peoples set him free;
21 he made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his possessions,

Gospel: Matthew 10:7-15
7 And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay.
9 Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts,
10 no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food.
11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart.
12 As you enter the house, salute it.
13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.
15 Truly, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomor'rah than for that town.

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
It was His Will that after His death the Church should give us His image in the crucifix, that he might appear to us in a condition of utmost ignominy. And why? He did it because He knew the worth of humility and the danger of the sin which opposes it.

-- St. Vincent de Paul