REFLECTION & SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Monday, May 20, 2013
St. Bernardine of Siena, OFM Priest (Memorial)
Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear; for the King hath greatly desired thy beauty;. With thy comeliness and thy beauty, set out, proceed prosperously, and reign.
-- Psalm 45:11,12

First Reading: Sirach 1:1-10
Psalm: Psalm 93:1-2, 5
Gospel: Mark 9:14-29


Tuesday, May 21, 2013 (Weekday)
If people would do for God what they do for the world, my dear people, what a great number of Christians would go to Heaven! But if you dear children, had to pass three or four hours praying in a Church, as you pass them at a dance or in a cabaret, how heavily the world would press upon you.
-- St John Vianney

First Reading: Sirach 2:1-11
Psalm: Psalm 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40
Gospel: Mark 9:30-37


Wednesday, May 22, 2013 [St. Rita of Cascia, Religious (Optional Memorial)]
We firmly believe and confess without reservation that there is only one true God, eternal infinite (immensus) and unchangeable, incomprehensible, almighty and ineffable, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; three persons indeed, but one essence, substance or nature entirely simple.
-- Lateran Council IV

First Reading: Sirach 4:11-19
Psalm: Psalm 119:165, 168, 171-172, 174-175
Gospel: Mark 9:38-40


Thursday, May 23, 2013 (Weekday)
Since all things lie open to His eyes and ears, let us hold Him in awe and rid ourselves of impure desires to do works of evil, so that we may be protected by His mercy from the judgement that is to come. Which of us can escape His mighty hand?
-- Pope St. Clement

First Reading: Sirach 5:1-8
Psalm: Psalm 1:1-4, 6
Gospel: Mark 9:41-50


Friday, May 24, 2013 [Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi (Feast)]
You recall that one and the same Word of God extends throughout Scripture, that it is one and the same Utterance that resounds in the mouths of all the sacred writers, since He who was in the beginning God with God has no need of separate syllables; for He is not subject to time.
-- St. Augustine, Enarrationes in Psalmos

First Reading: Revelation 21:1-5
Psalm: Psalm 95:1-7
Gospel: John 10:22-30


Saturday, May 25, 2013 [Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary]
Christ said, 'I am the Truth'; he did not say 'I am the custom.'
-- St Toribio

First Reading: Sirach 17:1-15
Psalm: Psalm 103:13-18
Gospel: Mark 10:13-16


Sunday, May 26, 2013 [The Most Holy Trinity (Solemnity)]
Question the beauty of the earth, question the beauty of the sea, question the beauty of the air distending and diffusing itself, question the beauty of the sky. . . question all these realities. All respond: "See, we are beautiful." Their beauty is a profession [confessio]. These beauties are subject to change. Who made them if not the Beautiful One [Pulcher] who is not subject to change?
-- St. Augustine

First Reading: Proverbs 8:22-31
Psalm: Psalm 8:4-9
Second Reading: Romans 5:1-5
Gospel: John 16:12-15