Wednesday, January 25, 2012 {The Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle (Feast)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
An action of small value performed with much love of God is far more excellent than one of a higher virtue, done with less love of God.
-- St Francis de Sales

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Acts 22:3-16 or 9:1-22
Acts 22:3-16
(The Conversion of Saul to Paul)
3 “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are this day.
4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
5 As also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011 {St. Andrew, Apostle (Feast)}

REFLECTION FOR TOADY
Humility is the safeguard of chastity. In the matter of purity, there is no greater danger than not fearing danger. When a person puts himself in an occasion of sin, saying, " I shall not fall", it is almost an infallible sign that he will fall, and with great injury to his soul. We must specifically and regularly pray for God's assistance and not rely on our own strength.
-- St. Phillip Neri

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Romans 10:9-18
9 If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved.
10 For it is by our faith that we are put right with God; it is by our confession that we are saved.
11 The scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”

Wednesday, August 24, 2011 {St. Bartholomew, Apostle (Feast)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Revelation 21:9-14
9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb."
10 And in the Spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,
11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed;
13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 


Psalms: Psalm 145:10-13, 17-18
10 All thy works shall give thanks to thee, O LORD, and all thy saints shall bless thee!
11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and tell of thy power,
12 to make known to the sons of men thy mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of thy kingdom.
13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.
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. 


Gospel: John 1:45-51
45 Philip found Nathan'a-el, and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
46 Nathan'a-el said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
47 Jesus saw Nathan'a-el coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"
48 Nathan'a-el said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
49 Nathan'a-el answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these."
51 And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."


REFLECTION FOR TODAY
A man who governs his passions is master of the world. We must either command them, or be enslaved by them. It is better to be a hammer than an anvil.


-- St Dominic

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

Saturday, May 14, 2011 {St. Matthias, Apostle (Feast)}

READINGS FOR THE DAY
First Reading: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26
15      In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said,
16     "Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus.
17     For he was numbered among us, and was allotted his share in this ministry.
20     For it is written in the book of Psalms, `Let his habitation become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it'; and `His office let another take.'
21     So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22     beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us -- one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection."
23     And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsab'bas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthi'as.
24     And they prayed and said, "Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen
25     to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place."
26     And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthi'as; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.

Psalms: Psalm 113:1-8
1      Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD!
2     Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore!
3     From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised!
4     The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!
5     Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high,
6     who looks far down upon the heavens and the earth?
7     He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8     to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.

Gospel: John 15:9-17
9      As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love.
10     If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
11     These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12     "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13     Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14     You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15     No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
16     You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
17     This I command you, to love one another.

REFLECTIONS OF THE DAY
The pure soul is a beautiful rose, and the Three Divine Persons descend from Heaven to inhale its fragrance.

-- St. John Vianney