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

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

Monday, June 13, 2011 {St. Anthony of Padua, OFM, Priest, Doctor of the Church (Feast)}

READINGS FOR THE DAY
First Reading: Wisdom 7:7-14 or Ephesians 4:7, 11-15
Wisdom 7:7-14
7      Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
8     I preferred her to scepters and thrones, and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her.
9     Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, because all gold is but a little sand in her sight, and silver will be accounted as clay before her.
10     I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light, because her radiance never ceases.
11     All good things came to me along with her, and in her hands uncounted wealth.
12     I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom leads them; but I did not know that she was their mother.
13     I learned without guile and I impart without grudging; I do not hide her wealth,
14     for it is an unfailing treasure for men; those who get it obtain friendship with God, commended for the gifts that come from instruction.
OR 
Ephesians 4:7, 11-15
7      But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
11     And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
12     to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
13     until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ;
14     so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles.
15     Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.

Psalms: Psalm 40:3-4, 10-11, 17
3      He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.
4     Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after false gods!
10     I have not hid thy saving help within my heart, I have spoken of thy faithfulness and thy salvation; I have not concealed thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness from the great congregation.
11     Do not thou, O LORD, withhold thy mercy from me, let thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness ever preserve me!
17     As for me, I am poor and needy; but the Lord takes thought for me. Thou art my help and my deliverer; do not tarry, O my God!

Gospel: Mark 16:15-20
15      And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.
16     He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
17     And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
18     they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."
19     So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
20     And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.    

REFLECTION OF THE DAY
It is simply impossible to lead, without the aid of prayer, a virtuous life.

-- St. John Chrysostom