Monday, March 28, 2016 (Monday in the Octave of Easter)

Monday in the Octave of Easter

First Reading

Acts 2:14, 22-33

14But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 22"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know -- 23this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24But God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was

Monday, July 30, 2012 (Weekday)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
God told me, "God replied to me," they assert--- and yet most of the time they are talking to themselves.
-- St. John of the Cross

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Jeremiah 13:1-11
The Linen Shorts 13
1 The Lord told me to go and buy myself some linen shorts and to put them on; but he told me not to put them in water.
2 So I bought them and put them on. 3 Then the Lord spoke to me again and said,
4 “Go to the Euphrates River and hide the shorts in a hole in the rocks.”

Monday, July 09, 2012 (Weekday)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
If we say less than we should, it is easy to add. But having said too much, it is hard to take it away.
-- St. Francis de Sales

READINGS FOR TODAY
Monday, July 09, 2012 (Weekday)First Reading: Hosea 2:16-18, 21-22
16 Then once again she will call me her husband—she will no longer call me her Baal.
17 I will never let her speak the name of Baal again.
18 At that time I will make a covenant with all the wild animals and birds, so that they will not harm my people. I will also remove all weapons of war from the land, all swords and bows, and will let my people live in peace and safety.
21-22 At that time I will answer the prayers of my people Israel.
I will make rain fall on the earth, and the earth will produce grain and grapes and olives.

Psalm: Psalm 145:2-9
2 Every day I will thank you; I will praise you forever and ever.
3 The Lord is great and is to be highly praised; his greatness is beyond understanding.
4 What you have done will be praised from one generation to the next; they will proclaim your mighty acts.
5 They will speak of your glory and majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.
6 People will speak of your mighty deeds, and I will proclaim your greatness.
7 They will tell about all your goodness and sing about your kindness.
8 The Lord is loving and merciful, slow to become angry and full of constant love.
9 He is good to everyone and has compassion on all he made.

Gospel: Matthew 9:18-26
(The Official's Daughter and the Woman Who Touched Jesus' Cloak)
18 While Jesus was saying this, a Jewish official came to him, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died; but come and place your hands on her, and she will live.”
19 So Jesus got up and followed him, and his disciples went along with him.
20 A woman who had suffered from severe bleeding for twelve years came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If only I touch his cloak, I will get well.”
22 Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, my daughter! Your faith has made you well.” At that very moment the woman became well.
23 Then Jesus went into the official's house. When he saw the musicians for the funeral and the people all stirred up,
24 he said, “Get out, everybody! The little girl is not dead—she is only sleeping!” Then they all started making fun of him.
25 But as soon as the people had been put out, Jesus went into the girl's room and took hold of her hand, and she got up. 26 The news about this spread all over that part of the country.

Monday, June 04, 2012 (Weekday)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Those who trust in themselves are worse than the devil!!
-- St. John of the Cross

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 2 Peter 1:2-72 May grace and peace be yours in full measure through your knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
 God's Call and Choice
3 God's divine power has given us everything we need to live a truly religious life through our knowledge of the one who called us to share in his own  glory and goodness.
4 In this way he has given us the very great and precious gifts he promised, so that by means of these gifts you may escape from the destructive lust that is in the world, and may come to share the divine nature.
5 For this very reason do your best to add goodness to your faith; to your goodness add knowledge;
6 to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add endurance; to your endurance add godliness;
7 to your godliness add Christian affection; and to your Christian affection add love.

Psalm: Psalm 91:1-2, 14-16
(God Our Protector)1 Whoever goes to the Lord for safety, whoever remains under the protection of the Almighty,
2 can say to him, “You are my defender and protector. You are my God; in you I trust.”
14 God says, “I will save those who love me and will protect those who acknowledge me as Lord.
15 When they call to me, I will answer them; when they are in trouble, I will be with them. I will rescue them and honor them.
16 I will reward them with long life; I will save them.”

Gospel: Mark 12:1-12
(The Parable of the Tenants in the Vineyard)
(Matthew 21.33-46; Luke 20.9-19) 1 Then Jesus spoke to them in parables: “Once there was a man who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a hole for the wine press, and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to tenants and left home on a trip.
2 When the time came to gather the grapes, he sent a slave to the tenants to receive from them his share of the harvest.
3 The tenants grabbed the slave, beat him, and sent him back without a thing.
4 Then the owner sent another slave; the tenants beat him over the head and treated him shamefully.
5 The owner sent another slave, and they killed him; and they treated many others the same way, beating some and killing others.
6 The only one left to send was the man's own dear son. Last of all, then, he sent his son to the tenants. ‘I am sure they will respect my son,’ he said.
7 But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the owner's son. Come on, let's kill him, and his property will be ours!’
8 So they grabbed the son and killed him and threw his body out of the vineyard.
9 “What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do?” asked Jesus. “He will come and kill those tenants and turn the vineyard over to others. 
10 Surely you have read this scripture? ‘The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all.
11 This was done by the Lord; what a wonderful sight it is!’”
12 The Jewish leaders tried to arrest Jesus, because they knew that he had told this parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd, so they left him and went away.

Monday, December 19, 2011 (Advent Weekday)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
O Sacred Heart of Jesus! I fly to Thee, I unite myself with Thee, I enclose myself to Thee! Receive this, my call for help, O my Saviour, as a sign of my horror of all within me contrary to Thy Holy Love. Let me rather die a thousand times than consent! Be Thou my Strength, O God: defend me, protect me. I am thine, and desire forever to be Thine!
-- St Margaret Mary Alocoque

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Judges 13:2-7, 24-25
2 At that time there was a man named Manoah from the town of Zorah. He was a member of the tribe of Dan. His wife had never been able to have children.
3 The Lord's angel appeared to her and said, “You have never been able to have children, but you will soon be pregnant and have a son.
4 Be sure not to drink any wine or beer, or eat any forbidden food;

Monday, December 12, 2011 {Our Lady of Guadalupe (Feast)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Our Lord avoided any offensive personal remarks when He preached. He attacked only the vices of a school, of a caste, also the bad examples and scandals. He did not reveal hidden crimes or secret defects.
-- St Peter Emyard

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Numbers 24: 2-7
2 and saw the people of Israel camped tribe by tribe. The spirit of God took control of him, 3 and he uttered this prophecy:
“The message of Balaam son of Beor,The words of the man who can see clearly,
4 Who can hear what God is saying.With staring eyes I see in a trance, A vision from Almighty God.
5 The tents of Israel are beautiful,

Monday, November 28, 2011 {St. James of the Marsh, Priest (Optional Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
If I wish to please God, I must do His Will and not my own.
-- St Alphonsus de Liguori

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5
(Peace That Lasts Forever)
1 This is the message  that I was given about Judah and Jerusalem:
2 In the future, the mountain with the Lord's temple will be the highest of all. It will reach above the hills; every nation will rush to it.
3 Many people will come and say, “Let's go to the mountain of the Lord God of Jacob and worship in his temple.”The Lord will teach us his Law from Jerusalem, and we will obey him.

Monday, November 21, 2011 {The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
O God, who in the heart of Thy Son, wounded by our transgressions, dost mercifully vouchsafe to bestow upon us the infinite wealth of your love; grant, we beseech Thee, that revering it with meet devotion, we may make a worthy reparation for our sins.
-- Collect, Feast of the Sacred Heart - 1945 Missal

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20
(THE STORY OF DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS-The Young Men at Nebuchadnezzar's Court)
1 In the third year that Jehoiakim was king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia attacked Jerusalem and surrounded the city.
2 The Lord let him capture King Jehoiakim and seize some of the Temple treasures. He took some prisoners back with him to the temple of his gods in Babylon, and put the captured treasures in the temple storerooms.
3 The king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief official, to select from among the Israelite exiles some young men of the royal family and of the noble families.

Monday, November 14, 2011 St. Nicholas Tavelic, OFM, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs (Memorial)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
It is never true that we have no time to meditate; the less one thinks of God, the less time there will always be for Him. The time one has for anything depends on how much we value it. Thinking determines the use of time; time does not rule over thinking! The problem of spirituality is never, then, a question of time; it is a problem of thought. For it does not require much time to make us saints; it requires only much love.
 -- Bishop Fulton Sheen

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63
(Antiochus Epiphanes and the Renegade Jews)
10 The wicked ruler Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus the Third of Syria, was a descendant of one of Alexander's generals. Antiochus Epiphanes had been a hostage in Rome before he became king of Syria in the year 137. 
11 At that time there appeared in the land of Israel a group of traitorous Jews who had no regard for the Law and who had a bad influence on many of our people. They said, “Let's come to terms with the Gentiles, for our refusal to associate with them has brought us nothing but trouble.”
12 This proposal appealed to many people,

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

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

Monday, September 12, 2011 {The Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Optional Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
A father thinks that it is quite enough to maintain good order in his house; he will not have anyone swearing or using obscene words. That is very good. But he has no scruple about allowing his boys to go to amusements, to fairs, and all sorts of pleasures. This same father permits work to be done on Sundays on the slightest pretext. However, you see him in church adoring God. Carry on my poor friend, you are blind. Do you not see that you are doing the work of Pontius Pilate, who recognized Jesus Christ and then condemned Him. Go and learn your duties, then you may come to offer your prayers to God. 
-- St. John Vianney


READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-8
How To Pray / Church Worship
1 First of all, I ask you to pray for everyone. Ask God to help and bless them all, and tell God how thankful you are for each of them. 
2 Pray for kings and others in power, so that we may live quiet and peaceful lives as we worship and honor God. 
3 This kind of prayer is good, and it pleases God our Savior. 
4 God wants everyone to be saved and to know the whole truth, which is, 
5 There is only one God, and Christ Jesus is the only one who can bring us to God. Jesus was truly human, and he gave himself to rescue all of us. 
6 God showed us this at the right time. 
7 This is why God chose me to be a preacher and an apostle of the good news. I am telling the truth. I am not lying. God sent me to teach the Gentiles about faith and truth. 
8 I want everyone everywhere to lift innocent hands toward heaven and pray, without being angry or arguing with each other.


Psalms: Psalm 28:2, 7-9
2 Hear me when I cry to you for help, when I lift my hands toward your holy Temple.
7 The Lord protects and defends me; I trust in him. He gives me help and makes me glad; I praise him with joyful songs.
8 The Lord protects his people; he defends and saves his chosen king.
9 Save your people, Lord, and bless those who are yours. Be their shepherd, and take care of them forever.


Gospel: Luke 7:1-10
Jesus Heals a Roman Officer's Servant
1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things to the people, he went to Capernaum. 
2 A Roman officer there had a servant who was very dear to him; the man was sick and about to die. 
3 When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his servant. 
4 They came to Jesus and begged him earnestly, “This man really deserves your help. 
5 He loves our people and he himself built a synagogue for us.” 
6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the officer sent friends to tell him, “Sir, don't trouble yourself. I do not deserve to have you come into my house, 
7 neither do I consider myself worthy to come to you in person. Just give the order, and my servant will get well. 
8 I, too, am a man placed under the authority of superior officers, and I have soldiers under me. I order this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; I order that one, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and I order my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 
9 Jesus was surprised when he heard this; he turned around and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, I have never found faith like this, not even in Israel!” 
10 The messengers went back to the officer's house and found his servant well.

Monday, August 29, 2011 {The Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Jeremiah 1:17-19
17 But you, gird up your loins; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them.
18 And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and the people of the land.
19 They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you."


Psalms: Psalm 71:1-6, 15, 17
1 In thee, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame!
2 In thy righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline thy ear to me, and save me!
3 Be thou to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me, for thou art my rock and my fortress.
4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
5 For thou, O Lord, art my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
6 Upon thee I have leaned from my birth; thou art he who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of thee.
15 My mouth will tell of thy righteous acts, of thy deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge.
17 O God, from my youth thou hast taught me, and I still proclaim thy wondrous deeds.


Gospel: Mark 6:17-29
7 For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Hero'di-as, his brother Philip's wife; because he had married her.
18 For John said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
19 And Hero'di-as had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not,
20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly.
21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee.
22 For when Hero'di-as' daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it."
23 And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom."
24 And she went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the baptizer."
25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."
26 And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.
27 And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison,
28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.
29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.


REFLECTION FOR TODAY
True charity means returning good for evil - always.


-- St Mary Mazzarello

Monday, August 22, 2011 {The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Isaiah 9:1-6
1 But there will be no gloom for her that was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zeb'ulun and the land of Naph'tali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.
3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased its joy; they rejoice before thee as with joy at the harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, thou hast broken as on the day of Mid'ian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." 


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: Luke 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!"
29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.
30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end."
34 And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?"
35 And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
36 And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing will be impossible."
38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. 


REFLECTION FOR TODAY
God does not ask of us the perfection of tomorrow, nor even of tonight, but only of the present moment.


-- St Madeline Sophie Barat

Monday, August 15, 2011 {The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10
19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, voices, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
12:1-6, 10
1 And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars;
2 she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery.
3 And another portent appeared in heaven; behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems upon his heads.
4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth;
5 she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne,
6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which to be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

Psalms: Psalm 45:10-12, 16
10 Hear, O daughter, consider, and incline your ear; forget your people and your father's house;
11 and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him;
12 the people of Tyre will sue your favor with gifts, the richest of the people
16 Instead of your fathers shall be your sons; you will make them princes in all the earth.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-27
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
27 "For God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "All things are put in subjection under him," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things under him.

Gospel: Luke 1:39-56
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah,
40 and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.
45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."
46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever."
56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Fight all error, but do it with good humor, patience, kindness, and love. Harshness will damage your own soul and spoil the best cause.
-- St John of Kanty

Monday, August 08, 2011 {Holy Father Dominic, Priest, Founder of the Order of Preachers (Feast)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

1     I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
2     preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching.
3     For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings,
4     and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.
5     As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.

Psalms: Psalm 37:3-6, 30-31
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.
5     Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
6     He will bring forth your vindication as the light, and your right as the noonday.
30     The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
31     The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.

Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16
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.

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Remember that the Christian life is one of action; not of speech and daydreams. Let there be few words and many deeds, and let them be done well.

-- St Vincent Pallotti

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

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

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

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

Monday, May 16, 2011 {St. Margaret of Cortona, III Order (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR THE DAY
First Reading: Acts 11:1-18
1      Now the apostles and the brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
2     So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him,
3     saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?"
4     But Peter began and explained to them in order:
5     "I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, something descending, like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came down to me.
6     Looking at it closely I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air.
7     And I heard a voice saying to me, `Rise, Peter; kill and eat.'
8     But I said, `No, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'
9     But the voice answered a second time from heaven, `What God has cleansed you must not call common.'
10     This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.
11     At that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesare'a.
12     And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brethren also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.
13     And he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, `Send to Joppa and bring Simon called Peter;
14     he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.'
15     As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.
16     And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, `John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
17     If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"
18     When they heard this they were silenced. And they glorified God, saying, "Then

Psalms: Psalm 42:2-3; 43:3-4
2      My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?
3     My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me continually, "Where is your God?"
43:3-4
 
Gospel: John 10:1-10 or 10:11-18*
John 10:1-10
1      "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber;
2     but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3     To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4     When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
5     A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
6     This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
7     So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8     All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them.
9     I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10     The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.   

OR
John 10:11-18*
 11 “I am the good shepherd, who is willing to die for the sheep.
12 When the hired man, who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees a wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away; so the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them.
13 The hired man runs away because he is only a hired man and does not care about the sheep. 14-15 I am the good shepherd. As the Father knows me and I know the Father, in the same way I know my sheep and they know me. And I am willing to die for them.
(10.15: Mt 11.27; Lk 10.22)
16 There are other sheep which belong to me that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them, too; they will listen to my voice, and they will become
10.16 they will become; some manuscripts have there will be.
one flock with one shepherd.
17 “The Father loves me because I am willing to give up my life, in order that I may receive it back again. 18 No one takes my life away from me. I give it up of my own free


REFLECTIONS OF THE DAY
If we say less than we should, it is easy to add. But having said too much, it is hard to take it away.

-- St. Francis de Sales