Monday, February 06, 2012 {Sts. Peter Baptist, OFM, Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The Church teaches us that mercy belongs to God. Let us implore Him to bestow on us the spirit of mercy and compassion, so that we are filled with it and may never lose it. Only consider how much we ourselves are in need of mercy.
-- St. Vincent de Paul

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13(Solomon Brings the Sacred Chest to the Temple)1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers’ houses of the children of Israel, to king Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of the city of David, which is Zion.
2 All the men of Israel assembled themselves to king Solomon at the feast, in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
3 All the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.

Saturday, November 26, 2011 {St. Leonard of Port Maurice, OFM, Priest (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Now that we are reborn, as I have said, in the likeness of our Lord, and have indeed been adopted by God as his children, let us put on the complete image of our Creator so as to be wholly like him, not in the glory that he alone possesses, but in innocence, simplicity, gentleness, patience, humility, mercy, harmony, those qualities in which he chose to become, and to be, one with us.
-- St Peter Chrysologus

First Reading: Daniel 7:15-27
(The Visions Are Explained)
15 The visions I saw alarmed me, and I was deeply disturbed.
16 I went up to one of those standing there and asked him to explain it all. So he told me the meaning.
17 He said, “These four huge beasts are four empires which will arise on earth.

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, 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

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 {St. Paschal Baylon, OFM, Religious (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR THE DAY
First Reading: Acts 11:19-26
19     Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoeni'cia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews.
20     But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyre'ne, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21     And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord.
22     News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
23     When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose;
24     for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord.
25     So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul;
26     and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians.

Psalms: Psalm 87:1-7
1     On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
2     the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3     Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. [Selah]
4     Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia -- "This one was born there," they say.
5     And of Zion it shall be said, "This one and that one were born in her"; for the Most High himself will establish her.
6     The LORD records as he registers the peoples, "This one was born there." [Selah]
7     Singers and dancers alike say, "All my springs are in you."

Gospel: John 10:22-30   
22     It was the feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem;
23     it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon.
24     So the Jews gathered round him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
25     Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness to me;
26     but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.
27     My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me;
28     and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.
29     My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
30     I and the Father are one."

REFLECTION OF THE DAY
Dismiss all anger and look into yourself a little. Remember that he of whom you are speaking is your brother, and, as he is in the way of salvation, God can make him a Saint, in spite of his present weakness.

-- St. Thomas of Villanova