Saturday, January 28, 2012 {St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
He who faithfully prays to God for the necessaries of this life is both mercifully heard, and mercifully not heard. For the physician knows better than the sick man what is good for the disease.
-- St. Augustine

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 2 Samuel 12:1-7, 10-17
(Nathan's Message and David's Repentance/ David's Son Dies)
1 Yahweh sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, “There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds,
3 but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up together with him, and with his children. It ate of his own food, drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was to him like a daughter.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 {St. John of the Cross, Priest, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
No one will have any other desire in heaven than what God wills; and the desire of one will be the desire of all; and the desire of all and of each one will also be the desire of God.
-- St Anselm

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Isaiah 45:6-8, 18, 21-25
6 I do this so that everyone from one end of the world to the other may know that I am the Lord and that there is no other god.
7 I create both light and darkness; I bring both blessing and disaster. I, the Lord, do all these things.
8 I will send victory from the sky like rain; the earth will open to receive it and will blossom with freedom and justice. I, the Lord, will make this happen.”

Thursday, November 24, 2011 {St. Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest, Martyr and Companions, Martyrs (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Your life consists in drawing nearer to God. To do this you must endeavor to detach yourself from visible things and remember that in a short time they will be taken from you.
-- Blessed John of Avila

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Daniel 6:12-28
12 all of them went together to the king to accuse Daniel. They said, “Your Majesty, you signed an order that for the next thirty days anyone who requested anything from any god or from any human being except you, would be thrown into a pit filled with lions.”
The king replied, “Yes, that is a strict order, a law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.”
13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, does not respect Your Majesty or obey the order you issued. He prays regularly three times a day.”
14 When the king heard this, he was upset and did his best to find some way to rescue Daniel. He kept trying until sunset.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 {Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro, Priest, Martyr (Optional Memorial)} - THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL!!!

THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL
SOURCE: MY BOOK OF BIBLE STORIES

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Christ, like a skillful physician, understands the weakness of men. He loves to teach the ignorant and the erring he turns again to his own true way. He is easily found by those who live by faith and to those of pure eye and holy heart, who desire to knock at the door, he opens immediately.
 -- St. Hyppolytus (Treatise on Christ and Antichrist)

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28
(Belshazzar's Banquet)

1 One night King Belshazzar invited a thousand noblemen to a great banquet, and they drank wine together.

2 While they were drinking, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver cups and bowls which his father. Nebuchadnezzar had carried off from the Temple in Jerusalem. The king sent for them so that he, his noblemen, his wives, and his concubines could drink out of them.

3 At once the gold cups and bowls were brought in, and they all drank wine out of them

4 and praised gods made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

5 Suddenly a human hand appeared and began writing on the plaster wall of the palace, where the light from the lamps was shining most brightly. And the king saw the hand as it was writing.

6 He turned pale and was so frightened that his knees began to shake.

(Daniel Explains the Writing)

13 Daniel was brought at once into the king's presence, and the king said to him, “Are you Daniel, that Jewish exile whom my father the king brought here from Judah?

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,

Tuesday, September 20, 2011 {Sts. Andrew Kim Taegon, Priest, Martyr, Paul Chong Hasang, Martyr and Their Companions, Martyrs (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
We ought to respect the image of God in everyone.
-- Blessed Raphaela Mary

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Ezra 6:7-8, 12, 14-20
(The Passover)
7 and do not interfere with its construction. Let the governor of Judah and the Jewish leaders rebuild the Temple of God where it stood before.
8 I hereby command you to help them rebuild it. Their expenses are to be paid promptly out of the royal funds received from taxes in West-of-Euphrates, so that the work is not interrupted.
12 May the God who chose Jerusalem as the place where he is to be worshiped overthrow any king or nation that defies this command and tries to destroy the Temple there. I, Darius, have commanded. My command is to be fully obeyed.”

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

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

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