Thursday, March 24, 2016 (Holy Thursday Evening – Mass of the Lord’s Supper)

First Reading

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14

1The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2"This month shall be for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. 3Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month they shall take every man a lamb according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household; 4and if the household is too small for a lamb, then a man and his neighbor next to his house shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. 5Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old; you shall take it from the sheep or from the goats; 6and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall

Thursday, June 07, 2012 (Weekday)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The pure soul is a beautiful rose, and the Three Divine Persons descend from Heaven to inhale its fragrance.
-- St. John Vianney
READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-158 Remember Jesus Christ, who was raised from death, who was a descendant of David, as is taught in the Good News I preach.
9 Because I preach the Good News, I suffer and I am even chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not in chains,
10 and so I endure everything for the sake of God's chosen people, in order that they too may obtain the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus and brings eternal glory.
11 This is a true saying:
 “If we have died with him,
 we shall also live with him.
  If we continue to endure,
 we shall also rule with him.
 If we deny him,
 he also will deny us.
13 If we are not faithful,
 he remains faithful,
 because he cannot be false to himself.”
 An Approved Worker
14 Remind your people of this, and give them a solemn warning in God's presence not to fight over words. It does no good, but only ruins the people who listen. 15 Do your best to win full approval in God's sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God's truth.

Psalm: Psalm 25:4-5, 8-10, 14
4 Teach me your ways, O Lord;  make them known to me.
5 Teach me to live according to your truth, for you are my God, who saves me.
 I always trust in you.
8 Because the Lord is righteous and good, he teaches sinners the path they should follow.
9 He leads the humble in the right way and teaches them his will.
10 With faithfulness and love he leads all who keep his covenant and obey his commands.
14 The Lord is the friend of those who obey him and he affirms his covenant with them.

Gospel:   Mark 12:28-34
(Matthew 22.34-40; Luke 10.25-28)
28 A teacher of the Law was there who heard the discussion. He saw that Jesus had given the Sadducees a good answer, so he came to him with a question: “Which commandment is the most important of all?”
29  Jesus replied, “The most important one is this: ‘Listen, Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord. 
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with
all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 
31 The second most important commandment is this: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment more
important than these two.”
32  The teacher of the Law said to Jesus, “Well done, Teacher! It is true, as you say, that only the Lord is God and that there is no other god but he. 
33 And you must love God with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your strength; and you must love your neighbor as you love yourself. It is more important to obey these two commandments than to offer on the altar animals and other sacrifices to God.”
 34 Jesus noticed how wise his answer was, and so he told him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” After this nobody dared to ask Jesus any more questions.

Thursday, February 23, 2012 {St. Polycarp, Bishop, Martyr (Commemoration)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The first stage of contemplation, dear brothers, is constantly to consider what God wants, what is pleasing to him, and what is acceptable in his eyes. We all offend in many things; our strengths cannot match the rectitude of God's will, being neither one with it nor wholly in accord with it; let us then humble ourselves under the powerful hand of the most high God and be concerned to show ourselves unworthy before His merciful gaze, saying: Heal me, Lord, and I shall be healed; save me and I shall be saved. And again, Lord, have mercy on me; heal my soul because I have sinned against you.
-- St Bernard

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20
15 Behold, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil;
16 in that I command you this day to love Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, that you may live and multiply, and that Yahweh your God may bless you in the land where you go in to possess it.
17 But if your heart turn away, and you will not hear, but shall be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

Thursday, January 05, 2012 {St. John Neumann, Bishop (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Almsgiving proceeds from a merciful heart and is more useful for the one who practices it than for the one who receives it, for the man who makes a practice of almsgiving draws out a spiritual profit from his acts, whilst those who receive his alms receive only a temporal benefit.
-- St. Thomas Aquinas

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 1 John 3:11-21(Love One Another/ Courage before God)
11 For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;
12 unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
13 Don’t be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.

Thursday, December 29, 2011 (The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Recall to yourself that our Lord is the beloved Son of the living God; that He is Himself the God of all consolation, the sight of whom forms the beatitude of the angels and elect. And yet, what does He not suffer!
-- St Ignatius Loyola

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 1 John 2:3-11
(The New Command)
3 If we obey God's commands, then we are sure that we know him.
4 If we say that we know him, but do not obey his commands, we are liars and there is no truth in us.
5 But if we obey his word, we are the ones whose love for God has really been made perfect. This is how we can be sure that we are in union with God:

Thursday, December 22, 2011 (Advent Weekday)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Brethren, now you are no more strangers and foreigners: but you are fellow-citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.
-- Eph 2: 19-20

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 1 Samuel 1:24-28
24 After she had weaned him, she took him to Shiloh, taking along a three-year-old bull,
a bushel of flour, and a leather bag full of wine. She took Samuel, young as he was, to the house of the Lord at Shiloh.
25 After they had killed the bull, they took the child to Eli.
26 Hannah said to him, “Excuse me, sir. Do you remember me? I am the woman you saw standing here, praying to the Lord.

Thursday, December 01, 2011 (Advent Weekday)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Because of our good Lord's tender love to all those who shall be saved, he quickly comforts them saying, "The cause of all this pain is sin. But all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well." These words were said so kindly and without a hint of blame.So how unjust it would be for me to blame God for allowing my sin when he does not blame me for falling into it.
-- Blessed Julian of Norwich

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Isaiah 26:1-6
(God Will Give His People Victory)
1 A day is coming when the people will sing this song in the land of Judah: Our city is strong!
God himself defends its walls!
2 Open the city gates and let the faithful nation enter, the nation whose people do what is right.
3 You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you.

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.

Thursday, November 17, 2011 {St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Patroness of the Third Order (Feast)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
You cannot please both God and the world at the same time. They are utterly opposed to each other in their thoughts, their desires, and their actions.
 -- St. John Mary Vianney

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Sirach 26:1-3, 15-18, 24 or 1 Timothy 5:3-10
Sirach 26:1-3, 15-18, 24
1 The husband of a good wife is a fortunate man; he will live twice as long because of her.
2 A fine wife is a joy to her husband, and he can live out his years in peace.
3 A good wife is among the precious blessings given to those who fear the Lord.

Thursday, November 10, 2011 {St. Leo the Great, Pope, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
When our hands have touched spices, they give fragrance to all they handle. Let us make our prayers pass through the hands of the Blessed Virgin. She will make them fragrant.
-- St. John Vianney

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Wisdom 7:22 -- 8:1
(The Nature of Wisdom)
22 because Wisdom, who gave shape to everything that exists, was my teacher. The spirit of Wisdom is intelligent and holy. It is of one nature but reveals itself in many ways. It is not made of any material substance, and it moves about freely. It is clear, clean, and confident; it cannot be harmed.  It loves what is good. It is sharp and unconquerable,
23 kind, and a friend of humanity. It is dependable and sure, and has no worries. It has power over everything, and sees everything. It penetrates every spirit that is intelligent and pure, no matter how delicate its substance may be.
24 Wisdom moves more easily than motion itself;

Thursday, November 03, 2011 {St. Martin de Porres, Religious (Optional Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The crosses with which our path through life is strewn associate us with Jesus in the mystery of His crucifixion.
-- St. John Eudes

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Romans 14:7-12
7 We do not live for ourselves only, and we do not die for ourselves only.
8 If we live, it is for the Lord that we live, and if we die, it is for the Lord that we die. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9 For Christ died and rose to life in order to be the Lord of the living and of the dead.

Thursday, September 15, 2011 {Our Lady of Sorrows (Memorial))

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Perfect love leads a man on to perfect fear. Such a man fears and keeps to God's will, not from fear of punishment, not to avoid condemnation, but because he has tasted the sweetness of being with God; he fears he may fall away from it.
-- St. Dorotheos of Gaza


READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Hebrews 5:7-9
7 In his life on earth Jesus made his prayers and requests with loud cries and tears to God, who could save him from death. Because he was humble and devoted, God heard him. 
8 But even though he was God's Son, he learned through his sufferings to be obedient. 
9 When he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him,

Thursday, September 08, 2011 {The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Feast)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Micah 5:1-4 or Romans 8:28-30
Micah 5:1-4 
1 Now you are walled about with a wall; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike upon the cheek the ruler of Israel.
2 But you, O Bethlehem Eph'rathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in travail has brought forth; then the rest of his brethren shall return to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.
OR
Romans 8:28-30
28 We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren.
30 And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.


Psalms: Psalm 13:6
6 I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me


Gospel: Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23 or 1:18-23
Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram,
4 and Ram the father of Ammin'adab, and Ammin'adab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5 and Salmon the father of Bo'az by Rahab, and Bo'az the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,
6 and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uri'ah,
7 and Solomon the father of Rehobo'am, and Rehobo'am the father of Abi'jah, and Abi'jah the father of Asa,
8 and Asa the father of Jehosh'aphat, and Jehosh'aphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzzi'ah,
9 and Uzzi'ah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezeki'ah,
10 and Hezeki'ah the father of Manas'seh, and Manas'seh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josi'ah,
11 and Josi'ah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoni'ah was the father of She-al'ti-el, and She-al'ti-el the father of Zerub'babel,
13 and Zerub'babel the father of Abi'ud, and Abi'ud the father of Eli'akim, and Eli'akim the father of Azor,
14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eli'ud,
15 and Eli'ud the father of Elea'zar, and Elea'zar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob,
16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit;
19 and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
20 But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit;
21 she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
22 All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us).
OR
Matthew 1:18-23
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit;
19 and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
20 But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit;
21 she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
22 All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us).


REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Faithfulness in little things is a big thing.


-- St. John Chrysostom

Thursday, August 25, 2011 {St. Louis IX of France, King, Patron of the Third Order (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13
7 for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith;
8 for now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, for all the joy which we feel for your sake before our God,
10 praying earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you;
12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all men, as we do to you,
13 so that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.


Psalms: Psalm 90:3-5, 12-14, 17
3 Thou turnest man back to the dust, and sayest, "Turn back, O children of men!"
4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
5 Thou dost sweep men away; they are like a dream, like grass which is renewed in the morning:
12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on thy servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with thy steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish thou the work of our hands upon us, yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. 


Gospel: Matthew 24:42-51
42 Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
43 But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into.
44 Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?
46 Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing.
47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, `My master is delayed,'
49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with the drunken,
50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know,
51 and will punish him, and put him with the hypocrites; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.


REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The more we have denied ourselves during the day, the nearer are we each evening to the Heart of our Lord.


-- St Madeline Sophie Barat

Thursday, August 11, 2011 {St. Clare of Assisi, Virgin, Foundress of II Order (Feast)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Hosea 2:16, 17, 21-22 or 2 Corinthians 4:6-10, 16-18
16 I promise that from that day on, you will call me your husband instead of your master.
o 2.16 husband ... master: In Hebrew the word “master” is the same as the name of the god Baal. But the Lord promises that his people will have a deep personal relationship with him (like a devoted wife and husband) rather than merely a legal tie (like a wife and her “master”).
17 I will no longer even let you mention the names of those pagan gods that you called “Master.”
21 I will command the sky to send rain on the earth, 22 and it will produce grain, grapes, and olives in Jezreel Valley.

OR
2 Corinthians 4:6-10, 16-18
6The Scriptures say, “God commanded light to shine in the dark.” Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ.
7 We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us.
8 We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don't know what to do, we never give up.
9 In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again.
10-11 We face death every day because of Jesus. Our bodies show what his death was like, so that his life can also be seen in us.
Faith in the Lord
16 We never give up. Our bodies are gradually dying, but we ourselves are being made stronger each day.
17 These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing.
18 Things that are seen don't last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. That's why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen.

Psalms: Psalm 45:11-12, 14-16
11 Your beauty will make the king desire you;
he is your master, so you must obey him.
12 The people of Tyre will bring you gifts;
rich people will try to win your favor.
14 In her colorful gown she is led to the king,
followed by her bridesmaids,
and they also are brought to him.
15 With joy and gladness they come
and enter the king's palace.
16 You, my king, will have many sons
to succeed your ancestors as kings,
and you will make them rulers over the whole earth.

Gospel: John 15:4-10
4 Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me.
6 Those who do not remain in me are thrown out like a branch and dry up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burned.
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it. 8 My Father's glory is shown by your bearing much fruit; and in this way you become my disciples.
9 I love you just as the Father loves me; remain in my love.
10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Even though I had committed but one little sin, I should have ample reason to repent of it all my life.


-- St Francis of Assisi

Thursday, August 04, 2011 {St. John Mary Vianney, Priest (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Numbers 20:1-13
1     And the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
2     Now there was no water for the congregation; and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
3     And the people contended with Moses, and said, "Would that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!
4     Why have you brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle?
5     And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates; and there is no water to drink."
6     Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tent of meeting, and fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them,
7     and the LORD said to Moses,
8     "Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water; so you shall bring water out of the rock for them; so you shall give drink to the congregation and their cattle."
9     And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
10     And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?"
11     And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his rod twice; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their cattle.
12     And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."
13     These are the waters of Mer'ibah, where the people of Israel contended with the LORD, and he showed himself holy among them.

Psalms: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9
1     O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2     Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
6     O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
7     For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would hearken to his voice!
8     Harden not your hearts, as at Mer'ibah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
9     when your fathers tested me, and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-23
13     Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?"
14     And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15     He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16     Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17     And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
18     And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
19     I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
20     Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
21     From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
22     And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you."
23     But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men."

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
My daughter, I see more Pharisees among Christians than there were around Pilate.

-- St Margaret of Cortona

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

Thursday, May 26, 2011 {St. Philip Neri, Priest (Memorial)}

READINGS OF THE DAY
First Reading: Acts 15:7-21
7     And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
8     And God who knows the heart bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us;
9     and he made no distinction between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith.
10     Now therefore why do you make trial of God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
11     But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."
12     And all the assembly kept silence; and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
13     After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brethren, listen to me.
14     Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15     And with this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written,
16     `After this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up,
17     that the rest of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
18     says the Lord, who has made these things known from of old.'
19     Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,
20     but should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols and from unchastity and from what is strangled and from blood.
21     For from early generations Moses has had in every city those who preach him, for he is read every sabbath in the synagogues."

Psalms: Psalm 96:1-3, 10
1     O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!
2     Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
3     Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!
10     Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns! Yea, the world is established, it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity."

Gospel: John 15:9-11
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.    


REFLECTIONS OF THE DAY
I leave you the spirit of liberty - not that which excludes obedience, for that is the liberty of the flesh; but that which excludes restraint, scruple, and worry.

-- St. Francis De Sales

Thursday, May 19, 2011 {St. Crispin of Viterbo, Religious (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR THE DAY
First Reading: Acts 13:13-25
13     Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphyl'ia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem;
14     but they passed on from Perga and came to Antioch of Pisid'ia. And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.
15     After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, "Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it."
16     So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: "Men of Israel, and you that fear God, listen.
17     The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it.
18     And for about forty years he bore with them in the wilderness.
19     And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years.
20     And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.
21     Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
22     And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; of whom he testified and said, `I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'
23     Of this man's posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.
24     Before his coming John had preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25     And as John was finishing his course, he said, `What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'

Psalms: Psalm 89:2-3, 21-22, 25, 27
2     For thy steadfast love was established for ever, thy faithfulness is firm as the heavens.
3     Thou hast said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant:
21     so that my hand shall ever abide with him, my arm also shall strengthen him.
22     The enemy shall not outwit him, the wicked shall not humble him.
25     I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.
27     And I will make him the first-born, the highest of the kings of the earth.

Gospel: John 13:16-20
16     Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
17     If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
18     I am not speaking of you all; I know whom I have chosen; it is that the scripture may be fulfilled, `He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.'
19     I tell you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.
20     Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives any one whom I send receives me; and he who receives me receives him who sent me."

REFLECTION OF THE DAY
Let us relieve the poverty of those that beg of us and let us not be over-exact about it.

-- St. John Chrysostom

Thursday, May 12, 2011 {St. Leopold Mandic, Capuchin, Priest (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR THE DAY
First Reading: Acts 8:26-40
26     But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert road.
27     And he rose and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a minister of the Can'dace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship
28     and was returning; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29     And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot."
30     So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
31     And he said, "How can I, unless some one guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32     Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this: "As a sheep led to the slaughter or a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so he opens not his mouth.
33     In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken up from the earth."
34     And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, pray, does the prophet say this, about himself or about some one else?"
35     Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told him the good news of Jesus.
36     And as they went along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What is to prevent my being baptized?"
38     And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
39     And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
40     But Philip was found at Azo'tus, and passing on he preached the gospel to all the towns till he came to Caesare'a.

Psalms: Psalm 66:8-9, 16-17, 20
8     Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard,
9     who has kept us among the living, and has not let our feet slip.
16     Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me.
17     I cried aloud to him, and he was extolled with my tongue.
20     Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!

Gospel: John 6:44-51
44     No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
45     It is written in the prophets, `And they shall all be taught by God.' Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.
46     Not that any one has seen the Father except him who is from God; he has seen the Father.
47     Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.
48     I am the bread of life.
49     Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
50     This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die.
51     I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh."    

REFLECTION OF THE DAY
The soul who is in love with God is a gentle, humble and patient soul.

-- St. John of the Cross