Wednesday, March 23, 2016 (Wednesday of Holy Week)

First Reading

Isaiah 50:4-9

4The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him that is weary. Morning by morning he wakens, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. 5The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I turned not backward. 6I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. 7For the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been confounded; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame;8he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. 9Behold,

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 {The Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle (Feast)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
An action of small value performed with much love of God is far more excellent than one of a higher virtue, done with less love of God.
-- St Francis de Sales

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Acts 22:3-16 or 9:1-22
Acts 22:3-16
(The Conversion of Saul to Paul)
3 “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are this day.
4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
5 As also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.

Wednesday, January 04, 2012 {St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
He that is mighty hath done great things to me, and holy is His Name.
-- Luke 1: 49

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 1 John 3:7-10
7 Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can’t sin, because he is born of God.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011 {The Holy Innocents, Martyrs (Feast)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Turn yourself round like a piece of clay and say to the Lord: I am clay, and you, Lord, the potter. Make of me what you will.
-- Blessed John of Avila


READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 1 John 1:5 -- 2:2
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth;
7 but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

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.”

Wednesday, December 07, 2011 {St. Ambrose, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
If we wish to keep peace with our neighbor, we should never remind anyone of his natural defect.
-- St Philip Neri

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Isaiah 40:25-31
25 To whom can the holy God be compared? Is there anyone else like him?
26 Look up at the sky! Who created the stars you see? The one who leads them out like an army, he knows how many there are and calls each one by name! His power is so great— not one of them is ever missing!
27 Israel, why then do you complain that the Lord doesn't know your troubles or care if you suffer injustice?

Wednesday, November 30, 2011 {St. Andrew, Apostle (Feast)}

REFLECTION FOR TOADY
Humility is the safeguard of chastity. In the matter of purity, there is no greater danger than not fearing danger. When a person puts himself in an occasion of sin, saying, " I shall not fall", it is almost an infallible sign that he will fall, and with great injury to his soul. We must specifically and regularly pray for God's assistance and not rely on our own strength.
-- St. Phillip Neri

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Romans 10:9-18
9 If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved.
10 For it is by our faith that we are put right with God; it is by our confession that we are saved.
11 The scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”

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?

Wednesday, November 09, 2011 {The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica (Feast)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
So, you will ask me, who then are the people most tempted? They are these, my friends; note them carefully. The people most tempted are those who are ready, with the grace of God, to sacrifice everything for the salvation of their poor souls, who renounce all those things which most people eagerly seek. It is not one devil only who tempts them, but millions seek to entrap them.
-- St. John Vianney

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12(The Stream Flowing from the Temple)
1 The man led me back to the entrance of the Temple. Water was coming out from under the entrance and flowing east, the direction the Temple faced. It was flowing down from under the south part of the Temple past the south side of the altar.
2 The man then took me out of the Temple area by way of the north gate and led me around to the gate that faces east. A small stream of water was flowing out at the south side of the gate.
8 He said to me, “This water flows through the land to the east and down into the Jordan Valley and to the Dead Sea. When it flows into the Dead Sea, it replaces the salt water of that sea with fresh water.

Wednesday, November 02, 2011 {The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The devil will try to upset you by accusing you of being unworthy of the blessings that you have received. Simply remain cheerful and do your best to ignore the devil's nagging. If need be even laugh at the absurdity of the situation. Satan, the epitome of sin itself, accuses you of unworthiness! When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future!
-- St. Theresa of Avila

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Wisdom 3:1-9
(The Destiny of the Righteous)
1 But righteous people are protected by God and will never suffer torment.
2 It is a foolish mistake to think that righteous people die and that their death is a terrible evil.
3 They leave us, but it is not a disaster. In fact, the righteous are at peace.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011 {St. Seraphin of Montegranaro, Religious (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
If you commit any sin, repent of it at once and resolve to amend. If it is a grievous sin, confess it as soon as possible.
-- St. Alphonsus Liguori

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Romans 2:1-11
1     Therefore you have no excuse, O man, whoever you are, when you judge another; for in passing judgment upon him you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things.
2     We know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who do such things.
3     Do you suppose, O man, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God?

Wednesday, October 05, 2011 {St. Faustina, Virgin (Optional Memorial) Mass Prayers}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
If we have obtained the grace of God, none shall prevail against us, but we shall be stronger than all who oppose us.
-- St John Chrysostom


READINGS FOR TODAY (Today's Gospel is Our Lord's Prayer)
First Reading: Jonah 4:1-11
(Jonah Gets Angry at the Lord)
1 Jonah was really upset and angry.
2 So he prayed: Our Lord, I knew from the very beginning that you wouldn't destroy Nineveh. That's why I left my own country and headed for Spain. You are a kind and merciful God, and you are very patient. You always show love, and you don't like to punish anyone, not even foreigners.
3 Now let me die! I'd be better off dead.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011 {Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Feast)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Love shows us what we have to do. It takes us out of ourselves, makes us emulate the virtues of our Lord, and withdraws us from this world into Him. The reason why so many Christians get no farther than the threshold of virtue is that they will not break the chains that hold them back and will not give themselves up confidently to our Lord's guidance. They feel that if they go to Communion they will be unable to resist the love of Jesus and will be forced to give themselves in return. So they content themselves with books, with words, and do not dare turn to the Master Himself. Oh, my brothers, I pray you to take Jesus Christ Himself for your Teacher! Receive Him within you and let Him direct all your actions.
-- St. Peter Eymard

Wednesday, August 24, 2011 {St. Bartholomew, Apostle (Feast)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Revelation 21:9-14
9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb."
10 And in the Spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,
11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed;
13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 


Psalms: Psalm 145:10-13, 17-18
10 All thy works shall give thanks to thee, O LORD, and all thy saints shall bless thee!
11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and tell of thy power,
12 to make known to the sons of men thy mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of thy kingdom.
13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.
17 The LORD is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.
18 The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. 


Gospel: John 1:45-51
45 Philip found Nathan'a-el, and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
46 Nathan'a-el said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
47 Jesus saw Nathan'a-el coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"
48 Nathan'a-el said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
49 Nathan'a-el answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these."
51 And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."


REFLECTION FOR TODAY
A man who governs his passions is master of the world. We must either command them, or be enslaved by them. It is better to be a hammer than an anvil.


-- St Dominic

Wednesday, August 10, 2011 {St. Lawrence, Deacon, Martyr (Feast)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10
6     The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7     Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8     And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work.
9     As it is written, "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever."
10     He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

Psalms: Psalm 112:1-2, 5-9
1     Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments!
2     His descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
5     It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice.
6     For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered for ever.
7     He is not afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
8     His heart is steady, he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire on his adversaries.
9     He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever; his horn is exalted in honor.

Gospel: John 12:24-26
24     Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
25     He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
26     If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Never utter in your neighbor's absence what you would not say in their presence.

-- St Mary Magdalen de Pazzi

Wednesday, July 20, 2011 (Weekday)

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15
1     They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt.
2     And the whole congregation of the people of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness,
3     and said to them, "Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."
4     Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law or not.
5     On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily."
9     And Moses said to Aaron, "Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, `Come near before the LORD, for he has heard your murmurings.'"
10     And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
11     And the LORD said to Moses,
12     "I have heard the murmurings of the people of Israel; say to them, `At twilight you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.'"
13     In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning dew lay round about the camp.
14     And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as hoarfrost on the ground.
15     When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.

Psalms: Psalm 78:18-19, 23-28
18     They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved.
19     They spoke against God, saying, "Can God spread a table in the wilderness?
23     Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven;
24     and he rained down upon them manna to eat, and gave them the grain of heaven.
25     Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance.
26     He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind;
27     he rained flesh upon them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas;
28     he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their habitations.

Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9
1     That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.
2     And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the beach.
3     And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow.
4     And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.
5     Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,
6     but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away.
7     Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
8     Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
9     He who has ears, let him hear."

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The first temptation, my dear brethren, which the Devil tries on anyone who has begun to serve God better is in the matter of human respect. He will no longer dare to be seen around; he will hide himself from those with whom heretofore had been mixing and pleasure seeking. If he should be told that he has changed a lot, he will be ashamed of it! What people are going to say about him is continually in his mind, to the extent that he no longer has enough courage to do good before other people. If the Devil cannot get him back through human respect, he will induce an extraordinary fear to possess him that his confessions are not good, that his confessor does not understand him, that whatever he does will be all in vain, that he will be damned just the same, that he will achieve the same result in the end by letting everything slide as by continuing to fight, because the occasions of sin will prove too many for him.

-- St. John Vianney

Wednesday, June 29, 2011 {Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles (Solemnity)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Acts 12:1-11
1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church.
2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword;
3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.
4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.
5 So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
6 The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison;
7 and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands.
8 And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your mantle around you and follow me."
9 And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them of its own accord, and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel left him.
11 And Peter came to himself, and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."

Psalms: Psalm 34:2-9
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 O taste and see that the LORD is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 O fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no want!

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18
6 For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the message fully, that all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19
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."

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Never address your words to God while you are thinking of something else.

-- St. Teresa of Avila

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 {Saints John Fisher, Bishop, Martyr and Thomas More, Martyr (Optional Memorial)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
1      After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great."
2     But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Elie'zer of Damascus?"
3     And Abram said, "Behold, thou hast given me no offspring; and a slave born in my house will be my heir."
4     And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, "This man shall not be your heir; your own son shall be your heir."
5     And he brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be."
6     And he believed the LORD; and he reckoned it to him as righteousness.
7     And he said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chalde'ans, to give you this land to possess."
8     But he said, "O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?"
9     He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a she-goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."
10     And he brought him all these, cut them in two, and laid each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two.
11     And when birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
12     As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram; and lo, a dread and great darkness fell upon him.
17     When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.
18     On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphra'tes,

Psalms: Psalm 105:1-4, 6-9
1      O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples!
2     Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works!
3     Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
4     Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his presence continually!
6     O offspring of Abraham his servant, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
7     He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
8     He is mindful of his covenant for ever, of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
9     the covenant which he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac,

Gospel: Matthew 7:15-20
15      "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16     You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles?
17     So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit.
18     A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19     Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20     Thus you will know them by their fruits.
   
REFLECTION FOR TODAY
God would not urge us to ask, unless He were willing to give.

-- St. Augustine

Wednesday, June 01, 2011 {St. Justin, Martyr (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR THE DAY
First Reading: Acts 17:15, 22 -- 18:1
15     Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.
22     So Paul, standing in the middle of the Are-op'agus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.
23     For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, `To an unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.
24     The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man,
25     nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything.
26     And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation,
27     that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us,
28     for `In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your poets have said, `For we are indeed his offspring.'
29     Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the Deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, a representation by the art and imagination of man.
30     The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent,
31     because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead."
32     Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, "We will hear you again about this."
33     So Paul went out from among them.
34     But some men joined him and believed, among them Dionys'ius the Are-op'agite and a woman named Dam'aris and others with them.
Acts 18:1
After this he left Athens and went to Corinth.

Psalms: Psalm 148:1-2, 11-14
1     Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights!
2     Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his host!
11     Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
12     Young men and maidens together, old men and children!
13     Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven.
14     He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the LORD!

Gospel: John 16:12-15
12     "I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
13     When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
14     He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
15     All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.


REFLECTION OF THE DAY

In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death.

-- Byzantine Liturgy, Troparion, Feast of the Dormition, August 15th

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 {St. Felix Porri of Cantalice, Capuchin, Religious (Feast)}

READINGS FOR THE DAY
First Reading: Acts 2:44-47 or Colossians 3:12-17
Acts 2:44-47
44     And all who believed were together and had all things in common;
45     and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need.
46     And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts,
47     praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
OR
Colossians 3:12-17
12     Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience,
13     forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
14     And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
15     And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.
16     Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
17     And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Psalms: Psalm 131:1-3
1     O LORD, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.
2     But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a child quieted at its mother's breast; like a child that is quieted is my soul.
3     O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.

Gospel: Luke 12:22-31
22     And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on.
23     For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
24     Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!
25     And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his span of life?
26     If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?
27     Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28     But if God so clothes the grass which is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith!
29     And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be of anxious mind.
30     For all the nations of the world seek these things; and your Father knows that you need them.
31     Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things shall be yours as well.

REFLECTION OF THE DAY
When anyone reposes all his confidence in God, God continually exercises a special protection over him, and in this state of things he can be assured that no evil will happen to him.

-- St. Vincent de Paul