Wednesday, September 21, 2011 {St. Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist (Feast)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY

Suppose an evil person would offend you, or one whom you judge to be evil or even imagine so. Would you abandon so many others who are good?

-- St. Augustine

READINGS FOR TODAY

First Reading: Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13

(The Unity of the Body)
1 I urge you, then—I who am a prisoner because I serve the Lord: live a life that measures up to the standard God set when he called you.  
2 Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another. 3 Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together.

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.”

Translate the Blog

Hi Everyone,

Just want to wish you all a wonderful and blessed week ahead as you step out today. I also want to inform everyone that foreign language translations has been enabled on these pages, so, lets enjoy this week with thoughts of the Lord in out hearts.

Well, here is also a quick link to get translating languages into English Languages and many others:
http://translate.google.com/

Bede

Christians in China: Faith crisis or not?

More people go to church on Sunday in China than in the whole of Europe. I noticed this on comparing my trips to Asia and Europe in the second Quarter of the year.
Many of China's churches are overflowing, as the number of Christians in the country multiplies. In the past, repression drove people to convert - is the cause now rampant capitalism?


It is impossible to say how many Christians there are in China today, but no-one denies the numbers are exploding. The government says 25 million, 18 million Protestants and six million Catholics. Independent estimates all agree this is a vast underestimate. A conservative figure is 60 million. There are already more Chinese at church on a Sunday than in the whole of Europe.The new converts can be found from peasants in the remote rural villages to the sophisticated young middle class in the booming cities.
Driven underground 
There is a complexity in the structures of Chinese Christianity which is little understood in the West. To start with, Catholicism and Protestantism are designated by the state as two separate religions. Throughout the 20th Century, Christianity was associated with Western imperialism. After the Communist victory in 1949, the missionaries were expelled, but Christianity was permitted in state-sanctioned churches, so long as they gave their primary allegiance to the Communist Party.

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

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

Sunday, September 18, 2011 (Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The Holy Rosary is the storehouse of countless blessings.
-- Blessed Alan de la Roche

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Isaiah 55:6-9
6 Turn to the Lord and pray to him, now that he is near.
7 Let the wicked leave their way of life and change their way of thinking. Let them turn to the Lord, our God; he is merciful and quick to forgive.
8 “My thoughts,” says the Lord, “are not like yours, and my ways are different from yours.
9 As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways and thoughts above yours.

Saturday, September 17, 2011 {The Sacred Stigmata of Saint Francis of Assisi (Feast)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Don't be anxious about what you have, but about what you are!
-- Pope St. Gregory the Great

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Galatians 6:14-18
14 As for me, however, I will boast only about the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; for by means of his cross the world is dead to me, and I am dead to the world.
15 It does not matter at all whether or not one is circumcised; what does matter is being a new creature.
16 As for those who follow this rule in their lives, may peace and mercy be with them—with them and with all of God's people!
17 To conclude: let no one give me any more trouble, because the scars I have on my body show that I am the slave of Jesus.
18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, my friends. Amen!!!

Friday, September 16, 2011 {St. Cornelius, Pope, Martyr and St. Cyprian, Bishop, Martyr (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY

The Servant of Charity must go to bed each night so tired from work that he will think he has been beaten!

-- St. Louis Guanella

READINGS FOR TODAY

First Reading: 1 Timothy 6:2-12

(False Teaching and True Riches)

2 Slaves belonging to Christian masters must not despise them, for they are believers too. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their work are believers whom they love. You must teach and preach these things.

3 Whoever teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the true words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching of our religion

4 is swollen with pride and knows nothing. He has an unhealthy desire to argue and quarrel about words, and this brings on jealousy, disputes, insults, evil suspicions,

5 and constant arguments from people whose minds do not function and who no longer have the truth. They think that religion is a way to become rich.

6 Well, religion does make us very rich, if we are satisfied with what we have.

7 What did we bring into the world? Nothing! What can we take out of the world? Nothing!

8 So then, if we have food and clothes, that should be enough for us.

9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and are caught in the trap of many foolish and harmful desires, which pull them down to ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows.

11 But you, man of God, avoid all these things. Strive for righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.

12 Run your best in the race of faith, and win eternal life for yourself; for it was to this life that God called you when you firmly professed your faith before many witnesses.

Psalms: Psalm 49:6-10, 17-20

6 by evil people who trust in their riches and boast of their great wealth.

7 We can never redeem ourselves; we cannot pay God the price for our lives,

8 because the payment for a human life is too great. What we could pay would never be enough

9 to keep us from the grave, to let us live forever.

10 Anyone can see that even the wise die, as well as the foolish and stupid. They all leave their riches to their descendants.

17 he cannot take it with him when he dies; his wealth will not go with him to the grave.

18 Even if someone is satisfied with this life and is praised because he is successful,

19 he will join all his ancestors in death, where the darkness lasts forever.

20 Our greatness cannot keep us from death; we will still die like the animals.

Gospel: Luke 8:1-3

(Women Who Helped Jesus / Women Who Accompanied Jesus)

1 Some time later Jesus traveled through towns and villages, preaching the Good News about the Kingdom of God. The twelve disciples went with him,  

2 and so did some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (who was called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had been driven out;

3 Joanna, whose husband Chuza was an officer in Herod's court; and Susanna, and many other women who used their own resources to help Jesus and his disciples.

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,

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

Tuesday, September 13, 2011 {}St. John Chrysostom, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
As long as a single passion reigns in our hearts, though all the others should have been overcome, the soul will never enjoy peace. 
-- St. Joseph Calasanctius


READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 1 Timothy 3:1-13
(Leaders in the Church)
1 This is a true saying: If a man is eager to be a church leader, he desires an excellent work.  
2 A church leader must be without fault; he must have only one wife,  be sober, self-controlled, and orderly; he must welcome strangers in his home; he must be able to teach; 

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

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


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


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


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

Sunday, September 11, 2011 (Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
No, my dear brethren, this gracious virtue of purity is not known to those young men whose eyes and hands are defiled by glances and...Oh God, how many souls does this sin drag down to Hell...This beautiful virtue is not known to those worldly and corrupt girls who make so many preparations and take so many cares to draw the eyes of the world towards themselves, who by their affected and indecent dress announce publicly that they are evil instruments which hell makes use of to ruin souls--those souls which cost so much in labors and tears and torments to Jesus Christ. Look at them, these misfortunates, and you will see that a thousand devils surround their heads and their breasts. An even more astounding thing to understand is how their mothers endure them in a state unworthy of a Christian. I would tell these mothers they are worth no more than their daughters.
-- St. John Vianney


READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Sirach 27:30 -- 28:9
Anger, Revenge, and Forgiveness (Sirach 27:30)
30 Taking revenge in anger is disgusting—yet sinners just won't give it up.
Arguments (Sirach 28:9)
9 And remember, it is sinful to start an argument that destroys a friendship.


Psalms: Psalm 103:1-4, 9-12
The Love of God 
1 Praise the Lord, my soul! All my being, praise his holy name!
2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and do not forget how kind he is.
3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
4 He keeps me from the grave and blesses me with love and mercy.
9 He does not keep on rebuking; he is not angry forever.
10 He does not punish us as we deserve or repay us according to our sins and wrongs.
11 As high as the sky is above the earth, so great is his love for those who honor him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our sins from us.


Second Reading: Romans 14:7-9
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.


Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?”
22 “No, not seven times,” answered Jesus, “but seventy times seven,  
23 because the Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who decided to check on his servants' accounts. 
24 He had just begun to do so when one of them was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 The servant did not have enough to pay his debt, so the king ordered him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his children and all that he had, in order to pay the debt. 
26 The servant fell on his knees before the king. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay you everything!’ 
27 The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him go.
28 “Then the man went out and met one of his fellow servants who owed him a few dollars. He grabbed him and started choking him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he said. 
29 His fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back!’ 
30 But he refused; instead, he had him thrown into jail until he should pay the debt. 
31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were very upset and went to the king and told him everything. 
32 So he called the servant in. ‘You worthless slave!’ he said. ‘I forgave you the whole amount you owed me, just because you asked me to. 
33 You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you.’ 
34 The king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he should pay back the whole amount.”
35 And Jesus concluded, “That is how my Father in heaven will treat every one of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Saturday, September 10, 2011 {Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY

Do not be suspicious of your brother, for you will lose purity of heart!! 
-- St. John of the Cross


READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 1 Timothy 1:15-17
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 
2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 
12 I thank him who has given me strength for this, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful by appointing me to his service, 
13 though I formerly blasphemed and persecuted and insulted him; but I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 
14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.


Psalms: Psalm 113:1-7
1 Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD! 
2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore! 
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised! 
4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! 
5 Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, 
6 who looks far down upon the heavens and the earth? 
7 He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap,


Gospel: Luke 6:43-49
43 "For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; 
44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 
45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. 
46 "Why do you call me `Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? 
47 Every one who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 
48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep, and laid the foundation upon rock; and when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 
49 But he who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation; against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."

Friday, September 09, 2011 {St. Peter Claver, Priest (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 1 Timothy 1:1-2, 12-14
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 I thank him who has given me strength for this, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful by appointing me to his service,
13 though I formerly blasphemed and persecuted and insulted him; but I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,
14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.


Psalms: Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 11
1 Preserve me, O God, for in thee I take refuge.
2 I say to the LORD, "Thou art my Lord; I have no good apart from thee."
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; thou holdest my lot.
7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
11 Thou dost show me the path of life; in thy presence there is fulness of joy, in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.


Gospel:  Luke 6:39-42
39 He also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but every one when he is fully taught will be like his teacher.
41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
42 Or how can you say to your brother, `Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.


REFLECTION FOR TODAY
I pray You to destroy in me all that is not of You. Grant that I may live but in You, by You and for You, so that I may truly say, with St. Paul, "I live - now not I - But Christ lives in me.


-- St. John Gabriel

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

Wednesday, September 07, 2011 (Weekday)

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Colossians 3:1-11
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
3 For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
7 In these you once walked, when you lived in them.
8 But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices
10 and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
11 Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scyth'ian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.


Psalms: Psalm 145:2-3, 10-13
2 Every day I will bless thee, and praise thy name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.
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.


Gospel: Luke 6:20-26
20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 "Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. "Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh.
22 "Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of man!
23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.
24 "But woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation.
25 "Woe to you that are full now, for you shall hunger. "Woe to you that laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
26 "Woe to you, when all men speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.


REFLECTION FOR TODAY
We should have frequent recourse to prayer, and persevere a long time in it. God wishes to be solicited. He is not weary of hearing us. The treasure of His graces is infinite. We can do nothing more pleasing to him than to beg incessantly that He bestow them upon us.


-- St. John Baptist de la Salle

Tuesday, September 06, 2011 (Weekday)

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Colossians 2:6-15
6 As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him,
7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
8 See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.
9 For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily,
10 and you have come to fulness of life in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ;
12 and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
14 having canceled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; this he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
15 He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in him.


Psalms: Psalm 145:1-2, 8-11
1 I will extol thee, my God and King, and bless thy name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless thee, and praise thy name for ever and ever.
8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The LORD is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.
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,


Gospel: Luke 6:12-19
12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God.
13 And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles;
14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew,
15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,
16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
17 And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases;
18 and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.
19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came forth from him and healed them all.


REFLECTION FOR TODAY
In 1992, Pope John Paul II designated February 11 as World Day of the Sick. This is a time for "prayer and sharing, of offering one's suffering for the good of the Church and of reminding us to see in our sick brother and sister the face of Christ who, by suffering, dying and rising, achieved the salvation of humankind." (Quote from Letter Instituting the World Day of the Sick, 13 May 1992)


-- Pope John Paul II

Monday, September 05, 2011

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Genesis 2:4-9, 15
4 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created. In the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
5 when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up -- for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no man to till the ground;
6 but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground --
7 then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
8 And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
9 And out of the ground the LORD God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.


Psalms: Psalm 90:2-5, 12-14, 16
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting thou art God.
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.
16 Let thy work be manifest to thy servants, and thy glorious power to their children.


Gospel: Matthew 6:31-34
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?'
32 For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.
34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.



REFLECTION FOR TODAYThe mortifications which come to us from God, or from men by His permission, are always worth more than those which are the children of our own will; for it must be considered a general rule, that the less our taste and choice intervene in our actions, the more they will have of goodness, solidity, devotion, the pleasure of God and our own profit.


-- St. Francis de Sales

Sunday, September 04, 2011 {Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time}

READINGS FOR TODAY

First Reading: Ezekiel 33:7-9

7 "So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.

8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked man, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.

9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way; he shall die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.

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.

Second Reading:Romans 13:8-10

8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

9 The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

15 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

REFLECTION FOR TODAY

We ought to be persuaded that what God refuses to our prayer, He grants to our salvation.

-- St. Augustine

Saturday, September 03, 2011 {St. Gregory the Great, Pope, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Colossians 1:21-23
21 And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him,
23 provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.


Psalms: Psalm 54:3-4, 6, 8
3 For insolent men have risen against me, ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before them. [Selah]
4 Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.
6 With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to thee; I will give thanks to thy name, O LORD, for it is good.


Gospel: Luke 6:1-5
1 On a sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands.
2 But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath?"
3 And Jesus answered, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:
4 how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?"
5 And he said to them, "The Son of man is lord of the sabbath."


REFLECTION FOR TODAY
"On receiving the blow of death, I shall accept it from your hands with the fullest delight and joy of spirit. For this reason, my beloved Jesus, and because of the surging joy which moves me, here and now I offer my blood and body and life. May I die only for you, if you will grant me this grace, since you willingly died for me. Let me so live that you may grant me the gift of such a happy death. In this way, my God and Saviour, I will take from your hand the cup of your sufferings and call on your name: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!"


-- St John de Brébeuf

Friday, September 02, 2011 {Votive Mass of the Sacred Heart}

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Colossians 1:15-20
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation;
16 for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities -- all things were created through him and for him.
17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent.
19 For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell,
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.


Psalms: Psalm 100:2-5
2 Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the LORD is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name!
5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.


Gospel: Luke 5:33-39
33 And they said to him, "The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink."
34 And Jesus said to them, "Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
35 The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days."
36 He told them a parable also: "No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it upon an old garment; if he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.
37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.
38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.
39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new; for he says, `The old is good.'"


REFLECTION FOR TODAY
[God] does not want each person to keep all the counsels, but only those appropriate to the diversity of persons, times, opportunities, and strengths, as charity requires; for it is charity, as queen of all virtues, all commandments, all counsels, and, in short, of all laws and all Christian actions that gives to all of them their rank, order, time, and value.


-- St Francis de Sales