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We have been baptized into the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and have become children of God, our Heavenly Father. His laws are written in our hearts and His love dwells within us. This is what it means to be Christian. We cannot be Christians if we do not love, if we do not know how to love, because the source of love and life itself dwells within us and we are children of light, His light into the world.

While we are not of this world, we live in this world to make a difference. All of us have been given unique gifts and talents to further the Lord our God’s kingdom. Because of our deep relationship we have with Him, we carry that service and joy in our hearts to build His kingdom and to lead His other children in the world back andr to be with Him.

It is also our joy and pride to share the joy of the Gospel, that all who do not yet know Him will come to know the Living God, and we bear witness and testimony to Him. So that one day we will hear Him say to us, My good and faithful servant, you have been faithful in little things and I have more to entrust you with. Come share in your Master’s joy. Amen.


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First reading
1 Thessalonians 4:9-11

You have learnt from God how to love one another

As for loving our brothers, there is no need for anyone to write to you about that, since you have learnt from God yourselves to love one another, and in fact this is what you are doing with all the brothers throughout the whole of Macedonia. However, we do urge you, brothers, to go on making even greater progress and to make a point of living quietly, attending to your own business and earning your living, just as we told you to.



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Gospel
Matthew 25:14-30

You have been faithful in small things: come and join in your master’s happiness

Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of Heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one; each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out.
    ‘The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more. The man who had received two made two more in the same way. But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
    ‘Now a long time after, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made.”
    ‘His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”
    ‘Next the man with the two talents came forward. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”
    ‘Last came forward the man who had the one talent. “Sir,” said he “I had heard you were a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered; so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is; it was yours, you have it back.” But his master answered him, “You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered? Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have recovered my capital with interest. So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the five talents. For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away. As for this good-for-nothing servant, throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.”’

Today, our Lord is reminding us to be holy as our Heavenly Father is holy, to lead sanctified lives, to avoid immoral behaviour, so as to enter deeper into His love, love for Him and love for one another.

It ties in very well with today’s Gospel, where we find Herod is living an immoral life. He has chosen to be with his brother’s wife. And because of the darkness that has filled his life, he is blindsided into beheading St John the Baptist at the behest of his wife.

Let us, therefore, remain steadfast, not to lose our head as Herod had done, but to lead lives of purity, steadfast in virtues that pleases the Lord. Amen



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First reading
1Thessalonians 4:1-8 ·

What God wants is for you all to be holy

Brothers, we urge you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus to make more and more progress in the kind of life that you are meant to live: the life that God wants, as you learnt from us, and as you are already living it. You have not forgotten the instructions we gave you on the authority of the Lord Jesus.
    What God wants is for you all to be holy. He wants you to keep away from fornication, and each one of you to know how to use the body that belongs to him in a way that is holy and honourable, not giving way to selfish lust like the pagans who do not know God. He wants nobody at all ever to sin by taking advantage of a brother in these matters; the Lord always punishes sins of that sort, as we told you before and assured you. We have been called by God to be holy, not to be immoral; in other words, anyone who objects is not objecting to a human authority, but to God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.



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Gospel
Mark 6:17-29

The beheading of John the Baptist

Herod sent to have John arrested, and had him chained up in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife whom he had married. For John had told Herod, ‘It is against the law for you to have your brother’s wife.’ As for Herodias, she was furious with him and wanted to kill him; but she was not able to, because Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and gave him his protection. When he had heard him speak he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.
    An opportunity came on Herod’s birthday when he gave a banquet for the nobles of his court, for his army officers and for the leading figures in Galilee. When the daughter of this same Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and his guests; so the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me anything you like and I will give it you.’ And he swore her an oath, ‘I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What shall I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the Baptist.’ The girl hurried straight back to the king and made her request, ‘I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head, here and now, on a dish.’ The king was deeply distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to her. So the king at once sent one of the bodyguard with orders to bring John’s head. The man went off and beheaded him in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

The psalmist says, fill us with your love, Lord, that we may rejoice. In today’s first reading, we see how St. Paul and his fellow brothers in Christ rejoice in the love of God our Heavenly Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Such affirming words can only be uttered with an overflowing love coming from the heart. We can breathe again knowing that you all are holding firm in the Lord.

This tender loving care can only come from a father’s heart, for his children, from the fraternal bonds lived as brothers and sisters in Christ, and simply from walking in the ways of the Lord, so that love prevails, love rules over all.

What happens when we are not walking in the love of the Lord? We hear Jesus’ warning that we must stand firm and stay alert, for we do not know when the Master is coming. The terrible examples of those in leadership who are supposed to care for those under them, are abusing their power, getting drunk. In essence, they have lost their focus on the Lord. They have lost sight of their relationship with the Lord, and the darkness of the world has prevailed.

It is a reminder that it can happen to any one of us, and so we must strive for holiness. Strive to walk in the ways of the Lord, always being alert; for the lion is prowling, seeking to destroy. We need to remain steadfast, so that the love of the Lord can rule in our hearts always, so that we may rejoice in Him. Amen.

Saint Augustine, Bishop, Doctor for Pray for us…



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First reading
1 Thessalonians 3:7-13

Now we can breathe again, as you are still holding firm in the Lord

Brothers, your faith has been a great comfort to us in the middle of our own troubles and sorrows; now we can breathe again, as you are still holding firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you, for all the joy we feel before our God on your account? We are earnestly praying night and day to be able to see you face to face again and make up any shortcomings in your faith.
    May God our Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, make it easy for us to come to you. May the Lord be generous in increasing your love and make you love one another and the whole human race as much as we love you. And may he so confirm your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints.



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Gospel
Matthew 24:42-51

He is coming at an hour you do not expect

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
    ‘What sort of servant, then, is faithful and wise enough for the master to place him over his household to give them their food at the proper time? Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment. I tell you solemnly, he will place him over everything he owns. But as for the dishonest servant who says to himself, “My master is taking his time,” and sets about beating his fellow servants and eating and drinking with drunkards, his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’

In today’s Gospel, Jesus completes the last two woes according to St. Matthew,  rebuking harshly the Pharisees and the scribes for their hypocrisy, they who wanted to be honoured, but had no virtues within them to contain the treasures of heaven. Even though they were the Chosen Ones, they did not behave as they should that is as children of God our Heavenly Father.

St. Paul, on the other hand, lives out his calling as an Apostle and a disciple of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who did not come to be served, but to serve. St. Paul leads by example to earn his own keep, so as not to be obligated to anyone, but with purity of body, mind and soul, serve the Lord our God and our brethren wholeheartedly, completely, glorifying the Lord whom he loved and served.

And he is a shining example of how we all should aspire to be, as we care for those whom the Lord has put us in charge to lead, like fathers and mothers who care for their children, just as God our Heavenly Father cares for us all.

Lord, you search me and you know me. Let all that I say and do always bring you glory. Amen.

Saint Monica pray for us…
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First reading
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13

We slaved night and day so as not to be a burden on any one of you

Let me remind you, brothers, how hard we used to work, slaving night and day so as not to be a burden on any one of you while we were proclaiming God’s Good News to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, that our treatment of you, since you became believers, has been impeccably right and fair. You can remember how we treated every one of you as a father treats his children, teaching you what was right, encouraging you and appealing to you to live a life worthy of God, who is calling you to share the glory of his kingdom. Another reason why we constantly thank God for you is that as soon as you heard the message that we brought you as God’s message, you accepted it for what it really is, God’s message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power among you who believe it.




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Gospel
Matthew 23:27-32

You are the sons of those who murdered the prophets

Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who are like whitewashed tombs that look handsome on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of corruption. In the same way you appear to people from the outside like good honest men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
    ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who build the sepulchres of the prophets and decorate the tombs of holy men, saying, “We would never have joined in shedding the blood of the prophets, had we lived in our fathers’ day.” So! Your own evidence tells against you! You are the sons of those who murdered the prophets! Very well then, finish off the work that your fathers began.’

Today we hear a stark warning from our Lord for His leaders of His Church, whether they serve from the Executive Committee, as Eucharistic ministers, lectors, choir members, hospitality, youth leaders or in any other capacity . What He wants is mercy, not ritual sacrifices. He wants forgiveness and reconciliation amongst His leaders and those they serve. He wants His holiness to shine forth in whatever His leaders say and do.

We must be cleansed by His saving grace from inside out. We do not serve for recognition by men and women. We do not serve for honour, but for the love of God who laid down His life for us.

And so, as St Paul says, we should be bearers of the Good News, not just by our words and actions, and that we should be prepared to lay down our lives for them whom we serve.

Lord You search me and You know me,  as I search for You; let me find You in those love and serve for Your glory. Amen


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First reading
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 ·

We were eager to hand over to you not only the Good News but our whole lives

You know yourselves, my brothers, that our visit to you has not proved ineffectual.
    We had, as you know, been given rough treatment and been grossly insulted at Philippi, and it was our God who gave us the courage to proclaim his Good News to you in the face of great opposition. We have not taken to preaching because we are deluded, or immoral, or trying to deceive anyone; it was God who decided that we were fit to be entrusted with the Good News, and when we are speaking, we are not trying to please men but God, who can read our inmost thoughts. You know very well, and we can swear it before God, that never at any time have our speeches been simply flattery, or a cover for trying to get money; nor have we ever looked for any special honour from men, either from you or anybody else, when we could have imposed ourselves on you with full weight, as apostles of Christ.
    Instead, we were unassuming. Like a mother feeding and looking after her own children, we felt so devoted and protective towards you, and had come to love you so much, that we were eager to hand over to you not only the Good News but our whole lives as well.



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Gospel
Matthew 23:23-26

Clean the inside of the cup first, so that the outside may become clean

Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who pay your tithe of mint and dill and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law – justice, mercy, good faith! These you should have practised, without neglecting the others. You blind guides! Straining out gnats and swallowing camels!
    ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who clean the outside of cup and dish and leave the inside full of extortion and intemperance. Blind Pharisee! Clean the inside of cup and dish first so that the outside may become clean as well.’

In today’s first reading today and the Gospel, we see the vast contrast. In the Gospel, it begins with Jesus rebuking the Pharisees and the scribes. The first four of the seven woes against the Pharisees and scribes, who insisted on their own pious observances and practices of the law, which often led those who they insisted on following their ways astray from the love of God.

Having just completed a man’s retreat over the weekend, or rather on Saturday, I can relate to the first reading in which St. Paul encourages the brothers that through the power of the Holy Spirit, their lives had been transformed. Just as in the retreat, we were reminded through our own worship, praise, and formation talks, of the great love of God our Father for all of us. The message was clear that He loves us with an everlasting love. He can see our shortcomings and our failings, but He loves us in spite of them. And He has sent His only begotten Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the greatest sign of His love, so that we who are obedient and willing to follow after Him will not only enter into a deep, personal, lasting relationship with Him, but through His grace we shall be fully reconciled.

And so, it is a reminder for all of us to be men and women of God, who brings His light into the world, to share His great love for them, so that all shall come back to Him, especially those who have fallen short. That they may be filled with the Holy Spirit, so metanoia, a change from within takes place, and transforms them into the perfect likeness and image of the Lord our God. Amen

Saint Louis and Saint Joseph of Calasanz, Priest Pray for us…



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First reading
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5,8-10

You broke with idolatry when you were converted to God

From Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the Church in Thessalonika which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; wishing you grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
    We always mention you in our prayers and thank God for you all, and constantly remember before God our Father how you have shown your faith in action, worked for love and persevered through hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ.
    We know, brothers, that God loves you and that you have been chosen, because when we brought the Good News to you, it came to you not only as words, but as power and as the Holy Spirit and as utter conviction. And you observed the sort of life we lived when we were with you, which was for your instruction, since it was from you that the word of the Lord started to spread – and not only throughout Macedonia and Achaia, for the news of your faith in God has spread everywhere. We do not need to tell other people about it: other people tell us how we started the work among you, how you broke with idolatry when you were converted to God and became servants of the real, living God; and how you are now waiting for Jesus, his Son, whom he raised from the dead, to come from heaven to save us from the retribution which is coming.

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Gospel
Matthew 23:13-22

Alas for you, blind guides!

Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who shut up the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces, neither going in yourselves nor allowing others to go in who want to.
    ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when you have him you make him twice as fit for hell as you are.
    ‘Alas for you, blind guides! You who say, “If a man swears by the Temple, it has no force; but if a man swears by the gold of the Temple, he is bound.” Fools and blind! For which is of greater worth, the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? Or else, “If a man swears by the altar it has no force; but if a man swears by the offering that is on the altar, he is bound.” You blind men! For which is of greater worth, the offering or the altar that makes the offering sacred? Therefore, when a man swears by the altar he is swearing by that and by everything on it. And when a man swears by the Temple he is swearing by that and by the One who dwells in it. And when a man swears by heaven he is swearing by the throne of God and by the One who is seated there.’

It’s astonishing to learn that Naomi, in today’s first reading, is the great-grandmother of David. King David, who by his lineage will our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be born.

It’s also interesting to learn how Naomi was known for her love and fidelity to Ruth. And it reminds us that by our love and actions, we bring the glory of God. And He blesses us. Just like Jesus, who is the light of the world, shines through us, who bear His light; who reflects Him, who came not to be served, but to serve.

That is why in today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that he who humbles himself will be exalted. He who loves must be the servant of all. It is by following after our Lord that we bring His light into the world. Amen.


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First reading
Ruth 2:1-3,8-11,4:13-17

Ruth gives birth to Obed, the grandfather of David

Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, well-to-do and of Elimelech’s clan. His name was Boaz.
    Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, ‘Let me go into the fields and glean among the ears of corn in the footsteps of some man who will look on me with favour.’ And she said to her, ‘Go, my daughter.’ So she set out and went to glean in the fields after the reapers. And it chanced that she came to that part of the fields which belonged to Boaz of Elimelech’s clan.
    Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Listen, my daughter, and understand this. You are not to glean in any other field, do not leave here but stay with my servants. Keep your eyes on whatever part of the field they are reaping and follow behind. I have ordered my servants not to molest you. And if you are thirsty, go to the pitchers and drink what the servants have drawn.’ Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground. And she said to him, ‘How have I so earned your favour that you take notice of me, even though I am a foreigner?’ And Boaz answered her, ‘I have been told all you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband’s death, and how you left your own father and mother and the land where you were born to come among a people whom you knew nothing about before you came here.’
    So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. And when they came together, the Lord made her conceive and she bore a son. And the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed be the Lord who has not left the dead man without next of kin this day to perpetuate his name in Israel. The child will be a comfort to you and the prop of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you and is more to you than seven sons has given him birth.’ And Naomi took the child to her own bosom and she became his nurse.
    And the women of the neighbourhood gave him a name. ‘A son has been born for Naomi’ they said; and they named him Obed. This was the father of David’s father, Jesse.





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Gospel
Matthew 23:1-12

They do not practise what they preach

Addressing the people and his disciples Jesus said, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they! Everything they do is done to attract attention, like wearing broader phylacteries and longer tassels, like wanting to take the place of honour at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues, being greeted obsequiously in the market squares and having people call them Rabbi.
    ‘You, however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one master, and you are all brothers. You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.’

Ruth’s declaration in today’s first reading speaks volumes about familial love and fidelity. Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people. Your God, my God.

This then leads us to today’s Gospel, in which the Lord reminds us of how we should love. We should love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. And the second, that we should love one another just as we love ourselves. So can we love anyone else less than how we love ourselves?

Ruth, in the first reading, demonstrated this extraordinary love. When she embraced Naomi, loved and cared for her amidst all the challenges they would face. For widows at that time had no one to care for them, no rights whatsoever. They entrusted themselves to the will of the Lord our God and were taken care of.

When we are obedient to the word and will of God, we know that He is the God of the impossible. He will make clear the paths before us as we glorify Him by the way we lead our lives. Amen.
Our Lady, Mother and Queen Pray for us…


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First reading
Ruth 1:1,3-6,14-16,22

Ruth the Moabitess is brought to Bethlehem by Naomi

In the days of the Judges famine came to the land and a certain man from Bethlehem of Judah went – he, his wife and his two sons – to live in the country of Moab. Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died, and she and her two sons were left. These married Moabite women: one was named Orpah and the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died and the woman was bereft of her two sons and her husband. So she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law and went back to her people. But Ruth clung to her.
    Naomi said to her, ‘Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her god. You must return too; follow your sister-in-law.’
    But Ruth said, ‘Do not press me to leave you and to turn back from your company, for

‘wherever you go, I will go,
wherever you live, I will live.
Your people shall be my people,
and your God, my God.’

This was how Naomi, she who returned from the country of Moab, came back with Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.




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Gospel
Matthew 22:34-40

The commandments of love

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees they got together and, to disconcert him, one of them put a question, ‘Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?’ Jesus said, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.’

The Lord has told us, let our yes be yes and our no be no. Why should we bargain with the Lord, instead of seeking discernment for His word and will for us? In today’s first reading, we hear the ridiculous bargain with the Lord, that should the people be delivered from their enemies, Jephthah would sacrifice the first person that walks through his door at home, and it happened to be his daughter. The Lord did not ask for such a travesty to be done. But both the father and daughter in this case, decided to honour the promise made. The daughter sacrificed herself to fulfil her father’s promise. While it is unthinkable to us, or we might even question, why did the father not plead to the Lord or pray that the Lord might be merciful and spare her? Was it pride?

In today’s Gospel, we hear how the Lord our God, through this parable, invites all of us to the wedding banquet. Every Sunday, at the Eucharistic celebration, is an invitation to the wedding banquet. And yet, how many of us show up, attend dutifully, putting on our wedding garment, that is a garment of righteousness.  Renouncing the works of the enemy, remorseful for our failings and a shortcomings ourselves, and coming to offer our worship and thanksgiving. How many instead give excuses not to show up? Or are present, but more so out of obligation! Not caring enough to dress up as we should for the glory of our Lord and God.

In His great mercy and love, the invitation even goes out to all those who were not initially invitedv or called we are. Therefore, the blind, the lame, anyone willing is invited to partake of this wedding banquet. Let us all come worthily, so that we may partake of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ through the Holy Eucharist. Amen.

Saint Pius X, Pope pray for us…

First reading
Judges 11:29-39

Jephthah sacrifices his daughter in fulfilment of a vow

The spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah, who crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through to Mizpah in Gilead, and from Mizpah in Gilead made his way to the rear of the Ammonites. And Jephthah made   vow to the Lord, ‘If you deliver the Ammonites into my hands, then the first person to meet me from the door of my house when I return in triumph from fighting the Ammonites shall belong to the Lord, and I will offer him up as a holocaust. Jephthah marched against the Ammonites to attack them, and the Lord delivered them into his power. He harassed them from Aroer almost to Minnith (twenty towns) and to Abel-keramim. It was a very severe defeat, and the Ammonites were humbled before the Israelites.
    As Jephthah returned to his house at Mizpah, his daughter came out from it to meet him; she was dancing to the sound of timbrels. This was his only child; apart from her he had neither son nor daughter. When he saw her, he tore his clothes and exclaimed, ‘Oh my daughter, what sorrow you are bringing me! Must it be you, the cause of my ill-fortune! I have given a promise to the Lord, and I cannot unsay what I have said.’ She answered him, ‘My father, you have given a promise to the Lord; treat me as the vow you took binds you to, since the Lord has given you vengeance on your enemies the Ammonites.’ Then she said to her father, ‘Grant me one request. Let me be free for two months. I shall go and wander in the mountains, and with my companions bewail my virginity.’ He answered, ‘Go’, and let her depart for two months. So she went away with her companions and bewailed her virginity in the mountains. When the two months were over, she returned to her father, and he treated her as the vow that he had uttered bound him. She had never known a man.



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Gospel
Matthew 22:1-14

Invite everyone you can to the wedding

Jesus began to speak to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son’s wedding. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come. Next he sent some more servants. “Tell those who have been invited” he said “that I have my banquet all prepared, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding.” But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them. The king was furious. He despatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town. Then he said to his servants, “The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy, go to the crossroads in the town and invite everyone you can find to the wedding.” So these servants went out on to the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike; and the wedding hall was filled with guests. When the king came in to look at the guests he noticed one man who was not wearing a wedding garment, and said to him, “How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?” And the man was silent. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’

The first reading might make no sense unless we see that it is only through God’s way, and God’s way alone, that there is order, that there is a proper way of doing things. It is when we try to do things our way, with no thought of Him or regard for the consequences, that it will lead us to our downfall.

Our God is a God of order, of peace, of mercy, and of love. Why do we question the grace that has been granted upon our brothers and sisters, some who are beyond talented and are blessed with many good things? Why would we be jealous? For God our Father loves each and every one of us equally. All of us have our own gifts and talents.

In today’s gospel reading, we see the generosity of the Lord our God, who decides to pay everyone one denarius, even though there was no agreement whatsoever other than with the first batchv of folks. The rest of the people at the different times of day were only promised either a fair wage or were told to just simply go and work, not promised anything concrete. But because we have a Lord who goes beyond, who loves us with an abundance of love, and gives freely. We too should likewise, who have earned nothing on our own but have been given freely, should thus give freely. Amen.

Saint Bernard, Abbot, Doctor pray for us…

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First reading
Judges 9:6-15

The tale of the trees and their king

All the leading men of Shechem and all Beth-millo gathered, and proclaimed Abimelech king by the terebinth of the pillar at Shechem.
    News of this was brought to Jotham. He came and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted aloud for them to hear:

‘Hear me, leaders of Shechem,
that God may also hear you!

‘One day the trees went out
to anoint a king to rule over them.
They said to the olive tree, “Be our king!”

‘The olive tree answered them,
“Must I forego my oil which gives honour to gods and men, to stand swaying above the trees?”

‘Then the trees said to the fig tree,
“Come now, you be our king!”

‘The fig tree answered them,
“Must I forego my sweetness,
forego my excellent fruit, to stand swaying above the trees?”

‘Then the trees said to the vine,
“Come now, you be our king!”

‘The vine answered them,
“Must I forego my wine
which cheers the heart of gods and men,
to stand swaying above the trees?”

‘Then all the trees said to the thorn bush,
“Come now, you be our king!”

‘And the thorn bush answered the trees,
“If in all good faith you anoint me king to reign over you, then come and shelter in my shade. If not, fire will come from the thorn bush and devour the cedars of Lebanon.”’



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Gospel
Matthew 20:1-16

Why be envious because I am generous?

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner going out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard. He made an agreement with the workers for one denarius a day, and sent them to his vineyard. Going out at about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place and said to them, “You go to my vineyard too and I will give you a fair wage.” So they went. At about the sixth hour and again at about the ninth hour, he went out and did the same. Then at about the eleventh hour he went out and found more men standing round, and he said to them, “Why have you been standing here idle all day?” “Because no one has hired us” they answered. He said to them, “You go into my vineyard too.” In the evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his bailiff, “Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last arrivals and ending with the first.” So those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came forward and received one denarius each. When the first came, they expected to get more, but they too received one denarius each. They took it, but grumbled at the landowner. “The men who came last” they said “have done only one hour, and you have treated them the same as us, though we have done a heavy day’s work in all the heat.” He answered one of them and said, “My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius? Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the last comer as much as I pay you. Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why be envious because I am generous?” Thus the last will be first, and the first, last.’

Before the Prince of Peace, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, came into the world, Gideon, in today’s first reading, already experienced the presence of the Lord of Peace. He was chosen and empowered to free his people from oppression against insurmountable odds. Perhaps he felt unworthy, but the Lord assured him, I will be with you.

How many times has the Lord called us to do his word and will, to further His kingdom, and yet we too felt unworthy? In today’s Gospel, we hear the Lord saying, or rather challenging us, stating that it is  easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for the rich man to give up his riches. But what is the real message behind this? Our Lord and God is the God of the impossible. He will find a way. He will break through walls for us, with us, through us, for his greater glory.

How confident are we to remain steadfast in the Lord? Are we then prepared to renounce ourselves, take up our cross, and to follow after him.

Jesus, I trust in you. Amen.

Saint John Eudes, Priest pray for us…


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First reading
Judges 6:11-24

‘Peace be with you; have no fear; you will not die’

The angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah which belonged to Joash of Abiezer. Gideon his son was threshing wheat inside the winepress to keep it hidden from Midian, when the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘The Lord is with you, valiant warrior!’ Gideon answered him, ‘Forgive me, my lord, but if the Lord is with us, then why is it that all this is happening to us now? And where are all the wonders our ancestors tell us of when they say, “Did not the Lord bring us out of Egypt?” But now the Lord has deserted us; he has abandoned us to Midian.’
    At this the Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength now upholding you, and you will rescue Israel from the power of Midian. Do I not send you myself?’ Gideon answered him, ‘Forgive me, my lord, but how can I deliver Israel? My clan, you must know, is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least important in my family.’ The Lord answered him, ‘I will be with you and you shall crush Midian as though it were a single man.’ Gideon said to him, ‘If I have found favour in your sight, give me a sign that it is you who speak to me. I beg you, do not go away until I come back. I will bring you my offering and set it down before you.’ And he answered, ‘I will stay until you return.’
    Gideon went away and prepared a young goat and made unleavened cakes with an ephah of flour. He put the meat into a basket and the broth into a pot, then brought it all to him under the terebinth. As he came near, the angel of the Lord said to him, ‘Take the meat and unleavened cakes, put them on this rock and pour the broth over them.’ Gideon did so. Then the angel of the Lord reached out the tip of the staff in his hand and touched the meat and unleavened cakes. Fire sprang from the rock and consumed the meat and unleavened cakes, and the angel of the Lord vanished before his eyes. Then Gideon knew this was the angel of the Lord, and he said, ‘Alas, my Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!’ The Lord answered him, ‘Peace be with you; have no fear; you will not die.’ Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it The-Lord-is-Peace.




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Gospel
Matthew 19:23-30

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you solemnly, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.’ When the disciples heard this they were astonished. ‘Who can be saved, then?’ they said. Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men’ he told them ‘this is impossible; for God everything is possible.’
    Then Peter spoke. ‘What about us?’ he said to him ‘We have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I tell you solemnly, when all is made new and the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory, you will yourselves sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life.
    ‘Many who are first will be last, and the last, first.’

In today’s first reading, we are reminded that we must, for all time, bring forth the holiness and righteousness of the Lord, our God, in all that we say, in all that we do. While Moses was not allowed to enter into the Promised Land, God, our Heavenly Father, still showed him from the highest point all that He had promised for all His flock who would enter into the Promised Land. Very much like when Jesus was brought up to the pinnacle and shown all that He might possess if He had given in to the temptation of the devil. But our Lord Jesus remain steadfast in the Holiness and righteousness of God our Heavenly Father.

It is a reminder that we must likewise remain steadfast and faithful to love our God, His word, and His will for us. We do not have to be troubled that Moses was simply laid to rest in a place that fell short of the Promised Land, because we know that Moses appears in the Lord’s glory at the Transfiguration. And that he, therefore, was taken to the true, for all time, Promised Land.

Now, being children of God, our Heavenly Father, we are called to love, to be patient and to be merciful. Therefore, it’s not right for us to simply ostracize someone who has done wrong to us. We must make valiant attempts to reconcile with the errant brother or sister, to show them the error of their ways if necessary, and enlist the help of the community to reason with them. Then truly, we will follow after the heart of Christ, who is loving, patient, and merciful. Amen.

Saints Pontian, Pope, and Hippolytus, Pray for us…
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First reading
Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Moses dies and is buried

Leaving the plains of Moab, Moses went up Mount Nebo, the peak of Pisgah opposite Jericho, and the Lord showed him the whole land; Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the stretch of the Valley of Jericho, city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. The Lord said to him, ‘This is the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying: I will give it to your descendants. I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you shall not cross into it.’ There in the land of Moab, Moses the servant of the Lord died as the Lord decreed; he buried him in the valley, in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; but to this day no one has ever found his grave. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye undimmed, his vigour unimpaired. The sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab for thirty days. The days of weeping for the mourning rites of Moses came to an end. Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. It was he that the sons of Israel obeyed, carrying out the order that the Lord had given to Moses.
    Since then, never has there been such a prophet in Israel as Moses, the man the Lord knew face to face. What signs and wonders the Lord caused him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh and all his servants and his whole land! How mighty the hand and great the fear that Moses wielded in the sight of all Israel!




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Gospel
Matthew 18:15-20

If your brother listens to you, you have won back your brother

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.
    ‘I tell you solemnly, whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.
    ‘I tell you solemnly once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.’

We do not have to fear because we have a powerful ally, the Lord our God Himself, who goes ahead of us in our battles, in our challenges. He clears a path for us because of His great love for us. For we are His beloved children.

Being obedient and remaining as His beloved children, we must also see that our dearest brothers and sisters are also His beloved children. And He expects that we care and watch over His children, our brethren. We must have the heart of a child, a child who knows who his father is, a child who knows the motherly love, of God, our Heavenly Father.

He cares for each and every one of His children with His very being. And we, likewise, must care for one another. That is why we must never forget the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ, that we must love one another just as He loved us. Amen.

Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Pray for us…



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Joshua shall cross the Jordan at your head

Moses proceeded to address these words to the whole of Israel, ‘I am one hundred and twenty years old now, and can no longer come and go as I will. The Lord has said to me, “You shall not cross this Jordan.” It is the Lord your God who will cross it at your head to destroy these nations facing you and dispossess them; and Joshua too shall cross at your head, as the Lord has said. The Lord will treat them as he treated Sihon and Og the Amorite kings and their land, destroying them. The Lord will hand them over to you, and you will deal with them in exact accordance with the commandments I have enjoined on you. Be strong, stand firm, have no fear of them, no terror, for the Lord your God is going with you; he will not fail you or desert you.’
    Then Moses summoned Joshua and in the presence of all Israel said to him, ‘Be strong, stand firm; you are going with this people into the land the Lord swore to their fathers he would give them; you are to give it into their possession. The Lord himself will lead you; he will be with you; he will not fail you or desert you. Have no fear, do not be disheartened by anything.’


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First reading
Deuteronomy 31:1-8

Gospel
Matthew 18:1-5,10,12-14

Anyone who welcomes a little child in my name welcomes me

The disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ So he called a little child to him and set the child in front of them. Then he said, ‘I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
    ‘Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
    ‘See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven.
    ‘Tell me. Suppose a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays; will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go in search of the stray? I tell you solemnly, if he finds it, it gives him more joy than do the ninety-nine that did not stray at all. Similarly, it is never the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.’

Having a relationship with the Lord, our God, also means that we know without a doubt that He’s watching over us. He knows our every thought, our every word, and our every action. And because He loves us all so dearly, He looks out for those who cannot fend for themselves—the orphans, the poor, the disabled. And he expects that all of us, His beloved children, will care for one another.

Our declaration of our love for Him means we put our love for Him into action, for Him and for our brethren. We must always be mindful that our actions and our words do not reflect badly on Him.

In today’s gospel, we hear that we should follow the laws of the land. And even if we feel or know we are exempt, we will still do so, so as not to offend, for we want to bring the glory of our Lord in everything that we do. Amen.

Saint Clare, Virgin Pray for us…


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First reading
Deuteronomy 10:12-22

The Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords

Moses said to the people:
    ‘Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you? Only this: to fear the Lord your God, to follow all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, to keep the commandments and laws of the Lord that for your good I lay down for you today.
    ‘To the Lord your God belong indeed heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth and all it contains; yet it was on your fathers that the Lord set his heart for love of them, and after them of all the nations chose their descendants, you yourselves, up to the present day. Circumcise your heart then and be obstinate no longer; for the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, triumphant and terrible, never partial, never to be bribed. It is he who sees justice done for the orphan and the widow, who loves the stranger and gives him food and clothing. Love the stranger then, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. It is the Lord your God you must fear and serve; you must cling to him; in his name take your oaths. He it is you must praise, he is your God: for you he has done these great and terrible things you have seen with your own eyes; and though your fathers numbered only seventy when they went down to Egypt, the Lord your God has made you as many as the stars of heaven.’


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Gospel
Matthew 17:22-27

‘They will put the Son of Man to death’

One day when they were together in Galilee, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘The Son of Man is going to be handed over into the power of men; they will put him to death, and on the third day he will be raised to life again.’ And a great sadness came over them.
    When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel came to Peter and said, ‘Does your master not pay the half-shekel?’ ‘Oh yes’ he replied, and went into the house. But before he could speak, Jesus said, ‘Simon, what is your opinion? From whom do the kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from foreigners?’ And when he replied, ‘From foreigners’, Jesus said, ‘Well then, the sons are exempt. However, so as not to offend these people, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that bites, open its mouth and there you will find a shekel; take it and give it to them for me and for you.’

Are the words, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength,” written on our hearts? Are they just words? For if we truly love the Lord, our God, with all our hearts, all our minds, all our strength, and all our souls,v then we know that the love for Him is not just mere words, but our very being in full communion with Him.

Just as we might sing, “God is dwelling in my heart.” He’s truly present in our thoughts, in our words, and in our deeds. And if He is truly present with us, then how can we not minister to our brethren with great confidence that He will work miracles and wonders in their lives? Because He is our living God and we are empowered to bring His living presence to all He sends our way.

Why are many of us not willing to try? Why are we so concerned about performance? It’s that performance mentality that holds us back from doing what needs to be done, for praying, for healing, for prophesying, for deliverance.

We are reminded in today’s Gospel that all it takes is one’s faith the size of a mustard seed, but that mustard seed is the living God that dwells within us, that enables us to do greater things according to His will. Amen.

Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), Virgin, Martyr pray for us…


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First reading
Deuteronomy 6:4-13

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart

Moses said to the people:
    ‘Listen, Israel: the Lord our God is the one Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength. Let these words I urge on you today be written on your heart. You shall repeat them to your children and say them over to them whether at rest in your house or walking abroad, at your lying down or at your rising; you shall fasten them on your hand as a sign and on your forehead as a circlet; you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
    ‘When the Lord has brought you into the land which he swore to your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that he would give you, with great and prosperous cities not of your building, houses full of good things not furnished by you, wells you did not dig, vineyards and olives you did not plant, when you have eaten these and had your fill, then take care you do not forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You must fear the Lord your God, you must serve him, by his name you must swear.’





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Gospel
Matthew 17:14-20

If your faith were the size of a mustard seed, the mountain would move

A man came up to Jesus and went down on his knees before him. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘take pity on my son: he is a lunatic and in a wretched state; he is always falling into the fire or into the water. I took him to your disciples and they were unable to cure him.’ ‘Faithless and perverse generation!’ Jesus said in reply ‘How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.’ And when Jesus rebuked it the devil came out of the boy who was cured from that moment.
    Then the disciples came privately to Jesus. ‘Why were we unable to cast it out?’ they asked. He answered, ‘Because you have little faith. I tell you solemnly, if your faith were the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it would move; nothing would be impossible for you.’


By by

The Lord, our God, has made Himself known. He’s made His presence felt. He has revealed Himself through His Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is never distant. He’s always close to His faithful. And we who have dwelled in His love and in His presence can see His hand in every aspect of our lives.

In order to continue this wonderful journey with and in Him, in His awesome presence, we must be prepared to take up our cross and follow after Him. We need to be prepared to die to the ways of the world, while we live in this world, we know that we do not belong to this world, for we belong to Him alone.

Lord Jesus, let me live my life in You, with You. Let me die to all that is not of You, so that I may rise to be with You and see once again, my Lord and God, in heaven. Amen.

Saint Dominic, Priest Pray for us…




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First reading
Deuteronomy 4:32-40

‘Did ever a people before you hear the voice of the living God, and remain alive?’

Moses said to the people: ‘Put this question to the ages that are past, that went before you, from the time God created man on earth: Was there ever a word so majestic, from one end of heaven to the other? Was anything ever heard? Did ever a people hear the voice of the living God speaking from the heart of the fire, as you heard it, and remain alive? Has any god ventured to take to himself one nation from the midst of another by ordeals, signs, wonders, war with mighty hand and outstretched arm, by fearsome terrors – all this that the Lord your God did for you before your eyes in Egypt?
    ‘This he showed you so that you might know that the Lord is God indeed and that there is no other. He let you hear his voice out of heaven for your instruction; on earth he let you see his great fire, and from the heart of the fire you heard his word. Because he loved your fathers and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out from Egypt, openly showing his presence and his great power, driving out in front of you nations greater and more powerful than yourself, and brought you into their land to give it you for your heritage, as it is still today.
    ‘Understand this today, therefore, and take it to heart: the Lord is God indeed, in heaven above as on earth beneath, he and no other. Keep his laws and commandments as I give them to you today, so that you and your children may prosper and live long in the land that the Lord your God gives you for ever.’



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Gospel
Matthew 16:24-28

Anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?
    ‘For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behaviour. I tell you solemnly, there are some of these standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming with his kingdom.’

We need to dwell on just how deep is our personal relationship with the Lord, our God. In times of difficulties and challenges or in times of need, do we grumble and blame him for our predicament? Or instead turn to him in prayer and confidence that he will come swiftly to our aid?

And for those of us chosen to lead others, do we bring forth the Holiness of the Lord, our God in our actions, in our words, always to Glorify him? Or do we, in frustration lash out, when the hearts of those we serve are not changed? Do we call them names like fool or rebel? When
we should remain patient, and again turn to the Lord, our God, for His guidance.

When we minister to the flock that He sends us, how can we ever forget that it is through His grace alone that we are ministering to them? Whether it’s in signs, wonders, healing, or prophesying.

Let us always strive to be in full communion with Him, Body, mind, and spirit, as we serve Him and our brethren for His greater glory. Amen.

Saints Sixtus II, Pope, and his Companions, Martyrs, Saint Cajetan, Priest Pray for us…



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First reading
Numbers 20:1-13

Moses makes water flow from the rock at Meribah

The sons of Israel, the whole community, arrived in the first month at the desert of Zin. The people settled at Kadesh. It was there that Miriam died and was buried.
    There was no water for the community, and they were all united against Moses and Aaron. The people challenged Moses: ‘We would rather have died,’ they said, ‘as our brothers died before the Lord! Why did you bring the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, only to let us die here, ourselves and our cattle? Why did you lead us out of Egypt, only to bring us to this wretched place? It is a place unfit for sowing, it has no figs, no vines, no pomegranates, and there is not even water to drink!’
    Leaving the assembly, Moses and Aaron went to the door of the Tent of Meeting. They threw themselves face downward on the ground, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. The Lord spoke to Moses and said, ‘Take the branch and call the community together, you and your brother Aaron. Then, in full view of them, order this rock to give water. You will make water flow for them out of the rock, and provide drink for the community and their cattle.’
    Moses took up the branch from before the Lord, as he had directed him. Then Moses and Aaron called the assembly together in front of the rock and addressed them, ‘Listen now, you rebels. Shall we make water gush from this rock for you?’ And Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the branch; water gushed in abundance, and the community drank and their cattle too.
    Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe that I could proclaim my holiness in the eyes of the sons of Israel, you shall not lead this assembly into the land I am giving them.’
    These are the waters of Meribah, where the sons of Israel challenged the Lord and he proclaimed his holiness.




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Gospel
Matthew 16:13-23

You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said, ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’ Then he gave the disciples strict orders not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
    From that time Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. ‘Heaven preserve you, Lord;’ he said ‘this must not happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.’

Can we imagine the great spectacle, the dazzling brilliance of our Lord’s transfiguration? Which likely took place for the sake of His disciples. Afterall our Lord was going to suffer a terrible death, where all hope would have been lost, and so it was for the disciples to remember. What he had said, that He will die and later rise again. They witnessed the glory of the Lord.

That same glory that was envisioned in Daniel’s prophecy. Where it is mentioned that the son of man will come on the clouds of Heaven.  We too can expect that one day too we will rise with Him to His glory, to be in His presence for all eternity. And that is the hope of our faith, realized in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Whom God our Father commanded that we should listen to Him.

Hence we can with declare with Blessed assurance, “Death, where is your sting?” Let our bodies, minds, and spirits be transfigured in our Lord, so that we too may be His light for the world, bringing His truth to all so that together with them we shall all be reunited in Heaven. Amen.




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First reading
Daniel 7:9-10,13-14

His robe was white as snow

As I watched:

Thrones were set in place
and one of great age took his seat.
His robe was white as snow,
the hair of his head as pure as wool.
His throne was a blaze of flames,
its wheels were a burning fire.
A stream of fire poured out,
issuing from his presence.
A thousand thousand waited on him,
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
A court was held
and the books were opened.

I gazed into the visions of the night.

And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man. He came to the one of great age and was led into his presence.
On him was conferred sovereignty,
glory and kingship, and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants. His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty
which shall never pass away, nor will his empire ever be destroyed.




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Gospel
Luke 9:28-36

Jesus is transfigured before them

Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up the mountain to pray. As he prayed, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became brilliant as lightning. Suddenly there were two men there talking to him; they were Moses and Elijah appearing in glory, and they were speaking of his passing which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were heavy with sleep, but they kept awake and saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As these were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ – He did not know what he was saying. As he spoke, a cloud came and covered them with shadow; and when they went into the cloud the disciples were afraid. And a voice came from the cloud saying, ‘This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him.’ And after the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. The disciples kept silence and, at that time, told no one what they had seen.
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We are reminded of God our Father’s maternal love for His people in today’s first reading. As Moses pleads for help in leading the obstinate flock entrusted to him. His prayer and intercession is heard and will be answered.

Jesus in today’s Gospel likewise extends the same maternal love for the flock gathered round Him. Through the power and Grace of God our Heavenly Father, He raises His eyes to Heaven, says the Blessing and feeds fine thousand men and more.

Let us likewise extend the maternal, nurturing love the Lord our God to all He sends our way. Amen

Saint John Mary Vianney, Priest Pray for us…



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First reading
Numbers 11:4-15

The sons of Israel complain in the desert

The sons of Israel began to wail, ‘Who will give us meat to eat?’ they said. ‘Think of the fish we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic! Here we are wasting away, stripped of everything; there is nothing but manna for us to look at!’
    The manna was like coriander seed, and had the appearance of bdellium. The people went round gathering it, and ground it in a mill or crushed it with a pestle; it was then cooked in a pot and made into pancakes. It tasted like cake made with oil. When the dew fell on the camp at night-time, the manna fell with it.
    Moses heard the people wailing, every family at the door of its tent. The anger of the Lord flared out, and Moses greatly worried over this. And he spoke to the Lord:
    ‘Why do you treat your servant so badly? Why have I not found favour with you, so that you load on me the weight of all this nation? Was it I who conceived all this people, was it I who gave them birth, that you should say to me, “Carry them in your bosom, like a nurse with a baby at the breast, to the land that I swore to give their fathers”? Where am I to find meat to give to all this people, when they come worrying me so tearfully and say, “Give us meat to eat”? I am not able to carry this nation by myself alone; the weight is too much for me. If this is how you want to deal with me, I would rather you killed me! If only I had found favour in your eyes, and not lived to see such misery as this!’




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Gospel
Matthew 14:13-21

The feeding of the five thousand

When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist’s death he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But the people heard of this and, leaving the towns, went after him on foot. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sick.
    When evening came, the disciples went to him and said, ‘This is a lonely place, and the time has slipped by; so send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy themselves some food.’ Jesus replied, ‘There is no need for them to go: give them something to eat yourselves.’ But they answered ‘All we have with us is five loaves and two fish.’ ‘Bring them here to me’ he said. He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves handed them to his disciples who gave them to the crowds. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps remaining; twelve baskets full. Those who ate numbered about five thousand men, to say nothing of women and children.

Everything we have comes from the Lord. He holds the title to our property and to our very being. And yet, we want to be in control. We want to believe that we have earned everything on our own. All too often, when we are blessed with more, we hoard it all for ourselves, without considering the needs of our brethren who may have nothing.

Today’s first reading reminds us that the Lord, our God, is our provider, and everything we have belongs to Him.

In today’s gospel, we have heard many times that Herod succumbed to his prideful ways. He did not want to be embarrassed, so he kept a promise that he should not have made. But how many of us have dwelled on the fact that it was Herodias who caused the death of Saint John the Baptist? Her spiteful tongue and cunning ways caused His murder. How many souls and reputations have been murdered by spiteful tongues, gossip? All by folks hidden in background often instigating others to perform treacherous acts. Nothing is hidden from the Lord our God!

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Amen

Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop, Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Priest pray for us…

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First reading
Leviticus 25:1,8-17

The law of the jubilee year

The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai. He said:
    ‘You are to count seven weeks of years – seven times seven years, that is to say a period of seven weeks of years, forty-nine years. And on the tenth day of the seventh month you shall sound the trumpet; on the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout the land. You will declare this fiftieth year sacred and proclaim the liberation of all the inhabitants of the land. This is to be a jubilee for you; each of you will return to his ancestral home, each to his own clan. This fiftieth year is to be a jubilee year for you: you will not sow, you will not harvest the ungathered corn, you will not gather from the untrimmed vine. The jubilee is to be a holy thing to you, you will eat what comes from the fields.
    ‘In this year of jubilee each of you is to return to his ancestral home. If you buy or sell with your neighbour, let no one wrong his brother. If you buy from your neighbour, this must take into account the number of years since the jubilee: according to the number of productive years he will fix the price. The greater the number of years, the higher shall be the price demanded; the less the number of years, the greater the reduction; for what he is selling you is a certain number of harvests. Let none of you wrong his neighbour, but fear your God; I am the Lord your God.’

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Gospel
Matthew 14:1-12

The beheading of John the Baptist

Herod the tetrarch heard about the reputation of Jesus, and said to his court, ‘This is John the Baptist himself; he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’
    Now it was Herod who had arrested John, chained him up and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John had told him, ‘It is against the Law for you to have her.’ He had wanted to kill him but was afraid of the people, who regarded John as a prophet. Then, during the celebrations for Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and so delighted Herod that he promised on oath to give her anything she asked. Prompted by her mother she said, ‘Give me John the Baptist’s head, here, on a dish.’ The king was distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he ordered it to be given her, and sent and had John beheaded in the prison. The head was brought in on a dish and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went off to tell Jesus.

We all know that the holy Eucharist at mass, be it a weekday or a Sunday mass, is a thanksgiving to God for all that He’s given us, provided for us, and for taking care of us.

The most precious gift for which we should be most thankful is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. By His life, death, and resurrection, He had purchased for us the rewards of eternal life. Yet, He still gives of himself fully in the Holy Eucharist – body, blood, soul, and divinity.

So how many of us come before Him at mass to worship and thank Him? To offer all our gifts before Him during the offertory? If we have not been doing this with that kind of disposition, love, and reverence, then how different are we from those in today’s Gospel who did not recognize the Son of God before them?

How then do we expect the miracles that He wants to perform for us in our lives? Let us never again take, the Holy Eucharistic celebration for granted.

We adore You Lord Jesus, thank you for loving us.

Amen.

Saint Alphonsus Mary de’ Liguori, Bishop, Doctor Pray for us…


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First reading
Leviticus 23:1,4-11,15-16,27,34-37

The law of the festivals of the Lord

The Lord spoke to Moses. He said:
    ‘These are the Lord’s solemn festivals, the sacred assemblies to which you are to summon the sons of Israel on the appointed day.
    ‘The fourteenth day of the first month, between the two evenings, is the Passover of the Lord; and the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of Unleavened Bread for the Lord. For seven days you shall eat bread without leaven. On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly; you must do no heavy work. For seven days you shall offer a burnt offering to the Lord. The seventh day is to be a day of sacred assembly; you must do no work.’
    The Lord spoke to Moses. He said:
    ‘Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them:
    ‘“When you enter the land that I give you, and gather in the harvest there, you must bring the first sheaf of your harvest to the priest, and he is to present it to the Lord with the gesture of offering, so that you may be acceptable. The priest shall make this offering on the day after the sabbath.
    ‘“From the day after the sabbath, the day on which you bring the sheaf of offering, you are to count seven full weeks. You are to count fifty days, to the day after the seventh sabbath, and then you are to offer the Lord a new oblation.
    ‘“The tenth day of the seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. You are to hold a sacred assembly. You must fast, and you must offer a burnt offering to the Lord.
    ‘“The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of Tabernacles for the Lord, lasting seven days. The first day is a day of sacred assembly; you must do no heavy work. For seven days you must offer a burnt offering to the Lord. On the eighth day you are to hold a sacred assembly, you must offer a burnt offering to the Lord. It is a day of solemn meeting; you must do no heavy work.
    ‘“These are the solemn festivals of the Lord to which you are to summon the children of Israel, sacred assemblies for the purpose of offering burnt offerings, holocausts, oblations, sacrifices and libations to the Lord, according to the ritual of each day.”’



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Gospel
Matthew 13:54-58

A prophet is only despised in his own country

Coming to his home town, Jesus taught the people in their synagogue in such a way that they were astonished and said, ‘Where did the man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? This is the carpenter’s son, surely? Is not his mother the woman called Mary, and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Jude? His sisters, too, are they not all here with us? So where did the man get it all?’ And they would not accept him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country and in his own house’, and he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.