CatholicJules.net

We do not dwell enough on the love we have received from Jesus Christ, our Lord, who unites us all as one body in Him.

Through His death and resurrection, He has set us free to become one in Him. This unity that we share should never be taken for granted, for He has gathered all of us as one unto Himself in one holy communion.

Living as free men and women, we shall stand united with lamps lit, ready to greet Him when He comes again. We shall not be caught off guard, for even if we die today or tomorrow, we will be ready to account for how we have been faithful and fruitful for Him. Amen.

Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest pray for us…


________

First reading
Ephesians 2:12-22 ·
In Christ you are no longer aliens, but citizens like us

Do not forget that you had no Christ and were excluded from membership of Israel, aliens with no part in the covenants with their Promise; you were immersed in this world, without hope and without God. But now in Christ Jesus, you that used to be so far apart from us have been brought very close, by the blood of Christ. For he is the peace between us, and has made the two into one and broken down the barrier which used to keep them apart, actually destroying in his own person the hostility caused by the rules and decrees of the Law. This was to create one single New Man in himself out of the two of them and by restoring peace through the cross, to unite them both in a single Body and reconcile them with God: in his own person he killed the hostility. Later he came to bring the good news of peace, peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near at hand. Through him, both of us have in the one Spirit our way to come to the Father.
    So you are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. You are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone. As every structure is aligned on him, all grow into one holy temple in the Lord; and you too, in him, are being built into a house where God lives, in the Spirit.



________

Gospel
Luke 12:35-38
Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit

Jesus said to his disciples:
    ‘See that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit. Be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I tell you solemnly, he will put on an apron, sit them down at table and wait on them. It may be in the second watch he comes, or in the third, but happy those servants if he finds them ready.’

Many remain fearful of sharing the good news of the gospel with others because they are afraid that they don’t know enough of the faith and will be put in a spot if questioned about the faith.

Today’s gospel reminds us that we do not need to fear, for the Holy Spirit will guide us on what to say and how to say it. Even then, if they reject us, they do not reject us, but they reject our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has come to save everyone from death and sin.

We should therefore grow deeper in the intimate relationship with Him. In doing so, and witnessing the power of Christ within us, we can carry His presence with us wherever we go. Then we will grow in the boldness of sharing Him with others.

Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Father. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Amen.

Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop, Martyr pray for us…


________

First reading
Ephesians 1:15-23
Paul’s prayer for the enlightenment of the faithful

I, having once heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus, and the love that you show towards all the saints, have never failed to remember you in my prayers and to thank God for you. May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him. May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers. This you can tell from the strength of his power at work in Christ, when he used it to raise him from the dead and to make him sit at his right hand, in heaven, far above every Sovereignty, Authority, Power, or Domination, or any other name that can be named not only in this age but also in the age to come. He has put all things under his feet and made him, as the ruler of everything, the head of the Church; which is his body, the fullness of him who fills the whole creation.



________

Gospel
Luke 12:8-12
If you declare yourselves for me, I will declare myself for you

Jesus said to his disciples:
    ‘I tell you, if anyone openly declares himself for me in the presence of men, the Son of Man will declare himself for him in the presence of the angels. But the man who disowns me in the presence of men will be disowned in the presence of God’s angels.
    ‘Everyone who says a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
    ‘When they take you before synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say, because when the time comes, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say.’

Today’s first reading and the gospel are great examples of how truly loved we are by God, our Heavenly Father, that we are blessed to be the chosen ones.

We are set apart to be inheritors in His heavenly abode. So dearly and truly loved are we that all the hairs on our head are counted.

Most importantly, we have been stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit. We all share an intimate bond as children of God, our Heavenly Father.

With joy in our hearts, we must go out and share the joy of the gospel with one and all, so all who hear the good news and believe in Jesus shall have the same hope that we have in His salvation. Amen.

Saint Hedwig, Religious , Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin pray for us…


________

First reading
Ephesians 1:11-14
You have been stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit


It is in Christ that we were claimed as God’s own,
chosen from the beginning, under the predetermined plan of the one who guides all things l as he decides by his own will;
chosen to be,
for his greater glory,
the people who would put their hopes in Christ before he came.
Now you too, in him, have heard the message of the truth and the good news of your salvation, and have believed it; l and you too have been stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit of the Promise, the pledge of our inheritance which brings freedom for those whom God has taken for his own, to make his glory praised.


________

Gospel
Luke 12:1-7
Not one sparrow is forgotten in God’s sight

The people had gathered in their thousands so that they were treading on one another. And Jesus began to speak, first of all to his disciples. ‘Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees – that is, their hypocrisy. Everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. For this reason, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in hidden places will be proclaimed on the housetops.
    ‘To you my friends I say: Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. I will tell you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has the power to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Can you not buy five sparrows for two pennies? And yet not one is forgotten in God’s sight. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. There is no need to be afraid: you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.’

We are all prone to self-indulgent desires and wants. But as the scripture says, unless we crucify our indulgent passions and desires, we will not belong to Christ Jesus, our Lord, who has already conquered all this through his life, death, and resurrection.

And had won for us victory over sin. But that said, we must carry our cross and follow after him, renouncing all evil and the acts of the enemy.

By walking the narrow path, we will lead everyone to Christ by our integrity. It is not about outward observances or practice of reverence, but our love for His children, especially the least of our brethren. Only then shall we glorify the Lord by our lives. Amen.

Saint Callistus, Pope, Martyr pray for us…



________

First reading
Galatians 5:18-25 ·
To belong to Christ, crucify all self-indulgence

If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you. When self-indulgence is at work the results are obvious: fornication, gross indecency and sexual irresponsibility; idolatry and sorcery; feuds and wrangling, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels; disagreements, factions, envy; drunkenness, orgies and similar things. I warn you now, as I warned you before: those who behave like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control. There can be no law against things like that, of course. You cannot belong to Christ Jesus unless you crucify all self-indulgent passions and desires.
    Since the Spirit is our life, let us be directed by the Spirit.



________

Gospel
Luke 11:42-46
You overlook justice and the love of God

The Lord said to the Pharisees: ‘Alas for you Pharisees! You who pay your tithe of mint and rue and all sorts of garden herbs and overlook justice and the love of God! These you should have practised, without leaving the others undone. Alas for you Pharisees who like taking the seats of honour in the synagogues and being greeted obsequiously in the market squares! Alas for you, because you are like the unmarked tombs that men walk on without knowing it!
    A lawyer then spoke up. ‘Master,’ he said ‘when you speak like this you insult us too.’
    ‘Alas for you lawyers also,’ he replied ‘because you load on men burdens that are unendurable, burdens that you yourselves do not move a finger to lift.’

A great reminder today that through our faith in Jesus Christ, we have been freed from the yoke of slavery, and we should resist all sin and temptations so as not to fall back into the clutches of sin.

That being said, we should not look on outward appearances of piety and reverence. Instead, always and above, we want to take a holistic approach of examining our conscience and ask the Lord, our God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to remove all that is not of Him from us, from within, so that our integrity remains beyond reproach.

For the Lord sees our heart.

Lord Jesus, you search me and you know me. Cleanse me, Lord, so that I may be beyond reproach to glorify your name always. Amen.

________

First reading
Galatians 5:1-6 ·
It is faith, not the Law, that justifies us

When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. It is I, Paul, who tell you this: if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all. With all solemnity I repeat my warning: Everyone who accepts circumcision is obliged to keep the whole Law. But if you do look to the Law to make you justified, then you have separated yourselves from Christ, and have fallen from grace. Christians are told by the Spirit to look to faith for those rewards that righteousness hopes for, since in Christ Jesus whether you are circumcised or not makes no difference – what matters is faith that makes its power felt through love.



________

Gospel
Luke 11:37-41
Give thanks for what you have and it will all be clean

Jesus had just finished speaking when a Pharisee invited him to dine at his house. He went in and sat down at the table. The Pharisee saw this and was surprised that he had not first washed before the meal. But the Lord said to him, ‘Oh, you Pharisees! You clean the outside of cup and plate, while inside yourselves you are filled with extortion and wickedness. Fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside too? Instead, give alms from what you have and then indeed everything will be clean for you.’

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. Heb12:4

We give in too cheaply in pursuit of our own personal desires and wants. We let down our guard against sin. We have to hold to our heart the words of absolution we receive in the sacrament of reconciliation. It is Jesus who tells us, “Son, daughter, your sins are forgiven you,” and keep it rooted in our hearts when sin presents itself again.

And it will present itself again because the evil one does not want us to remain in the intimate relationship we have with the Lord, our God.

It is a daily struggle to renounce the works of the enemy, but we can triumph because Jesus has already won for us the freedom to live life to the full in Him.

All we need to do is to call out to the Holy Spirit to help us overcome the enemy. Amen.

________

First reading
Galatians 4:22-24,26-27,31-5:1
Christ freed us: do not submit again to slavery

The Law says, if you remember, that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave-girl, and one by his free-born wife. The child of the slave-girl was born in the ordinary way; the child of the free woman was born as the result of a promise. This can be regarded as an allegory: the women stand for the two covenants. The first who comes from Mount Sinai, and whose children are slaves, is Hagar. The Jerusalem above, however, is free and is our mother, since scripture says: Shout for joy, you barren women who bore no children! Break into shouts of joy and gladness, you who were never in labour. For there are more sons of the forsaken one than sons of the wedded wife. So, my brothers, we are the children, not of the slave-girl, but of the free-born wife.
    When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

________

Gospel
Luke 11:29-32
As Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be a sign

The crowds got even bigger, and Jesus addressed them:
    ‘This is a wicked generation; it is asking for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here.’

Indeed, blessed are we for having heard the word of God, dwell on it, discern it, and obey it as His will for us.

For it is His word that unites us all through our faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has gathered all of us onto Himself through His life, death, and resurrection.

We are one body in Him, and all of us whose faith is in our Lord have His law written on our hearts. And so, in union with Him, through His word, we are one body in Him, united to bring His peace, mercy, love, and joy into the world, so that everyone who comes to believe in Him shall share what we have as one family who follows after Him. Amen.


________

First reading
Galatians 3:22-29 ·
There are no more distinctions: all are one in Christ Jesus

Scripture makes no exceptions when it says that sin is master everywhere. In this way the promise can only be given through faith in Jesus Christ and can only be given to those who have this faith.
    Before faith came, we were allowed no freedom by the Law; we were being looked after till faith was revealed. The Law was to be our guardian until the Christ came and we could be justified by faith. Now that that time has come we are no longer under that guardian, and you are, all of you, sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. All baptised in Christ, you have all clothed yourselves in Christ, and there are no more distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, but all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Merely by belonging to Christ you are the posterity of Abraham, the heirs he was promised.



________

Gospel
Luke 11:27-28
‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’

As Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, ‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’ But he replied, ‘Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it!’

Our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ only seems restrictive if we do not have a relationship with Him.

For us who have strived to draw intimately closer to Him, through reading His word and discerning His will for us, that is in itself true freedom, because the truth has set us free to live fully in His love.

And it is by our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ that we are saved. But even having been saved, we must guard our hearts, minds, and spirit.

We must constantly renounce the acts of the enemy, all his works, and call upon the Holy Spirit to help guide us to walk the narrow path. Only then are we fortified, sanctified, and kept from all evil and harm, to glorify His name by the works of our hands. Amen.

Saints Denis, Bishop, and his Companions, Martyrs,  
Saint John Leonardi, Priest , Saint John Henry Newman, Priest, Doctor pray for us…


________

First reading
Galatians 3:7-14 ·
The sons of Abraham are those who rely on faith

Don’t you see that it is those who rely on faith who are the sons of Abraham? Scripture foresaw that God was going to use faith to justify the pagans, and proclaimed the Good News long ago when Abraham was told: In you all the pagans will be blessed. Those therefore who rely on faith receive the same blessing as Abraham, the man of faith.
    On the other hand, those who rely on the keeping of the Law are under a curse, since scripture says: Cursed be everyone who does not persevere in observing everything prescribed in the book of the Law. The Law will not justify anyone in the sight of God, because we are told: the righteous man finds life through faith. The Law is not even based on faith, since we are told: The man who practises these precepts finds life through practising them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by being cursed for our sake, since scripture says: Cursed be everyone who is hanged on a tree. This was done so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might include the pagans, and so that through faith we might receive the promised Spirit.


________

Gospel
Luke 11:15-26
The finger of God has overtaken you

When Jesus had cast out a devil, some of the people said, ‘It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he casts out devils.’ Others asked him, as a test, for a sign from heaven; but, knowing what they were thinking, he said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin, and a household divided against itself collapses. So too with Satan: if he is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? – since you assert that it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils. Now if it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils, through whom do your own experts cast them out? Let them be your judges then. But if it is through the finger of God that I cast out devils, then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you. So long as a strong man fully armed guards his own palace, his goods are undisturbe; but when someone stronger than he is attacks and defeats him, the stronger man takes away all the weapons he relied on and shares out his spoil.
    ‘He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters.
    ‘When an unclean spirit goes out of a man it wanders through waterless country looking for a place to rest, and not finding one it says, “I will go back to the home I came from.” But on arrival, finding it swept and tidied, it then goes off and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and set up house there, so that the man ends up by being worse than he was before.’

We should be living life in the spirit, in the power of His resurrection. For we do not rely on human observances, for we see what the Lord is doing, and we follow likewise to minister to His flock.

He has empowered us with His grace to bring healing, deliverance, His mercy, love, joy, and the experience of walking in His presence as children of God, our Heavenly Father.

Being inserted into the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, His only son, we have indeed the faith and rightful inheritance to cry out to the Lord for His Holy Spirit so that we will never be weary or in want, to glorify Him all the days of our lives. Amen.

________

First reading
Galatians 3:1-5 ·
You received the Spirit because you believed what was preached

Are you people in Galatia mad? Has someone put a spell on you, in spite of the plain explanation you have had of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ? Let me ask you one question: was it because you practised the Law that you received the Spirit, or because you believed what was preached to you? Are you foolish enough to end in outward observances what you began in the Spirit? Have all the favours you received been wasted? And if this were so, they would most certainly have been wasted. Does God give you the Spirit so freely and work miracles among you because you practise Law, or because you believed what was preached to you?



________

Gospel
Luke 11:5-13
Ask, and it will be given to you

Jesus said to his disciples:
    ‘Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say, “My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him”; and the man answers from inside the house, “Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up to give it you.” I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it him for friendship’s sake, persistence will be enough to make him get up and give his friend all he wants.
    ‘So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. What father among you would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or hand him a snake instead of a fish? Or hand him a scorpion if he asked for an egg? If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

Today’s verse reading is very inspirational, especially when a learned apostle like Saint Paul, who held fast to the traditions that he was brought up on, was truly zealous for the Lord our God.

Yet, he had to unlearn a lot of things because the thoughts of God and His will are so much different from ours. Unless we are obedient to His will and listen to how He wants us to proceed, all our efforts will lay to waste.

The laws of God is always about love and mercy and how we humble ourselves to follow after Him. While we must work hard to put in every effort that we can to glorify Him and be fruitful for Him, we must also place ourselves constantly in His presence so that He can minister to us and speak to our hearts.

Only when we are truly united with Him, we will be great instruments of His grace. Amen.

Saint Bruno, Priest pray for us…


________

First reading
Galatians 1:13-24 ·
God called me through his grace and chose to reveal his Son in me

You must have heard of my career as a practising Jew, how merciless I was in persecuting the Church of God, how much damage I did to it, how I stood out among other Jews of my generation, and how enthusiastic I was for the traditions of my ancestors.
    Then God, who had specially chosen me while I was still in my mother’s womb, called me through his grace and chose to reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach the Good News about him to the pagans. I did not stop to discuss this with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were already apostles before me, but I went off to Arabia at once and later went straight back from there to Damascus. Even when after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him for fifteen days, I did not see any of the other apostles; I only saw James, the brother of the Lord, and I swear before God that what I have just written is the literal truth. After that I went to Syria and Cilicia, and was still not known by sight to the churches of Christ in Judaea, who had heard nothing except that their one-time persecutor was now preaching the faith he had previously tried to destroy; and they gave glory to God for me.


________

Gospel
Luke 10:38-42
Martha works; Mary listens

Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’

Even today, there are many who adulterate the good news and share a simplified version so that more people can follow. But the truth, the way, and the life is whom we should seek and follow after.

He came to die for our sins so that we might live fully in His love. The Lord our God wants us to live ordered lives after Him. It’s not difficult, and it’s not simple either. We have to love Him with all our hearts, minds, and soul, and love one another with an extraordinary love. That is the same love that Christ, who died for us, did.

There is no other version. There is no other good news, but there’s only one. There’s only one way, one truth, and to follow one life after Him. Amen.

Saint Faustina Kowalska, Religious pray for us…



________

First reading
Galatians 1:6-12 ·
The Good News I preached is not a human message but from Jesus Christ

I am astonished at the promptness with which you have turned away from the one who called you and have decided to follow a different version of the Good News. Not that there can be more than one Good News; it is merely that some troublemakers among you want to change the Good News of Christ; and let me warn you that if anyone preaches a version of the Good News different from the one we have already preached to you, whether it be ourselves or an angel from heaven, he is to be condemned. I am only repeating what we told you before: if anyone preaches a version of the Good News different from the one you have already heard, he is to be condemned. So now whom am I trying to please – man, or God? Would you say it is men’s approval I am looking for? If I still wanted that, I should not be what I am – a servant of Christ.
    The fact is, brothers, and I want you to realise this, the Good News I preached is not a human message that I was given by men, it is something I learnt only through a revelation of Jesus Christ.


________

Gospel
Luke 10:25-37
The good Samaritan

There was a lawyer who, to disconcert Jesus, stood up and said to him, ‘Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the Law? What do you read there?’ He replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.’ ‘You have answered right,’ said Jesus ‘do this and life is yours.’
    But the man was anxious to justify himself and said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of brigands; they took all he had, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead. Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him, and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan traveller who came upon him was moved with compassion when he saw him. He went up and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him on to his own mount, carried him to the inn and looked after him. Next day, he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said “and on my way back I will make good any extra expense you have.” Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the brigands‘ hands?’ ‘The one who took pity on him’ he replied. Jesus said to him, ‘Go, and do the same yourself.’

It is far from us to discover the vast mysteries of our wonderful, loving God. The height and depth of His wisdom and knowledge are beyond us.

And yet, we have been chosen and empowered with His divine power and grace to minister to our fellow sisters and brothers in Christ, as well as all those He sends our way.

There are many things we cannot truly fathom or understand about how He has worked in their lives through us, but we witness the joy, peace, and love that emerge from them. We have seen their darkness turn into light.

We should cherish these moments all the days of our lives as we continue to glorify Him by our lives. There is no greater reward than to know that one day we will have life eternal with Him.

So let us remember this day that we are children so loved by Him, by Jesus and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.


________

First reading
Job 42:1-3,5-6,12-17
In dust and in ashes I repent

This was the answer Job gave to the Lord:

I know that you are all-powerful:
    what you conceive, you can perform.
I am the man who obscured your designs
    with my empty-headed words.
I have been holding forth on matters I cannot understand,
    on marvels beyond me and my knowledge.
I knew you then only by hearsay;
    but now, having seen you with my own eyes,
I retract all I have said,
    and in dust and ashes I repent.

The Lord blessed Job’s new fortune even more than his first one. He came to own fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand she-donkeys. He had seven sons and three daughters; his first daughter he called ‘Turtledove’, the second ‘Cassia’ and the third ‘Mascara.’ Throughout the land there were no women as beautiful as the daughters of Job. And their father gave them inheritance rights like their brothers.
    After his trials, Job lived on until he was a hundred and forty years old, and saw his children and his children’s children up to the fourth generation. Then Job died, an old man and full of days.



________

Gospel
Luke 10:17-24
Rejoice that your names are written in heaven

The seventy-two came back rejoicing. ‘Lord,’ they said ‘even the devils submit to us when we use your name.’ He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Yes, I have given you power to tread underfoot serpents and scorpions and the whole strength of the enemy; nothing shall ever hurt you. Yet do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you; rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven.’
    It was then that, filled with joy by the Holy Spirit, he said:
    ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’
    Then turning to his disciples he spoke to them in private, ‘Happy the eyes that see what you see, for I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.’