9-5-2020 Gospel Lk 6:1-5

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090520.cfm

While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain,rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry? How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.

Jesus was telling them who He was but they did not listen. They wanted the letter of the law not the heart to be followed. They could not conceive of living for the love of the law and its creator. How well do you listen? Do you live in the love of God or reject Him as the Pharisees did? You see where it got them do you not? Cold, hard men who could not, would not, live in love but insisted the that only the rules be followed? When you live in the love of God the laws are easy to follow. Hatred is bred when love does not exist. Where are you?

Prayer: Heavenly Father with your love everything is made easier. Thank you for loving me as you do. In Jesus’ holy name Amen.

The Lord is near to all who call upon him.

8-24-2022 Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle Gospel Jn 1:45-51

Learn more about St. Bartholomew: https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=390

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082422.cfm

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Nathanael spent time under the fig tree studying scripture, so he would know the Lord. When Jesus saw him, he recognized him as a man of God. Will God know you when you see Him? Do you study scripture trying to learn more about the Lord? If you are you will see great things, just as Jesus predicted.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray I see the things you spoke of and also see you face to face, Amen.

Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

St. Bartholomew, pray for us.

8-23-2022 Reading 1 2 THES 2:1-3A, 14-17

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082322.cfm

We ask you, brothers and sisters, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him, not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed either by a “spirit,” or by an oral statement, or by a letter allegedly from us to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand. Let no one deceive you in any way.

To this end he has also called you through our Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.

We are being told to hold fast to the traditions that the Apostles taught either orally or in writing. Does your religion follow this? There is one Church that honor the traditions of the Apostles, the one that Jesus founded, the one that He made Peter leader head of. Which church do you follow?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the faith you have given me to believe and follow the only Church you established, Amen.

The Lord comes to judge the earth.

St. Rose of Lima, pray for us.

8-22-2022 Memorial of The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary Gospel Mt 23:13-22

Learn more about The Queenship of Mary: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/queenship-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082222.cfm

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves.

“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If one swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.’ Blind fools, which is greater, the gold, or the temple that made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.’ You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it; one who swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it; one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it.”

Who do you swear by? The world or the Lord? If you bind yourself to the world, you lose everything. The world changes and you can never measure up. When you bind yourself to the Lord, you gain everything, including eternal life. The Lord loves you as you are, He always wants what is best for you and will challenge you to improve. The world will laugh at you and degrade your accomplishments. You belong to the Lord and learn what it means to be loved.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I gained the world when I chose you. I give you thanks that you have never left me or let me down, Amen.

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Mary Queen of Heaven, pray for us.

8-21-2022 Reading 2 Heb 12:5-7, 11-13

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082122.cfm

Brothers and sisters, You have forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children: “My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.” Endure your trials as “discipline”; God treats you as sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline? At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.

So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed.

We seem to have forgotten this concept. Discipline is essential to growth. If we do not know what we are doing wrong, how can we correct it? When children are not disciplined, they grow up without the knowledge of right and wrong, feeling that anything goes. That is not what the Lord wants. He loves us so much, He loves us as we are, but He wants us to always improve. He loves us too much to leave us alone.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the discipline that has been meted out to me all my life. It has helped me to grow, learn and love you more and more, Amen.

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News, Alleluia!

8-20-2022 Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church Gospel MT 23:1-12

Learn more about St. Bernard: https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=559

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082022.cfm

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

We have many leaders like this today. They tell us what we should think and do, yet they do just the opposite. Their behavior makes you wonder why we have to follow the rules when they do not. We must do as Jesus asks us, nothing else matters. His word is the law to follow. If you give yourself to Our Lord, you will follow the right path.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, show me your way, keep me on your path, Amen.

The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.

St. Bernard, pray for us.

8-19-2022 Gospel MT 22:34-40

Link to today’s reading: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081922.cfm

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law, tested him by asking, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall 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 is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

Both of these commandments are missing in our society today. How sad that we so easily ignore the two greatest commandments Jesus gave us. How well do you follow these commandments? Are you ready to give up your hatred and learn to love? Jesus does not ask for much, can you give it to Him?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I do try but at times I fail. Help me to keep these in the forefront of my life, Amen.

Give thanks to the Lord; his love is everlasting.

St. John Eudes, pray for us.

8-18-2022 Gospel MT 22:1-14

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081822.cfm

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables saying, “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then the king said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

You are invited to the banquet. Are you ready to accept? If you are, you must accept it on the Lord’s terms. If you are not ready then you will not be forced. But if you wait too long, you will not be chosen and you will lose your eternal life. The Lord’s banquet is worth more than anything the world has to offer. But, the choice is yours, choose wisely.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for accepting me into your banquet, where I find peace and fulfillment, Amen.

I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your sins.

8-17-2022 Gospel MT 20:1-16

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081722.cfm

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

The Lord is always up front about what He expects from us. If we take it, we will receive what He promises. If someone comes along after us it may seem like they are getting more than we are, but the Lord is true. What He promises He gives. Do not think you are getting less than you were promised. Will you accept His promise?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for being faithful, Amen.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

8-16-2022 Gospel MT 19:23-30

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081622.cfm

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

When you learn to put others before yourself, when you learn to serve others instead of wanting to be served, you will understand what Jesus is saying. The Kingdom of Heaven us open to all but those who learn these lessons in this life will be first in the next.

Prayer: Heavenly Father help me to worry less about what I have or need and concern myself more with the needs of others, amen.

It is I who deal death and give life.

St. Stephen of Hungary, pray for us.

8-15-2022 Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Reading 1 RV 11:19A; 12:1-6A, 10AB

Learn more about the Assumption of Mary: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit-blog/the-assumption-of-mary

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081522.cfm

God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth. She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed One.”

There is only one woman who gave birth to a son that would be caught up to God and his throne. The only woman whom satan was afraid of. She is the Mother of God and was assumed into heaven and crowned Queen of heaven and earth. She is the mother Jesus gave to us from His cross to be with us and guide us to Him. Love His mother like He did, He wants us to cling to her.

Prayer: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.