6-5-2020 Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr Reading 12 TM 3:10-17

Learn more about St. Boniface: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-boniface/

Link to today’s readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/060520.cfm

You have followed my teaching, way of life, purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, persecutions that I endured. Yet from all these things the Lord delivered me. In fact, all who want to live religiously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But wicked people and charlatans will go from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But you, remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

All Scripture is inspired by God. He is the author of the divine scripture. If you do not believe the words written in Scripture you are denying God and His promises. Use the word of God to live your life, to follow Him and spend your eternal life with Him.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, your word is spirit and life to me. Words to build my life on and live the promises you made me. In Jesus” holy name, Amen.

 O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.

6-4-2020 Reading 1 2 Tm 2:8-15

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/060420.cfm

Beloved: Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my Gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory. This saying is trustworthy:

If we have died with him we shall also live with him;
if we persevere we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

Remind people of these things and charge them before God to stop disputing about words. This serves no useful purpose since it harms those who listen. Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God, a workman who causes no disgrace, imparting the word of truth without deviation.

Are you alive in Christ? Or dead to Him? Did you give up or are you willing to go until the end of time to live with Him? He is the one constant in your life. If you remain true to Him He will never leave you or desert you. Trust in Him. Your life will be worth living if you do.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you have never let me down, no matter what I needed. Thank you for your love, your faithfulness and your trust. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

Teach me your ways, O Lord.

6-3-2020 Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs Reading 1 2 Tm 1:1-3, 6-12

Learn more abut St. Charles Lwanga and companions: https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=35

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/060320.cfm 

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God for the promise of life in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dear child: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am grateful to God, whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day.

For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God.

He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began, but now made manifest through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel, for which I was appointed preacher and Apostle and teacher. On this account I am suffering these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know him in whom I have believed and am confident that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.

God does call us all to holiness. He calls us to live the life that He has laid out for us in His word. We receive the many gifts of the Holy Spirit when we receive the Sacraments and it is up to us to stir them up and use them for His glory. The Apostles led the way and gave us an example to follow. Do you? Do you live the life He gave you? Do you use the gifts you were given? Do not leave them unwrapped. They are worth more than gold.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want more of your gifts, I want more of you. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

 To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.

6-2-2020 Gospel Mk 12:13-17

Link to today’s readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/060220.cfm

Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech. They came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.” They brought one to him and he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They replied to him, “Caesar’s.” So Jesus said to them, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” They were utterly amazed at him.

Jesus knew that we can have two gods. The money and state and Him. When we make money our god, when we make government our god, we lose sight of the true God.We do owe allegiance to our government, but we owe our first allegiance to God. And, He will never contradict the rle o the land.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray that our land returns it’s heart to you. Giving you the first and most precious allegiance, Amen.

In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

6-1-2020 Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church Reading 1 Gn 3:9-15, 20

Learn more about the Blessed Virgin Mary: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/mary-mother-of-the-church-memorial/

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/060120.cfm

After Adam had eaten of the tree, the LORD God called to him and asked him, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!” The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me—she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.”The LORD God then asked the woman, “Why did you do such a thing?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.”

Then the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals and from all the wild creatures; On your belly shall you crawl, and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.” The man called his wife Eve, because she became the mother of all the living.

Mary is the new Eve. Her yes to the Lord made her the Mother of God, the mother of all the living. The Lord gave her to us as our mother, to be with us in times of trouble, hurt and a help if our own mother is not there for us. She is the woman who nurtured Jesus when He was a baby, taught Him and, with Joseph, raised Him. What other model of motherly love do we need in our life? Run to her with your hurts, your pain, your sorrows and your joy. She will lead you closer to her Son, Jesus. She will tell you “Do whatever He tells you.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank you for the gift of your Mother. Her love and protection have brought me so much peace and healing. Her grace has brought you closer to me and my heart. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

Glorious things are told of you, O city of God.

5-31-2020 Solemnity of Pentecost Gospel John 20:19-23

Learn more about Pentecost: https://www.catholic.org/lent/pentecost.php

Link to today’s readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/053120.cfm

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on them. They received that power and help that Jesus promised them. And today’s Priest’s and Bishops have that same power. The power to forgive your sins. Have you availed yourself of this beautiful sacrament? If not, why not?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, your forgiveness brought me home, I pray that others accept that same grace, Amen and Alleluia!

Bless the LORD, O my soul! Alleluia!

5-30-2020 Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter Gospel Jn 21:20-25

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/053020.cfm

Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours?  You follow me.” So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just “What if I want him to remain until I come?
What concern is it of yours?”

It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.

Jesus was politely telling Peter to mind his own business! Jesus know who we are and what we stand for, so He knows our heart unlike people who see us and judge us. He was telling Peter, the final word is His! What has always surprised me is that so many people deny the things the Apostles taught but did not write own mean nothing. They because part of Sacred Tradition. Not written but taught. What do you believe?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I believe that Sacred Tradition is true and what was taught was from you. I pray that the many in this world will come to believe. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen and Alleluia!

The just will gaze on your face, O Lord, Alleluia!