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.

6-26-2022 Reading II Gal 5:1, 13-18

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062622.cfm

Brothers and sisters: For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

For you were called for freedom, brothers and sisters. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.

I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want. But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

A lesson we could all use today – to serve one another through love. Hatred is being drummed up through lies, misinformation and violence. We need to heed the word of God, pursue truth and trust in the Spirit to lead us to the truth. What do you believe? Do you pursue truth or just follow those who shout the loudest?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray for all who do not believe in you and your word. I pray for the conversion of the hearts of all who refuse to accept your truth, Amen.

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

6-24-2022 Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Gospel Lk 2:41-51

Learn more about the Immaculate Heart of Mary: https://aleteia.org/2022/03/23/what-is-devotion-to-the-immaculate-heart/

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062522.cfm

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

Mary held everything in her heart. She watched, she took care of Jesus, she waited. Her pure heart took in all that happened in His life and she held it there. She holds us in her heart also. Her Son is our brother so she holds us in her heart with Him, just as any good mother does. Let her love you as she loved Jesus. She will bring you peace and you will know her motherly love.

Prayer: Heavenly Father thank you for the gift of a perfect mother, Amen.

Lord, forget not the souls of your poor ones.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

6-24-2022 Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Gospel Lk 15:3-7

Learn more about the Sacred Heart of Jesus: http://www.catholictradition.org/Two-Hearts/sacred-heart12.htm

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062422.cfm

Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and scribes: “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”

Jesus wants us all to come home to Him. There are so many lost sheep in today’s world, but there are many that are starting to see the truth. Can you imagine the celebrations in Heaven for those that return? For those who do not return, I see weeping and praying for them. Are you a lost sheep? Come home and help heaven celebrate!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the party you threw for me when I came home! It was a joyous time for me and for heaven! I pray that others know that joy of returning home, Amen.

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

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

6-23-2022 Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist Gospel Lk 1:57-66, 80

Learn more about St. John the Baptist: https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=152

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062322-day.cfm

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her,“ There is no one among your relatives who has this name. ”So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

God always keeps His promises. When Zachariah expressed his belief in his child by naming him John, his tongue was loosed and he could speak. If we would trust more in God’s promises we would see more miracles and works of His mercy. John became a preacher of the word of God and brought people to the Lord. Whom have you brought to Him? Whom did you drive away?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to always bring people to you and not drive them away, Amen.

I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.

St. John the Baptist, pray for us.

6-22-2022 Gospel Mt 7:15-20

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062222.cfm

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.”

There are a lot of false prophets out there today. They proclaim the word of God the way they want it to be, not His true word. They twist His words to make a comfortable lifestyle for them and to allow them to live the way they want to. How do you live? By the Lord’s word or your own?

Prayer: Heavenly Father may I always recognize the false prophets and speak only your truth, Amen.

Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

St John Fisher, St. Thomas More and St. Paulinus of Nola, pray for us.

6-21-2022 Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious Gospel Mt 7:6, 12-14

Learn more about St. Aloysius Gonzaga: https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=15

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062122.cfm

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few.”

We certainly no longer pay attention to this Gospel. Today we toss all that is good and of the Lord on the ground to be trampled by those who do not believe. Those who think killing babies is a sacred right. We have trampled the word of God and so many do not care are you ready to stand up for the Lord? To take back what is His and restore our Churches as His home? It takes strength and a willing heart. Do you have that?

Prayer: Heavenly Father never let me fail or falter in the pursuit of your truth or in teaching it, Amen!

God upholds his city for ever.

6-20-2022 Gospel Mt 7:1-5

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062022.cfm

Jesus said to his disciples: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”

Today so many people judge others by their own conduct. What they see as flaws and faults in others they ignore in themselves. Today’s society seems to believe whoever yells the loudest speaks the truth, without actually looking at the truth. What do you see when you look at others that you do not agree with? Do you need to remove your log?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to see your truth in all I say and do, Amen.

Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us.

6-19-2022 The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Reading II 1 Cor 11:23-26

Learn more about the Body and Blood of Christ: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2020-06-14

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061922.cfm

Brothers and sisters: I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

If you do not believe in the word of God, you do not believe in His true body and blood. But if you believe in the word of God, then you have to believe what Jesus told us about His body and blood. It is as true today as it was then. We do this as He instructed because we believe in Him and that His word is unchanging. No matter what the world says, His word is truth and life. If you do not believe it you do not have eternal life.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray for the conversion of those who do not truly believe in your words. May they come to know you in truth and love, Amen.

You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

6-18-2022 Gospel Mt 6:24-34

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061822.cfm

Jesus said to his disciples: “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky;
they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”

We see so many people today trying to serve two masters, and none of them God. There are some who claim to serve God but go against His word, They are more interested in their own power and prestige that they do not even see the veil that has been drawn across their eyes. There is not trust, they must force ever issue as they want it. They will learn in the end that they are wrong. Trusting in God is what He wants for us. Who do you really serve?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray for those who do not see the harm they are creating, the children that are being killed because they serve another God. I pray for conversion of their hearts and minds, to you, Amen.

For ever I will maintain my love for my servant.

6-17-2022 Gospel Mt 6:19-23

Link to today’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061722.cfm

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”

Where is your heart? What treasure do you store here on earth? They will not do much for you in your eternal life. Storing treasure in heaven makes life much easier here too! Let the light of Christ shine through you!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may I not want more on earth than I do in heaven with you, Amen.

The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.