8-21-2017 Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope Reading 1 Jgs 2:11-19

Learn more about St. Pius X: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=313

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082117.cfm

The children of Israel offended the LORD by serving the Baals. Abandoning the LORD, the God of their fathers, who led them out of the land of Egypt, they followed the other gods of the various nations around them, and by their worship of these gods provoked the LORD.

Because they had thus abandoned him and served Baal and the Ashtaroth, the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel, and he delivered them over to plunderers who despoiled them. He allowed them to fall into the power of their enemies round about whom they were no longer able to withstand. Whatever they undertook, the LORD turned into disaster for them, as in his warning he had sworn he would do, till they were in great distress. Even when the LORD raised up judges to deliver them from the power of their despoilers, they did not listen to their judges, but abandoned themselves to the worship of other gods. They were quick to stray from the way their fathers had taken, and did not follow their example of obedience to the commandments of the LORD. Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, he would be with the judge and save them from the power of their enemies as long as the judge lived; it was thus the LORD took pity on their distressful cries of affliction under their oppressors. But when the judge died, they would relapse and do worse than their ancestors, following other gods in service and worship, relinquishing none of their evil practices or stubborn conduct.

We are following our ancestors to our destruction. We are turning away from the Lord and His commandments and setting up false Gods. What will it take for the world to see what they are doing and return to the truth? History has a way of repeating itself if we do not pay attention. Do you honor the true God or the false god of the world? If you follow the true God, what are you doing to bring Him to your piece of the world?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are the true God and I honor you and follow your commandments. Not out of fear but out of love for all you have done for me. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

8-20-2017 Gospel Mt 15:21-28

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082017.cfm

At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus’ disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.

This woman understood what we still have to learn. The Lord’s grace and mercy is for everyone, not just a limited few. We just have to be like her and ask. Ask in faith and it will happen. True faith is all it takes. Have you asked in faith?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I lift my needs up to you, knowing that you will grant me what does not interfere with my salvation. If it does, you whisper “wait I have something better.” In Jesus’ holy name, I give you honor, glory, praise and my heart, Amen.

O God, let all the nations praise you!

8-19-2017 Gospel Mt 19:13-15

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/081917.cfm

Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

Jesus cannot be any clearer, but we sure do know how to ignore Him. In a world where children are killed before they are born, abused, sold as sex slaves, allowed to starve, how will we stand before Him? How will we explain to Him that we did not have time, we were too busy doing our own thing, or working, or playing, or having sex? How will we answer? What will you say?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help to love your children as you do. Help our world to see what we are doing, in Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

8-18-2017 Gospel Mt 19:3-12

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/081817.cfm

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.” They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.” His disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”

How can this be said more clearly? There is nothing confusing about Jesus says here. No to divorce, “from the beginning the Creator made them male and female”. Why do we think we can change this? We are making up laws that are clearly against God’s design and so many see nothing wrong in this. It is scary how far from God we have gotten. What do you believe? That God was wrong? If so, you might want to rethink how wrong that is, your eternal life depends on it.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I believe in your word and pray that our country and the world, turn back to you and your truth. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

His mercy endures forever.

8-17-2017 Gospel Mt 18:21–19:1

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/081717.cfm

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair.  His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”

When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.

Jesus is telling – “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”! If you want to be forgiven by others, you must forgive. It is simple really – treat others the way you want to be treated.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I try to treat others with the kindness, respect and love I want. Help me when I forget that. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

Alleluia!

 

8-16-2017 Gospel Mt 18:15-20

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/081617.cfm

Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, Go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church. If he refuses to listen even to the Church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

What if we did this today? Instead of spreading gossip, rumors, lies, hatred we actually talked to each other. Not texting, emailing, even phone calls but face to face conversation. We could change the world. If we talked out our grievances we could solve more problems than we currently create. Have you taken time to have a face to face conversation with someone? Why not? It will make you – and them – feel better and go a long way to bringing peace to our world. Try it, you might just like it!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk to other people. Remind me Lord to stop and take time when others are hurting or just in need of a friend. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire!

8-15-2017 Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Gospel Lk 1:39-56

Learn more about the Assumption of Our Lady: https://www.thoughtco.com/assumption-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-542464

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/081517-mass-during-day.cfm

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

And Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.”

Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Mary, the mother of God, was a gift to us from Our Lord. He gave us a perfect example of how to follow Christ. She said yes and never turned back, even though she could have faced death for her pregnancy, was given prophecies of pain and sorrow and finally, watched her Son die. Nothing we face could be greater than what she did. She is not only the Mother of God she is our Mother and needs to be honored as such. Do you honor her? Jesus did, are you any better than Him?

Prayer: Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. 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.