THE GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY : Friday - September 01, 2023

 

Friday - September 01, 2023

If we are, in fact, now occupied in good deeds, we should not attribute the strength with which we are doing them to ourselves. We must not count on ourselves, because even if we know what kind of person we are today, we do not know what we will be tomorrow.

--Saint Gregory the Great

September 1, 2023

Friday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 429

 

Reading I     

                                                                                                            1 Thes 4:1-8

 

Brothers and sisters,

we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,

as you received from us

how you should conduct yourselves to please God–

and as you are conducting yourselves–

you do so even more.

For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

 

This is the will of God, your holiness:

that you refrain from immorality,

that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself

in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion

as do the Gentiles who do not know God;

not to take advantage of or exploit a brother or sister in this matter,

for the Lord is an avenger in all these things,

as we told you before and solemnly affirmed.

For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.

Therefore, whoever disregards this,

disregards not a human being but God,

who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.

 

Responsorial Psalm                                                                      Ps 97:1 and 2b, 5-6, 10, 11-12

 

R. (12a) Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

 

The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;

let the many isles be glad.

Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.

R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,

before the LORD of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim his justice,

and all peoples see his glory.

R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

The LORD loves those who hate evil;

he guards the lives of his faithful ones;

from the hand of the wicked he delivers them.

R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

Light dawns for the just;

and gladness, for the upright of heart.

Be glad in the LORD, you just,

and give thanks to his holy name.

R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

 

Alleluia         

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Be vigilant at all time and pray,

that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.

R. Alleluia

 

Gospel                                                                       Mt 25:1-13

 

Jesus told his disciples this parable:

"The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins

who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,

brought no oil with them,

but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.

Since the bridegroom was long delayed,

they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

At midnight, there was a cry,

'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.

The foolish ones said to the wise,

'Give us some of your oil,

for our lamps are going out.'

But the wise ones replied,

'No, for there may not be enough for us and you.

Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.'

While they went off to buy it,

the bridegroom came

and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.

Then the door was locked.

Afterwards the other virgins came and said,

'Lord, Lord, open the door for us!'

But he said in reply,

'Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.'

Therefore, stay awake,

for you know neither the day nor the hour."

 

**********************************

Carrying a torch for Jesus

Are you carrying a torch for Jesus? Today’s Gospel reading reminds me of the modern-day metaphor for a special love relationship. To “carry a torch” for a friend means that we have a warm spot in our heart for him or her, and we won’t let it dim. It’s like the Olympic torch that’s carried by runners around the world until it lights up the opening ceremonies of the games; we’ll run anywhere and for as long as necessary for the one we love.

 

Do you have this kind of love for Jesus? If you do, then what’s the fuel that lights your torch? And what keeps your torch from running out of this fuel?

 

Perhaps your torch is lit by your prayer life and you keep it lit by taking time every day to quietly connect with God. Or maybe it’s the suffering you’ve endured for the sake of unconditionally loving someone who doesn’t love you back equally, and you’ve offered your heart-breaks to Jesus as a sacrifice that unites you to his cross. Or it’s the joy of using your gifts and talents in the Church. Or it’s all of the above and more.

 

We’re like the foolish bridesmaids if we do little more than pick up our torch and run without taking into consideration that a seemingly short sprint might become a long marathon. We need to stock up.

 

What fuels your love for Jesus when you get tired? Or when you get discouraged and feel hurt and disappointed? Or when your patience burns out?

 

We can’t make it through one single day without losing at least some of our holiness and spiritual strength! What makes us think that we don’t need to start each day in prayer asking for supernatural help? Or that we don’t need to take time to seek hope and guidance from scripture? Or that we don’t need to put effort into studying the teachings of the Church to receive more wisdom from the Holy Spirit?

 

As Jesus points out in the parable, the Master cannot recognize us (i.e., we don’t look like we belong to him) if we’re claiming to be Christian but we’re buzzing through life doing whatever feels good and looks good. True Christian living requires major effort — and sometimes it’s unpleasant! When we’re not forcing ourselves to move ahead in holiness, we slip into sin. There’s no such thing as standing still. Either we’re pushing ourselves forward in spiritual growth or we’re swept backward by the winds of the world and we’re pushed backward by demons who take advantage of our laziness.

 

Reading this reflection has given you some fuel. What else will you do today to add fuel to the fire of your love for Jesus?

 

Prayer

 

My Lord and my God: Forgive me for those times when laziness has won a place in my heart. May the certainty of our meeting at the end of times always be my aim and my help so that I persevere till the end. Amen.

 

 

God Bless You.....

The Rosary Family

The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”

THE GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY : Thursday - August 31, 2023

 

Thursday - August 31, 2023

Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.

-- Saint Francis de Sales  

August 31, 2023

Thursday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 427

 

Reading I     

                                                                                                            1 Thes 3:7-13

 

We have been reassured about you, brothers and sisters,

in our every distress and affliction, through your faith.

For we now live, if you stand firm in the Lord.

 

What thanksgiving, then, can we render to God for you,

for all the joy we feel on your account before our God?

Night and day we pray beyond measure to see you in person

and to remedy the deficiencies of your faith.

Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus

direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase

and abound in love for one another and for all,

just as we have for you,

so as to strengthen your hearts,

to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father

at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.

 

Responsorial Psalm                                                                      Ps 90:3-5a, 12-13, 14 and 17

 

R. (14) Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!

 

You turn man back to dust,

saying, "Return, O children of men."

For a thousand years in your sight

are as yesterday, now that it is past,

or as a watch of the night.

R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!

Teach us to number our days aright,

that we may gain wisdom of heart.

Return, O LORD! How long?

Have pity on your servants!

R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!

Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,

that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.

And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;

prosper the work of our hands for us!

Prosper the work of our hands!

R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!

 

Alleluia         

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Stay awake!

For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.

R. Alleluia

 

Gospel                                                                       Mt 24:42-51

 

Jesus said to his disciples:

"Stay awake!

For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.

Be sure of this: if the master of the house

had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,

he would have stayed awake

and not let his house be broken into.

So too, you also must be prepared,

for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

 

"Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant,

whom the master has put in charge of his household

to distribute to them their food at the proper time?

Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.

Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.

But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is long delayed,'

and begins to beat his fellow servants,

and eat and drink with drunkards,

the servant's master will come on an unexpected day

and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely

and assign him a place with the hypocrites,

where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."

 

**********************************

Stay awake! 

“Stay awake!” says Jesus in today’s Gospel reading. Awake and alert: This has to be our mode of everyday operation, our lifestyle, if we’re to be the Lord’s good and faithful people.

 

Zzzzzzzz …. … … many Christians are sleep-walking. How does that happen?

 

Being awake and alert requires paying attention to how well our behaviors match what we profess to believe. For example, in every Sunday Mass we recite that we believe in “ONE … church”, but we don’t really believe it if we’re divisive in our dealings with others in the Body of Christ. Are we building parish turfdoms (“my ministry is my turf, so stick with your own work and don’t give me your suggestions”)? Do priests collaborate with lay people or do they try to control them? Do Catholic organizations see each other as competitors or as partners?

 

Saint Paul prays in today’s first reading “May the Lord help you to overflow with love for one another and for all.” This is what keeps us awake. The moment we replace love with something else (apathy, control, disrespect, prejudice, verbal or any other kind of abuse, unforgiveness, self-righteousness, etc.), we become groggy. The alpha waves take over our spiritual brain. We dream that our way is the right way and, as in any nighttime dream, we think it’s real — until we awaken.

 

What happens when the alarm clock rings while we’re dreaming? We’re startled and we don’t feel happy about it. We punch the “off” button and try to go back to sleep.

 

What happens when we’re deep asleep in the darkness of the night and someone turns on a light and says, “Wake up!” We groan and growl: “Turn off that light!” At that moment, this person is our least favorite person in the whole world.

 

If you’re the one turning the light on people who don’t want to wake up, you’re being scolded and growled at. Continue to love them patiently. Keep the light on and quietly, faithfully continue to invite them to wake up. Show them by your own joy how to enjoy the reality of daylight. But don’t get in their face to bonk them on the head with an alarm clock, because they will bonk you back and make you dizzy with sleepiness.

 

As their grogginess wears off, they will either realize that you’re showing them the truth and they’ll embrace it, or they will roll over and bury themselves in the blankets again. Remember, you are not responsible for their sleepiness; you are only responsible for revealing the light.

 

Meanwhile, do whatever is necessary to keep yourself awake and alert, a faithful, far-sighted servant of the Lord. May our Lord Jesus strengthen your heart, making you blameless and holy before our God and Father!

 

Prayer

 

Beloved Father: I beg You, may Your love produce faithfulness in me, and may my faithfulness to You be poured as true love onto my neighbors. Amen.

 

 

God Bless You.....

The Rosary Family

The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”

THE GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY : Wedesday - August 30, 2023

 

Wednesday - August 30, 2023

Religious pictures themselves will not make a family good. Only when they are contemplated upon, are they a practical way to help true Christian sentiment, and to a true Christian way of living in the family. 

-- St. John Vianney

August 30, 2023

Wednesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 427

 

Reading I     

                                                                                                            1 Thes 2:9-13

 

You recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery.

Working night and day in order not to burden any of you,

we proclaimed to you the Gospel of God.

You are witnesses, and so is God,

how devoutly and justly and blamelessly

we behaved toward you believers.

As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children,

exhorting and encouraging you and insisting

that you walk in a manner worthy of the God

who calls you into his Kingdom and glory.

 

And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly,

that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us,

you received it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God,

which is now at work in you who believe.

 

Responsorial Psalm                                                                      Ps 139:7-8, 9-10, 11-12ab

 

R. (1) You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

 

Where can I go from your spirit?

From your presence where can I flee?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.

R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

If I take the wings of the dawn,

if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,

Even there your hand shall guide me,

and your right hand hold me fast.

R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

If I say, "Surely the darkness shall hide me,

and night shall be my light"–

For you darkness itself is not dark,

and night shines as the day.

R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

 

Alleluia         

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Whoever keeps the word of Christ,

the love of God is truly perfected in him.

R. Alleluia

 

Gospel                                                                       Mt 23:27-32

 

Jesus said,

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.

You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside,

but inside are full of dead men's bones and every kind of filth.

Even so, on the outside you appear righteous,

but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.

 

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.

You build the tombs of the prophets

and adorn the memorials of the righteous,

and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors,

we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets' blood.'

Thus you bear witness against yourselves

that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets;

now fill up what your ancestors measured out!"

 

**********************************

True Christian leadership

Our first reading today shows us what true Christian leadership is like. It means working “day and night” (i.e., endlessly and tirelessly) to serve, not burden, the Body of Christ. Truly Christian leaders (whether priests, bishops, superiors, CEOs, business managers, or lay people heading ministries) serve devoutly, justly and blamelessly, replacing the desire to control with the desire to empower. The preaching of Christ is made real by living what we exhort others to do.

 

Putting this into context with the bigger picture of the full Gospel, we know that Saint Paul was not implying that we must work every day and night, without rest. We become a burden to others when we work too fast and too long and become too tired to remain devout, just, and blameless. Even Jesus took time off to have his energy restored.

 

The Gospel reading today shows us what false (or tired) Christian leadership is like. What appears to be holy on the outside is merely a whitewashed wickedness. The light of Christ, which might actually be there, is blocked by wrong motives, pride, a desire to be superior and control others, and other vocation abuses. False Christian leaders mask the darkness within by painting themselves in white. It’s an attempt to fake the light of Christ. Their own efforts will bear witness against them.

 

We are all called to be Christian leaders in one place or another, serving the kingdom of God in our homes, our workplaces, our community, and anyplace else where we have the opportunity to set a good example. In everything, we are all called to be God’s instruments in this world, making a difference devoutly, justly and blamelessly, preaching not so much by what we say but more by the way we live the faith.

 

As St. Paul said, the word of God must be at work in us if we’re true believers in Christ. Do we really believe in his way of living out the message of salvation? None of us are perfect. Although we desire to be holy, we sometimes fail because of wrong motives, pride, and other abuses of our Christian vocations. If we are not changed daily by the truth in the scriptures, if we are not transformed by the Eucharist, if we are not examining our consciences continually and seeking new ways to grow in holiness, then we slip into hypocrisy.

 

What will you do today to help others experience Jesus? We won’t be successful unless we first humbly recognize the ways we have become hypocrites.

 

Prayer

 

My Lord, Help me discover the corrections that You want to make in me, when you let me go through trials. I thank You and praise You because You draw me closer to You, with the Father’s true love. Amen.

 

 

God Bless You.....

The Rosary Family

The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”