THE GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY : Saturday - August 19, 2023

 

Saturday - August 19, 2023

If you are wise, then, know that you have been created for the glory of God and your own eternal salvation. This is your goal; this is the center of your life; this is the treasure of your heart. May you consider truly good whatever leads you to your goal and truly evil whatever makes you fall away from it.

- St. Robert Bellarmine

August 19, 2023

Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 418

 

Reading I     

                                                                                                Jos 24:14-29

 

Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem,

and addressed them, saying:

"Fear the LORD and serve him completely and sincerely.

Cast out the gods your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt,

and serve the LORD.

If it does not please you to serve the LORD,

decide today whom you will serve,

the gods your fathers served beyond the River

or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling.

As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

 

But the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD

for the service of other gods.

For it was the LORD, our God,

who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt,

out of a state of slavery.

He performed those great miracles before our very eyes

and protected us along our entire journey and among all the peoples

through whom we passed.

At our approach the LORD drove out all the peoples,

including the Amorites who dwelt in the land.

Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."

 

Joshua in turn said to the people,

"You may not be able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God;

he is a jealous God who will not forgive

your transgressions or your sins.

If, after the good he has done for you,

you forsake the LORD and serve strange gods,

he will do evil to you and destroy you."

 

But the people answered Joshua, "We will still serve the LORD."

Joshua therefore said to the people,

"You are your own witnesses that you have chosen to serve the LORD."

They replied, "We are, indeed!"

Joshua continued:

"Now, therefore, put away the strange gods that are among you

and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel."

Then the people promised Joshua,

"We will serve the LORD, our God, and obey his voice."

 

So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day

and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem,

which he recorded in the book of the law of God.

Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak

that was in the sanctuary of the LORD.

And Joshua said to all the people, "This stone shall be our witness,

for it has heard all the words which the LORD spoke to us.

It shall be a witness against you, should you wish to deny your God."

Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his own heritage.

 

After these events, Joshua, son of Nun, servant of the LORD,

died at the age of a hundred and ten.

 

Responsorial Psalm                                                          Ps 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 11

 

R. (see 5a) You are my inheritance, O Lord.

 

Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;

I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you."

O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,

you it is who hold fast my lot.

R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

I bless the LORD who counsels me;

even in the night my heart exhorts me.

I set the LORD ever before me;

with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

You will show me the path to life,

fullness of joys in your presence,

the delights at your right hand forever.

R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

 

 

Alleluia         

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;

you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.

R. Alleluia

 

Gospel                                                                       Mt 19:13-15

 

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.

 

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How and why Mary really can help us

Is Jesus Prince of Peace and King of Kings? Yes.

 

Then who is the Queen Mother? Mary of course.

 

Does a queen have authority? Indeed yes.

 

How does a good queen use her authority? By helping everyone in the kingdom any way she can.

 

When Mary passed away and went to heaven, did she lose her authority as queen? Of course not, because she is still the mother of Jesus who is still the King of Kings.

 

Then what does she do with that authority? Does she just float idly on a cloud while her Son does all the work? No of course not. She is still Mary our Queen — the Queen Mother to all of us who are brothers and sisters of Christ our Savior. And she continually serves God as a good queen by using her authority to do good for those under her care.

 

As a good queen, she helps us in our relationship with the King. She fights along side us in our battles against the villains who want to hurt our relationship with the King. She crushes the enemy by wielding her authority (fulfilling God’s promise of Genesis 3:15).

 

Exorcists report that demons fear Mary so much they won’t even say her name. During exorcisms, just a glance from Mary is all it takes to send them fleeing.

 

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, defeater of Satan, crushing the head of the serpent beneath your heel, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

 

Prayer

 

Thank you, Lord, because You conquer our hearts with loving patience, healing the things that harden it. Thank you, because You made marriage the special place for this task and for loving it with deep love, the same love You have for Your Church. 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!”