THE GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY : Friday - September 22, 2023

 

Friday - September 22, 2023

The Kingdom of Heaven, O man, requires no other price than yourself. The value of it is yourself. Give yourself for it and you shall have it.

 

-- St. Augustine

September 22, 2023

Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 447

 

Reading I     

                                                                                                                        1 Tm 6:2c-12

 

Beloved:

Teach and urge these things.

Whoever teaches something different

and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ

and the religious teaching

is conceited, understanding nothing,

and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes.

From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions,

and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds,

who are deprived of the truth,

supposing religion to be a means of gain.

Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain.

For we brought nothing into the world,

just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.

If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.

Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap

and into many foolish and harmful desires,

which plunge them into ruin and destruction.

For the love of money is the root of all evils,

and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith

and have pierced themselves with many pains.

 

But you, man of God, avoid all this.

Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion,

faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

Compete well for the faith.

Lay hold of eternal life,

to which you were called when you made the noble confession

in the presence of many witnesses.

 

Responsorial Psalm                                                                                  Ps 49:6-7, 8-10, 17-18, 19-20

 

R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

 

Why should I fear in evil days

when my wicked ensnarers ring me round?

They trust in their wealth;

the abundance of their riches is their boast.

R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

Yet in no way can a man redeem himself,

or pay his own ransom to God;

Too high is the price to redeem one's life; he would never have enough

to remain alive always and not see destruction.

R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

Fear not when a man grows rich,

when the wealth of his house becomes great,

For when he dies, he shall take none of it;

his wealth shall not follow him down.

R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

Though in his lifetime he counted himself blessed,

"They will praise you for doing well for yourself,"

He shall join the circle of his forebears

who shall never more see light.

R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

 

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                                                                                                                       Lk 8:1-3

 

Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another,

preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.

Accompanying him were the Twelve

and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,

Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,

Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza,

Susanna, and many others

who provided for them out of their resources.

 

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

Finding true contentment

Do you have, as today’s first reading puts it, “religion with contentment”? Or are you dissatisfied with any of your religious experiences? Certainly there are reasons for discontent. There’s always room for improvement in how the experience of Mass is provided or in how the parish offers or fails to offer a particular ministry you need or in how the clergy and/or staff treat you.

 

It’s okay to be dissatisfied! Wrong-doings that we witness should make us so uncomfortable that we can’t ignore them; our discontent should stir us into action. We are being called to bring God’s kingdom into the situation.

 

Feeling uncomfortable with what’s wrong is very good. Feeling discontented with what’s right is quite a different matter. The difference is pointed out by St. Paul. Some people use religion as a means of gain because they are not content with what God has already given them. For example, in the Church there are people who get into leadership roles in order to benefit themselves more than to serve others. Envy, rivalry, insults, and evil suspicions are typical results.

 

The same is true in our personal lives. If it seems like we’re missing something, if there’s something we long for but do not have, and if we don’t turn to God to fill the void, we become driven by our unmet needs. We become self-centered and conceited. We hurt those who have what we lack, jealous of them, cutting them down because we feel inferior. We become greedy to satisfy our selfish desires.

 

Corruption in one’s thoughts — and therefore in behaviors — develops when one is deprived of the truth. The truth is: Religion with contentment is a great gain. So how do we gain contentment?

 

It starts with keeping our eyes on Jesus. Is he the center of our lives? Do we remain centered on him? Or have we shoved him into a magic genie lamp, rubbing him the right way only when we want to get something out of him?

 

What are we longing for when we feel discontent? God is our provider, but it’s a partnership. If he’s placed a desire in our heart, then he will satisfy our longing when we cooperate with his plans. The timing must remain in his control, the method of achieving the goal must be morally right, and the path to reach the object of our longing must increase our holiness during the journey.

 

Feel sorry for those who are envious, insulting, and overly suspicious, because these behaviors are signs that they have not let themselves gain enough of God’s love. What a miserable, lonely, unhappy way to exist! We can help them by showing them our Christ-centered compassion, patience, and joy. Yes, our joy will make them even more envious, and yes this might initially cause their corrupted hearts to respond to us unlovingly, but when we persist in turning to God for the love we need, we will have the endurance to continue giving them the love they need.

 

When we do that, our discontentment dissolves in God’s abundant love. We are content, not because of what others do or don’t do, but because of what God has done and is doing and will do.

 

Prayer

 

Thank You Lord, because You take me with You while You heal and deliver me on the way. I praise and bless You, because in You we all walk together as a 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!”

THE GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY : Thursday - September 21, 2023

 

Thursday - September 21, 2023

The face is the mirror of the mind, 

and eyes without speaking confess 

the secrets of the heart.

~~St. Jerome

September 21, 2022

FEAST OF SAINT MATTHEW, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST
Lectionary: 643

 

Reading 1                                                     Eph 4:1-7, 11-13

 

Brothers and sisters:

I, a prisoner for the Lord,

urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,

with all humility and gentleness, with patience,

bearing with one another through love,

striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit

through the bond of peace:

one Body and one Spirit,

as you were also called to the one hope of your call;

one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

one God and Father of all,

who is over all and through all and in all.

 

But grace was given to each of us

according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

 

And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets,

others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,

to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,

for building up the Body of Christ,

until we all attain to the unity of faith

and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,

to the extent of the full stature of Christ.

 

Responsorial Psalm                                              19:2-3, 4-5

 

R.    (5)  Their message goes out through all the earth.

 

The heavens declare the glory of God;

    and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

Day pours out the word to day,

    and night to night imparts knowledge.

R.    Their message goes out through all the earth.

 

Not a word nor a discourse

    whose voice is not heard;

Through all the earth their voice resounds,

    and to the ends of the world, their message.

R.    Their message goes out through all the earth.

 

Alleluia                                                                      See Te Deum

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God,

we acclaim you as Lord;

the glorious company of Apostles praise you.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel                                                                       Mt 9:9-13

 

As Jesus passed by,

he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.

He said to him, “Follow me.”

And he got up and followed him.

While he was at table in his house,

many tax collectors and sinners came

and sat with Jesus and his disciples.

The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,

“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

He heard this and said,

“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.

Go and learn the meaning of the words,

    I desire mercy, not sacrifice.

I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

 

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

The Message of Love Defeats Evil

In today’s responsorial Psalm we proclaim, “Their message goes out through all the earth.” The psalmist never imagined today’s technology and how this would make evangelization more possible than ever. But — What is our message in today’s world, for today’s needs, for today’s people? 

Look at what Saint Paul says in today’s first reading; here is the core of our message. And why is this message so important to spread throughout all the earth? All of today’s world? 

Because it puts a stop to evil. It’s the world’s salvation. We are not called to sit and wait for the Second Coming of Christ, relying on a future Jesus to drive out evil. Jesus is here now: in us. We are the earthly body of Christ, and we have a message that’s already driving out evil! It’s a message of love that has the power to change the world, and it happens whenever Jesus ministers to others through us, speaks to others through us, and enables us to be like him so that we actually live the message. 

Do you ever wonder why God “allows” evil to continue? It’s not his fault. 

Jesus won the battle against evil more than 2000 years ago when he conquered the power of sin by living a holy life, taking our sins to the cross and then overcoming death and destruction through his resurrection. We are called to learn from his example and act on it.

Today we bring that same victory into the world by “living a life worthy of our calling,” treating others (all others) with “humility, gentleness, and patience, putting up with each other lovingly” through the empowerment of Christ’s Holy Spirit “who is the binding force of peace.” This is how we defeat evil using the power of Jesus. 

Sending military forces against evil dictators and terrorist groups can bring us some protection and eventual but temporary international calmness, but that sort of victory does not stop the evil of violence nor the demonic sources of evil. Both we and our enemies have to want to live together in peace before the bumper-sticker slogans of “give peace a chance” and “make love, not war” have any real meaning. 

Likewise, while putting criminals in prison does stop the evil they were doing in society, it’s not enough: It does not save them from their sins, nor does it cure the damage they did to others. And the death penalty certainly doesn’t stop evil. 

In today’s Gospel passage, we see a man who deserved to be punished. And the people (and their money) needed to be protected from him. During Roman occupation, Hebrew tax collectors made a livelihood of over-taxing their own people and keeping the change. As a successful collector, Matthew was a cheater, a liar, a traitor, and a thief. Do you know any cheaters and liars? Has anyone betrayed you? Were you ever robbed? 

Jesus looked past Matthew’s sins and found a place in his heart where goodness still existed. If we want to conquer evil, this is where we, too, must look. Inside everyone — even terrorists, even murderers, even the shooter in the latest home town massacre — is a precious gem, the type of person God created them to be when he made them in his own image at the moment they were conceived in their mother’s womb. 

For Christ’s message of love to go out through all the earth and transform it enough to prevent evil-doers from becoming evil in the first place, we have to live it in our everyday lives and consciously spread it. Every day! We have to overcome our own behaviors that work against love. We have to live out Ephesians 4 in every situation. We have to be so good at this that we can authentically invite others to do the same. And we have to inspire more Christians to do the same — many more. 

We cannot convert evil-doers who don’t want to change, but we can certainly spread Christ’s gift of peace much more widely than we have been doing. Every act of love in the face of evil conquers evil. Isn’t it time the Body of Christ on earth started making a bigger difference in the world? What are you doing to further his mission?

Today’s Prayer

Thank You, Lord, for the day You pronounced my name, calling me. May Your mercy take deep root in me to see with new eyes my own weaknesses. 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 : Wednesday - October 20, 2023

 

Wednesday - October 20, 2023

The more we are afflicted in this world, the greater is our assurance in the next; the more sorrow in the present, the greater will be our joy in the future.

~~St. Isidore of Seville

September 20, 2023

Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs

Lectionary: 445

 

Reading I     

                                                                                                                        1 Tm 3:14-16

 

Beloved:

I am writing you,

although I hope to visit you soon.

But if I should be delayed,

you should know how to behave in the household of God,

which is the Church of the living God,

the pillar and foundation of truth.

Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion,

 

Who was manifested in the flesh,

vindicated in the spirit,

seen by angels,

proclaimed to the Gentiles,

believed in throughout the world,

taken up in glory.

 

Responsorial Psalm                                                                                  Ps 111:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

 

R. (2) How great are the works of the Lord!

 

I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart

in the company and assembly of the just.

Great are the works of the LORD,

exquisite in all their delights.

R. How great are the works of the Lord!

Majesty and glory are his work,

and his justice endures forever.

He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;

gracious and merciful is the LORD.

R. How great are the works of the Lord!

He has given food to those who fear him;

he will forever be mindful of his covenant.

He has made known to his people the power of his works,

giving them the inheritance of the nations.

R. How great are the works of the Lord!

 

Alleluia         

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life,

you have the words of everlasting life.

R. Alleluia

 

Gospel                                                                                                                       Lk 7:31-35

 

Jesus said to the crowds:

"To what shall I compare the people of this generation?

What are they like?

They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another,

 

'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.

We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.'

 

For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine,

and you said, 'He is possessed by a demon.'

The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said,

'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,

a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'

But wisdom is vindicated by all her children."

 

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

Standing strong as pillars of truth

Our first reading today speaks of God’s household, the Church, which is the “pillar and foundation of truth.” This is the Catholic Church. Remember that originally there was only one Church, one Christianity. The word “catholic” means universal, and we sometimes forget this when we use the word “Catholic” to differentiate ourselves from those who are Christian but separated from the original Church.

 

As Timothy points out, this original Church is the foundation of Christian religion, responsible for holding the truth up for all the world to see. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, this Church has retained the fullest body of truth, protected for 2000 years through the unbroken succession of ordination to the priesthood. Even when popes and bishops were corrupt or politically controlled, the Church Magisterium continued to protect true doctrine.

 

Remember, too, that Jesus IS the truth (and the way and the life). Due to retaining the original practice of the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the miraculous Eucharist, the Catholic Church is the pillar that holds Jesus up — in the fullest possible way — for the world to see.

 

However, for the world to recognize the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and in the other six sacraments, we need to uphold the teachings of the Church. We need to embrace them in our parish communities. We need to understand them — why they’re beneficial, how they’re scriptural, and why living by them is the best, most loving way to interact with our world.

 

When we don’t, we build a false image of the Church using walls that block others from seeing the truth.

 

Conversely, when we repent and let others see us change, we reinforce the wall that protects people from the falsehoods that would otherwise keep them away from Christ.

 

Being a Catholic Christian is not for wimps. It takes Godly strength to stand firm as a pillar of truth. It’s a choice, actually a series of choices that we face every day. This choice is what makes us either “like children” complaining to their playmates, as described by Jesus in our Gospel reading today, or mature Catholics who accept the wisdom of God.

 

And from where do we get the strength to stand firm? From the Eucharist, which is the full embodiment of Jesus the Truth, and from the other sacraments.

 

By growing more mature in the use of the sacraments, we are purified so that we can live as pillars of truth. And by growing more mature in the understanding of the Church’s teachings, we become part of the strong foundation of the Church; our personal pillars won’t crumble under pressure, attacks, or the earthquakes of confusion. There is no good excuse for failing to educate ourselves in the teachings of the Catholic Faith, especially today when the Catechism is online and the documents which explain Church teachings are easily available.

 

Let us not be complaining children who reject the authority of the Church and its protection of the truth. If we have any objections to its teachings, it’s only because we’ve not researched what is really being said and we’ve not asked the Holy Spirit to help us understand it. May our lives, our Church leaders, and our parishes always be witnesses of the truth! Amen!

 

Prayer

 

Lord Jesus: Purify my heart of every attitude of judgment towards others, and give me the wisdom I need to discover everything good and noble that You have placed in every person. 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!”