THE GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY : Tuesday - September 19, 2023

 

Tuesday - September 19, 2023

Think well. 

Speak well. 

Do well. 

These three things, 

through the mercy of God, 

will make a man go to Heaven.

-- St. Camillus de Lellis

September 19, 2023

Tuesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 444

 

Reading I     

                                                                                                                        1 Tm 3:1-13

 

Beloved, this saying is trustworthy:

whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task.

Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable,

married only once, temperate, self-controlled,

decent, hospitable, able to teach,

not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle,

not contentious, not a lover of money.

He must manage his own household well,

keeping his children under control with perfect dignity;

for if a man does not know how to manage his own household,

how can he take care of the Church of God?

He should not be a recent convert,

so that he may not become conceited

and thus incur the Devil's punishment.

He must also have a good reputation among outsiders,

so that he may not fall into disgrace, the Devil's trap.

 

Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful,

not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain,

holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

Moreover, they should be tested first;

then, if there is nothing against them,

let them serve as deacons.

Women, similarly, should be dignified, not slanderers,

but temperate and faithful in everything.

Deacons may be married only once

and must manage their children and their households well.

Thus those who serve well as deacons gain good standing

and much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

 

Responsorial Psalm                                                                                  Ps 101:1b-2ab, 2cd-3ab, 5, 6

 

R.(2) I will walk with blameless heart.

 

Of mercy and judgment I will sing;

to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.

I will persevere in the way of integrity;

when will you come to me?

R. I will walk with blameless heart.

I will walk with blameless heart,

within my house;

I will not set before my eyes

any base thing.

R. I will walk with blameless heart.

Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret,

him will I destroy.

The man of haughty eyes and puffed up heart

I will not endure.

R. I will walk with blameless heart.

My eyes are upon the faithful of the land,

that they may dwell with me.

He who walks in the way of integrity

shall be in my service.

R. I will walk with blameless heart.

 

Alleluia         

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

A great prophet has arisen in our midst

and God has visited his people.

R. Alleluia

 

Gospel                                                                                                                       Lk 7:11-17

 

Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain,

and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him.

As he drew near to the gate of the city,

a man who had died was being carried out,

the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.

A large crowd from the city was with her.

When the Lord saw her,

he was moved with pity for her and said to her,

“Do not weep.”

He stepped forward and touched the coffin;

at this the bearers halted,

and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”

The dead man sat up and began to speak,

and Jesus gave him to his mother.

Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming,

“A great prophet has arisen in our midst,”

and “God has visited his people.”

This report about him spread through the whole of Judea

and in all the surrounding region.

 

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

A reason for hope

Today’s Gospel reading is a message of hope for any situation. Think of the widowed mother as a symbolic Mary and her dead son as Jesus. This incident foreshadowed Christ’s resurrection. Perhaps Mary heard about this miracle and found hope in it on Good Friday.

 

Read it again and see the dead son as anyone you know who has left the faith, or anyone who has been wounded or abused, or anyone who has lost much in a disaster such as a fire or earthquake or hurricane. Something inside them has died.

 

“God has visited his people” is the good news that this scripture is saying. It can replace fear, despair, anger, and thoughts of revenge. “I tell you, arise!” Jesus is saying. Our heavenly Father has new life to give.

 

To “arise” might mean getting back to normal routines. It sometimes means standing up to the abuser and drawing a boundary that says “no more.” It can mean walking away from someone who’s causing harm, and seeking experts who will help with the recovery process.

 

In a resurrection, there is always something new: a new way of dealing with problems, a new place to work or a new parish to join, or a new courage and inner strength to live a changed life.

 

To “arise” always includes a new understanding of the Father’s protective love, which comforts us in the midst of evil and leads us from tragedies into triumphs and from woundedness into recovery. God protects us through the decisions that he guides us to make, but if we ignore his guidance and end up suffering from our error, he still says, “Rise up! A new day is dawning!”

 

God also comforts us and protects us by bringing to us others who can help, but if they ignore his calling or if they fulfill their role poorly, Jesus still says to us, “I am here! Arise with me!” And he calls us to follow him in a new direction.

 

Evil produces evil and good produces good and God is, because of his infinite goodness, a redeemer who overcomes what is evil by making good arise from it — despite all obstacles. We make ourselves vulnerable to evil by the bad choices we make, but God is always at our side helping us despite our mistakes and sins.

 

Even when we don’t ask for it, he is helping us. How merciful he is! Even when we don’t accept the help he provides, he doesn’t stop doing more. How caring he is!

 

Hope is not wishful thinking. It is the awareness of God’s goodness. As you grow stronger in hope, evangelize this hope to those around you who need to hear Jesus say, “Arise!”

 

Prayer

 

Jesus, You are my joy and hope. You are the fresh air I need to live. Thank You for leading me to a new life. 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 : Monday - September 18, 2023

 

Monday - September 18, 2023

True charity consists in putting up with all one's neighbor's faults, never being surprised by his weakness, and being inspired by the least of his virtues.

-- St. Therese of Lisieux

 

September 18, 2023

Monday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 443

 

Reading I     

                                                                                                                        1 Tm 2:1-8

 

Beloved:

First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers,

petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,

for kings and for all in authority,

that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life

in all devotion and dignity.

This is good and pleasing to God our savior,

who wills everyone to be saved

and to come to knowledge of the truth.

 

For there is one God.

There is also one mediator between God and men,

the man Christ Jesus,

who gave himself as ransom for all.

 

This was the testimony at the proper time.

For this I was appointed preacher and Apostle

(I am speaking the truth, I am not lying),

teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

 

It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray,

lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.

 

Responsorial Psalm                                                                                  Ps 28:2, 7, 8-9

 

R. (6) Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard my prayer.

 

Hear the sound of my pleading, when I cry to you,

lifting up my hands toward your holy shrine.

R. Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard my prayer.

The LORD is my strength and my shield.

In him my heart trusts, and I find help;

then my heart exults, and with my song I give him thanks.

R. Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard my prayer.

The LORD is the strength of his people,

the saving refuge of his anointed.

Save your people, and bless your inheritance;

feed them, and carry them forever!

R. Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard my prayer.

 

Alleluia         

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,

so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.

R. Alleluia

 

Gospel                                                                                                                       Lk 7:1-10

 

When Jesus had finished all his words to the people,

he entered Capernaum.

A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die,

and he was valuable to him.

When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him,

asking him to come and save the life of his slave.

They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying,

"He deserves to have you do this for him,

for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us."

And Jesus went with them,

but when he was only a short distance from the house,

the centurion sent friends to tell him,

"Lord, do not trouble yourself,

for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.

Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you;

but say the word and let my servant be healed.

For I too am a person subject to authority,

with soldiers subject to me.

And I say to one, Go, and he goes;

and to another, Come here, and he comes;

and to my slave, Do this, and he does it."

When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him

and, turning, said to the crowd following him,

"I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith."

When the messengers returned to the house,

they found the slave in good health.

 

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

The authority of Jesus from a distance

What kind of awe do you have for Jesus? Do you know that he is so powerful that all he has to do is think a thought and make a decision, and it is accomplished? The centurion in today’s Gospel reading knew this. It’s the core belief of true faith. It’s the faith we are expected to have when we pray at Mass, “Lord, I am not worthy … but only say the word …”

 

Take a moment to reflect in awe of how thoroughly God is involved in your life. Before you asked for his help, and even before you knew that you needed his help, he knew all about it. He knew what would happen and when it would happen and how to help you in the best possible way. He also knew how to use it to help you grow in holiness. Despite how difficult your trials get, our loving Father has authority that’s far greater than your biggest problem.

 

If you believe this, you have faith like the centurion.

 

But what about the slave’s faith? Did he (or she) believe in the authority of Jesus to provide a healing? Did the slave even ask for a healing? We don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. The centurion and his Jewish friends interceded for the slave. The authority that Jesus had — and his caring concern — was so powerful and so complete that he did not need to hear a request from the slave’s own mouth. He responded to the people who cared about him. It was their love and their belief in his authority that opened the way for a miracle.

 

If you’ve been praying for someone whose faith in God is non-existent or barely alive, remember that Jesus can help even from a distance, because his authority is far greater than anyone’s rebellion or resistance or disbelief. However, it might look like your prayers are doing no good, because you can only see what’s obvious. Remember this: There is always much more happening than what we can see. God knows how to work with his or her free will to help the soul in the best possible way.

 

We cannot see the full picture. What we do know with certainty is that there is much we don’t know. Are we going to base our faith on what we can grasp with our very limited brains — or on the Jesus who always responds to our love for others? In his compassion, he redirects our prayers to whatever will most help in their salvation, because he wants to spend eternity with them infinitely more than we do.

 

As today’s first reading points out, Jesus is the mediator between God and humankind. With a word from Jesus, God’s will is done. The centurion spoke a profound truth when he said, “Just give the order and my servant will be healed.” This is the basis of our prayer whenever we receive Jesus in the Eucharist: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” In this prayer, we acknowledge Christ’s authority. With this faith, there is much that God can accomplish.

 

Prayer

 

Beloved Father, May the Faith You have given me produce good and abundant fruit. May I never keep only for myself the treasures You have revealed to me and entrusted to me. 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 : Sunday - September 17, 2023

 

Sunday - September 17, 2023

I will go peaceably and firmly to the Catholic Church: for if Faith is so important to our salvation, I will seek it where true Faith first began, seek it among those who received it from God Himself.

--St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

September 17, 2023

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 130

 

Reading I     

                                                                                                                        Sir 27:30—28:7

 

Wrath and anger are hateful things,

yet the sinner hugs them tight.

The vengeful will suffer the LORD's vengeance,

for he remembers their sins in detail.

Forgive your neighbor's injustice;

then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.

Could anyone nourish anger against another

and expect healing from the LORD?

Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself,

can he seek pardon for his own sins?

If one who is but flesh cherishes wrath,

who will forgive his sins?

Remember your last days, set enmity aside;

remember death and decay, and cease from sin!

Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor;

remember the Most High's covenant, and overlook faults.

 

Responsorial Psalm                                                                                  Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12

 

R. (8) The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.

 

Bless the LORD, O my soul;

and all my being, bless his holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.

He pardons all your iniquities,

heals all your ills.

He redeems your life from destruction,

crowns you with kindness and compassion.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.

He will not always chide,

nor does he keep his wrath forever.

Not according to our sins does he deal with us,

nor does he requite us according to our crimes.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,

so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.

As far as the east is from the west,

so far has he put our transgressions from us.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.

 

Reading 2                                                                                                                 Rom 14:7-9

 

Brothers and sisters:

None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself.

For if we live, we live for the Lord,

and if we die, we die for the Lord;

so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.

For this is why Christ died and came to life,

that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

 

Alleluia         

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I give you a new commandment, says the Lord;

love one another as I have loved you.

R. Alleluia

 

Gospel                                                                                                                       Mt 18:21-35

 

Peter approached Jesus and asked him,

"Lord, if my brother sins against me,

how often must I forgive?

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 your brother from your heart."

 

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

The freedom of forgiveness

Jesus’ message In this Sunday’s Gospel reading explains a line from the “Our Father” prayer he had taught earlier (Matthew 6:12): “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”

 

The strongest word here is “AS” — the same as, just like, in equal measure.

 

If there is anyone we have not forgiven, if there is anyone we cannot pray for with love, we’d better keep our mouths shut during this part of the prayer to our Father, who is the Father of all.

 

Sometimes, it’s difficult to forgive because we think “forgiving” means “forgetting”. Jesus never said that we must forget what the debtor owes. Forgiveness means remembering — and learning from the memory — without demanding repayment or retribution.

 

Unforgiveness is a form of punishment: it’s payback time. For example, if we remain angry, we hope that our anger or coldness will somehow punish the sinner into repentance. Well, guess what. That never works.

 

Here’s something else we do that never works: holding a grudge to protect ourselves from getting hurt again. Grudges do not free us from the pain of bad memories. It chains us to them.

 

When we free others from the debts they owe us for hurting us (whether they seek it or not, whether they’re still alive or not), we free ourselves and our healing begins — OUR healing!

 

It’s the most loving gift that we can give to ourselves, as it’s a gift of love to others. Even when they don’t recognize our gift, God does.

 

Prayer

 

My Father, I ask You to grant me the grace of having a deep and sincere relationship with You. May Your love start bearing fruit in me, forgiving others and being merciful to them. 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!”