Daily Reflections

August 30, 2011
THE MIRACLES OF JESUS

The miracles of Jesus are not just God showing off His power. They are signs of the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God into our world. With the birth of Jesus, we have something of heaven, something of the divine coming into the world. When the divine encounters the human, there is often some sort of fireworks, so to speak. This is what we witness when God works miracles. It is not just the authority of Jesus that the people marvel at; it is far more than this.
Furthermore, the miracles of Jesus are signs that God wants to engage with us in our lives. Yes, they are rather extraordinary signs but we have not left God with much of a choice. In over 2,000 years of working with the Jewish people, their hardness of heart and stubbornness of spirit barely changed. God has decided that He needs to intervene in a more spectacular way in order to convince us of His love and inspire faith within our hearts.
As we read about the miracles of Jesus in the Scriptures, let us remember they are meant to inspire awe and wonder to build our faith in God. It is good to ask the Holy Spirit to increase our faith as we reflect on the Word of God. The Word of God is powerful and we need to do all we can to harness its power. We do not have the luxury of having Jesus physically present to work His miracles today as the Apostles did, but we do have the blessing of the Word of God to bring life to the miracles of Jesus. Let us seek to activate our faith and allow its inherent dynamic to draw us closer to and more deeply in love with our God. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Reflection Question:
Do I believe in the miracles of Jesus? What role do I think they have in my faith?

Jesus, many times You exercised authority over evil and the elements to demonstrate Your divinity and encourage our faith in You. Help me to believe more in You today.

St. Loaran, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

August 30, 2011
1st READING
Christ’s return will be sudden and unexpected. As Christians, we should be alert and busy doing His work so that when He does come, we will not be ashamed to face Him. Paul tells us to put on the breastplate of faith and love. This will protect our hearts and ensure we are ready when Christ returns.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11
1 Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night. 3 When people are saying, “Peace and security,” then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief. 5 For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. 6 Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober. 9 For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him. 11 Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.

P S A L M

Psalms 27:1, 4, 13-14
R: I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? (R) 4 One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek, to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD and contemplate his temple. (R) 13 I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD. (R)

G O S P E L

When the scribes and Pharisees taught the people, they often quoted famous scholars and rabbis to support what they were saying and to impress their audience. Jesus, in contrast, spoke with great simplicity and power, supporting what He taught with miracles and signs. He did not quote other authorities as He was Himself God, and so He said, “But I say unto you.” He even placed His teaching above that of Moses, the greatest of all the Jewish prophets.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Luke 4:31-37
31 Jesus then went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, 34 “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” 35 Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. 36 They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” 37 And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

my reflections
t h i n k : Christ’s return will be sudden and unexpected.

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 41-44

Daily Reflections

August 29, 2011
TRUTH

Truth is a fascinating reality as it can cause a great deal of trouble when opposing sides cannot agree on a common foundation from which to start an argument. We live in a world that challenges the idea of universal truth. People do not seem to realize that such a position, if strictly adhered to, is absurd as ultimately it means that we can never agree on anything because what is true for you may not be true for me, depending on how either of us feel at the particular time.
Truth is necessary in dialogues and relationships. Without it there is no base position from which to build an argument. It is a bit like working out the pronunciation of a language but allowing everyone to choose what sound goes with what letter. Clearly, any conversation cannot take place and thus relationships will be impossible. When we admit that we are in relationships with others, it means that there are some foundational truths that underpin the way we live.
The reason I mention this is that we need to make a stand in our faith with regards to truth and not allow the world’s relativism to dictate to us what we should or should not believe when it comes to morality. If we allow the world to lead us in morality, we will end up in a mess as there is no way of recognizing right from wrong if we do not have basic truths to guide us. No matter how inconvenient truth may be, we still have to be committed to it unto death if necessary. We know that our faith is a serious matter when we consider the long line of saints that we venerate.
Jesus tells us that He is the Truth that sets us free from relativism and sin. Let us embrace Him more closely today as we seek to deepen our lives as disciples of Jesus. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Reflection Question:
Have I given in to the secular powers that try to weaken my faith by presenting life to me as something whose truth is determined by me?

Father, help me to look to Jesus, Your Son, when I face trials and difficulties. Please make me attentive to where He leads me.

St. Sebbi, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

August 29, 2011
1st READING

Paul assures the Thessalonian Christians that their dead relatives who had faith in Jesus would one day be resurrected from the dead so there was no need to grieve like the pagans who had no hope of seeing their relatives again. Those who are alive when Christ returns will not taste death but will be transformed at Christ’s appearing in glory.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (or Jeremiah 1:17-19)
13 We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, console one another with these words.

P S A L M

Psalms 96:1, 3, 4-5, 11-12, 13 (or Psalms 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15, 17)
R: The Lord comes to judge the earth.
1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands. 3 Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds. (R) 4 For great is the LORD and highly to be praised; awesome is he, beyond all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are things of nought, but the LORD made the heavens. (R) 11 Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and what fills it resound; 12 let the plains be joyful and all that is in them! Then shall all the trees of the forest exult. (R) 13 Before the LORD, for he comes; for he comes to rule the earth. He shall rule the world with justice and the peoples with his constancy. (R)

G O S P E L

Jesus teaches us that God, our Heavenly Father, will care for us and provide for our needs so there is no need to be anxious and worry about the necessities of life. If God cares for the birds and plants, will He not also care for us, His children? We should use our time and energy here on earth in building up a store of treasure in heaven rather than in acquiring earthly riches that will all pass away.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Luke 4:16-30 (or Mark 6:17-29)
16 Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read 17 and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” 20 Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. 21 He said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” 23 He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’ ” 24 And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. 25 Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. 26 It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. 27 Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. 29 They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. 30 But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

my reflections
t h i n k : If God cares for the birds and plants, will He not also care for us, His children?

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 37-40

Isaiah 37-40

Daily Reflections

TRANSFORMATION

The goal of our spiritual life is the transformation of our lives such that Jesus becomes the center of who we are and what we do. Human beings are somewhat reluctant to embrace change as it means moving into unknown and often uncharted waters. This is never an easy task as it means facing up to our fears and anxieties so that the Holy Spirit can deal with them and show us the way to a deeper life of faith.
St. Paul knows the challenge of having to humble himself and submit his life to a new reality, one that he had spent a considerable amount of time and effort trying to destroy. Humility is a necessary part of the process. There will be times when the task seems easy. What is important here is to examine why it has become easy so that in identifying what helps us surrender, we can embrace this method or path more often.
Each person has to learn to navigate his or her way through the spiritual journey of faith. Yes, we can learn a lot from the lives of others but they will never provide us with all the answers. We are individuals and part of the joy and mystery and excitement of life is knowing that one’s journey is indeed one’s own and it is up to us to walk it. This can be a daunting reality that we could shrink back and refuse to enter it. I would like to take this opportunity to encourage us all to embrace the call and the challenge to discover what sort of life God calls us to share with Him.
We will never know the fullness of life; we will never fill that hole in the depth of our beings unless we embark on the journey of a lifetime that we call faith in God. And as a journey it can be treacherous and perilous; it can be exciting and enjoyable; it can be boring and challenging. Whatever our experience, the goal of eternal life will keep us focused. Let us never allow our lives to wander from our vision of the Lord. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Reflection Question:
What is my experience of the journey of faith? Am I tired of it? Am I excited by it? Where is it going? What am I doing to grow in my faith?

Father in heaven, You desire that we all enter into a life of faith and so discover that the fulfillment of our lives is found in the gift of salvation.

St. Gorman, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

August 28, 2011
1st READING
Jeremiah, the prophet, had to bring a message to God’s people that they did not want to hear — that they had to surrender to the King of Babylon and not to trust in an alliance with Egypt. Jeremiah suffered because of the message God asked him to bring and decides not to speak of it anymore, but he cannot remain silent as the message is a fire in his soul.

Jeremiah 20:7-9
7 You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped; you were too strong for me, and you triumphed. All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me. 8 Whenever I speak, I must cry out, violence and outrage is my message; the word of the LORD has brought me derision and reproach all the day. 9 I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.

P S A L M

Psalms 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
R: My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
1 [2] O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. (R) 2 [3] Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory, 3 [4] for your kindness is a greater good than life; my lips shall glorify you. (R) 4 [5] Thus will I bless you while I live; lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name. 5 [6] As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied, and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. (R) 7 [8] You are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy. 8 [9] My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me. (R)

2nd READING

Paul tells us that the way to personal transformation is to allow the Word of God to renew our minds. Often our minds are filled with unbelief, complaining, critical and negative thoughts. These make us sad and sap our energy for life. By memorizing Scripture verses, we can replace these negative thoughts with faith-filled ones and so reap a harvest of good fruit in our lives.

Romans 12:1-2
1 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. 2 Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

G O S P E L

From the beginning, Jesus had no doubt as to His mission and what would be the inevitable outcome of His ministry. He would be rejected by the elders and rulers of the Temple and be handed over to the Romans to be crucified. He knew that by submitting Himself to death for love of us, He would redeem and save mankind. Peter wants Jesus to be a conquering hero, not a crucified one, and so opposes the idea of the cross. However, Jesus sees past the pain and suffering of the cross to the resurrection and new life that would result.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call. R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 16:21-27
21 Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. 22 Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” 23 He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct.”

my reflections
t h i n k : The way to personal transformation is to allow the Word of God to renew our minds.

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 33-36

SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
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SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
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HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
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Daily Reflections

August 27, 2011
GOING ABOUT OUR BUSINESS

St. Paul reminds the Thessalonians to live faithfully and quietly, not seeking to stir up trouble in their city. The Christians would have been a very small minority in these cities of the Roman Empire and, generally speaking, religions other than the Roman ones were not encouraged. Indeed, people were often persecuted and killed if they refused to follow the Roman gods. St. Paul knows all about persecution and while prudence will not stop him from proclaiming and living the Gospel, there is no point of stirring up persecution for the sake of it.
We celebrate today the Feast of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine. The Church has much to thank Monica for her tireless intercession, at least in part, for arguably the greatest mind that Christianity has seen. Augustine is the most quoted of all the saints in the Catechism of the Catholic Church by a long way. Monica is the epitome of what Paul encourages the Thessalonians to do when he tells them to go about their business quietly. She was faithful to her role as mother of Augustine in the best way possible, never giving up on her wayward son until he repents and is baptized. Even then I am sure she continued to pray for him.
This is what we need in the Church today — men and women who will remain faithful to their calling even through trials and difficulties that can last for decades. Augustine was about 34 when he finally settled into his Christian calling. We will never be able to measure the power and efficacy of prayer in an empirical manner, but in faith we know that the Lord hears the cry of the poor and He will always give answer to our needs. Again, we do not know the form His answer will take or its timing, but we can be sure that He does answer in His own way and time. We only have to learn to trust Him. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Reflection Question:
Am I committed to praying unceasingly for those things the Lord puts in my heart?

Holy Spirit, inspire me to be more faithful in praying for the needs of the Church and my own spiritual life.

St. Decuman, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

August 27, 2011
1st READING

At the beginning of his Pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI reminded us all of the paramount importance of charity (love) and that this is the distinguishing mark of a Christian. To be loving, we do not have to be wealthy, beautiful or smart. It is within our reach. It is a daily choice to seek the good of others and to serve them generously and joyfully.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-11
9 Brothers and sisters: On the subject of fraternal charity you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. 10 Indeed, you do this for all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Nevertheless we urge you, brothers and sisters, to progress
even more, 11 and to aspire to live a tranquil life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.

P S A L M

Psalms 98:1, 7-8, 9
R: The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. (R) 7 Let the sea and what fills it resound, the world and those who dwell in it; 8 let the rivers clap their hands, the mountains shout with them for joy. (R) 9 Before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to rule the earth; he will rule the world with justice and the peoples with equity. (R)

G O S P E L

This parable reminds us that it does not matter that we do not have all the same gifts and abilities. What God expects is that we use the gifts that He has given us and if we do that, then He will entrust more to us. If we selfishly keep the gifts God has given us to ourselves and do not share them with others, eventually we will lose even these few gifts.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 25:14-30
14 Jesus told to his disciples this parable: “A man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one — to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately 16 the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. 17 Likewise, the one who received two made another two. 18 But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ 22 Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ 24 Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; 25 so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ 26 His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? 28 Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’”

my reflections
t h i n k : W hat God expects is that we use the gifts that He has given us and if we do that, then He will entrust more to us.

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 29-32

Daily Reflections

August 26, 2011
DON’T WE BELIEVE IN LUST ANYMORE?

Perhaps the title for this reflection should read: Don’t we believe that lust is a sin anymore? Why do I ask such a question? I ask this because of the sexually charged atmosphere in our present society. Billboards, magazines, TV shows, the Internet and so on are full of sexually charged images that I truly wonder whether or not we consider modesty to be something of a virtue anymore or if it no longer matters how we express our sexuality and with whom?
Our sexuality, a wonderful gift of God to us, enables human beings to enter into an intimacy and depth of relationship that allows them to image the creative power of God. However, it seems that we are happy to put our sexuality up for sale and think nothing of it; we are happy to be bombarded with sexual images that are attempting to incite our sexual desire and we are not campaigning for greater protection for our children from such irresponsibility. Society seems to want to have it both ways — they want absolute freedom of sexual expression for themselves and then are horrified when their teenage children do not show any sexual restraint. All I feel like doing is knock on people’s heads and ask if there is anyone home who is really thinking about this contradiction.
The sexual revolution of the ‘60s has turned into a nightmare for human relationships. Children become sexualized by their environment at an age when they are incapable of dealing with the depth of emotions involved. Parents are tearing their hair out having to deal with teenage pregnancy and kids who are sexually active in their early teens. Is this healthy? Of course not! What can we do about it? Society is obviously not going to do anything about it as sex sells and every advertising company knows this fact. The only way we can do anything to protect our children is to instill in them the values of purity and modesty from an early age in order to give them the other side of the sexual story. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Reflection Question:
What can I do to promote the values of sexual modesty and purity in my life?

Holy Spirit, may I live with purity of heart, mind and action and be at least a small beacon of light promoting the dignity and beauty of human sexuality.

St. Elias, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

August 26, 2011
1st READING

Often, people wonder what is God’s will for their lives. Here, St. Paul tells us it is to grow in holiness. That is the ultimate purpose and will of God for each of us. This can be attained in a number of different vocations. We ought to seek daily to do our tasks for the honor and glory of God and to be faithful to Him in the little things.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
1 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. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 This is the will of God, your holiness: that you refrain from immorality, 4 that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself in holiness and honor, 5 not in lustful passion as do the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 not to take advantage of or exploit a brother in this matter, for the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you before and solemnly affirmed. 7 For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness. 8 Therefore, whoever disregards this, disregards not a human being but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.

P S A L M

Psalms 97:1, 2, 5-6, 10, 11-12
R: Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
1 The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad. 2 Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne. (R) 5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The heavens proclaim his justice, and all peoples see his glory. (R) 10 The LORD loves those that hate evil; he guards the lives of his faithful ones; from the hand of the wicked he delivers them. (R) 11 Light dawns for the just; and gladness, for the upright of heart. 12 Be glad in the LORD, you just, and give thanks to his holy name. (R)

G O S P E L

This parable of the Virgins reminds us that we need to persevere in our spiritual exercises (prayer, service and fasting) so that the spiritual fervor in our hearts (the Virgin’s lamps) does not die out. This is our individual responsibility. We cannot live off the spiritual capital of another but must take care to keep the light of love and faith alive in our
hearts.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Be vigilant at all times and pray, that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 25:1-13
1 Jesus told to his disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, 4 but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 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.’ 10 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. 11 Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ 12 But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

my reflections
think: We cannot live off the spiritual capital of another but must take care to keep the light of love and faith alive in our hearts.


God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 25-28

Daily Reflections

August 25, 2011
THE EFFICACY OF PRAYER

Sometimes people ask me why we should bother with praying because it is not as if God needs our prayers. This is precisely true but it misses one point — that prayer is primarily for us. We pray for our own sake, not for God’s sake; it is we who need the prayers. Prayer also reminds us as to what our life’s focus should be. The further reason for praying is that if we want a relationship with God, then there is no other way to maintain that relationship than by spending time talking to Him in prayer.
When our loved ones are far from us, we take the time to write them, email them, call them or use any of the Internet communication networks such as Facebook and Twitter to keep in touch with them. We do this to fulfill our felt need to communicate with them. The same is true in our relationship with God — it needs to be attended to if we want it to flourish. Any relationship needs sufficient attention if it is going to survive in our busy world.
One of the great dangers to any relationship is that it gets crowded out by the many other things that we have in our lives. This is why we have to constantly make choices and prioritize what we do with our time. When someone talks to me about his spiritual life, one of the first questions I often ask is what priority he gives to prayer. If little priority is given to prayer, there is very little point in the person seeking spiritual direction. I will just tell them the same thing every time, “Prioritize prayer in your life and then it will be possible for you to grow closer to God!” It is amazing how a great number of people say they want to grow closer to God but are not willing to prioritize prayer in their lives. It is like saying that you are hungry but you cannot be bothered taking time out to eat. Anyone can see that this just does not make any sense at all. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Reflection Question:
What priority do I give to prayer in my life? Should I be concerned about this aspect of my life or is it wellbalanced?

Holy Spirit, help me to put order to my life so that I could give appropriate time to prayer and other spiritual activities to improve my relationship with God.

St. Genesius, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

August 25, 2011
1st READING

Here we see the great love that the Apostle Paul had for the Christians at Thessalonica. He labored in prayer for them, that God will remedy any deficiencies in their faith. We can see from Paul’s example how our prayers can greatly help others in growing in virtue and overcoming any weaknesses.

1 Thessalonians 3:7-13
7 We have been reassured about you, brothers and sisters, in our every distress and affliction, through your faith. 8 For we now live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 9 What thanksgiving, then, can we render to God for you, for all the joy we feel on your account before our God? 10 Night and day we pray beyond measure to see you in person and to remedy the deficiencies of your faith. 11 Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, 13 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.

P S A L M

Psalms 90:3-4, 12-13, 14, 17
R: Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
3 You turn man back to dust, saying, “Return, O children of men.” 4 For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night. (R) 12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. 13 Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants! (R) 14 Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. 17 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)

G O S P E L

A familiar theme in the Gospels is to be alert and to stay awake. This is an inner attitude of prayerful attention to God and to His action in our lives. It can only be attained by detachment from the many concerns that absorb our attention and energy. We can grow in this alertness to God and His Spirit by prayer and fasting. We should seek to fast on Fridays from some food or other activity that we like so that we can give ourselves more completely to God.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Stay awake! For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Isaiah 21-24
Matthew 24:42-51
42 Jesus said to his disciples: “Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. 43 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. 44 So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. 45 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? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so. 47 Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with drunkards, 50 the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour 51 and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

my reflections
t h i n k : We can grow in alertness to God and His Spirit by prayer and fasting.


God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 21-24

Daily Reflections

August 24, 2011
ETERNAL LIFE IS THE GOAL

One of the things that sets the lives of the saints apart is their unshakeable focus upon eternal life. They are willing to forsake all the pleasures of this world because they have a firm belief in the glory of eternal life. There is nothing else that can explain the willing martyrdom of so many of thesaints. Why would a person willingly give up their earthly life if they did not have something else to live for, in this case eternal life with God in heaven? It is quite a small logical step. Let me show you why.
Our mortal lives last on the average around 70 years. In some countries this extends to 80 and some even live to be over 100. Let us imagine that these years, however many, are full of pleasure and no pain. (This is obviously an exaggeration, but it is one that works against my argument yet I will choose to allow it to stand.) Heaven by definition has no pain and suffering. Life in heaven, again by definition, is without end. Simple mathematics tells us that when we compare a finite number with an infinite number, the infinite number prevails every time. Therefore, the experience of pleasure and joy in heaven will always be far greater than in our earthly life. It is now easy to see why the saints are willing to give up all for the Kingdom of God.
Each one of us has to reflect upon God’s call on our lives and choose whether or not we will follow it. We have to make a decision concerning our belief and trust in the promise of eternal life. Obviously, if we do not believe in eternal life, we would not be willing to forsake the joys and pleasures of this life. However, if we believe in eternal life, it is almost necessary for us to do so to some degree if our witness to the Gospel is going to have any credibility. James tells us that he will demonstrate that he has faith in Jesus through his works; the main way we demonstrate our belief in eternal life is by our willingness to forsake at least some of the pleasures of our earthly existence. The Church gives this a name: we call it penance. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Reflection Question:
When was the last time I did penance for my sins? Do I voluntarily take on penances or do I only embrace them in the context of the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

Jesus, help me to be willing to do penance for my sin and thus demonstrate my true contrition as well as to intercede for the salvation of others.

St. Massa Candida, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

August 24, 2011
1st READING
St. John the Apostle is given a vision of the Bride of Christ, the Church, in the image of the holy city of Jerusalem, coming down from heaven. This is the ultimate purpose of God — that we, as part of the Church, should be united as a bride is with the groom in an eternal marriage bond. That is why we should strive to be holy so that we may be worthy to be united with Christ as His bride.

Revelation 21:9-14
9 The angel spoke to me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, [the names] of the twelve tribes of the Israelites. 13 There were three gates facing east, three north, three south, and three west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

P S A L M

Psalms 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18
R: Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

10 Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. 11 Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might. (R) 12 Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations. (R) 17 The LORD is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. 18 The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. (R)

G O S P E L

Here we hear an account of the calling of Nathanael as a disciple of Jesus. We see his character in his blunt description of Nazareth as a useless and no good place. Jesus sees into his heart and sees his good qualities, which He will bring to perfection through His grace. Perhaps Nathanael’s frankness also causes him at times to say the wrong things and hurt other people’s feelings. He will also need to acquire the virtue of prudence and wisdom to know how to speak and when to be blunt.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

John 1:45-51
45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” 46 But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

my reflections
think: We should strive to be holy so that we may be worthy to be united with Christ as His bride.


God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 17-20

Daily Reflections

August 23, 2011
THE PURITY OF THE GOSPEL

One of the ways we can be sure of the integrity of a preacher is if he or she stands to gain nothing from their preaching. When there is fundraising associated with the preaching of an individual that does not have proper public accounting, I will always be suspicious of the motives and integrity of all those involved. I am not saying that what they are doing is wrong; all I am saying is there is no way of knowing whether what they are doing is consistent with a life of integrity or not.
St. Paul mentions a number of times that he offers the Gospel to people free of charge. He stands to gain nothing financially from what he is doing; in fact, he is often “out of pocket” in what he does. One of the things that clears up a lot of the financial problems of religious groups is if there is a level of independent supervision of their finances. This will help set a lot of suspicions to rest.
It is important that lay communities have similar safeguards in place as they are no different from Charismatic individuals in this regard. Too many groups have imploded over arguments about finances and how they are distributed, or not distributed in most cases. Money is an incredibly seductive reality when it is present in relatively large quantities. It is essential that care is taken in its administration.
One of the accusations that often occur against leaders is that of hypocrisy, and this is often connected to the misuse of funds. Let us always set safeguards in place in our communities to protect ourselves from these problems so that the work of God can move forward without any unnecessary complications and problems. This will also allow our communities to flourish and remain free of accusations of impropriety if it is easy to answer questions raised by pointing to a regular accounting of the use of funds. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Reflection Question:
What are my motivations in sharing the Gospel with others? Can I say I do so with purity of heart and intention?

Jesus, You came to the world at the bidding of our Father in heaven; it was not for Your personal gain. Help me to be as selfless in all of my service for the Kingdom.

St. Victor of Vita, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

August 23, 2011
1st READING

St. Paul describes his behavior in preaching the Gospel to the Thessalonians. He reminds them that he brought them the Gospel through purity of intention and without flattery or deceit. He also does not seek any remuneration for his services as he supports himself and his fellow workers as a tent maker. He does this to reassure them of his great and ongoing love and concern for them and their welfare.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
1 You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our reception among you was not without effect. 2 Rather, after we had suffered and been insolently treated, as you know, in Philippi, we drew courage through our God to speak to you the gospel of God with much struggle. 3 Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives, nor did it work through deception. 4 But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the gospel, that is how we speak, not as trying to please human beings, but rather God, who judges our hearts. 5 Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know, or with a pretext for greed — God is witness — 6 nor did we seek praise from human beings, either from you or from others, 7 although we were able to impose our weight as apostles of Christ. Rather, we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children. 8 With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us.

P S A L M

Psalms 139:1-3, 4-6
R: You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
1 O LORD, you have probed me and you know me; 2 you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. 3 My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar. (R) 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know the whole of it. 5 Behind me and before, you hem me in and rest your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; too lofty for me to attain. (R)

G O S P E L

Jesus criticizes the Pharisees because they were more concerned with the outward keeping of the law than with the inner transformation of their hearts. While they would tithe or put aside one-tenth of the herbs and spices they used when cooking, they neglected to show compassion or mercy to the weak and fallen. All their religious observances were performed in order to gain people’s praise and adoration, and not to bring about any real inner conversion. God isn’t so much concerned that we say all the prayers as He is more concerned that we help the poor and needy in our communities.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 23:23-26
23 Jesus said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. But these you should have done, without neglecting the others. 24 Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! 25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.”

my reflections
t h i n k : God isn’t so much concerned that we say all the prayers as He is more concerned that we help the poor and needy in our communities.

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 13-16

Daily Reflections

August 22, 2011
LET’S FOLLOW HER EXAMPLE

The Church honors Mary under all sorts of different titles. In this we recognize the extraordinary broadness of her appeal to people. Some will honor her for one particular trait in her life and others will choose something else or be inspired by yet another. The thing that appeals to me most about Mary is her conviction to see through her call to the end without faltering in faith.
We live in a world where the goal of society seems to be for more and more comfort. Mary’s life speaks of exactly the opposite — pregnant out of wedlock, not welcome anywhere in Bethlehem to give birth, and many other situations. Her constancy of faith, whether in trial or not, is very inspiring to me. As I reflect on my own life and recognize within a reluctance to embrace a deeper call of sacrifice and self-denial, my mind often moves to think of Mary’s life. And then it becomes clearer to me that it is possible to embrace the deeper call if I am willing to surrender more deeply in faith to God’s will as she did.
Mary’s life is a standout among all examples of discipleship for the way in which she surrenders to God’s will, something that must have seemed almost ridiculous as well as impossible on first hearing it from the angel. However, all that the angel said happened, and more besides that, and Mary’s life of surrender to God deepened each day to the point that she was able to endure His passion and death. I have a suspicion that she had an inkling that Jesus’ death was not the end. I am sure she did not have secret access to God’s will, but with a mother’s intuition, she may have realized there was more to His life than death; that Jesus’ death was not the final word in this chapter of her life.Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Reflection Question:
As we seek to embrace God’s call on our lives, let us open our hearts in surrender to God’s mercy and love for this is the only way we can receive the grace we need to follow His will. And we need all the grace and help we can get!

Jesus, You were born of the womb of the Virgin Mary. Your whole life is caught up in the mystery of God’s love for His people. Help me to embrace His will so that I may live in imitation of You.

St. John Kemble, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

August 22, 2011
1st READING

In this letter, Paul writes to the church at Thessalonica and encourages the Christians there to persevere in their faith. He reminds them how they received the Good News and how the Holy Spirit worked powerfully in their lives. St. Paul, as a true spiritual father, continues to pray for his spiritual children just as the Blessed Virgin Mary prays for us as her beloved children.

1 Thessalonians 1:2-5, 8-10
2 Paul, Silvanus and Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly 3 calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, 4 knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction. You know what sort of people we were among you for your sake. 8 In every place your faith in God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. 9 For they themselves openly declare about us what sort of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God 10 and to await his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the coming wrath.

P S A L M

Psalms 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 9
R: The Lord takes delight in his people.
1 Sing to the LORD a new song of praise in the assembly of the faithful. 2 Let Israel be glad in their maker, let the children of Zion rejoice in their king. (R) 3 Let them praise his name in the festive dance, let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp. 4 For the LORD loves his people, and he adorns the lowly with victory. (R) 5 Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon their couches; 6 let the high praises of God be in their throats. 9 This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia! (R)

G O S P E L

In this Gospel passage, we see Jesus speaking harsh words to the Pharisees who were a very strict and pious group of Jews seeking to obey all the laws with great exactitude. Jesus, as a true teacher and prophet, seeks to correct their errors so that they can follow the true path and not get sidetracked into a legalistic and self-righteous religion. We see in Jesus that truth and love can coexist and serve each other.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 23:13-22
13 Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter. [14] 14 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves. 16 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If one swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.’ 17 Blind fools, which is greater, the gold, or the temple that made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.’ 19 You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it; 21 one who swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it; 22 one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it.”

my reflections
t h i n k : In Jesus, we see that truth and love can coexist and serve each other.


God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 9-12

Isaiah 9-12

Daily Reflections

August 21, 2011
THE MYSTERY OF GOD ’S WILL

The wonders of the mind and will of God have fascinated spiritual writers for centuries and we are probably no closer to understanding them than we were centuries ago. After all, when the finite tries to measure itself against the infinite, it does not matter how big the finite is. It is always going to be insignificant in comparison to the infinite.
Enough mathematics for now and let’s get back to the more serious matter of our faith in God. St. Paul takes the only path open to us in the face of God’s majesty and mystery. He stands in awe and wonder before it. Sometimes it is as simple as this. All we need to do is stand in awe before the Lord and wonder at His greatness. Not even questions can express what we feel. However, it is important that our awe does not stop here. We must allow it to permeate our lives in such a way that it leads us to trust and believe in God’s promises and providence. There will be many times when we do not understand where He is in the midst of what we are doing, or what it means for us, but we still have to trust Him and surrender our lives to His will.
“Too hard,” you say. “Not easy,” I reply. We are not in control of the dynamic of faith. It is God’s gift to us and our first and foremost duty is to be grateful for it. Because this is the case, we also need to surrender ourselves to its nature; it is not for us to dictate to God what the essence of faith is. God has already determined this. The only thing we can do here is decide whether or not to accept the gift of faith and place our lives under its dynamic.
We can choose to live our lives without God. This is a possibility if we so exercise our wills. However, to do so in the face of the overwhelming evidence of His existence in the beauty and wonder of the universe would seem to be unwise. This will not stop some people from making this choice. I just pray that we are not numbered among them. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Reflection Question:
How do I feel about the mysteries of God that I encounter each day? Am I willing to surrender myself in awe to these mysteries?

Jesus, You have been sent by the Father to redeem us. Thank You for Your obedience to His call. Help me to respond generously to Your offer of faith and salvation.

St. Joseph Nien Vien, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

August 21, 2011
1st READING

It is the Lord who appoints those whom He wants to lead over His flock. This is a sacred trust. If a person abuses or fails in his duty, then God may well remove him from that position of trust and authority and give it to someone more worthy. This we see in the case of Shebna who the Lord thrust from office and replaced with Eliakim.

Isaiah 22:15, 19-23
15 Thus says the Lord to Shebna, master of the palace: 19 I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station. 20 On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah; 21 I will clothe him with your robe, and gird him with your sash, and give over to him your authority. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. 22 I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open. 23 I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot, to be a place of honor for his family.”

P S A L M

Psalms 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8
R: Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.
1 I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; 2 I will worship at your holy temple. (R) I will give thanks to your name, because of your kindness and your truth. 3 When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me. (R) 6 The LORD is exalted, yet the lowly he sees, and the proud he knows from afar. 8 Your kindness, O LORD, endures forever; forsake not the work of your hands. (R)

2nd READING

St. Paul is caught up in a rapturous praise of God whom He sees as so wonderful and far above all human understanding. Often, we think that we know better than God and do not see that God’s wisdom and ways are far above ours. We can only see a very small part of the whole picture and, as a consequence, cannot understand what is happening. Only God sees everything in its entirety.

Romans 11:33-36
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Or who has given him anything that he may be repaid?” 36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

G O S P E L

Jesus asks His Apostles who do they say He is. This is not just a theoretical question as the answer has a profound impact on how we see Jesus and our relationship with Him. If Jesus is just a good man or a prophet, then He is to be admired but not worshipped. If He is just a holy man, we can imitate Him like we do the other saints, but He cannot save us. Only if Jesus is God can He forgive our sins and reconcile us to His Father.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 16:13-20
13 Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. 18 And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

my reflections
t h i n k : Only God sees everything in its entirety.

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 5-8
SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
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SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
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HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
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______________________________________________________________________________ & nbsp;

Daily Reflections

August 20, 2011
A MAN OF GRE AT INFLUENCE

I would hazard a guess that you think the title refers to Jesus. Well, it could refer to Jesus, but in this case I intend it to refer to Bernard of Clairvaux whose feast day we celebrate today. In the Gospel for the weekday, we hear Jesus speaking about what it means to be a true leader. A good leader is not just one who knows what he is saying and teaching his people but one whose example you can follow as well. This is where a leader attains moral authority — when they practice what they preach.
Too often today, our leaders merely tell us what they think we want to hear in order to get our vote. This is simply an exercise in cynicism and should be condemned outright by anyone with moral authority. We need and should desire leaders who will lead by example and be the first to put into practice anything they teach. This is precisely why Jesus spoke with authority and likewise all the saints.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux was well known for speaking with authority that people would lock up their menfolk when he came to town to preach so that they would not be able to attend his services. Why? Because more often than not, they would leave everything behind them and follow Bernard back to his monastery and become Cistercian monks. Maybe the situation is a little exaggerated but Bernard must have had a remarkable effect upon those who listened to him preach for such a legend to have developed. It is important that we remember that his authority comes from the witness of his life that accompanied his preaching. Yes, maybe he had extraordinary gifts of oratory, but that is not enough to convince people to transform their lives in such extraordinary numbers. Kings and popes sought his wisdom as well, which further shows the authority of his preaching and wisdom.
There is no doubt in my mind that the Church needs preachers today who are as committed to the Gospel and their preaching as the saints have been down through the ages. Let us be committed to praying for the Holy Spirit to raise up men such as these. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Reflection Question:
Do I practice what I preach? Am I as committed to living the Gospel as I should be?

Holy Spirit, help me to live both the letter and the spirit of the Gospel so that my life will be a true witness to God’s love for His people.

St. Edbert, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

August 20, 2011
1st READING

Ruth is a widow and in poverty as she has no one to care for her. Hence, she goes to the land of Boaz and, as was the custom of the poor, collects the grain that the harvesters had left behind. Boaz, having heard from Naomi the good things that Ruth had done in leaving her own people, chooses her as his wife. Here we see how, if we honor and make sacrifices in our service to God, we can be confident He will care for all our needs.

Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17
1 Naomi had a prominent kinsman named Boaz, of the clan of her husband Elimelech. 2 Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go and glean ears of grain in the field of anyone who will allow me that favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go, my daughter,” 3 and she went. The field she entered to glean after the harvesters happened to be the section belonging to Boaz of the clan of Elimelech. 8 Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter! Do not go to glean in anyone else’s field; you are not to leave here. Stay here with my women servants. 9 Watch to see which field is to be harvested, and follow them; I have commanded the young men to do you no harm. When you are thirsty, you may go and drink from the vessels the young men have filled.” 10 Casting herself prostrate upon the ground, she said to him, “Why should I, a foreigner, be favored with your notice?” 11 Boaz answered her: “I have had a complete account of what you have done for your mother-inlaw after your husband’s death; you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know previously.” 4: 13 Boaz took Ruth. When they came together as man and wife, the LORD enabled her to conceive and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the LORD who has not failed to provide you today with an heir! May he become famous in Israel! 15 He will be your comfort and the support of your old age, for his mother is the daughter-in-law who loves you. She is worth more to you than seven sons!” 16 Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became his nurse. 17 And the neighbor women gave him his name, at the news that a grandson had been born to Naomi. They called him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

P S A L M

Psalms 128:1-2, 3, 4, 5
R: See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.
1 Blessed are you who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways! 2 For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; happy shall you be, and favored. (R) 3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the recesses of your home; your children like olive plants around your table. (R) 4 Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD. (R) 5 The LORD bless you from Zion: may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. (R)

G O S P E L

In this teaching, Jesus emphasizes the importance of service and not of seeking honor. He also stresses the point that those who teach others should give also a good example by their own behavior. The Pharisees were very strict in their interpretation of the law but often failed in giving compassion and mercy to people who struggled to fulfill its many demands.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
You have but one Father in heaven; you have but one master, the Christ.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 23:1-12
1 Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. 3 Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. 5 All their works are performed to be seen They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, 7 greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ 8 As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. 10 Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you must be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

my reflections
t h i n k : If we honor and make sacrifices in our service to God, we can be confident He will care for all our needs.

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 1-4

Daily Reflections

August 19, 2011
THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT

We are all well aware that the greatest commandment of all is to love. The call to love is at the heart of the Christian calling. It is important that we consider this call a commandment and not just a choice that we may or may not make. The call to love is a commandment central to the life of a disciple of Jesus. This means that any disciple of Jesus needs to focus on learning how to live unselfishly. It is only in living a selfless life that we are able to focus on loving God and others.
Maybe the greatest sin of today’s society is selfishness; maybe not. Whatever the case, one of the greatest hindrances to holiness is selfishness. Selfishness does not allow a person to look beyond his desires, his felt needs and wants. It is this preoccupation with felt needs that can cripple a person’s capacity to give themselves in love for another person. It is not that all felt needs or emotions are bad or even wrong, but when they are allowed to govern a person’s life over and above the principles of love and self-giving, they become the essential foundation for the things that distract us all from our true calling to love God and our neighbor.
Even a distraction is not yet a sin provided we work diligently to overcome it. Here arises the need for discernment to help us know when a mere distraction takes on the character of sin as we succumb to it. If we can keep distractions from moving down this path, we will find it far easier to follow the command to love. One of the greatest aids to Christian discernment is the Scriptures. This is why we need to commit to read and learn from it. If we meditate on the Word of God regularly, we will be able to form our minds according to the mind of God. This will serve us in good stead as we seek to follow wherever Christ’s calling takes us. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Reflection Question:
What is the biggest challenge I face in following the command to love?

Jesus, help me to get to know the true meaning of selfless love by first receiving it from You and then sharing it with others.

St. Sebald, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

August 19, 2011
1st READING
In Ruth’s loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi, we see a beautiful image of a soul who desires to cleave to and serve God. Ruth desires to worship the God of Naomi, not the pagan gods of her people. This devotion leads her to a journey of true discipleship where she leaves her own people to join with the people of God. God rewards Ruth’s faithfulness by arranging her marriage to Boaz, the great grandfather of King David.

Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14-16, 22
1 Once in the time of the judges there was a famine in the land; so a man from Bethlehem of Judah departed with his wife and two sons to reside on the plateau of Moab. 3 Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons, 4 who married Moabite women, one named Orpah, the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Chilion died also, and the woman was left with neither her two sons nor her husband. 6 She then made ready to go back from the plateau of Moab because word reached her there that the LORD had visited his people and given them food. 14 Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, but Ruth stayed with her. 15 Naomi said, “See now!” she said, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her god. Go back after your sister-in-law!” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not ask me to abandon or forsake you! for wherever you go I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 22 Thus it was that Naomi returned with the Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth, who accompanied her back from the plateau of Moab. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

P S A L M

Psalms 146:5-6, 7, 8-9, 9-10
R: Praise the Lord, my soul!
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD, his God, 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them. (R) The LORD keeps faith forever, 7 secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets captives free. (R) 8 The LORD gives sight to the blind. The LORD raises up those that were bowed down; the LORD loves the just. 9 The LORD protects strangers. (R) The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. 10 The LORD shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia. (R)

G O S P E L
The Pharisees had taken the 10 commandments of the law and from there came up with 613 laws that one should keep. It was common for people to try to simplify this and each rabbi would be asked what of the 613 laws was the most important. Jesus shows that He is the greatest of all the teachers as He simplifies the laws to two. If we fulfill these two, Jesus tells us, we have fulfilled the whole law.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Teach me your paths, my God, guide me in your truth.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 22:34-40
34 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them a scholar of the law tested him by asking, 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and the first commandment. 39 The second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. 40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

my reflections
t h i n k : If we fulfill the two greatest commandments, we have fulfilled the whole law.

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Sirach 46-51

Daily Reflections

August 18, 2011
EXCUSES , EXCUSES , EXCUSES

It is always frustrating when you are trying to get a job done and then somebody you are relying on fails to deliver on his promises or responsibilities. It only gets worse when they give lame excuses. The worst ever excuse we can have, in my opinion, is “I didn’t feel like doing it!” This is such a lousy excuse, even tantamount to laziness and sloth put together, that it is virtually a sin. It is not acceptable when we allow our emotions to run our lives. Our emotions are meant to be servants, not masters. People talk about crimes of passion — well, that may be so, but such crimes could also be called crimes of truncated sensibility. That is, crimes that result from a refusal of the person to submit their action to common sense.
The king is inviting people to come and celebrate with him and all they do is make excuses for not coming. It is vital when someone as important as a king invites us to celebrate with him that we need to have a very serious reason to excuse ourselves from the affair. Let us never make the mistake of avoiding an invitation from God to be in His presence no matter what excuses we think we may have.
That the king then turns away someone who comes unprepared also indicates that moments of grace, once passed, do not return. Doors of opportunity open in our spiritual lives for a limited time and we need to be aware of them so that we do not miss them. The saints are experts at doing this and so if we want to learn how to improve our chances, let us commit to read about their lives and the way they responded to God’s call. The saints are not just there as ornaments to the Church but to be examples of holiness and discipleship. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Reflection Question:
Do I tend to make excuses rather than remain faithful to my commitments? If so, what am I going to do about this?

Holy Spirit, help me to change for the better. Help me to know how I can become more faithful to my commitments and responsibilities.

Sts. Leo & Juliana, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

August 18, 2011
1st READING

In this tragic story, we see the danger of making rash and ill-considered promises to God. There is a story about St. John Bosco who became seriously ill and all the boys in the school prayed earnestly for his healing. Many of them made promises to God: ”God, if you heal Don Bosco, I will become a priest, or fast for 49 days on bread and water,” etc. When Don Bosco was healed, the priests had to release the boys from many of the promises that they did not have the ability to fulfill. If a promise involves any act that is evil, we have no duty to fulfill it.

Judges 11:29-39
29 The spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah. He passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and through Mizpah-gilead as well, and from there he went on to the Ammonites. 30 Jephthah made a vow to the LORD. “If you deliver the Ammonites into my power,” he said, 31 “whoever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites shall belong to the LORD. I shall offer him up as a holocaust.” 32 Jephthah then went on to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the LORD delivered them into his power, 33 so that he inflicted a severe defeat on them, from Aroer to the approach of Minnith (twenty cities in all) and as far as Abel-keramin. Thus were the Ammonites brought into subjection by the Israelites. 34 When Jephthah returned to his house in Mizpah, it was his daughter who came forth, playing the tambourines and dancing. She was an only child: he had neither son nor daughter besides her. 35 When he saw her, he rent his garments and said, “Alas, daughter, you have struck me down and brought calamity upon me. For I have made a vow to the LORD and I cannot retract.” 36 “Father,” she replied, “you have made a vow to the LORD. Do with me as you have vowed, because the LORD has wrought vengeance for you on your enemies the Ammonites.” 37 Then she said to her father, “Let me have this favor. Spare me for two months, that I may go off down the mountains to mourn my virginity with my companions.” 38 “Go,” he replied, and sent her away for two months. So she departed with her companions and mourned her virginity on the mountains. 39 At the end of the two months she returned to her father, who did to her as he had vowed.

P S A L M

Psalms 40:5, 7-8, 8-9, 10
R: Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
4 [5] Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust; who turns not to idolatry or to those who stray after falsehood. (R) 6 [7] Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not; 7 [8] then said I, “Behold I come. (R) In the written scroll it is prescribed for me, 8 [9] to do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!” (R) 9 [10] I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know. (R)

G O S P E L

In this story of the banquet, Jesus likens the Kingdom of God to a feast where everyone is invited. Yet so many make excuses and in the end miss out on it. Why do they make excuses? Because they do not rightly value the invitation and place other things as more important in their lives. How important is going to Mass in my life? Is prayer my first priority each day? If not, then I, like these guests, am making my own excuses.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 22:1-14
1 Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. 3 He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. 4 A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ 5 Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. 6 The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. 9 Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ 10 The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. 11 But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. 12 He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. 13 Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ 14 Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

my reflections
think: How important is going to Mass in my life? Is prayer my first priority each day?


God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Sirach 41-45

Daily Reflections

August 17, 2011
THE HEART OF A TRUE LEADER

It is a disaster for a country, any organization or community when its leader is corrupt, incompetent or just plain bad. This story or parable from the Old Testament expresses a home truth that we need to reflect upon, and especially when we have the opportunity to vote for our leaders in elections. We have to consider the motivations of those who present themselves for public office.
A true leader never seeks the power and responsibility of leadership for his or her own end. This is why it is important to study the character of our leaders before they take public office. In fact, we have a responsibility to do so. If we do not take this responsibility seriously then we have no right to complain about the incompetence of our leaders. A democratic country deserves the leaders they get, and the effectiveness and competency of a country’s leaders are directly dependent upon the responsibility of her voters.
In the parable, we see the reluctance of the supposedly preferred and better leaders— the “tree” who wants to rule over nature is the thorn bush. Clearly the thorn bush’s aspirations are not honorable. The question we need to find an answer to is why the preferred candidates forego the opportunity to lead. Is it because of the enormous responsibility of the position of leadership? I tend to think so. This is something that we rarely consider fully when speaking about leadership. The moral responsibility a leader accepts is enormous. It is greater than the moral responsibility assumed by public figures who do not hold legislative office because political leaders have the power to create and change the laws of the land and thus materially affect not just the present but the future generations.
Let us never forget to take our own responsibilities seriously when we vote, and let us remember to pray for our leaders that they fulfill their responsibilities well. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Reflection Question:
How seriously do I take the responsibility of voting in an election?

Holy Spirit, help me to be a responsible citizen of my country by setting a good example through the witness of my life and supporting those leaders worthy of my support.

St. James the Deacon, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

August 17, 2011
1st READING
Jotham, the youngest of Gideon’s 70 sons, survived the massacre of all his brothers by Abimelech who was then made king over the people of Israel. Jotham felt that the people had betrayed their deliverer, Gideon, in proclaiming Abimelech as king. It takes great courage to stand up to evil and to prevent evil men from usurping the place in government of more worthy people.

Judges 9:6-15
6 All the citizens of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together and proceeded to make Abimelech king by the terebinth at the memorial pillar in Shechem. 7 When this was reported to him, Jotham went to the top of Mount Gerizim, and standing there, cried out to them in a loud voice: “Hear me, citizens of Shechem, that God may then hear you! 8 Once the trees went to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ 9 But the olive tree answered them, ‘Must I give up my rich oil, whereby men and gods are honored, and go to wave over the trees?’ 10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come; you reign over us!’ 11 But the fig tree answered them, ‘Must I give up my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?’ 12 Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come you, and reign over us.’ 13 But the vine answered them, ‘Must I give up my wine that cheers gods and men, and go to wave over the trees?’ 14 Then all the trees said to the buckthorn, ‘Come; you reign over us!’ 15 But the buckthorn replied to the trees, ‘If you wish to anoint me king over you in good faith, come and take refuge in my shadow. Otherwise, let fire come from the buckthorn and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”

P S A L M

Psalms 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
R: Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
1 [2] O Lord, in your strength the king is glad; in your victory how greatly he rejoices! 2 [3] You have granted him his heart’s desire; you refused not the wish of his lips. (R) 3 [4] For you welcomed him with goodly blessings, you placed on his head a crown of pure gold. 4 [5] He asked life of you: you gave him length of days forever and ever. (R) 5 [6] Great is his glory in your victory; majesty and splendor you conferred upon him. 6 [7] You made him a blessing forever; you gladdened him with the joy of your face. (R)

G O S P E L

The parable of the landowner shows us that God does not count how we serve Him as man does. We look at how many hours a person has worked and reward him accordingly. Yet God gives to each one the same pay, no matter how many hours they worked. Here, God reveals His generosity and His desire that we all share in the gift of eternal life.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
The word of God is living and effective, able to discern the reflections and thoughts of the heart.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 20:1-16
1 Jesus told to his disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ 5 So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. 6 Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 7 They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ 8 When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers andgive them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ 9 When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. 10 So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ 13 He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? 14 Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? 15 Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ 16 Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

my reflections
t h i n k : God reveals His desire that we all share in the gift of eternal life.

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Sirach 36-40

Daily Reflections

August 16, 2011
IS GOD REALLY AGAINST THE RICH?

When Jesus says that it is harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, He is not saying anything against the rich per se but merely making a statement regarding the difficulty they will face in pursuing a life of discipleship. Why is this the case? A simple answer to this question is the distraction that worldly riches give if people are not wary of them.
The world is given over to the accumulation of material possessions. This is the motivation that lies at the root of modern western democracy and there is no way that an individual can totally dissociate himself from this underlying reality. What the Christian needs to discover is how to live within the framework without being governed by it. That is, the overwhelming challenge we face is the struggle to maintain the focus on our Christian values over and above the pressures provided by the world. We cannot control the way the world works, so we have to find ways to work with the world in which we live.
This challenge is one that Christians have faced from the beginning and one that will be with us probably until Jesus comes again. It is the challenge of discipleship — maintaining a chosen lifestyle within the context of one that is often antithetical to the chosen one. One of the things we can do to help ourselves in our Christian calling is to avoid whatever will hamper our goals. This is where Jesus’ thoughts about the rich fit in. Worldly riches require an enormous amount of time and attention to maintain and will not necessarily add anything to our spiritual development. Thus, more often than not, they will be a distraction to our spiritual goals.
Riches are not the only things that can distract us. Commitment to any career can derail our spiritual lives. We need to be aware of these problems as we seek to grow spiritually. Awareness of the temptations of the world is a very big step in keeping them from unduly affecting our Christian commitment to grow in holiness.Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Reflection Question:
Have I allowed the distractions of the world into my life to the detriment of my faith?

Jesus, help me to recognize the dangers that the values of the world pose to my spiritual life so that I can put measures to combat them.

St. Uguzo, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

August 16, 2011
1st READING
Gideon is filled with fear so he hides in the wine press to beat the wheat. Yet when the angel greets him, he says, “The Lord is with you, O champion.” By His calling and anointing, God transforms Gideon from a fearful and timid man into a champion who will deliver His people from the Midianites. By responding to the call of God, we, too, can be transformed and become champions in the Kingdom of God.

Judges 6:11-24
11 The angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. While his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to save it from the Midianites, 12 the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, “The LORD is with you, O champion!” 13 Gideon said to him, “My lord, if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are his wondrous deeds of which our fathers told us when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ For now the LORD has abandoned us and has delivered us into the power of Midian.” 14 The LORD turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have and save Israel from the power of Midian. It is I who send you.” 15 But Gideon answered him, “Please, my lord, how can I save Israel? My family is the meanest in Manasseh, and I am the most insignificant in my father’s house.” 16 “I shall be with you,” the LORD said to him, “and you will cut down Midian to the last man.” 17 Gideon answered him, “If I find favor with you, give me a sign that you are speaking with me. 18 Do not depart from here, I pray you, until I come back to you and bring out my offering and set it before you.” He answered, “I will await your return.” 19 So Gideon went off and prepared a kid and an ephah of flour in the form of unleavened cakes. Putting the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, he brought them out to him under the terebinth and presented them. 20 The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and unleavened cakes and lay them on this rock; then pour out the broth.” When he had done so, 21 the angel of the LORD stretched out the tip of the staff he held, and touched the meat and unleavened cakes. Thereupon a fire came up from the rock which consumed the meat and unleavened cakes, and the angel of the LORD disappeared from sight. 22 Gideon, now aware that it had been the angel of the LORD, said, “Alas, Lord GOD, that I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!” 23 The LORD answered him, “Be calm, do not fear. You shall not die.” 24 So Gideon built there an altar to the LORD and called it Yahweh-shalom.

P S A L M

Psalms 85:9, 11-12, 13-14
R: The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
8 [9] I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD — for he proclaims peace. To his people, and to his faithful ones, and to those who put in him their hope. (R) 10 [11] Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. 11 [12] Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. (R) 12 [13] The LORD himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. 13 [14] Justice shall walk before him, and salvation, along the way of his steps. (R)

G O S P E L

Jesus always seemed to say the unexpected and shocking thing. In the mind of the Apostles, being rich was a sure sign that one was blessed by God just as poverty was seen as a curse. Yet Jesus reveals that riches can blind one to the reality of our true poverty and complete dependence on God, and seduce us into thinking that because we are rich we are somehow better than others.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 19:23-30
23 Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

my reflections
t h i n k : Jesus reveals that riches can blind one to the reality of our true poverty and complete dependence on God.

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Sirach 31-35