1ST READING
St.
Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, is an inspiring figure in the life
of the Church in terms of her commitment to intercession and trust in
God. She interceded for Augustine’s conversion for many years when most
of the time it would have seemed hopeless. Yet, she never gave up! This
is how we need to intercede — with hope and trust in God’s goodness and never giving in to the temptation to give up.
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 men, 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 men, 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
Psalm 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 now 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)
GOSPEL
Hypocrisy
will always be a temptation for a person who seeks holiness, as any
temptation to sin involves at least a modicum of hypocrisy. The problem
with the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ time is that many of them were
blatant hypocrites — they said one thing and did exactly the opposite!
Let us try to avoid damaging the work of the Gospel in this way and seek
to remain faithful to the call of the Spirit at all times.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
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.”
think: Let us intercede with hope and trust in God’s goodness and never give in to the temptation to give up.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
____________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today_
_____________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 49-52
No comments:
Post a Comment