1ST READING
Paul
affirms that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God in
the line before this excerpt. Here, Paul tells us of the gratuitousness
of God’s grace in choosing to save us. It is by faith and trust in the
work of Jesus on the Cross that our sins are forgiven. We cannot earn
this blessing or grace. We do not deserve it in any way whatsoever.
Romans 3:21-30
21 Brothers and sisters: Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, though testified to by the law and the prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction; 23 all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. 24 They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ
Jesus, 25 whom
God set forth as an expiation, through faith, by his Blood, to prove
his righteousness because of the forgiveness of sins previously
committed, 26 through
the forbearance of God — to prove his righteousness in the present
time, that he might be righteous and justify the one who has faith in
Jesus. 27 What
occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out. On what
principle, that of works? No, rather on the principle of faith. 28 For
we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Does God belong to Jews alone? Does he not belong to Gentiles, too? Yes, also to Gentiles, 30 for God is one and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
P S A L M
Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R: With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! 2 Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication. (R) 3 If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand? 4 But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered. (R) 5 I trust in the
Lord; my soul trusts in his word. 6 My soul waits for the Lord more than sentinels wait for the dawn. (R)
GOSPEL
We
must always be mindful of the needs of others. We should never focus
entirely on our own. Selfishness is one of the great enemies of love
and, thus, of salvation too. St. Ignatius of Antioch, whose feast we
celebrate today, is a man who lived his life in the service of the
Gospel. He desired to become a martyr so much that he wrote to the
Churches of his time, imploring them not to pray for his release but to
allow him to give glory to God through the ultimate witness of death for
the sake of the Gospel. This is an admirable response to the Gospel.
Let us also seek to live for the sake of the Gospel and not just to die
for it.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.
Luke 11:47-54
47 The Lord said: “Woe to you! You build the memorials of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. 48 Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. 49 Therefore, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute’ 50 in order that
this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, 51 from
the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar
and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be
charged with their blood! 52 Woe
to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.” 53 When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, 54 for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
think: Selfishness is one of the great enemies of love and, thus, of salvation too.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today_
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Zephaniah 1-3
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