1st READING
The time to lay down foundations for the rest of our lives is during our youth. It is the ideal time to offer our lives to the Lord and let Him show us what He wants us to do. If we missed these opportunities, do not despair—there is still time. The Holy Spirit will help us to do these things at any given time. We may be late, but better late than never.
Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8
9 Rejoice, O young man, while you are young and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart, the vision of your eyes; yet understand that as regards all this God will bring you to judgment. 10 Ward off grief from your heart and put away trouble from your presence, though the dawn of youth is fleeting. 12:1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years approach of which you will say, I have no pleasure in them; 2 before the sun is darkened, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, while the clouds return after the rain; 3 when the guardians of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders are idle because they are few, and they who look through the windows grow blind; 4 when the doors to the street are shut, and the sound of the mill is low; when one waits for the chirp of a bird, but all the daughters of song are suppressed; 5 and one fears heights, and perils in the street; when the almond tree blooms, and the locust grows sluggish and the caper berry is without effect, because man goes to his lasting home, and mourners go about the streets; 6 before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken, and the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the broken pulley falls into the well, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, all things are vanity!
PSALM
Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17
R: In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
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) 5 You make an end of them in their sleep; the next morning they are like the changing grass, 6 Which at dawn springs up anew, but by evening wilts and fades. (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)
GOSPEL
Jesus tells His disciples that He will suffer. He wants them to face the reality that there will be suffering in the life of His followers. We need to accept this truth and draw from God’s grace to embrace suffering. We must also believe and trust that suffering is helpful in bringing the Gospel to others (cf. Colossians 1:24). It is possible to endure all things for the sake of the Gospel.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Our Savior Christ Jesus destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.
Luke 9:43-45
43 While they were all amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his disciples, 44 “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” 45 But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
Reflect: “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it.” – Helen Keller
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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 - Proverbs 5-8
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