Reading 1
Col 3:1-11
Brothers and sisters:
If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ your life appears,
then you too will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly:
immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire,
and the greed that is idolatry.
Because of these the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient.
By these you too once conducted yourselves, when you lived in that way.
But now you must put them all away:
anger, fury, malice, slander,
and obscene language out of your mouths.
Stop lying to one another,
since you have taken off the old self with its practices
and have put on the new self,
which is being renewed, for knowledge,
in the image of its creator.
Here there is not Greek and Jew,
circumcision and uncircumcision,
barbarian, Scythian, slave, free;
but Christ is all and in all.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 145:2-3, 10-11, 12-13ab
R. (9) The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Making known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Gospel
Lk 6:20-26
Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:
"Blessed are you who are poor,
for the Kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.
Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.
For their ancestors treated the prophets
in the same way.
But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
But woe to you who are filled now,
for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will grieve and weep.
Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way."
Meditation: Psalm 145:2-3,10-13
“Every day I will bless you!” (Psalm 145:2)
Father, as this day begins, I choose to bless you! I kneel before you and adore you. You are exalted above all creation and worthy of all my praise. Looking down at us from your throne, in your full glory and might, you are filled with love and compassion for every one of your children. You are full of love and compassion for me. Worthy are you, worthy to be praised!
Father, I choose today to go through my day blessing you, whether my circumstances are comfortable to me or not. I will bless you, even if the car won’t start or the kids’ commotion won’t stop. I will bless you in rain or drought, in hot or cold, in feast or famine. I will bless you because you have rescued me from sin. I lift up your holy name and exalt your goodness because you are holy and righteous.
I will bless you, Father, when gas prices rise, and when my income falls. I will proclaim that you are good and you hold all things in the palm of your hand. When insects swarm, when crops fail, when stock markets falter, even when your favor seems to flee my life, still I will bless you. You are mysterious in your ways, yet compassionate in your wisdom. I will trust you, Lord, and bless you, God most high.
Father of time, I will bless you when years of debt are behind me or a few days of rest lie ahead of me. I will exalt you, Lord, in every circumstance, for you are worthy of all praise. I will bless you today when that which I’ve lost is found, when the bus is on time, when the computer starts working again. I will bless you when you calm the confusion inside me and the turmoil outside me. Your love never fails. It always meets me where I am. It always comforts me. It always satisfies me.
Loving Father, enduring in patience, may you be blessed! Jesus, our heavenly provision and divine healer, may you be blessed! Holy Spirit, inscrutable wisdom and eternal counselor, may you be blessed! Holy, Triune God, your mercy endures forever. Your promises are true. Even when circumstances or people fail me, you remain faithful. Yours is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations.
“Let all your faithful ones bless you, Lord!”
07 September 2011
06 September 2011
06 Sep 2011, Tuesday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Col 2:6-15
Brothers and sisters:
As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him,
rooted in him and built upon him
and established in the faith as you were taught,
abounding in thanksgiving.
See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy
according to the tradition of men,
according to the elemental powers of the world
and not according to Christ.
For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily,
and you share in this fullness in him,
who is the head of every principality and power.
In him you were also circumcised
with a circumcision not administered by hand,
by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ.
You were buried with him in baptism,
in which you were also raised with him
through faith in the power of God,
who raised him from the dead.
And even when you were dead in transgressions
and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
he brought you to life along with him,
having forgiven us all our transgressions;
obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims,
which was opposed to us,
he also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross;
despoiling the principalities and the powers,
he made a public spectacle of them,
leading them away in triumph by it.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 145:1b-2, 8-9, 10-11
R. (9) The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Gospel Lk
6:12-19
Jesus departed to the mountain to pray,
and he spent the night in prayer to God.
When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,
James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon who was called a Zealot,
and Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground.
A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people
from all Judea and Jerusalem
and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon
came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases;
and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured.
Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him
because power came forth from him and healed them all.
Meditation: Colossians 2:6-15
“… rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith… “(Colossians 2:7)
It’s funny how information has become a vital aspect of just about every part of our lives. From weather reports to e-mail updates to Internet news sources to television schedules, we all have so much data in our minds. So the question arises: What database am I utilizing to help me make decisions?
In today’s first reading, St. Paul tells the Colossians that if they are rooted in their faith, they won’t be at the mercy of the “empty, seductive” philosophies in the world. Not only will they be able to stand firm against temptation, they will also be able to discern good from evil in their environment. Why? Because being rooted in faith will give them a strong foundation, a database of truths that they will be able to use as the standard for making judgments.
The key is to fix our eyes on Jesus and try our best to live out the truths of our faith. In a sense, we are in an even better position than the Colossians! We have two thousand years of history and teaching from the church to add to our database. We have countless saints whose lives teach us new dimensions to the most important truths we need to know: God loves us unconditionally; Jesus died for our sins; the Holy Spirit lives in us; and Jesus is coming back to establish his kingdom forever.
So how can we let these guiding lights have a practical impact on our day? By delving deeply into the roots of our faith on a daily basis. The deeper we dig into them, the more they’ll shape our minds and lift up our hearts.
The most exciting result we experience as we ask the Spirit to build up our faith is that we find ourselves loving Jesus more and more deeply. We find ourselves so firmly rooted in him that our hearts are filled with love, gratitude, and joy because of who Jesus is and what he is doing in our lives. And most of all, being rooted in Christ shows us just how wonderful and beautiful and glorious Jesus is.
“Thank you, Jesus, for being my rock of salvation. Teach me how to build my life on your eternal truths!”
Col 2:6-15
Brothers and sisters:
As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him,
rooted in him and built upon him
and established in the faith as you were taught,
abounding in thanksgiving.
See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy
according to the tradition of men,
according to the elemental powers of the world
and not according to Christ.
For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily,
and you share in this fullness in him,
who is the head of every principality and power.
In him you were also circumcised
with a circumcision not administered by hand,
by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ.
You were buried with him in baptism,
in which you were also raised with him
through faith in the power of God,
who raised him from the dead.
And even when you were dead in transgressions
and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
he brought you to life along with him,
having forgiven us all our transgressions;
obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims,
which was opposed to us,
he also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross;
despoiling the principalities and the powers,
he made a public spectacle of them,
leading them away in triumph by it.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 145:1b-2, 8-9, 10-11
R. (9) The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Gospel Lk
6:12-19
Jesus departed to the mountain to pray,
and he spent the night in prayer to God.
When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,
James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon who was called a Zealot,
and Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground.
A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people
from all Judea and Jerusalem
and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon
came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases;
and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured.
Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him
because power came forth from him and healed them all.
Meditation: Colossians 2:6-15
“… rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith… “(Colossians 2:7)
It’s funny how information has become a vital aspect of just about every part of our lives. From weather reports to e-mail updates to Internet news sources to television schedules, we all have so much data in our minds. So the question arises: What database am I utilizing to help me make decisions?
In today’s first reading, St. Paul tells the Colossians that if they are rooted in their faith, they won’t be at the mercy of the “empty, seductive” philosophies in the world. Not only will they be able to stand firm against temptation, they will also be able to discern good from evil in their environment. Why? Because being rooted in faith will give them a strong foundation, a database of truths that they will be able to use as the standard for making judgments.
The key is to fix our eyes on Jesus and try our best to live out the truths of our faith. In a sense, we are in an even better position than the Colossians! We have two thousand years of history and teaching from the church to add to our database. We have countless saints whose lives teach us new dimensions to the most important truths we need to know: God loves us unconditionally; Jesus died for our sins; the Holy Spirit lives in us; and Jesus is coming back to establish his kingdom forever.
So how can we let these guiding lights have a practical impact on our day? By delving deeply into the roots of our faith on a daily basis. The deeper we dig into them, the more they’ll shape our minds and lift up our hearts.
The most exciting result we experience as we ask the Spirit to build up our faith is that we find ourselves loving Jesus more and more deeply. We find ourselves so firmly rooted in him that our hearts are filled with love, gratitude, and joy because of who Jesus is and what he is doing in our lives. And most of all, being rooted in Christ shows us just how wonderful and beautiful and glorious Jesus is.
“Thank you, Jesus, for being my rock of salvation. Teach me how to build my life on your eternal truths!”
05 September 2011
05 Sep 2011, Monday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Col 1:24:2:3
Brothers and sisters:
I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,
and in my flesh I am filling up
what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ
on behalf of his Body, which is the Church,
of which I am a minister
in accordance with God's stewardship given to me
to bring to completion for you the word of God,
the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.
But now it has been manifested to his holy ones,
to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles;
it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.
It is he whom we proclaim,
admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
For this I labor and struggle,
in accord with the exercise of his power working within me.
For I want you to know how great a struggle I am having for you
and for those in Laodicea
and all who have not seen me face to face,
that their hearts may be encouraged
as they are brought together in love,
to have all the richness of assured understanding,
for the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ,
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 62:6-7, 9
R. (8) In God is my safety and my glory.
Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.
R. In God is my safety and my glory.
Trust in him at all times, O my people!
Pour out your hearts before him;
God is our refuge!
R. In God is my safety and my glory.
Gospel
Lk 6:6-11
On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught,
and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.
The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely
to see if he would cure on the sabbath
so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.
But he realized their intentions
and said to the man with the withered hand,
"Come up and stand before us."
And he rose and stood there.
Then Jesus said to them,
"I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath
rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?"
Looking around at them all, he then said to him,
"Stretch out your hand."
He did so and his hand was restored.
But they became enraged
and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.
Meditation: Luke 6:6-11
“They became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.” (Luke 6:11)
While no Pharisees are directly implicated in Jesus’ crucifixion by the Romans, it is clear that many of them hated Jesus and wanted to see him killed. They saw him as a threat to their religion and their own elevated social status. Jesus didn’t show deference to them or submit to their interpretation of the Law, and that made some of them furious. They could not let this “nobody” unseat them in the eyes of the people.
What’s striking is how these men’s rage affected their thinking. Though they were committed to living out the Law of Moses, Jesus’ authoritative teaching style and growing popularity caused them to break the Law they loved in their attempts to trap him. How could these men be so stubborn? Even more important, how could their thinking become so unclear?
Perhaps a look inside our own hearts would be helpful. How many times have resentment, jealousy, or anger tempted us to do something that we knew was wrong? Have we ever caught ourselves seriously contemplating something against God’s law out of a desire for revenge or as a way of blowing off steam? Even within the church, we can find ourselves speaking against people whose experience of God or expression of faith doesn’t conform to our own.
So how can we make sure that our own irrational temptations don’t overpower us and make us act like these Pharisees? Here are a few simple suggestions: Don’t let any particular temptation become too strong before you deal with it. If you see an issue becoming too dominant in your mind, try to resolve it—even if all you can do is bring it to prayer. As hard as it may be, try not to let old resentments and past hurts influence your thinking. If you see them rising up in a situation, be very careful not to say something you may regret later. Finally, examine your conscience every night before bed, and repent of any lingering sins or negative thoughts. Keep your heart pliable and open to the Spirit, and you’ll find yourself far more forgiving and open toward everyone else.
“Holy Spirit, soften my heart. Teach me how to love, and help me to forgive. I want to walk in your freedom!”
Col 1:24:2:3
Brothers and sisters:
I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,
and in my flesh I am filling up
what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ
on behalf of his Body, which is the Church,
of which I am a minister
in accordance with God's stewardship given to me
to bring to completion for you the word of God,
the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.
But now it has been manifested to his holy ones,
to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles;
it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.
It is he whom we proclaim,
admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
For this I labor and struggle,
in accord with the exercise of his power working within me.
For I want you to know how great a struggle I am having for you
and for those in Laodicea
and all who have not seen me face to face,
that their hearts may be encouraged
as they are brought together in love,
to have all the richness of assured understanding,
for the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ,
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 62:6-7, 9
R. (8) In God is my safety and my glory.
Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.
R. In God is my safety and my glory.
Trust in him at all times, O my people!
Pour out your hearts before him;
God is our refuge!
R. In God is my safety and my glory.
Gospel
Lk 6:6-11
On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught,
and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.
The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely
to see if he would cure on the sabbath
so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.
But he realized their intentions
and said to the man with the withered hand,
"Come up and stand before us."
And he rose and stood there.
Then Jesus said to them,
"I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath
rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?"
Looking around at them all, he then said to him,
"Stretch out your hand."
He did so and his hand was restored.
But they became enraged
and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.
Meditation: Luke 6:6-11
“They became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.” (Luke 6:11)
While no Pharisees are directly implicated in Jesus’ crucifixion by the Romans, it is clear that many of them hated Jesus and wanted to see him killed. They saw him as a threat to their religion and their own elevated social status. Jesus didn’t show deference to them or submit to their interpretation of the Law, and that made some of them furious. They could not let this “nobody” unseat them in the eyes of the people.
What’s striking is how these men’s rage affected their thinking. Though they were committed to living out the Law of Moses, Jesus’ authoritative teaching style and growing popularity caused them to break the Law they loved in their attempts to trap him. How could these men be so stubborn? Even more important, how could their thinking become so unclear?
Perhaps a look inside our own hearts would be helpful. How many times have resentment, jealousy, or anger tempted us to do something that we knew was wrong? Have we ever caught ourselves seriously contemplating something against God’s law out of a desire for revenge or as a way of blowing off steam? Even within the church, we can find ourselves speaking against people whose experience of God or expression of faith doesn’t conform to our own.
So how can we make sure that our own irrational temptations don’t overpower us and make us act like these Pharisees? Here are a few simple suggestions: Don’t let any particular temptation become too strong before you deal with it. If you see an issue becoming too dominant in your mind, try to resolve it—even if all you can do is bring it to prayer. As hard as it may be, try not to let old resentments and past hurts influence your thinking. If you see them rising up in a situation, be very careful not to say something you may regret later. Finally, examine your conscience every night before bed, and repent of any lingering sins or negative thoughts. Keep your heart pliable and open to the Spirit, and you’ll find yourself far more forgiving and open toward everyone else.
“Holy Spirit, soften my heart. Teach me how to love, and help me to forgive. I want to walk in your freedom!”
04 September 2011
04 Sep 2011, Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Ez 33:7-9
Thus says the LORD:
You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel;
when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me.
If I tell the wicked, "O wicked one, you shall surely die, "
and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way,
the wicked shall die for his guilt,
but I will hold you responsible for his death.
But if you warn the wicked,
trying to turn him from his way,
and he refuses to turn from his way,
he shall die for his guilt,
but you shall save yourself.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9R. (8)
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Reading 2
Rom 13:8-10
Brothers and sisters:
Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another;
for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery;
you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet, "
and whatever other commandment there may be,
are summed up in this saying, namely,
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Love does no evil to the neighbor;
hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.
Gospel
Mt 18:15-20
Jesus said to his disciples:
"If your brother sins against you,
go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
If he does not listen,
take one or two others along with you,
so that 'every fact may be established
on the testimony of two or three witnesses.'
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church.
If he refuses to listen even to the church,
then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
Amen, I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again, amen, I say to you,
if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them."
Meditation: Matthew 18:15-20
Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)
What a beautiful image: Jesus himself is with us when we come together in his name, sharing our faith in him! But this is more than just a beautiful image that comforts us. It’s also a profound truth that challenges us. If Jesus is in our midst, what does that say about the way we should treat each other?
Gathering “in Christ’s name” is like coming together for the weekly family meal—only on a much grander scale! It’s a time to share our lives together with Jesus in our midst. And it’s also a time to remember that we are called to love each other, to take up a concern for one another’s well-being.
Remembering this focus on family relationships can help us put into practice Jesus’ teachings about helping a brother or sister who has turned away from the Lord. It will remind us that Jesus wasn’t giving a set of procedural rules on dealing with the lapsed. Rather, he was describing an attitude of heart—a attitude of love and compassion, not of harsh correction or condemnation.
When you find yourself in a situation where you can help someone who has wandered from the Lord, remember that God wants you to see that other person through his eyes. Here is a son or daughter who has been created for intimacy with him. Here is someone who is infinitely loved. Here is someone on whom God wants to pour his grace and mercy.
Let these truths guide the way you relate to that person. Let Jesus’ love, flowing from your heart, touch that person’s life. Let his mercy and compassion help you find the words to speak—or lead you to silent intercession. Let his Spirit give you wisdom!
“Thank you, Father, for calling me into your family. Teach me how to reach out to my loved ones in a way that unites us all in love, reverence, and peace.”
Ez 33:7-9
Thus says the LORD:
You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel;
when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me.
If I tell the wicked, "O wicked one, you shall surely die, "
and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way,
the wicked shall die for his guilt,
but I will hold you responsible for his death.
But if you warn the wicked,
trying to turn him from his way,
and he refuses to turn from his way,
he shall die for his guilt,
but you shall save yourself.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9R. (8)
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Reading 2
Rom 13:8-10
Brothers and sisters:
Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another;
for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery;
you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet, "
and whatever other commandment there may be,
are summed up in this saying, namely,
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Love does no evil to the neighbor;
hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.
Gospel
Mt 18:15-20
Jesus said to his disciples:
"If your brother sins against you,
go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
If he does not listen,
take one or two others along with you,
so that 'every fact may be established
on the testimony of two or three witnesses.'
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church.
If he refuses to listen even to the church,
then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
Amen, I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again, amen, I say to you,
if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them."
Meditation: Matthew 18:15-20
Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)
What a beautiful image: Jesus himself is with us when we come together in his name, sharing our faith in him! But this is more than just a beautiful image that comforts us. It’s also a profound truth that challenges us. If Jesus is in our midst, what does that say about the way we should treat each other?
Gathering “in Christ’s name” is like coming together for the weekly family meal—only on a much grander scale! It’s a time to share our lives together with Jesus in our midst. And it’s also a time to remember that we are called to love each other, to take up a concern for one another’s well-being.
Remembering this focus on family relationships can help us put into practice Jesus’ teachings about helping a brother or sister who has turned away from the Lord. It will remind us that Jesus wasn’t giving a set of procedural rules on dealing with the lapsed. Rather, he was describing an attitude of heart—a attitude of love and compassion, not of harsh correction or condemnation.
When you find yourself in a situation where you can help someone who has wandered from the Lord, remember that God wants you to see that other person through his eyes. Here is a son or daughter who has been created for intimacy with him. Here is someone who is infinitely loved. Here is someone on whom God wants to pour his grace and mercy.
Let these truths guide the way you relate to that person. Let Jesus’ love, flowing from your heart, touch that person’s life. Let his mercy and compassion help you find the words to speak—or lead you to silent intercession. Let his Spirit give you wisdom!
“Thank you, Father, for calling me into your family. Teach me how to reach out to my loved ones in a way that unites us all in love, reverence, and peace.”
03 September 2011
03 Sep 2011, Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, pope and doctor of the church
Reading 1
Col 1:21-23
Brothers and sisters:
You once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds;
God has now reconciled you
in the fleshly Body of Christ through his death,
to present you holy, without blemish,
and irreproachable before him,
provided that you persevere in the faith,
firmly grounded, stable,
and not shifting from the hope of the Gospel that you heard,
which has been preached to every creature under heaven,
of which I, Paul, am a minister.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 54:3-4, 6 and 8R. (6)
God himself is my help.
O God, by your name save me,
and by your might defend my cause.
O God, hear my prayer;
hearken to the words of my mouth.
R. God himself is my help.
Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord sustains my life.
Freely will I offer you sacrifice;
I will praise your name, O LORD, for its goodness.
R. God himself is my help.
Gospel
Lk 6:1-5
While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath,
his disciples were picking the heads of grain,
rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.
Some Pharisees said,
"Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?"
Jesus said to them in reply,
"Have you not read what David did
when he and those who were with him were hungry?
How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering,
which only the priests could lawfully eat,
ate of it, and shared it with his companions?"
Then he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath."
Meditation: Colossians 1:21-23
“… of which I, Paul, am a minister.” (Colossians 1:23)
Just how did Paul go from being a “minister” of persecution, to becoming a minister of the gospel? Well, the surprising transformation began during his powerful encounter with the risen Lord on the road to Damascus. Jesus told Paul that he, who was on a mission to arrest Christians, would become his “chosen instrument” to spread the gospel to the Gentiles—and at great personal cost! This encounter dramatically changed Paul’s life. Just as Jesus had promised, Paul now spent all his energies in sharing the good news of Christ with everyone around him.
Can you echo Paul’s words and talk about the gospel as something of which you are a minister? You can. This is the calling of every Christian, not just of priests and missionaries and nuns. Jesus wants all of us to become the mouthpiece of his good news. He wants all of us to tell the story about God’s love for his people. And Paul himself can give us a few pointers on how to effectively do that.
Take a look at Acts 22 and 26, two occasions when Paul—the great theologian—shares the story of his conversion. There’s not much speculative theology in these stories, is there? Instead, Paul gives an account of how he met the Lord Jesus, and how the encounter changed his life. Simple, straightforward, and compelling. Anyone can do this! And everyone is called to do it. The first thing to do is try to write down what you might say. For instance, you might talk about how prayer brings you God’s peace. You might talk about how the Mass brings you close to Jesus and fills you with gratitude that he has saved you from sin. Then pray, with expectant faith, that God will open doors for you. And finally, keep your eyes open for the opportunities Jesus gives you to share your faith experience with someone else—and maybe even to invite that person to pray with you. The harvest is ripe! Let’s ask the Lord for the grace and the courage to be his harvesters.
“Lord, help me find more courage to be a witness of your gospel.”
Col 1:21-23
Brothers and sisters:
You once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds;
God has now reconciled you
in the fleshly Body of Christ through his death,
to present you holy, without blemish,
and irreproachable before him,
provided that you persevere in the faith,
firmly grounded, stable,
and not shifting from the hope of the Gospel that you heard,
which has been preached to every creature under heaven,
of which I, Paul, am a minister.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 54:3-4, 6 and 8R. (6)
God himself is my help.
O God, by your name save me,
and by your might defend my cause.
O God, hear my prayer;
hearken to the words of my mouth.
R. God himself is my help.
Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord sustains my life.
Freely will I offer you sacrifice;
I will praise your name, O LORD, for its goodness.
R. God himself is my help.
Gospel
Lk 6:1-5
While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath,
his disciples were picking the heads of grain,
rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.
Some Pharisees said,
"Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?"
Jesus said to them in reply,
"Have you not read what David did
when he and those who were with him were hungry?
How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering,
which only the priests could lawfully eat,
ate of it, and shared it with his companions?"
Then he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath."
Meditation: Colossians 1:21-23
“… of which I, Paul, am a minister.” (Colossians 1:23)
Just how did Paul go from being a “minister” of persecution, to becoming a minister of the gospel? Well, the surprising transformation began during his powerful encounter with the risen Lord on the road to Damascus. Jesus told Paul that he, who was on a mission to arrest Christians, would become his “chosen instrument” to spread the gospel to the Gentiles—and at great personal cost! This encounter dramatically changed Paul’s life. Just as Jesus had promised, Paul now spent all his energies in sharing the good news of Christ with everyone around him.
Can you echo Paul’s words and talk about the gospel as something of which you are a minister? You can. This is the calling of every Christian, not just of priests and missionaries and nuns. Jesus wants all of us to become the mouthpiece of his good news. He wants all of us to tell the story about God’s love for his people. And Paul himself can give us a few pointers on how to effectively do that.
Take a look at Acts 22 and 26, two occasions when Paul—the great theologian—shares the story of his conversion. There’s not much speculative theology in these stories, is there? Instead, Paul gives an account of how he met the Lord Jesus, and how the encounter changed his life. Simple, straightforward, and compelling. Anyone can do this! And everyone is called to do it. The first thing to do is try to write down what you might say. For instance, you might talk about how prayer brings you God’s peace. You might talk about how the Mass brings you close to Jesus and fills you with gratitude that he has saved you from sin. Then pray, with expectant faith, that God will open doors for you. And finally, keep your eyes open for the opportunities Jesus gives you to share your faith experience with someone else—and maybe even to invite that person to pray with you. The harvest is ripe! Let’s ask the Lord for the grace and the courage to be his harvesters.
“Lord, help me find more courage to be a witness of your gospel.”
02 September 2011
02 Sep 2011, Friday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Col 1:15-20
Brothers and sisters:
Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the Body, the Church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the Blood of his cross
through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5R. (2b)
Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
For he is good,
the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Gospel
Lk 5:33-39
The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,
"The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers,
and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same;
but yours eat and drink."
Jesus answered them, "Can you make the wedding guests fast
while the bridegroom is with them"
But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
then they will fast in those days.
And he also told them a parable.
"No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one.
Otherwise, he will tear the new
and the piece from it will not match the old cloak.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins,
and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.
Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins.
And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new,
for he says, "The old is good."
Meditation: Colossians 1:15-20
In him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17)
What a beautiful reflection Paul writes here about how central Jesus is to our lives! Image of the invisible God. Firstborn of all creation. He is above all things and has the place of preeminence over all creation. He is the overarching presence in the universe that holds everything together. Pondering these passages is enough to make our hearts soar!
Paul is telling us here that Jesus holds our lives secure. He is telling us that Jesus holds us in the palm of his hand. He is also telling us that without Jesus holding everything together, the world would very quickly spin into greater and greater chaos.
So what should we say when circumstances make it look like the world is falling apart? What should we think when chaos seems dominant? Recent history is full of such examples. We have seen devastation wrought by earthquakes, tornadoes, and tsunamis. We have seen lives upended by flooding, war, and terrorist attacks. Perhaps you have suffered through a tragedy that has turned your life and your family into chaos. Considering all this chaos can make us wonder whether Jesus has abandoned us or if he is still holding everything together.
Rather than try to answer these broad, global questions, let’s focus today on a more personal approach. We will never know why tragedy still exists in God’s good creation. We may never be able to control the external forces of nature, or the deranged ideologies of terrorists. But we can control the way we respond when tragedy strikes. As we cling to the Lord in the midst of upheavals, we will discover that what he really holds together is … us! We can choose to trust in God—even against all logic. And if we do, we can give witness to a wavering world. Our example can even help other people hold themselves together!
So whenever chaos approaches, try your best to face it in faith. Open yourself to the Holy Spirit. Let him become your foundation stone, even if everything around you appears to be falling apart. He can give you the grace and peace you need. And then your certainty can bring hope to anyone around you who is troubled!
“Jesus, I believe you are above all things. Fill me with faith so that even if everything around me is shaking, you hold me secure!”
Col 1:15-20
Brothers and sisters:
Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the Body, the Church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the Blood of his cross
through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5R. (2b)
Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
For he is good,
the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Gospel
Lk 5:33-39
The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,
"The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers,
and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same;
but yours eat and drink."
Jesus answered them, "Can you make the wedding guests fast
while the bridegroom is with them"
But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
then they will fast in those days.
And he also told them a parable.
"No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one.
Otherwise, he will tear the new
and the piece from it will not match the old cloak.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins,
and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.
Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins.
And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new,
for he says, "The old is good."
Meditation: Colossians 1:15-20
In him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17)
What a beautiful reflection Paul writes here about how central Jesus is to our lives! Image of the invisible God. Firstborn of all creation. He is above all things and has the place of preeminence over all creation. He is the overarching presence in the universe that holds everything together. Pondering these passages is enough to make our hearts soar!
Paul is telling us here that Jesus holds our lives secure. He is telling us that Jesus holds us in the palm of his hand. He is also telling us that without Jesus holding everything together, the world would very quickly spin into greater and greater chaos.
So what should we say when circumstances make it look like the world is falling apart? What should we think when chaos seems dominant? Recent history is full of such examples. We have seen devastation wrought by earthquakes, tornadoes, and tsunamis. We have seen lives upended by flooding, war, and terrorist attacks. Perhaps you have suffered through a tragedy that has turned your life and your family into chaos. Considering all this chaos can make us wonder whether Jesus has abandoned us or if he is still holding everything together.
Rather than try to answer these broad, global questions, let’s focus today on a more personal approach. We will never know why tragedy still exists in God’s good creation. We may never be able to control the external forces of nature, or the deranged ideologies of terrorists. But we can control the way we respond when tragedy strikes. As we cling to the Lord in the midst of upheavals, we will discover that what he really holds together is … us! We can choose to trust in God—even against all logic. And if we do, we can give witness to a wavering world. Our example can even help other people hold themselves together!
So whenever chaos approaches, try your best to face it in faith. Open yourself to the Holy Spirit. Let him become your foundation stone, even if everything around you appears to be falling apart. He can give you the grace and peace you need. And then your certainty can bring hope to anyone around you who is troubled!
“Jesus, I believe you are above all things. Fill me with faith so that even if everything around me is shaking, you hold me secure!”
01 September 2011
01 Sep 2011, Thursday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Col 1:9-14
Brothers and sisters:
From the day we heard about you, we do not cease praying for you
and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will
through all spiritual wisdom and understanding
to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,
so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit
and growing in the knowledge of God,
strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might,
for all endurance and patience,
with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share
in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.
He delivered us from the power of darkness
and transferred us to the Kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 98:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6R. (2)
The Lord has made known his salvation.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
Gospel
Lk 5:1-11
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God,
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake;
the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,
he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
"Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch."
Simon said in reply,
"Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets."
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
"Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men."
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him.
Meditation: Colossians 1:9-14
We do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled.” (Colossians 1:9)
If anyone knew God’s grace, surely it was Paul. He was the last person anyone would have expected to dedicate his life to proclaiming Jesus. But here he was, announcing the gospel at every turn. There is only one answer to how this could have possibly happened: The man who once prided himself on living by the law was radically changed by God. And so with confidence in his own experience of God’s grace, Paul prayed that his brothers and sisters in Christ would experience the same thing.
Jesus wants to give us so much! In today’s Gospel, he called Peter to put his nets into the water once again. Undoubtedly exhausted from having worked all day, Peter hesitated for a moment. But then he thought about who was asking him to do this, and he decided to give it a try.
The catch was so overwhelming that he had to call for help! Peter knew that such a huge catch—and in the middle of the day, no less— was nothing short of a miracle. Only Jesus’ amazing generosity, his grace, could have done this. He got the message: Jesus didn’t just want to give Peter some fish. He wanted to give Peter a share in his life.
Jesus wants to fill you with his life and his grace, and he only asks you to receive it. And there’s no better place to receive from Jesus than at Mass. Day in and day out, Jesus offers himself to us on the altar. He is there for us in good times and in bad. He doesn’t ask us to be perfect. He doesn’t wait for us to get our lives in order. He just gives himself away, wanting nothing more than to gather us in his arms and heal us. So come to him and let him fill you—just as Paul prayed.
“Jesus, I am overwhelmed by your generosity. Thank you for giving yourself to me at Mass. Your grace is my strength and my hope.”
Col 1:9-14
Brothers and sisters:
From the day we heard about you, we do not cease praying for you
and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will
through all spiritual wisdom and understanding
to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,
so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit
and growing in the knowledge of God,
strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might,
for all endurance and patience,
with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share
in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.
He delivered us from the power of darkness
and transferred us to the Kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 98:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6R. (2)
The Lord has made known his salvation.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
Gospel
Lk 5:1-11
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God,
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake;
the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,
he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
"Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch."
Simon said in reply,
"Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets."
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
"Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men."
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him.
Meditation: Colossians 1:9-14
We do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled.” (Colossians 1:9)
If anyone knew God’s grace, surely it was Paul. He was the last person anyone would have expected to dedicate his life to proclaiming Jesus. But here he was, announcing the gospel at every turn. There is only one answer to how this could have possibly happened: The man who once prided himself on living by the law was radically changed by God. And so with confidence in his own experience of God’s grace, Paul prayed that his brothers and sisters in Christ would experience the same thing.
Jesus wants to give us so much! In today’s Gospel, he called Peter to put his nets into the water once again. Undoubtedly exhausted from having worked all day, Peter hesitated for a moment. But then he thought about who was asking him to do this, and he decided to give it a try.
The catch was so overwhelming that he had to call for help! Peter knew that such a huge catch—and in the middle of the day, no less— was nothing short of a miracle. Only Jesus’ amazing generosity, his grace, could have done this. He got the message: Jesus didn’t just want to give Peter some fish. He wanted to give Peter a share in his life.
Jesus wants to fill you with his life and his grace, and he only asks you to receive it. And there’s no better place to receive from Jesus than at Mass. Day in and day out, Jesus offers himself to us on the altar. He is there for us in good times and in bad. He doesn’t ask us to be perfect. He doesn’t wait for us to get our lives in order. He just gives himself away, wanting nothing more than to gather us in his arms and heal us. So come to him and let him fill you—just as Paul prayed.
“Jesus, I am overwhelmed by your generosity. Thank you for giving yourself to me at Mass. Your grace is my strength and my hope.”
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