RELIGION AND ART

Next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by Uriah. In the letter he wrote, 'Station Uriah in the thick of the fight and then fall back behind him so that he may be struck down and die'. Joab, then besieging the town, posted Uriah in a place where he knew there were fierce fighters.  The men of the town sallied out and engaged Joab; the army suffered casualties, including some of David's bodyguard; and Uriah the Hittite was killed too. Mass Readings Lectures du jour Psalm 51 Saints for today Be merciful to me Lord, have mercy on me Father. May your mercy never depart from me. Thank you for your love and mercy.

After Nathan had spoken to David, the King went in and, seated before the Lord, said: Who am I, Lord, and what is my House, that you have led me as far as this? Yet in your sight, Lord, this is still not far enough, and you make your promises to extend to the House of your servant for a far-distant future.  You have constituted your people Israel to be your own people for ever; and you, the Lord, have become their God.  Now, Lord always keep the promise you have made your servant and his House, and do as you have said.  Your name will be exalted for ever and men will say: "the Lord of hosts is God over Israel." The House of your servant David will be made secure in your presence, since you yourself, the Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, "I will build you a House', hence your servant has ventured to offer this prayer to you. Yes, Lord, you are God indeed, your words are true and you have made this fair promise to y...

Again he began to teach by the lakeside, but such a huge crowd gathered round him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there.  The people were all along the shore, at the water's edge. He taught them many things in parables, and in the course of his teaching he said to them, 'Listen!, Imagine a sower going our to sow.  Now it happened that, as he sowed, some of the seed fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground where it found little soil and sprang up straightaway, because there was no depth of earth; and when the sun came up it was scorched, not having any roots, it withered away. Some seed fell into thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it,  and it produced no crop. And some seeds fell into right soil and,  growing tall and strong, produced crop; and yielded thirty, sixty, even a hundredfold.' And he said, 'Listen, anyone who has ears to hear!'  Mass Readings Lectu...

 His mother and brothers now arrived and, standing outside, sent in a message asking for him.  A crowd was sitting round him at the time the message was passed to him, 'Your mothers and brothers and sisters are outside asking for you'.  He replied, 'Who are my mother and my brothers?' And looking round at those sitting in a circle about him, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers.  Anyone who does the will of God, that person is my brother and sister and mother.' Mass Readings Lectures du jour Saint Thomas A. Heavenly Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ our brother.  His coming makes us members of God family.  His coming set us free from bondage. Thank you loving Father for making me your child. How lovely is your dwelling place

Mark 3:22-30 The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, 'Beelzebul is in him' and, 'It is through prince of devils that he casts devil out.' So Jesus called them to him and spoke to them in parables, 'How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom last. And if a household is divided against itself, that household is divided against itself, that household can never stand. Now if Satan has rebelled against himself and is divided, he cannot stand either - it is the end of him. But no one can make his way into a strong man's house and burgle his property unless he has tied up the strong man first. Only then can he burgle his house. 'I tell you solemnly, all men's sins will be forgiven, and all their blasphemies; but let anyone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and he will never have forgiveness: he is guilty of an eternal sin.' This was because they were saying, an unclean spirit is in h...

Hearing that John had been arrested Jesus went back to Galilee, and leaving Nazareth he went settled in Capernaum, a lakeside town on the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali.  In this way the prophecy of Isaiah was to be fulfilled.  'Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali! Way of the sea on the far side of Jordan, Galilee of the nations! The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light; on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death a light has dawned.' Mass Reading 3rd Sunday Ordinary Time From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand'...... 'Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. 'And they left their nets at once and followed him.  lectures du jour Lord Jesus Christ my Lord and Master, each day you are calling me to follow.  I am like the deaf who cannot hear your voice.  Open my ear that I may hear your calling that I may follow you. Give me the courage to lay do...

Paul said to the people, 'I am a Jew,' 'and was, born at Tarsus in Cilicia. I was brought up here in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was taught the exact observance of the Law of our ancestors.In fact, I was as full of duty towards God an you are today........ "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" I answered: Who are you, Lord? and he said to me, "I am Jesus of Nazarene, and you are persecuting me". Father, bend me heart according to your will. Lord Jesus how often have I persecuted you when I refused to do what I ought to do to lift up my fellow being. Help Lord Jesus to see you in every creatures I meet today. Mass Readings Lectures du jour My Praise

Saul took three thousands men chosen from the whole of Israel and went in search of David and his men east of the Rocks of Wild Goats.  He came to the sheepfolds along the route where there was a cave, and went in to cover his feet.  Now David and his men were sitting in the recesses of the cave; David's men said to him, 'Today is the day of which The Lord said to you, "I will deliver your enemy into your power, do what you like with him". David stood up and, unobserved, cut off the border of Saul's cloak. Afterwards David reproached himself for having cut off the border of  Saul's cloak.  He said to his men, "The Lord preserve me from doing such a thing to my lord and raising my hand against him, for he is anointed of The Lord'.  David gave his men strict instructions, forbidding them to attach Saul Mass Readings Textes Liturgiques Psalm 51  Heavenly Father, give me a heart that does not bear grudge.  Help me not to feel bad whenever I am ...

Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lakeside, and great crowds from Galilee followed him.  From Judea, Jerusalem, Idumaea, Transjordan and the region of Tyre and Sidon, great numbers who had heard if all he was doing came to him.  And he asked his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, to keep him from being crushed.  For he had cured so many that all who were afflicted in any way were crowding forward to touch him.  And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, would fall down before him and shout, 'You are the Son of God!' But he warned them strongly not to make him known.    Mass Readings Textes du jour Lord Jesus Christ, you will not allow the unclean spirits make you know because they were distractions to your mission on earth. Help me LORD to be focused in my callings and direct my steps so that I may imitate you LORD and Master.   Beautiful Saviour

David spoke to Saul: 'Let your majesty not lose courage. I am at your service to g and fight this Philistine." But Saul answered David, 'You cannot go up against this Philistine and fight with him, for you are only a youth, while he has been a warrior from his youth." Mass Readings Textes Liturgiques My Heavenly Father, thank you for you alone is Supreme over all. Yours is power and supremacy.  Take all the glory in the name of Jesus Christ. Psalm 62

Samuel said to Saul: "Stop! Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night." Saul replied, "Speak!" Samuel then said: "Though little in your own esteem, are you not leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king of Israel and sent you on a mission, saying, 'Go and put the sinful Amalekites under a ban of destruction. Fight against them until you have exterminated them.' Why then have you disobeyed the LORD? You have pounced on the spoil, thus displeasing the LORD." Saul answered Samuel: "I did indeed obey the LORD and fulfill the mission on which the LORD sent me.  Mass Readings Textes liturgiques  In Nigeria today we celebrate Blessed Iwene Michael Tansi    At the Lamb's High Feast Monday 20th January 2020

'There is still one left, the youngest; he is out looking after the sheep.' Then Samuel said to Jesse, 'Send for him; we will not sit  down to eat until he comes. 'Jesse had him sent for, a boy of fresh complexion, with fine eyes and pleasant bearing.  The Lord said, 'Come, anoint him, for this is the one.' At this, Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him where he stood with his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord seized on David and stayed with him from that day o.  As for Samuel, he rose and went to Ramah. Readings for today Saint Agnes Father you pay attention to those who seems insignificant, they are the one you are always on the look out for.  They are unique whose intention pleases you.  They have the special gifts to offer humanity and are willing to go extra mile.  You are all knowing God, may my thoughts and actions be pleasing to you.

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, 'A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.' I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptising with water, was that he might be made known to Israel."            Mass Readings John testified further, saying, "I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and remain upon him.

Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, "Follow me" And he got up and followed Jesus. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners' Jesus heard this and said to them, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners." Mass Readings Textes liturgiques

When Jesus returned to Capernaum, word went round that he was back; and so many people collected that there was no room left, even in front of the door. He was preaching the word to them when some people came bringing him a paralytic lay.  Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, 'My child, your sins are forgiven. 'Now some scribes were sitting there, and they thought to themselves,'How can this man talk like that?  He is Blaspheming. Who can forgive sins but God?'  Jesus inwardly aware that this was what they were thinking, said to them, 'Why do you have these thoughts in your hearts? Which of these is easier: to say to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven" or to say, "Get up, pick up your stretcher and walk?. Textes liturgiques But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,' he turned to the paralytic: 'I order you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go off home.' And the man got up, ...

A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: 'If you want to' he said 'you can cure me.' Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. 'Of course I want to!' he said. 'Be cured!' And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured.  Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, 'Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.' The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him.    Mass Readings Textes liturgiques

I waited, I waited for the Lord and he stopped down to me; he heard my cry. Happy the man who has placed his trust in the Lord and has not gone over to the rebels who follow false gods.  Here I am Lor d Mass Readings Textes liturgiques 

Jesus and his disciples went as far as Capernaum, and as soon as the sabbath came he went to the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority. In their synagogue just then there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit and it shouted, 'What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.' But Jesus said sharply, 'Be quiet! Come out of him! And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him.  The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant.

After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. 'The time has come' he said 'and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.' As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake - for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me and I will make you into fisher of men.' And at once they left their nets and followed him. Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending their nets. He called them at once and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they wet after him. Song of Trust

I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right; I have taken you by the hand and formed you; I have appointed you as covenant of the people and light of the nations; to open the eyes of the blind, to free captives from prison, and those who live in darkness from the dungeon, Mass Readings Textes liturgiques Images of Jesus Christ Baptism

Beloved: We must have confidence in him that if we ask  anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked him for is ours. If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that say that you should pray. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.  Mass Readings Textes liturgiques

This is the one who came through Water and Blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and Blood. The Spirits is the one who testifies, and the Spirit is truth. So there are three who testify, the Spirit, the water, and the Blood, and the three are one accord. If we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is this, that he has testified on behalf of his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. Textes liturgiques Mass Readings Father help me believe in your Son Jesus Christ, He is the one who came through Water and Blood,and the Spirit testify to His divinity. Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice. Dear Children Praise His Holy Name

My dear people, since God has loved us so much, we too should love one another. No one has ever seen God; but as long as we love one another God will live in us and his love will be complete in us. We can know that we are living in him and is living in us because he lets us because he lets us share his Spirit. We ourselves saw and we testify that the Father sent his Son as saviour of the world. Textes liturgiques Mass Readings Give God the Glory Heavenly Father thank you for your love.  Help us love one another so that you will live in us that your love will be complete in us. 

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remain in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us, that he has give us of his Spirit. Moreover, we have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son as saviour of the world. Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God. We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. Textes liturgiques  Mass Readings Psalm 19 Heavenly Father remain in us bring your love to perfection in us. Father you so much loved us, help us to love one another.

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. Mass Readings Textes Liturgiques Beautiful Saviour

Beloved: We received from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us. Those who keep his commandments remain in him, he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the spirit whom he gave us. Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belong to God, and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus does not belong to God. Textes liturgiques Mass Readings

Alleluah Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem ! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you, see, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance. Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses. Images of Epiphany Textes Liturgiques Mass Readings My God Accept my Heart this day

My children, do not let anyone lead you astray: to live a holy life is to be holy just as he is holy; to lead a sinful life is to belong to the devil, since the devil was a sinner from the beginning. It was to undo all that the devil has done that the Son of God appeared. No one who has been begotten by God sins; because God's seed remains inside him, he cannot sin when he has been begotten by God. In this way we distinguish the children of God from the children of the devil; anybody not living a holy life and not loving his brother is no child of God's. Mass Readings  Textes Liturgiques Heavenly Father guide me. May no one lead me astray from living a righteous life. Guide me help me live a holy life, help me to be holy just as you are Holy. By my living a holy life I will be distinguish as your child in Jesus Christ name I pray. Psalm 62  in God Alone I place my Trust

Seeing Jesus coming towards him, John said, 'Look, there is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. This is the one I spoke of when I said: A man is coming after me who ranks before me because he existed before me. I did not know him myself, and yet it was to reveal him to Israel that I came baptising with water. 'John also declared, 'I saw the Spirit coming down on him from heaven like a dove and resting on him. I did not know him myself, but he who sent me to baptise with water had said to me, "The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is going to baptise with the Holy Spirit." "Yes, I have seen and I am the witness that he is the Chosen One of God." Textes liturgiques Mass Reading Heavenly Father, thank you for John the Baptist who reveal your Son. John saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove and rested on Him. Thank you Lord Jesus for coming to save us and deliver us from the snar...

The man who denies that Jesus is the Christ: he is a liar, he is Antichrist; and he is denying the Father as well as the Son, because no one who has the Father can deny the Son, and to acknowledge the Son is to have the Father as well. Keep alive in yourselves what you were taught in the beginning: as long as what you were taught in the beginning is alive in you, you will live in the Son and in the Father; and what is promised to you by his own promise is eternal life. Textes Liturgiques Mass Readings Saints of the day Heavenly Father, help to love me. May I never deny your Son Jesus Christ. You are my Father, I acknowledge your Son Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour. Hallelujah

The Lord spoke to Moses and said, 'Say this to Aaron and his sons: "This is how you are to bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace." Readings Textes Liturgiques Hail Thou Star of Ocean Heavenly Father thank you for the New Year 2020. May your blessing be upon us, may your face shine on us and be gracious to us Father. Father uncover your face to us and bring us peace.