RELIGION AND ART

King Herod started persecuting certain members of the Church. He beheaded James the brother of John, and when he saw that this pleased the Jews he decided to arrest Peter as well.  This was during the days of the Unleavened Bred, and he put Peter in prison, assigning four squads of four soldiers each to guard him in turns. Mass Readings He meant to try Peter in public after the end of Passover week.  All the time Peter was under guard the Church prayed to God for him unremittingly.... Letter of Paul to Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 My life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone.  I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his appearing..... Matthew 16:13-19 "But you, He said,...

Brothers and sister: Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus  were baptized into his death?  We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,  so that, just as Christ was raised from dead by the glory of the  Father, we too might live in newness of life. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall  also live with him.  We know that Christ, raised from the dead,  dies no more; death no longer has power over him.  As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God.  Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as dead to sin and living for  God in Christ Jesus.  Mass Readings Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for creating this awareness in me, that I am baptized into your body.  Thank you Lord Jesus Christ for the privilege of knowledge. Father in heaven help live the life I am called upon to live  through through Jesus Christ I pray....

"Lord I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it.  Readings at Mass Lord Jesus Christ, you praised the Centurion for his unwavering faith.  It is one of the prayers we say during consecration at Holy Mass. Help me to not allow my worries make me loose focus on you. With you I have nothing to fear.

After Jesus had come down from the mountain large crowds followed him.  A leper now came up and bowed down low in front of him. "Sir if you want to, you can cure me." Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, "Of course I want to! Be cured!." And his leprosy was cured at once. The Jesus said to him, "Mind you do not tell anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest and make the offering prescribed by Moses, as evidence for them."  Mass Readings Lord Jesus Christ, teach me to be humble. Thank you for caring for my needs. You do not overlook any details. To protect the man from authority, and his integration into the society, you asked him to show himself to the priest and make the prescribed offering.  Psalm 13

 Evry year the parents of Jesus used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover.When he was twelve years old, they went up for the feast as usual. When they were on their way home after the feast, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without his parents knowing it. They assumed he was with the caravan, and it was only after a day's journey that they went to look for him among their relations and acquaintances.When they failed to find him they went back to Jerusalem looking for him everywhere. Images of Immaculate heart of Mary Three days later, they found him in the Temple, sitting among the doctors, listening to them, an asking them questions; and all those who heard him were astounded at his inteligence and his replies. They were overcome when they saw him, and his mothe said to him,  "My child, why have you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you." "Why were you looking for me? he replied. "Did you not kn...

Mass Readings At that time Jesus exclaimed: "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son excep the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. "Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light,"    My God Accept my Heart Images of Sacred Heart of Jesus

Jesus said to his disciples: "In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him. So you should pray like this: 'Our Father in heaven, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us.  And do not put us to the test, but save us from the evil one. "Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you your; but if you do not forgive other, your Father will not forgive your failings either."    Mass Readings

Jesus said to his disciples: "Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you wiill lose all your reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men's admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secrete, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them; I tell you solemnly, they have ha their reward.......... Mass Readings

Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was saidl You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?  Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."  Mass Readings

Jesus said to his disciples: "You have learnt how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.  But I say this to you: offer no the wicked no resistance. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; if a man takes you to the law and would have your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone orders you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to anyone who asks, and if anyone wnats to borrow, do not turn away." Mass Readings

Corpus Christi Jesus said to the Jews: At Lamb's High Feast 'I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.' Then the Jews started arguing with one another: 'How can this man give us his flesh to eat?' they said. Jesus replied: I tell you most solemnly, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you will not have life in you. Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him.  Mass Readings     Images of Corpus Christi

St. Anthony  Jesus said to his disciples: 'You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not break your oath, but must fulfile your oaths to the Lord. But I say this to you: Do not swear at all, either by heaven, since that is God's throne; or by the earth, since that is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, since tht is the great city of the great king. Do not swear by your own head either, since you cannot turn a single hair white or black. All you need to say is "Yes" if you mean yes, "No" if you mean no; anything more that this comes from the evil one'.    Mass Readings

When Elijah reached Horeb, the mountain of God, he went into the cave and spent the night in it. Then he was told, 'Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lore.' Then the Lord himself went by. There came a mighty wind, so strong it tore the mountains and shattered the rocks before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake came a fire.  But the Lord was not in the fire. After ther fire there came the sound of a gentle breeze. And when Elijah heart this, he covered his face with his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then a voice came to him, which said, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?' He replied, 'I am filled with jealous zeal for the Lord of Hosts, because the sons of Isreal haver deserted you, broken down your altars and put your prophets to the sword. I am the only one left and they want to kill me.' Mass Reading...

St. Barnabas In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the grace of God,    Psalm 142 he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart, for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.

Jesus said to his disciples: 'Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.  I have come not to abolish but to complete them.  I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved. Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.'    Mass Readings     My chant Psalm 13

Jesus said to his disciples: 'You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 'You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven.' Mass Readings

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteouness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.    Mass Readings

St. Boniface Jesus said: 'I am the good Shepherd: the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him, abandons the sheep and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf coming, and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep; this is becaus he is only a hired man and has no concern for the sheep. Mass Readings to today Psalm 23 Lord Jesus Christ, I want to hear your voice. You are my Shepherd, teach me to trust in you. Open my eyes that I may behold your glory. Soften my heart to keep your word. Lead me, draw me close to you.

Remember the Good news that I carry, 'Jesus Christ risen from the dead, sprung from the race of David; it is on account of this that I have my own hardship to bear, even to being chained like a criminal - but they cannot chain up God's news. So I bear it all for the sake of those who are chosen, so that in the end they may have the salvation that is in Christ Jesus and the eternal glory that comes with it.....    Mass Readings

St. Charles Lwanga Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God for the promise of life in Christ Jesus, to Timothy my dear child: grace, merch, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I am grateful to God, whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, as I remember you constantly in my prayer, night and day. For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God  that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. Mass Readings So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God....

You shoupld be living holy and saintly lives while you wait and long for the day of God to come, when the sky will dissolve in flames and the elements melt in the heat. What we are waiting for is what he promised: the new heavens and new earth, the place where righteousness will be at home. So then my friends, while you are waiting, do your  best to live lives without spot or stain so that he will find you at peace.... Reading for today's Mass

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of clopas, and Mary of Magdala.  Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, 'Woman, this is your son. 'Then to the disciple he said, 'This is your mother, 'And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home. After this, Jesus knew that everything had now been completed, and to fulfil the scripture perfectly said, 'I am thirsty.' A jar full of vinegar stood there, so putting a sponge soaked in the vinegar on a hyssop stick they held it up to his mouth. After Jesus had taken the vinegar he said, 'It is accomplished'; and bowing his head he gave up his spirit...... John 19:25-34   Mass Reading