RELIGION AND ART

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, "Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deed? Is not his the carpenter's son? Is not his mother Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and his own house." And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.  Mass Readings Father I am awe of your love for me. I thank you for your great mercy in sending your Son. Continue to reveal to me.  Increase my lack of faith  that I may experience your mighty deeds in my life. Saint Ignatius of Loyola

This word came to Jeremiah from the LORD: Rise up, be off to the potter's house; there I will give you my message. I went down to the potter's house and there he was, working at the wheel. Whenever the object of clay which he was making turned out badly in his hand, he tried again, making of the clay another object of whatever sort he pleased. Then the word of the LORD came to me: Can I not do to you, house of Israel, as this potter has done? says the LORD.  Indeed, like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, house of Israel. Mass Readings Heavenly Father, you are God of the living. You are the Potter, and we the clay. You sent your Son Jesus Christ to ransom us from death. Mould us into the image of your Son that we may be worthy of your Kingdom . Jesus said to the disciples: "The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind.  When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is goo...

Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcome him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to the the serving? Tell her to help me." The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her."  Mass Readings Saint Martha Holy Spirit, fill my heart with the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Help me appreciate the most relevant thing in life. The most important in my life is to seek the Kingdom of God. Help me Lord to listen and not be distracted.

Let my eyes stream with tears day and night, without rest, over the great destruction which overwhelms the virgin daughter or my people, over her incurable wound. If I walk out into the field, look! those slain by the sword; if I enter the city, look! those consumed by hunger. Even the prophet and the priest forage in a land they know not. Mass Readings  Heavenly Father, thank you for lavishing the seed of your word in our lives.  Fill us with your Spirit. Father may our lives bear the abundance fruit of righteousness. "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the Evil One, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of M...

"I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world" Jesus proposed a parable to the crowd. "The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the 'birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches." Mass Readings Lord Jesus Christ, you opened the way for us to know freedom by your Words. Sent us your Holy Spirit that we may understand your teachings, and to follow your instructions. For you LORD have the message of eternal life. Help us understand the hidden treasure from the foundation of the world. H.G. Psalm 19 

The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night.  God said, "Ask something of me and I will give it to you." Solomon answered: "O LORD, my God, you have made me your servant,  king to succeed my father David; but I am a mere youth,  not knowing at all how to act. I serve you in the midst of people whom you have chosen,  a people vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to  judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?" Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Servant King. You are LORD and master. You came to show us the way by doing the will of your Father. Like king Solomon, heavenly Father I ask you to give me Wisdom, an understanding heart, that I may seek your Kingdom a priceless treasure above every other thing. Give me the knowledge to distinguish between right and wrong. That having an insight of your Word, I will choose ...