JESUS CHRIST OUR SURE HOPE OF INHERITANCE

MONDAY WEEK 8 IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE

MY DAILY OFFERING: O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.

First Reading(s) 1 Peter 1:3-9 You did not see Christ, yet you love him

Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has given us a new birth as his sons, by raising Jesus Christ from the dead, so that we have a sure hope and the promise of an inheritance that can never be spoilt or soiled and never fade away, because it is being kept for you in the heavens. Lectures

Through your faith, God’s power will guard you until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed at the end of time. This is a cause of great joy for you, even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold, only it is more precious than gold, which is corruptible even though it bears testing by fire – and then you will have praise and glory and honour. 

You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described, because you believe; and you are sure of the end to which your faith looks forward, that is, the salvation of your souls.

Responsorial Psalm The Lord keeps his covenant in mind

Gospel Mark 10-17-27 Give everything you own to the poor, and follow me

Jesus was setting out on a journey when a man ran up, knelt before him and put this question to him, ‘Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ 

Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You must not kill; You must not commit adultery; You must not steal; You must not bring false witness; You must not defraud; Honour your father and mother.’ And he said to him, ‘Master, I have kept all these from my earliest days.’ Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him, and he said, ‘There is one thing you lack. Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth. Reflections

Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!’ The disciples were astounded by these words, but Jesus insisted, ‘My children,’ he said to them ‘how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ They were more astonished than ever. ‘In that case’ they said to one another ‘who can be saved?’ Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men’ he said ‘it is impossible, but not for God: because everything is possible for God.’

Your birthday Saint: Blessed Daniel Brottier, Priest. May he pray for you as you celebrate your birthday.

Loving Father give me a generous heart. A heart willing to sacrifice. A compassionate and merciful heart. Father in keeping to your commands, let them mould my being. May your law lead me to my sure hope of inheritance promised by Christ resurrection from the dead, through the sacrifice of His Precious Blood.

Lord Jesus Christ thank you for loving me. Jesus I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me.  God's Holy Angels pray for me. My Angel Guardian come to my aid. Pray for me. Protect me. Guide and Guard me.

Pray the Holy Rosary. Our Lady Queen of Peace pray for us. Bring us close to your Son Jesus Christ.

A MAN'S WORD BETRAYS HIS ACTIONS

SUNDAY 8 WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C 

A MAN'S WORDS FLOW OUT WHAT FILLS HIS HEART

MY DAILY OFFERING: O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.

First Reading(s) Ecclesiasticus 27:5-8 

The test of a man is in his conversation

In a shaken sieve the rubbish is left behind,

so too the defects of a man appear in his talk.

The kiln tests the work of the potter, the test of a man is in his conversation.

The orchard where a tree grows is judged on the quality of its fruit,

similarly a man’s words betray what he feels.

Do not praise a man before he has spoken, since this is the test of men. Lectures

Responsorial Psalm: It is good to give thanks to you O Lord

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 Death is swallowed up in victory

When this perishable nature has put on imperishability, and when this mortal nature has put on immortality, then the words of scripture will come true: Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? Now the sting of death is sin, and sin gets its power from the Law. So let us thank God for giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Never give in then, my dear brothers, never admit defeat; keep on working at the Lord’s work always, knowing that, in the Lord, you cannot be labouring in vain.

Gospel Luke 6:39-45 Can the blind lead the blind?

Jesus told a parable to his disciples: ‘Can one blind man guide another? Surely both will fall into a pit? The disciple is not superior to his teacher; the fully trained disciple will always be like his teacher. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own? 

Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye. 

‘There is no sound tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces sound fruit. For every tree can be told by its own fruit: people do not pick figs from thorns, nor gather grapes from brambles. A good man draws what is good from the store of goodness in his heart; a bad man draws what is bad from the store of badness. For a man’s words flow out of what fills his heart.’ Reflections

Your Birthday Saint: Saint Gregory of Narek, Abbot and Doctor. May he pray for you as you celebrate your birthday.

My Father in heaven keep guard over my actions. Guide my heart, give me a pure heart. Guide my spirit, let me never be possessed by evil spirits. Guide my mouth and my tongue, to speak edifying words, to sing your praises, to preach peace. Turn my eyes away from evil, from inordinate things around me. May I see the beauty in all your creatures and your creation. Remove deceit from me, make me sound in spirit and body that a may produce good fruits. Give me a good heart that I may reveal your goodness in all my ways.

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. God's Holy Angels pray for me. My Angel Guardian protect me. Guide and guard me. Pray for me.

Pray the Holy Rosary: Our Lady of Peace pray for us. 

 

THE PRAYER OF FAITH OUR SAVING GRACE

JESUS LAID HIS HANDS UPON CHILDREN AND BLESS THEM

SATURDAY 7TH  WEEK IN  ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

MY DAILY OFFERING: O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.

First Reading(s)  James 5:13-20  A good man's heartfelt prayer has great power

If any one of you is in trouble, he should pray. If anyone is feeling happy, he should sing a psalm. If one of you is ill, he should send for the elders of the church, and they must anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord and pray over him. 

The prayer of faith will save the sick man and the Lord will raise him up again; and if he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. So confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, and this will cure you; the heartfelt prayer of a good man works very powerfully. Elijah was a human being like ourselves, he prayed hard for it not to rain, and no rain fell for three and a half years. Then he prayed again and the sky gave rain and the earth gave crops. 

My brothers if one of you strays away from the truth, and another brings him back, he may be sure that anyone who can bring back a sinner from the wrong way that he has taken will be saving a soul from death and covering up a great number of sins. Lectures

Responsorial Psalm: Let my prayer come before you like incense, O Lord

Gospel Mark 10:13-16 It is to such as these little children that the kingdom of God belongs

People were bringing little children to Jesus, for him to touch them. The disciples turned them away, but when Jesus saw this he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ Then he put his arms round them, laid his hands on them and gave them his blessing. Reflections

Your Birthday Saint: St. Alexander of Alexandria, Bishop. May he interecede on your behalf as you celebrate your birthday.

Thank you God my Father. Loving Father you are ever present, waiting and ready to listen to me whenever I call upon you. Father praising you is prayer for you delight in praises. Father may your praise always be on my lips.  It is comforting to know that you will hear and answer me whenever I call upon you God my Father.  Thank you Father for answering my prayer. Let me never depart from your presence. May your Holy Spirit guide me. God my Father bless all children and protect them from every form of evil. Bless our parents. Loving Father hear my prayer for in the Most Holy Name of your Son Jesus Christ I pray.

Lord Jesus Christ thank you for loving me. Jesus I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. God's Holy Angels pray for me. My Angel Guardian pray for me. Protect me. Be my guide and my guard.

Pray the Holy Rosary. Pray for Ukrain. Pray for Nigeria. Pray for unity and peace in our world. Ave Maria. Hail Mary.

DO NOT MAKE YOURSELVE LIABLE TO JUDGEMENT

GOD MADE MALE AND FEMALE FROM BEGINNING

FRIDAY 7TH  WEEK IN  ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

MY DAILY OFFERING: O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.

First Reading(s)  James 5:9-12 Do not ask for judgement, or you may receive it

Do not make complaints against one another, brothers, so as not to be brought to judgement yourselves; the Judge is already to be seen waiting at the gates. For your example, brothers, in submitting with patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord; remember it is those who had endurance that we say are the blessed ones. You have heard of the patience of Job, and understood the Lord’s purpose, realising that the Lord is kind and compassionate. 

Above all, my brothers, do not swear by heaven or by the earth, or use any oaths at all. If you mean ‘yes’, you must say ‘yes’; if you mean ‘no’, say ‘no.’ Otherwise you make yourselves liable to judgement. Lectures

Responsorial Psalm: The Lord is compassionate and love

Gospel  Mark 10:1-12 What God has united, man must not divide

Jesus came to the district of Judaea and the far side of the Jordan. And again crowds gathered round him, and again he taught them, as his custom was. Some Pharisees approached him and asked, ‘Is it against the law for a man to divorce his wife?’ They were testing him.

He answered them, ‘What did Moses command you?’ ‘Moses allowed us’ they said ‘to draw up a writ of dismissal and so to divorce.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘It was because you were so unteachable that he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. This is why a man must leave father and mother, and the two become one body. They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. 

So then, what God has united, man must not divide.’ Back in the house the disciples questioned him again about this, and he said to them, ‘The man who divorces his wife and marries another is guilty of adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another she is guilty of adultery too.’ Reflections

Your Birthday Saint: Saint Ethelbert, King. May he pray for you as you celebrate your birthday.

Loving Father, my God you are full of compassion and love. God of mercy guard me against  complaints against my brothers and sisters in faith. Save me from bringing  judgement to myself. You alone is righteous in your judgement. Make me patience, and submissive to you, Lord. Give me spirit of endurance bless me my God, my Father. May I understand your purpose for me. Make me , know that you O  Lord is kind and compassionate. 

Give me a Spirit of sincerity that my words may be truth for I do not need to swear or take an oath to cnvince my brethrens.  Protect me do not make liable to judgement. Father protect all couples. Bless every family may there be unity in our homes. Bless those planning to get married. I pray for those desiring to get married Father guide and direct them. May God be the centre of all families. Jesus, Mary and Joseph intercede for all families.

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you . Virgin Mary pray for us. Saint Joseph pray for us. God's Holy Angels pray for us. My Guardian Angel pray for me. Be my protection. Guide and guard me.

We pray for Ukraine may God intevene, may peace reign in Ukraine.

Pray the Holy Rosary: Ave Maria. Hail Mary.

STORING UP BURNING FIRE

DO NOT BE AN OBSTACLE TO ANY CHILD

THURSDAY 7TH  WEEK IN  ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

MY DAILY OFFERING: O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.

First Reading(s)  James 5:1-6

The Lord hears the cries of those you have cheated 

An answer for the rich. Start crying, weep for the miseries that are coming to you. Your wealth is all rotting, your clothes are all eaten up by moths. All your gold and your silver are corroding away, and the same corrosion will be your own sentence, and eat into your body.   Lectures

It was a burning fire that you stored up as your treasure for the last days. Labourers mowed your fields, and you cheated them, listen to the wages that you kept back, calling out; realise that the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. On earth you have had a life of comfort and luxury; in the time of slaughter you went on eating to your heart’s content. It was you who condemned the innocent and killed them; they offered you no resistance.

Responsorial Psalm : How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Gospel Mark 9:41-50

If your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward. 

‘But anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die nor their fire go out. For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is a good thing, but if salt has become insipid, how can you season it again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.’  Gosple Reflection

Your Birthday Saint; Saint Sergius  Radonezh may he pray for you as you celebrate your birthday.

My Father, my God I pray psalm 62 today. Father direct ny actions. Keep me from miseries. Direct my steps, help me in my dealings towards your creatures. Protect all infants,  babies and children from danger.

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you.  Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Jospeh pray for me. God's Holy Angels pray for me. My Angel Guardian pray for me. Be my proteton, my guide, and my guard. Pray for me.

Pray the Holy Rosary. Hail Mary. Ave Maria.

ANYONE WHO IS NOT AGAINST US IS FOR US

IF IT IS THE LORD'S WILL

WEDNESDAY WEEK 7 IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

MY DAILY OFFERING: O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. 

I offer them for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, the union of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our Bishops and all Apostles of prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our holy Father Pope Francis this month.  Pieta . 

First Reading James 4:13-17 You cannot know what will happen tomorrow

Here is the answer for those of you who talk like this: ‘Today or tomorrow, we are off to this or that town; we are going to spend a year there, trading, and make some money.’

You never know what will happen tomorrow: you are no more than a mist that is here for a little while and then disappears. The most you should ever say is: ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we shall still be alive to do this or that.’ But how proud and sure of yourselves you are now! Pride of this kind is always wicked. Everyone who knows what is the right thing to do and doesn’t do it commits a sin.

Responsorial Psalm: How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven 

Gospel  Mark  9:38-40 You must not stop anyone from working miracles in my name

John said to Jesus, ‘Master, we saw a man who is not one of us casting out devils in your name; and because he was not one of us we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said, ‘You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.’

Your Birthday Saint: Saint Polycarp, Bishop, Martyr. May he intercede on your behalf as you celebrate your birthday.

St. Polycarp Prayer: “O Lord God Almighty, the Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of you, the God of angels, powers and every creature, and of all the righteous who live before you, I give you thanks that you count me worthy to be numbered among your martyrs, sharing the cup of Christ and the resurrection to eternal life, both of soul and body, through the immortality of the Holy Spirit. 

May I be received this day as an acceptable sacrifice, as you, the true God, have predestined, revealed to me, and now fulfilled. I praise you for all these things, I bless you and glorify you, along with the everlasting Jesus Christ, your beloved Son. To you, with him, through the Holy Ghost, be glory both now and forever. Amen.”

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. God's Holy Angels pray for me. My Guardian Angel pray for me. Guide and guard me. Be my protection.

Please pray the Holy Rosary: Hail Mary. Ave Maria

YOU ARE PETER AND ON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH

ST. PETER'S CHAIR WEEK 6 IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

MY DAILY OFFERING: O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. 

I offer them for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, the union of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our Bishops and all Apostles of prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our holy Father Pope Francis this month.  Pieta 

First Reading(s) First Peter 5:1-4 Watch over the flock, not simply as a duty but gladly

Now I have something to tell your elders: I am an elder myself, and a witness to the sufferings of Christ, and with you I have a share in the glory that is to be revealed. Be the shepherds of the flock of God that is entrusted to you: watch over it, not simply as a duty but gladly, because God wants it; not for sordid money, but because you are eager to do it. Never be a dictator over any group that is put in your charge, but be an example that the whole flock can follow. When the chief shepherd appears, you will be given the crown of unfading glory.

Responsorial Psalm: The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want

Gospel  Matthew 16:13-19 You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ 

Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’ Lectures

Your Birthday: The celebration of  of the Chair of Saint Peter. Celebrating Church unity. 'You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church'. May Saint Peter pray for you as you celebrate your birthday today. I pray for Rev. Sr. Kemi Akinleye whose Birthday is today. May God bless you, grant you more years of celebration. May God grant your heart desire.  God's Holy Sprirt and grace abide with you. May Saint Paul interecede on your behalf and on behalf of Daughters of St. Paul congregation. 

All Powerful Father, you have built your Church on the rock of Saint Peter's confession  of faith

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. My Guardian Angel pray for me. Guide and guard me. Be my protection.  God's Holy Angels pray for me.

God bless our Pope, our Bishops, Priests and Religious. May there be unity among Christians. May God unite all His creatures in love, peace and unity.

Pray the Holy Rosary. Hail Mary. Ave Maria

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE FOR ANYONE WHO HAS FAITH

PEACEMAKERS WORK FOR PEACE: 

SEEDS THAT BEAR HOLINESS 

MONDAY 7TH  WEEK IN  ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

MY DAILY OFFERING: O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.

First Reading(s)  James 3:13-18 Show wisdom and avoid ambition

If there are any wise or learned men among you, let them show it by their good lives, with humility and wisdom in their actions. But if at heart you have the bitterness of jealousy, or a self-seeking ambition, never make any claims for yourself or cover up the truth with lies, principles of this kind are not the wisdom that comes down from above: they are only earthly, animal and devilish.

Wherever you find jealousy and ambition, you find disharmony, and wicked things of every kind being done; whereas the wisdom that comes down from above is essentially something pure; it also makes for peace, and is kindly and considerate; it is full of compassion and shows itself by doing good; nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it. Peacemakers, when they work for peace, sow the seeds which will bear fruit in holiness. Lectures

Responsorial Psalm: The precepts of the Lord gladden the heart

BE COMPASSIONATE AS GOD YOUR FATHER

THE LORD IS COMPASSION AND LOVE

7TH SUNDAY IN  ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

MY DAILY OFFERING: O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.

First Reading(s) 1 Samuel 26:2,7-9,11-13,22-23 

Do not lift your hand against the Lord's anointed

Saul set off and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, accompanied by three thousand men chosen from Israel to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. 

In the dark David and Abishai made their way towards the force, where they found Saul lying asleep inside the camp, his spear stuck in the ground beside his head, with Abner and the troops lying round him. Lectures

Then Abishai said to David, ‘Today God has put your enemy in your power; so now let me pin him to the ground with his own spear. Just one stroke! I will not need to strike him twice.’ David answered Abishai, ‘Do not kill him, for who can lift his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be without guilt? The Lord forbid that I should raise my hand against the Lord’s anointed! But now take the spear beside his head and the pitcher of water and let us go away.’ David took the spear and the pitcher of water from beside Saul’s head, and they made off. No one saw, no one knew, no one woke up; they were all asleep, for a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.

David crossed to the other side and halted on the top of the mountain a long way off; there was a wide space between them. He called out, ‘Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the soldiers come across and take it. The Lord repays everyone for his uprightness and loyalty. Today the Lord put you in my power, but I would not raise my hand against the Lord’s anointed.’ 

Responsorial Psalm: The Lord is compassion and love

Second Reading 1 Corint. 15:45-49  

The first Adam became a living soul; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit

The first man, Adam, as scripture says, became a living soul; but the last Adam has become a life-giving spirit. That is, first the one with the soul, not the spirit, and after that, the one with the spirit. The first man, being from the earth, is earthly by nature; the second man is from heaven. As this earthly man was, so are we on earth; and as the heavenly man is, so are we in heaven. And we, who have been modelled on the earthly man, will be modelled on the heavenly man.

Gospel Luke 6:27-38  Love your enemies

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. 

Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 

‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’  Reflections

My Birthday Saints: Saints Jacinta and  Francisco Marto.  May they intercede on my behalf. May they remind my Mother, the Blessed Mary to bring me to her Son Jesus Christ. Immacuate Heart of Mary pray for me.

My Father, my God instruct me with truths of your word. Teach me by your Holy Spirit so that I might serve you, and bring glory to your Holy Name. Lord Jesus Christ I surrender my life to you. Make my heart like unto yours.  Christ Jesus you are my Redeemer, you are my lord.

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me.  My Angel Guardian guide and guard me.  Pray for me. Be my protection.

Pray the Holy Rosary: May our Blessed Mother intercede for us. Ave Maria. Hail Mary.

THE TONGUE A DEADLY WEAPON

THE TONGUE IS LIKE A FLAME

SATURDAY WEEK 6 IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C Memorial  BVM

MY DAILY OFFERING: O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. 

First Reading(s) James 3:1-10 The tongue cannot be tamed

Only a few of you, my brothers, should be teachers, bearing in mind that those of us who teach can expect a stricter judgement. 

After all, every one of us does something wrong, over and over again; the only man who could reach perfection would be someone who never said anything wrong he would be able to control every part of himself. Once we put a bit into the horse’s mouth, to make it do what we want, we have the whole animal under our control. 

Or think of ships: no matter how big they are, even if a gale is driving them, the man at the helm can steer them anywhere he likes by controlling a tiny rudder. So is the tongue only a tiny part of the body, but it can proudly claim that it does great things. Think how small a flame can set fire to a huge forest; the tongue is a flame like that.

Among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a whole wicked world in itself: it infects the whole body; catching fire itself from hell, it sets fire to the whole wheel of creation. Wild animals and birds, reptiles and fish can all be tamed by man, and often are; but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a pest that will not keep still, full of deadly poison. We use it to bless the Lord and Father, but we also use it to curse men who are made in God’s image: the blessing and the curse come out of the same mouth. My brothers, this must be wrong.  Leactures

Responsorial Psalm: It is you, O Lord, who will take us in your care

Gospel Mark 9:2-13 Jesus was transfigured in their presence

Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became dazzlingly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. 

Then Peter spoke to Jesus: ‘Rabbi,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and there came a voice from the cloud, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus.

As they came down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what ‘rising from the dead’ could mean. And they put this question to him, ‘Why do the scribes say that Elijah has to come first?’ ‘True,’ he said ‘Elijah is to come first and to see that everything is as it should be; yet how is it that the scriptures say about the Son of Man that he is to suffer grievously and be treated with contempt? However, I tell you that Elijah has come and they have treated him as they pleased, just as the scriptures say about him.’ Gospel Reflection 

Your Birthday Saint: Saint Conrad of Piacenza, Hermit. May he intercede on your behalf as you celebrate your birthday.

My Father in heaven, my God I aspire for perfection guide the words of my mouth. May I never use a wrong word in my utterance. Give me  a Spirit of self control.  Make my tongue a Flame of Peace, not a deadly Flame. To preserve life, and not to destroy. May I use my tongue to praise you and bless all your creatures. 

Lord Jesus Christ be the Lord of my life. May my life be transformed. May God's glory abide in me, that I may reveal His glory by my utterance and deeds. Lord may my tongue be a weapon of peace.

 Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. My Guardain Angle guide and guard me. Pray for me. Be my protection.

Pray the Holy Rosary. Ave Maria

FAITH WITHOUT GOOD DEEDS IS USELESS

ANYONE WHO LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE WILL SAVE IT

FRIDAY WEEK 6 IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

MY DAILY OFFERING: O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. 

First Reading James 2: 14-24, 26 A body dies without spirit; faith without good works is not alive

Take the case, my brothers, of someone who has never done a single good act but claims that he has faith. Will that faith save him? If one of the brothers or one of the sisters is in need of clothes and has not enough food to live on, and one of you says to them, ‘I wish you well; keep yourself warm and eat plenty’, without giving them these bare necessities of life, then what good is that? Faith is like that: if good works do not go with it, it is quite dead. 

This is the way to talk to people of that kind: ‘You say you have faith and I have good deeds; I will prove to you that I have faith by showing you my good deeds now you prove to me that you have faith without any good deeds to show. You believe in the one God  that is creditable enough, but the demons have the same belief, and they tremble with fear. Do realise, you senseless man, that faith without good deeds is useless. You surely know that Abraham our father was justified by his deed, because he offered his son Isaac on the altar? There you see it: faith and deeds were working together; his faith became perfect by what he did. This is what scripture really means when it says: Abraham put his faith in God, and this was counted as making him justified; and that is why he was called ‘the friend of God.’

You see now that it is by doing something good, and not only by believing, that a man is justified. A body dies when it is separated from the spirit, and in the same way faith is dead if it is separated from good deeds.  Lectures

Responsorial Psalm: Happy the man who takes delight in the commands of the Lord

Gospel Mark 8:34-9,1 Anyone who loses his life for my sake will save it

Jesus called the people and his disciples to him and said: 

‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. What gain, then, is it for a man to win the whole world and ruin his life? And indeed what can a man offer in exchange for his life? 

For if anyone in this adulterous and sinful generation is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ And he said to them, ‘I tell you solemnly, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.’ Reflections 

Your Birthday Saint: Blessed John of Fiesole, Religious May he interecede for you as you celebrate your birthday.

My Father in heaven, let not my humanity come in the way of your glory. Father purify me. May I  manifest your righteousness to my fellow creatures. Father it is by doing something good, and by  faith  I am  justified. Guide my actions and my deeds let my faith be equal to my good deeds, for faith without good deeds is useless.

Lord Jesus Christ save me for the sake of your Holy Name. Guide me, protect me from  inordinate things around me that may cause my ruin, an eternal death. Preserve me Lord for happy is the man who takes delight in God's commands.

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. God's Holy Angels pray for me. My Angel Guardian, guard and guide me. Be my protection.

Pray the Holy Rosary: Hail Mary. Ave Maria,