THE ATTRACTION AND SEDUCTION OF WRONG DESIRE

THE PRIZE AND THE CROWN OF LIFE

TUESDAY WEEK 6 IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

MY DAILY OF 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. Readings Lectures

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 Reflection

First Reading James 1:12-18  Temptation is not from God

Happy the man who stands firm when trials come. He has proved himself, and will win the prize of life, the crown that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Never, when you have been tempted, say, ‘God sent the temptation’; God cannot be tempted to do anything wrong, and he does not tempt anybody. Everyone who is tempted is attracted and seduced by his own wrong desire. Then the desire conceives and gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it too has a child, and the child is death. 

Make no mistake about this, my dear brothers: it is all that is good, everything that is perfect, which is given us from above; it comes down from the Father of all light; with him there is no such thing as alteration, no shadow of a change. By his own choice he made us his children by the message of the truth so that we should be a sort of first-fruits of all that he had created.

Responsorial Psalm: Happy the man whom you teach, O Lord

Gospel Mar 8:14-21 Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod

The disciples had forgotten to take any food and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Then he gave them this warning, ‘Keep your eyes open; be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.’ And they said to one another, ‘It is because we have no bread.’ And Jesus knew it, and he said to them, ‘Why are you talking about having no bread? 

Do you not yet understand? Have you no perception? Are your minds closed? Have you eyes that do not see, ears that do not hear? Or do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of scraps did you collect?’ They answered, ‘Twelve.’ ‘And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of scraps did you collect?’ And they answered, ‘Seven.’ Then he said to them, ‘Are you still without perception?’

Your Birthday Saint: St. Claude de la Colombière, Priest. May he pray and intercede for you as you celebrate your birthday.

Heavenly Father, my God help me to stand  firm in all trials. I desire to  win the prize and the crown of life you promised to those who love you. Father you do not tempt your children but we are tempted by our attractions and seductions to wordly and wrong desires. These desires when conceived gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown leads death. Deliver me loving Father from inordinate desires.

May my Spiritual being perceive God's presence. Holy Spirit take control of my being. My Saviour Jesus Christ may I be on guard against wrong perception of happenings around me. Make me understand and perceive your presence, your love and your goodness. Keep me alert on heavenly mysteries. Increase my faith. Open my mind to understand and ponder on your teachings. My eyes that I may see. My ears to hear. My understanding to perceive your presence. Happy the man whom you teach, O Lord.

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 the Holy Rosary. Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ pray for me.