GET UP AND WALK

THURSDAY WEEK 13 IN ORDINARY TIME: GO PROPHESY TO MY PEOPLE

First Reading Amos 7:10-17

The Lord took me from herding the flock and sent me to prophesy

Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel as follows. ‘Amos is plotting against you in the heart of the House of Israel; the country can no longer tolerate what he keeps saying. For this is what he says, “Jeroboam is going to die by the sword, and Israel go into exile far from its country.”’

To Amos, Amaziah said, ‘Go away, seer;’ get back to the land of Judah; earn your bread there, do your prophesying there. We want no more prophesying in Bethel; this is the royal sanctuary, the national temple.’ ‘I was no prophet, neither did I belong to any of the brotherhoods of prophets,’ Amos replied to Amaziah ‘I was a shepherd, and looked after sycamores: but it was the Lord who took me from herding the flock, and the Lord who said, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel.” So listen to the word of the Lord.

‘You say: Readings Lectures Reflections

‘“Do not prophesy against Israel, utter no oracles against the House of Isaac.” ‘Very well, this is what the Lord says, ‘“Your wife will be forced to go on the s treets, your sons and daughters will fall by the sword, your land be parcelled out by measuring line, and you yourself die on unclean soil and Israel will go into exile far distant from its own land.”’

Responsorial Psalm: The decrees of the Lord are truth and all of them just Psalm 19

Gospel Matthew 9:1-8

 'Your sins are forgiven; get up and walk'

Jesus got in the boat, crossed the water and came to his own town. Then some people appeared, bringing him a paralytic stretched out on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘Courage, my child, your sins are forgiven.’ And at this some scribes said to themselves, ‘This man is blaspheming.’ Knowing what was in their minds Jesus said, ‘Why do you have such wicked thoughts in your hearts? Now, which of these is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ – he said to the paralytic – ‘get up, and pick up your bed and go off home.’ And the man got up and went home. A feeling of awe came over the crowd when they saw this, and they praised God for giving such power to men.

My Father, my God thank you for the last day in the month of June. Thank you Father for your mercy, compassion, love and goodness. Thank you Father for protection. Thank you God for preservation. Thank you Father for provision. Thank you Father for the gift of life and for good health. Thank you for the new day. Father may you take all the glory through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Thank you Lord Jesus Christ for your love. Thank Jesus Christ my redeemer and my salvation. Forgive me Lord Jesus Christ. Heal Lord. Lord Jesus I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. God's Holy Angels and Saints pray for me. My Angel Guardian pray for me. Protect me. Guide and guard me. Defend me. 

Pray the Holy Rosary: Hail Mary. Queen of Angels pray for us. Queen of Peace pray for us. 

Your Birthday Saints: First Martyrs of the Church of Rome. May they pray for you as you celebrate your birthday today.

FEAST OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL

WEDNESDAY WEEK 13 IN ORDINARY TIME

YOU ARE PETER AND ON THIS ROCK 

I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH

First Reading Acts 12:1-11

'Now I know the Lord really did save me from Herod'

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 Unleavened Bread, and he put Peter in prison, assigning four squads of four soldiers each to guard him in turns. Herod 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. Readings Lectures Reflections

On the night before Herod was to try him, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with double chains, while guards kept watch at the main entrance to the prison. Then suddenly the angel of the Lord stood there, and the cell was filled with light. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him. ‘Get up!’ he said ‘Hurry!’ – and the chains fell from his hands. The angel then said, ‘Put on your belt and sandals.’ After he had done this, the angel next said, ‘Wrap your cloak round you and follow me.’ Peter followed him, but had no idea that what the angel did was all happening in reality; he thought he was seeing a vision.

They passed through two guard posts one after the other, and reached the iron gate leading to the city. This opened of its own accord; they went through it and had walked the whole length of one street when suddenly the angel left him. It was only then that Peter came to himself. ‘Now I know it is all true’ he said. ‘The Lord really did send his angel and has saved me from Herod and from all that the Jewish people were so certain would happen to me.’

Responsorial Psalm: From all my terrors the Lord set me free

or The Angel of the Lord rescues those who revere him

Second Reading 2Timothy 4:6-8,17-18

All there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me

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. 

The Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and so I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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.’

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

Your Birthday Saints: Saints Peter and Paul may they pray for you as you celebrate your birthday today.

IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

SATURDAY WEEK 12 IN ORDIANARY TIME

First Reading Lamentations 2:2,10-14,18-19 Cry aloud to the Lord, daughter of Zion

The Lord has pitilessly destroyed all the homes of Jacob; in his displeasure he has shattered the strongholds of the daughter of Judah; he has thrown to the ground,   he has left accursed the kingdom and its rulers.  Readings Lectures Reflections

Mutely they sit on the ground,   the elders of the daughter of Zion; they have put dust on their heads,  and wrapped themselves in sackcloth. The virgins of Jerusalem hang their heads down to the ground.

My eyes wasted away with weeping,  my entrails shuddered, my liver spilled on the ground at the ruin of the daughters of my people, as children, mere infants, fainted  in the squares of the Citadel.

They kept saying to their mothers, ‘Where is the bread?’ as they fainted like wounded men   in the squares of the City, as they poured out their souls on their mothers’ breasts....... 

 Or 

Isaiah 61:9-11 I exult for joy in the Lord

Their race will be famous throughout the nations, their descendants throughout the peoples. All who see them will admit that they are a race whom the Lord has blessed.

‘I exult for joy in the Lord, my soul rejoices in my God, for he has clothed me in the garments of

salvation, he has wrapped me in the cloak of integrity, like a bridegroom wearing his wreath, like a bride adorned in her jewels.

‘For as the earth makes fresh things grow, as a garden makes seeds spring up, so will the Lord make both integrity and praise spring up in the sight of the nations.’

Gospel Luke 2:41-51 Mary stored up all these things in her heart

Every year the parents of Jesus used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of the 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. 

Three days later, they found him in the Temple, sitting among the doctors, listening to them, and asking them questions; and all those who heard him were astounded at his intelligence and his replies. They were overcome when they saw him, and his mother 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 know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?’ But they did not understand what he meant. 

He then went down with them and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority. His mother stored up all these things in her heart.

Hail Thou Star of Ocean

Pray the Holy Rosary. Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us.  Hail Mary. Ave Maria. Hail Holy Queen.

 

MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS

WEEK 12 IN  ORDIANRY TIME

THE HEART BURNING WITH LOVE

First Reading Ezekiel 34:11-16 I  will look after my flock myself and keep all of it in view 

The Lord God says this: I am going to look after my flock myself and keep all of it in view. As a shepherd keeps all his flock in view when he stands up in the middle of his scattered sheep, so shall I keep my sheep in view. I shall rescue them from wherever they have been scattered during the mist and darkness. I shall bring them out of the countries where they are; I shall gather them together from foreign countries and bring them back to their own land. I shall pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in every inhabited place in the land. I shall feed them in good pasturage; the high mountains of Israel will be their grazing ground. There they will rest in good grazing ground; they will browse in rich pastures on the mountains of Israel. I myself will pasture my sheep, I myself will show them where to rest – it is the Lord who speaks. I shall look for the lost one, bring back the stray, bandage the wounded and make the weak strong. I shall watch over the fat and healthy. I shall be a true shepherd to them. Readings Lectures Reflections

Responsorial Psalm: The Lord is my Shepherd

Second Readings Romans 5:5-11

Now we have been reconciled by the death of his Son, 

surely we may count on being saved by the life of his Son

The love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us. We were still helpless when at his appointed moment Christ died for sinful men. It is not easy to die even for a good man – though of course for someone really worthy, a man might be prepared to die – but what proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. 

Having died to make us righteous, is it likely that he would now fail to save us from God’s anger? When we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, we were still enemies; now that we have been reconciled, surely we may count on being saved by the life of his Son? Not merely because we have been reconciled but because we are filled with joyful trust in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have already gained our reconciliation.

Gospel Luke 15:3-7 There will be rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner

Jesus spoke this parable to the scribes and Pharisees: 

‘What man among you with a hundred sheep, losing one, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbours? “Rejoice with me,” he would say “I have found my sheep that was lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of repentance.’

My God, my Father I thank you for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Father for you so love the world that you gave us your Son Jesus Christ. The Heart of God's love for all His creatures is revealed in the Heart of Jesus Christ's love for all humanity. Thank you loving Father, thank you my loving Lord Jesus Christ. Sacred Heart of Jesus thy kingdom come. Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on us. Father have mercy on us and on the whole world mercy on the whole world. Lord grant us your peace and salvation. Sweet Heart of Jesus be our consolation. Christ be our Light. Come shine in our world, dispel every darkness. Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us.

Your Birthday on the Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. May Christ be your light. May he enfold you in His love. 

THE NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

THURSDAY WEEK 12 IN ORDINARY TIME: HIS NAME IS JOHN

First Reading Isaiah 49:1-6

I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth

Islands, listen to me, pay attention, remotest peoples. The Lord called me before I was born, from my mother’s womb he pronounced my name. He made my mouth a sharp sword, and hid me in the shadow of his hand. He made me into a sharpened arrow, and concealed me in his quiver. Readings Lectures Reflections

 

He said to me, ‘You are my servant (Israel) in whom I shall be glorified’; while I was thinking, ‘I have toiled in vain, I have exhausted myself for nothing’; and all the while my cause was with the Lord, my reward with my God.

 

I was honoured in the eyes of the Lord, my God was my strength. And now the Lord has spoken, he who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, to gather Israel to him:

 

‘It is not enough for you to be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel; I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.’

Responsorial Psalm: I thank you for the wonder of my being

Second Reading Acts 13:22-26 Jesus, whose coming was heralded by John

Paul said: ‘God deposed Saul and made David their king, of whom he approved in these words, “I have selected David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will carry out my whole purpose.” To keep his promise, God has raised up for Israel one of David’s descendants, Jesus, as Saviour, whose coming was heralded by John when he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel. Before John ended his career he said, “I am not the one you imagine me to be; that one is coming after me and I am not fit to undo his sandal.”

‘My brothers, sons of Abraham’s race, and all you who fear God, this message of salvation is meant for you.’

Gospel Luke 1:57-66,80 'His name is John'

The time came for Elizabeth to have her child, and she gave birth to a son; and when her neighbours and relations heard that the Lord had shown her so great a kindness, they shared her joy.

Now on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother spoke up. ‘No,’ she said ‘he is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘But no one in your family has that name’, and made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him called. The father asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And they were all astonished. At that instant his power of speech returned and he spoke and praised God. All their neighbours were filled with awe and the whole affair was talked about throughout the hill country of Judaea. All those who heard of it treasured it in their hearts. ‘What will this child turn out to be?’ they wondered. And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him. 

Meanwhile the child grew up and his spirit matured. And he lived out in the wilderness until the day he appeared openly to Israel. 

My God I thank you for the gift of life. My Father I thank you for the wonder of my being. For it was you who created my being, knit me together in my mother’s womb. I thank you for the wonder of my being, for the wonders of all your creation. Already you knew my soul, my body held no secret from you when I was being fashioned in secret and molded in the depths of the earth. 

Father I thank you Father for all your creatures. Thank you for humanity. Thank you for all mothers. Thank you for all Fathers. Bless them loving Father and grant us your peace. 

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on me. Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. God's Holy Angels and Saints pray for me. My Guardian Angel pray for me. Guide and guard me. Defend me. Protect me.

Pray the Holy Rosary: Ave Maria. Hail Mary. Hail Holy Queen. Queen of Peace pray for us.

Your Birthday Saints: Saint John the Baptist and Saint Joseph Cafasso, Priest. May they pray for you as you celebrate your birthday today. Happy Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.

BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS

WEDNESDAY WEEK 12 IN ORDINARY TIME: YOU WILL TELL BY THEIR FRUITS

First Reading 2 Kings 22:8-13,23:1-3 

The Book of the Law is found in the Temple of the Lord

The high priest Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, ‘I have found the Book of the Law in the Temple of the Lord.’’’ And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who read it. Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him as follows, ‘Your servants’ he said ‘have melted down the silver which was in the Temple and have handed it over to the masters of works attached to the Temple of the Lord.’ Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, ‘Hilkiah the priest has given me a book’; and Shaphan read it aloud in the king’s presence.  Readings Lectures Reflections

On hearing the contents of the Book of the Law, the king tore his garments, and gave the following order to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s minister: ‘Go and consult the Lord, on behalf of me and the people, about the contents of this book that has been found. Great indeed must be the anger of the Lord blazing out against us because our ancestors did not obey what this book says by practising everything written in it.’ 

The king then had all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem summoned to him, and the king went up to the Temple of the Lord with all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, priests, prophets and all the people, of high or low degree. In their hearing he read out everything that was said in the book of the covenant found in the Temple of the Lord. The king stood beside the pillar, and in the presence of the Lord he made a covenant to follow the Lord and keep his commandments and decrees and laws with all his heart and soul, in order to enforce the terms of the covenant as written in that book. All the people gave their allegiance to the covenant.

Responsorial Psalm: Lord, teach me your statutes

Gospel Matthew 7:15-20 You will be able to tell them by their fruits

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves. You will be able to tell them by their fruits. Can people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, a sound tree produces good fruit but a rotten tree bad fruit. A sound tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a rotten tree bear good fruit. Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown on the fire. I repeat, you will be able to tell them by their fruits.’

My Father I thank you for your mercy over all your creatures. I thank you for your mercy and compassion. Father I bless your Holy name. Father I worship and adore you. God my Father, teach me your statutes that I may obey your commandments. Father direct me, guide my actions. Deliver me from false prophets. Father I am your child, a covenant child. Thank you my loving Father for your are full of mercy. You are full of compassion. You are loving. Take all glory through Jesus Christ your Son, my redeemer.

Lord Jesus Christ I want to bear good fruit. Make me imitate you. Lord protect me from false prophets disguised as sheep. There are many ravenous wolves parading as prophets, pastors, men and women who claim to have insight of God's word. There are many false miracles in our world today for people are in search of miracles so they fall prey to these wolves. Lord Jesus Christ be my light. Lord guide me.

Sacred Heart of Jesus I trust in you. Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. God's Holy Angels and Saints pray for me. My Angel Guardian pray for me. Guide and Guard me. Defend me. Be my protection.

Pray the Holy Rosary: Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Christ our Mother pray for us.

Your Birthday Saints: Saints Thomas More, Lawyer and Martyr, John Fisher, Martyr and Bishop, Paulinus of Nola, Bishop. May they pray for you as you celebrate your birthday today.

TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TREAT YOU

TUESDAY WEEK 12 ORDINARY TIME

First Reading 2 Kings 19:9-11,14-21,31-36

GOD UPHOLDS HIS CITY FOREVER

The Lord protects Jerusalem from Sennacherib and the Assyrians Readings Lectures Reflections

Sennacherib, King of the Assyrians, sent messengers to Hezekiah saying, ‘Tell this to Hezekiah king of Judah, “Do not let your God on whom you are relying deceive you, when he says: Jerusalem shall not fall into the power of the king of Assyria. You have learnt by now what the kings of Assyria have done to every country, putting them all under the ban. Are you likely to be spared?”’ 

Hezekiah took the letter from the hands of the messenger and read it; he then went up to the Temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. Hezekiah said this prayer in the presence of the Lord, ‘O Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, enthroned on the cherubs, you alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth, you have made heaven and earth.

‘Give ear, Lord, and listen. Open your eyes, Lord, and see. Hear the words of Sennacherib who has sent to insult the living God.

‘It is true, O Lord, that the kings of Assyria have exterminated all the nations, they have thrown their gods on the fire, for these were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, and hence they have destroyed them. But now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, I pray you, and let all the kingdoms of the earth know that you alone are God, Lord.’ 

Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah. ‘The Lord, the God of Israel,’ he said, ‘says this, “I have heard the prayer you have addressed to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria.” Here is the oracle that the Lord has pronounced against him:

‘“She despises you, she scorns you, the virgin, daughter of Zion; she tosses her head behind you, the daughter of Jerusalem. A remnant shall go out from Jerusalem, and survivors from Mount Zion. The jealous love of the Lord of Hosts shall accomplish this.” ‘This, then, is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria:

“He will not enter this city, he will let fly no arrow against it, confront it with no shield, throw up no earthwork against it. By the road that he came on he will return; he shall not enter this city. It is the Lord who speaks. I will protect this city and save itfor my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.”’

That same night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. Sennacherib struck camp and left; he returned home and stayed in Nineveh.

Responsorial Psalm: God uphold his city for ever

Gospel Matthew 7:6,12-14 Treat others as you would like them to treat you

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls in front of pigs, or they may trample them and then turn on you and tear you to pieces. 

‘So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophets. 

‘Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to perdition is wide and spacious, and many take it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.’

My God my Father I thank you for my life. I thank you for your gifts. Father I thank you for your goodness and for your protection. Loving Father, Merciful God take all the glory through your Son Jesus Christ my Lord. 

Father forgive me for many times I have been inconsiderate towards my fellow creatures. Father forgive me for times I have been self-centered. Father forgive me for times I have humiliated my fellow creatures. Father forgive me for times I have cheated my fellow creatures. Father forgive me for times I have prevented others from benefiting from your goodness. Father forgive me for the times my actions have caused pains to my fellow creatures. Father forgive me for the times I have made laws that are detrimental to the lives of your creatures. Father forgive for the times that my stubbornness of heart have caused the lives of your creatures. Father forgive me for the times my silence caused sufferings to humanity. Father forgive me, forgive me God my Father. My Father, my God give me a change of heart. Father do not let my actions bring pains to humanity, but healing and relief.  Father may I treat others as I would like them to treat me. Sacred Heart of Jesus Have mercy on me.

Thank you Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. God's Holy Angels and Saints pray for me. My Angel Guardian pray for me. Guide and Guard me. Defend me. Protect me.

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

Your Birthday Saint: Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. May he pray for you as you celebrate your birthday today.

 

DO NOT JUDGE

MONDAY WEEK 12 ORDINARY TIME

TURN FORM YOUR WICKED  WAYS

First Reading 2 Kings 17:5-8,13-15,18 There was none left, but the tribe of Judah only

The king of Assyria invaded the whole country and, coming to Samaria, laid siege to it for three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah on the Habor, a river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. Readings Lectures

This happened because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the grip of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshipped other gods, they followed the practices of the nations that the Lord had dispossessed for them.  Reflections

And yet through all the prophets and all the seers, the Lord had given Israel and Judah this warning, ‘Turn from your wicked ways and keep my commandments and my laws in accordance with the entire Law I laid down for your fathers and delivered to them through my servants the prophets.’ But they would not listen, they were more stubborn than their ancestors had been who had no faith in the Lord their God. They despised his laws and the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and the warnings he had given them. They pursued emptiness, and themselves became empty through copying the nations round them although the Lord had ordered them not to act as they did. For this, the Lord was enraged with Israel and thrust them away from him. There was none left but the tribe of Judah only.

Responsorial Psalm: Hear us, O Lord, and help us

Gospel Matthew 7:1-5 Do not judge, and you will not be judged

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; because the judgements you give are the judgements you will get, and the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How dare you say to your brother, “Let me take the splinter out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye.’

My God my Father thank you for the new week. Father I bless your Holy Name. Father take all the glory and honor through Jesus Christ our Lord. Father guide me. Father  direct me. Father give me your Holy Spirit. Father may I be compassionate to all your creatures as you are compassionate to me. Father have mercy on me, do not bring me to judgement. 

Lord Jesus Christ be my light. Lord Jesus make my heart like yours. Give me a sincere heart, give me a pure heart. Jesus I trust in you. Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on me. Immacualte Heart of Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. God's Holy Angels pray for me and Saints. My Angel Guardian pray for me. Defend me. Guide and Guard me. Protect me.

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

Your Birthday Saints: Saints Adalbert of Magdeburg, John of Pulsano and Blessed Margareta Ebner. May they oray fr you as you celebrate your birthday.

YOU ARE A PRIEST FOR EVER

FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI JUNE 19TH 

First Reading Genesis 14:18-20 

Melchizedek brought bread and wine

Melchizedek king of Salem brought bread and wine; he was a priest of God Most High. He pronounced this blessing:

‘          Blessed be Abram by God Most High, creator of heaven and earth,   and blessed be God Most High for handing over your enemies to you.’ Readings for 12 Sunday O.T.

And Abram gave him a tithe of everything. Readings Lectures

Responsorial Psalm: You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming the death of the Lord

This is what I received from the Lord, and in turn passed on to you: that on the same night that he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread, and thanked God for it and broke it, and he said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this as a memorial of me.’ In the same way he took the cup after supper, and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.’ Until the Lord comes, therefore, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming his death. Reflections

SEQUENCE: Sing forth, O Zion, sweetly sing The praises of thy Shepherd-King, in hymns and canticles divine......

Gospel Luke 9:11-17 The feeding of the five thousand

Jesus made the crowds welcome and talked to them about the kingdom of God; and he cured those who were in need of healing. 

It was late afternoon when the Twelve came to him and said, ‘Send the people away, and they can go to the villages and farms round about to find lodging and food; for we are in a lonely place here.’ He replied, ‘Give them something to eat yourselves.’ But they said, ‘We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we are to go ourselves and buy food for all these people.’ For there were about five thousand men. But he said to his disciples, ‘Get them to sit down in parties of about fifty.’ They did so and made them all sit down. 

Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven, and said the blessing over them; then he broke them and handed them to his disciples to distribute among the crowd. They all ate as much as they wanted, and when the scraps remaining were collected they filled twelve baskets.

Feast of  Corpus Christi

DON'T WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW

SATURDAY WEEK 11 ORDINARY TIME

THE LORD SEES AND HE WILL AVENGE

First Reading 2 Chronicles 24:17-25 

You have deserted the Lord: now he deserts you'

After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came to pay court to the king, and the king now turned to them for advice. The Judaeans abandoned the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, for the worship of sacred poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God’s anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem. He sent them prophets to bring them back to the Lord, but when these gave their message, they would not listen. The spirit of God took possession of Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood up before the people and said, ‘God says this, “Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord to no good purpose? You have deserted the Lord, now he deserts you.”’ They then plotted against him and by order of the king stoned him in the court of the Temple of the Lord. King Joash, forgetful of the kindness that Jehoiada, the father of Zechariah, had shown him, killed Jehoiada’s son who cried out as he died, ‘The Lord sees and he will avenge!’ Readings Lectures Reflections

When a year had gone by, the Aramaean army made war on Joash. They reached Judah and Jerusalem, and executed all the officials among the people, sending back to the king at Damascus all that they had plundered from them. Though the Aramaean army had by no means come in force, the Lord delivered into its power an army of great size for having deserted him, the God of their ancestors. 

The Aramaeans treated Joash as he had deserved, and when they retired they left him a very sick man; and his officers, plotting against him to avenge the death of the son of Jehoiada the priest, murdered him in his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the Citadel of David, though not in the tombs of the kings.

Responsorial Psalm: I will keep my love for him always

Gospel Matthew 6:24-34 Do not worry about tomorrow: your holy Father knows your needs

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘No one can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money. 

‘That is why I am telling you not to worry about your life and what you are to eat, nor about your body and how you are to clothe it. Surely life means more than food, and the body more than clothing! Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 

Are you not worth much more than they are? Song of Trust. Can any of you, for all his worrying, add one single cubit to his span of life? And why worry about clothing? Think of the flowers growing in the fields; they never have to work or spin; yet I assure you that not even Solomon in all his regalia was robed like one of these. Now if that is how God clothes the grass in the field which is there today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, will he not much more look after you, you men of little faith? 

So do not worry; do not say, “What are we to eat? What are we to drink? How are we to be clothed?” It is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’

PRAYER: My Loving Father I thank you for your mercy, for your compassion, for your faithfulness and for your love. Thank you God my Father. Father I unworthy, you love me so much, my God do not desert me. Stay with me Father, Abide with me Lord. I love you Lord my God. You alone is God there is no other. Father deliver me from sin, deliver me from temptation I ask of you Father through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son. Holy Spirit come dwell in me. Lord Jesus Christ Abide with me. Thank Jesus for your words of comfort. Thank you for your teaching. Thank you for your patience and love. Christ be my light.

Lord Jesus Christ thank you for loving me. Jesus I trust in you. Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on me. Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. God's Angels and Saints pray for me. My Angels Guardian Angel pray for me. Guide and guard me. Protect me. Pray for me. Defend me.

Pray the Holy Rosary: Saturday Memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary. May our Blessed Mother pray for us.

Your Birthday Saint: Saint Gregory Barbarigo Bishop. May he pray for your as you celebrate your birthday today.

gloriahelg

WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS THERE WILL YOUR HEART BE

FRIDAY WEEK 11 ORDINARY TIME

First Reading 2 Kings 11:1-4,9-18,20 

Saved from the massacre,

the true king is anointed by the high priest

When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah learned that her son was dead, she promptly did away with all those of royal stock. But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, secretly took away Jehoash, her brother’s son, from among the sons of the king who were being murdered, and put him with his nurse in the sleeping quarters; in this way she hid him from Athaliah, and he was not put to death. He stayed with her for six years, hidden in the Temple of the Lord, while Athaliah governed the country. Readings Lectures Reflections

In the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds of the Carians and of the guards, and had them brought to him in the Temple of the Lord. He made a pact with them and, putting them under oath, showed them the king’s son. 

The commanders of hundreds did everything as Jehoiada the priest had ordered. They brought their men, those coming off duty on the sabbath together with those mounting guard on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. The priest equipped the commanders of hundreds with King David’s spears and shields which were in the Temple of the Lord. The guards formed up, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the south corner to the north corner of the Temple, surrounding the altar and the Temple. Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown and armlets on him, and he anointed him king. They clapped their hands and shouted, ‘Long live the king!’.....

Responsorial Psalm: The Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling

Gospel Matthew 6:19-23 Store up treasure for yourselves in heaven

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and woodworms destroy them and thieves can break in and steal. But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor woodworms destroy them and thieves cannot break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 

‘The lamp of the body is the eye. It follows that if your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light. But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be all darkness. If then, the light inside you is darkness, what darkness that will be!’

God my Father in heaven how awesome are your deeds. Father I thank you for your goodness in my life. I thank you for your divine intervention in all my challenges. Father I thank you for your saving grace. I thank you for the new day. Father I place all activities of today into your loving hands. Father without you I am helpless I place all my trust in you. Most specially loving Father I thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus Christ to us. Blessed be your Most Holy Name my God and Father.

Lord Jesus Christ my Saviour you came to redeem and to heal humanity. Save us Lord for all our trust is in you. Lord I want to experience your presence in my life. Help me reveal your goodness, make my heart long for your words. Teach me Lord Jesus Christ. Help my understanding. Give me your Holy Spirit for my heart longs for you. Lord you said where our treasure is there will our hearts be also. Lord my heart desire is heavenly treasure. Grant my request. Thank you Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you Lord Jesus Christ for loving me. Jesus I trust in you. Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on me. Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. God's Holy Angels and Saints pray for me. My Angel Guardian pray for me. Defend me. Protect me. Guide and guard me.

Pray the Holy Rosary: Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Jesus Christ, our Loving Mother pray for us. 

Your Birthday Saint: Blessed Pierre-Joseph Cassant, Priest. May he pray for you as you celebrate your birthday today.