4 Sunday A - Liturgical Prayers

Greeting (See Second Reading)
God has chosen what is weak?
and has made Jesus Christ?
our wisdom and our virtue,?
our holiness and our freedom.?
May the Lord Jesus be always with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord - Liturgy

February 2

Greeting

Jesus shared the same flesh and blood as we
so that he could become completely 
like his brothers and sisters
and, compassionate and trustworthy,
atone for our human sins.
May this Lord Jesus be always with you. R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

We have come together to celebrate today the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. It is a feast of joy because of the hope this child brings to people old and young: here is the future, here is salvation: God has kept his promise of life and pardon. But there is also sadness in it: the child will bring pain to his mother and he will be rejected even by some of his own people, though he comes as a light for all. Let the lighted candles in our hands be the sign that we do not reject him but follow him as the light of our life.

3rd Week, Saturday, Feb 1st - Reflection & Liturgy

2 Sam 12:1-7, 10-17 / Mark 4:35-41 

Nathan confronts David: David acknowledged his sin.

Babe Ruth drifted away from his faith during his great baseball career. Toward the end of his life, Ruth had to undergo a serious operation. One of his closest friends, Paul Carey, said to him one night, “Don’t you think you ought to put your house in order?” The Babe said later: “I didn’t dodge the long, challenging look in his eyes. I knew what he meant. . . . I nodded, and Paul got up, called in a chaplain, and I made a full confession. . . .  As I lay in bed that evening, I thought to myself what a comfortable feeling to be free.” Is our own “house” in order?

February 2020 - Daily Reflections from CSC Scholastics

3rd Week, Friday, Jan 30th- Reflection & Liturgy

2 Sam 11:1-10, 13-17 / Mark 4:26-34

David sins: David compounded his sin.

Robert Bolt’s play A Man for All Seasons is based on the life of St. Thomas More. A moving scene occurs when Lord Norfolk tries to persuade More to sign a document swearing that Henry VIII’s marriage is lawful. When More refuses, Norfolk responds something like this: “Confound it all, Thomas. Can’t you do what I did and sign it to keep the king happy? Who knows if his marriage was legal or not?  More refuses. Norfolk not only sinned; he compounded his sin by trying to persuade More to sin also.

3rd Week, Thursday, Jan 30th

2 Sam 7:18-19, 24-29 / Mark 4:21-25

David sits before the Lord: David prayed to the Lord.

In a Washington, D.C., cathedral there’s a statue of Abraham Lincoln at prayer. It’s the work of artist Spencer Houk. Houk got his inspiration for the statue from a story that his grandfather told over and over. One day he was walking through a woods in Gettysburg. Suddenly he came upon a kneeling figure. It was President Lincoln. Lincoln was a man of prayer. Like David, he drew strength from God by going off alone and praying.

4 Sunday A - Blessed Are you ....

Gospel Text: Matthew 5:1-12
  

 
  **************************************************
Michel DeVerteuil 
General comments
On this Sunday the “continuous reading” of St Matthew’s gospel (see last week’s “guidelines”) leads us to the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ long discourse which runs from chapters 5 to 7 and has always been recognised as a summary of all his teaching.

3rd Week, Wednesday: Reflection & Liturgy

2 Sam 7:4-17 / Mark 4:1-21

God makes a promise to David: “Your kingdom will last forever.”

God’s promise to David is the cornerstone of Israel’s hope for a messiah. He will come from David’s line, establish God’s kingdom in Israel, and extend it to the ends of the earth. The word messiah is Hebrew. It’s rendered christos in Greek, from which we get our word Christ. The word messiah is best translated “anointed” in English. The fulfillment of God’s promise to David was realized in Jesus. The angel told Mary: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was, and . . . his kingdom will never end!” Luke 1:32-33

3rd Week, Tuesday: Reflection & Liturgy

2 Sam 6:12-15, 17-19 / Mark 3:31-35

David brings the ark to Jerusalem: Everyone rejoiced.

The film Raiders of the Lost Ark rekindled interest in the ark of the covenant. The ark was a wooden box, about four feet by two feet by two feet, overlaid with gold. On the top of the ark were two cherubim whose wings formed a canopy. (Exodus 25:20) “There was nothing inside . . .except the two stone tablets which Moses had placed there at Mount Sinai, when the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel.” 1 Kings 8:9.

Jan 27- Feb 1: 3rd Week - Reflections

Jan 27 Monday (Angela Merici Virgin, 

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-angela-merici/ ): Mk 3:22-30: 22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul, and by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” 23 And he called them to him, and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man; then indeed he may plunder his house.

3rd Week, Monday: Reflections & Liturgy

2 Sam 5:1-7, 10 / Mark 3:22-30

David is anointed king: The Lord was with him.

J. S. Abbott wrote a biography of Napoleon Bonaparte. In it, “the little corporal” says: “I have so inspired men that they would die for me…. The lightning of my eye, my voice, a word from me, then the sacred fire was kindled in their hearts. do, indeed, possess the secret of this magical power that lifts the soul.” David, too, possessed a priceless charism that could lift people’s soul and inspire them to do remarkable things. David’s natural charism was greatly enhanced by grace. In the words of today’s reading, the “Lord God Almighty was with him.”

Conversion of St. Paul: Reflection & Liturgy

Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22 / Mark 16:15-18

Jesus reveals himself to Paul: “I am Jesus, whom you persecute.”

We sometimes hear people say, “I believe in God, and I believe in Jesus, but I don’t believe in the Church.” When we hear people say this, we want to cry out: “But there’s no Jesus apart from the Church. Ever since Pentecost, Jesus and his Church have formed one body.” Trying to separate Jesus from the community of his followers is like trying to separate one’s head from one’s body.

3 Sunday A - Liturgical Prayers

A Light Has Dawned

Greeting

May Christ, the true light of the world,
always brighten and inspire our lives.
May our faces reflect his warmth and love,
and may the Lord always be with you. R/ And also with you.

2nd Week, Friday: Reflection & Liturgy

1 Sam 24:3-21 / Mark 3:13-19

David spares Saul’s life: David respected Saul’s role as king.

We’ve all heard stories about people who have dropped out of the Church because a pastor treated them harshly. It’s understandable that an insensitive pastor might hurt us. But it’s unthinkable that we should use that hurt as the reason for discontinuing the practice of our faith.

2nd Week, Thursday: Reflections & Liturgy

1 Sam 18:6-9; 19:1-7 / Mark 3:7-12

Saul plots to kill David: Jonathan saved David’s life.

Dr. Joseph Matarazzo was once the head of the medical psychology department of the University of Oregon.

2nd Week, Wednesday: Reflection & Liturgy

1 Sam 17:32-33, 37, 40-51 / Mark 3:1-6

David demonstrates courage: David defeated Goliath.

Don Bell was an infantryman in France during World War II. He now makes his living as a cowboy in Byron, Wyoming. One of his favorite stories is about a fellow infantryman from West Virginia. A miner who came from a mining family, he always carried a little chip of coal in his pocket. Whenever the going got extra difficult, he’d reach into his pocket, squeeze the chip of coal in his hand, and say to himself, “If I can take the mines, I can take this.”

It always gave him the courage to go on.

3 Sunday A - Be a Light for Those in Darkness

3rd Sunday A from heartnoi2k

From The Connections:
‘My Monastery Is a Minivan’

When asked our religion, most of us would describe ourselves as “Catholic” or “Christian.”  But we would tend to back away from daring to call ourselves “disciple” or “follower.”  That description rightly belongs to the great heroes of our faith: the apostles and holy men and women of the Gospel, the saints and martyrs, the Francises of Assisi, the Mother Teresas, the Thomas Mertons, the Dorothy Days, the Albert Schweitzers.  Our lives are too ordinary, our professions too worldly to dare imagine that we are doing the work of the Gospel Jesus.

2nd Week, Tuesday: Reflection & Liturgy

1 Sam 16:1:13 / Mark 2:23-28

God chooses David: Samuel anointed David as king.

The patron of parish priests is St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars. He performed so poorly in his priestly studies that seminary officials seriously questioned if he were intelligent enough to be ordained.

Monday of 2nd Week of Ordinary Time: Reflection & Liturgy

2nd Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 20-01-20

1 Sam 15:16-23 / Mark 2:18-22

Saul disobeys God: God rejected Saul.

Samuel rebuked Saul for not following customary battle procedure and enforcing the “ban” against the Amalekites. The ban was a primitive religious practice by which everything captured in battle was destroyed. Instead of putting all the cattle to the sword, Saul permitted his men to take some cattle and sacrifice them to God. At issue was the teaching that obedience to the Law is far better than sacrifice. The prophets constantly reiterated this point. (Amos 5:22-24, Hosea 6:6, Micah 6:7-8)

Jan 20-25: Daily Reflections

Jan 20 Monday (St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, 

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-fabian/ and St Sebastian, Martyr) 

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-sebastian/ :

Mk 2:18-22: 18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

1st Week, Saturday, Jan 18th: Reflections & Liturgy

1 Sam 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1 / Mark 2:13-17

God chooses Saul as king: Samuel anointed Saul.

Saul was unusually gifted as a person. He “was a foot taller than anyone else in Israel and more handsome as well.” 1 Samuel 9:2

After Saul was anointed, “the spirit of God took control of him.”

The people were amazed, saying, “Has Saul become a prophet?” 1 Samuel 10:10, 11 “After Saul became king of Israel, he fought all his enemies everywhere…. Wherever he fought he was victorious.” 1 Samuel 14:47

1st Week Friday - Reflections & Liturgy

1 Sam 8:4-7, 10-22 / Mark 2:1-12

The Israelites demand a king: God told Samuel to anoint a king.

In many ancient societies, kings were more than just human rulers of human beings. They believed they got their right to rule from God. They even demanded godlike treatment. Israel always looked upon God as their king: “The LORD became king of his people Israel when their tribes and leaders Were gathered together.” Deuteronomy 33:5

1st Week, Thursday, Jan 16th + Liturgy

1 Sam 4:1-11 / Mark 1:40-45
Israel takes the ark into battle: They were defeated; the ark was captured.

Eli’s sons were evil men. They turned away from their father when he tried to correct them. Finally, Eli warned them: “If a man sins against another man, God can defend him; but who can defend a man who sins against the Lord?” 1 Samuel 2:25. Eli’s words proved to be prophetic, as today’s reading points out. Their sins made them unworthy of God’s presence in the ark. God refused to defend them in their battle against the Philistines.

2 Sunday A: Liturgical Prayers

A. Witness to Jesus Christ

B. Jesus, Lamb of God 

Readings: Is 49:3,5-6; Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10

1 Cor 1:1-3; Jn 1:29-34 

Greeting (See Second Reading)

To you, the holy people of Jesus Christ,
grace and peace from God our Father
and from the Lord Jesus Christ. R/ And also with you.

Muslim Invasion of UK

TAKE OVER of Britain who to blame for passively succumbed to the Muslim invasion?
Mayor of London ... MUSLIM
Mayor of Birmingham ... MUSLIM
Mayor of Leeds ... MUSLIM
Mayor of Blackburn ... MUSLIM
Mayor of Sheffield ... MUSLIM
Mayor of Oxford ... MUSLIM
Mayor of Luton ... MUSLIM
Mayor of Oldham ... MUSLIM
Mayor of Rockdale ... MUSLIM.

Steve Gouves dies a billionaire

Steve Gouves dies a billionaire, with a fortune of $7billion, at the age of 56 from pancreatic cancer, & here are some of his last words:

CYCLE A: HOMILIES AND STORIES

CYCLE A: CLICK ON THE TITLES:

ADVENT-1	ADVENT-2	ADVENT-3	ADVENT-4	CHRISTMAS
H. FAMILY	N.Y. -MARY	EPIPHANY	BAPTISM	2 SUNDAY
3 SUNDAY	4 SUNDAY	5 SUNDAY	6 SUNDAY	7 SUNDAY
8 SUNDAY	ASH WED	LENT 1	LENT 2	LENT 3
LENT 4	LENT 5	PALM SUN	H.THURSDAY	G. FRIDAY
EASTER	EASTER-2	EASTER-3	EASTER-4	EASTER-5
EASTER-6	ASCENSION	PENTECOST	H. TRINITY	BODY BLOOD
10 SUNDAY	11 SUNDAY	12 SUNDAY	13 SUNDAY	14 SUNDAY
15 SUNDAY	16 SUNDAY	17 SUNDAY	18 SUNDAY	19 SUNDAY
20 SUNDAY	21 SUNDAY	22 SUNDAY	23 SUNDAY	24 SUNDAY
25 SUNDAY	26 SUNDAY	27 SUNDAY	28 SUNDAY	29 SUNDAY
30 SUNDAY	31 SUNDAY	32 SUNDAY	33 SUNDAY	C. KING
PRESENTATIO	SEP 8: MONTI	SEP 15	ALL SOULS	TEACHERS’D
MOTHERS’ D	FATHERS’ D	THANKSGIVING	TRANSFIGUR	LENT - GEN
TEMPTATION	LENT-EXOD	PASSION	EASTER VIGI
CHRISTMAS-IL	FAMILY

2 Sunday A - John the Baptist

2nd Sunday A Sto. Nino from Rey An Yatco

World Day of Migrants and Refugees

Gospel reading: John 1:29-34

Michel de Verteuil
General notes
 As happens each year, the lectionary remains with Christmas themes (and with St John’s gospel) for one more week. It is as if the church is still enjoying Christmas and is reluctant to move on to Ordinary Time and St Matthew.

1st Week, Wednesday, Jan 15th

1 Sam 3:1-10, 19-20 / Mark 1:29-39
God calls Samuel: Samuel said, “Speak, Lord; I am listening.”

Robert Moffat was a Scottish missionary in South Africa. He returned home to try to recruit other people to join him in this work. One cold night, only a few old women and a boy showed up to hear him preach at one of the churches. He was terribly disappointed. He thought to himself, “It’s hardly worth my while to give this talk.” But Moffat put his heart and soul in it anyway.

Jan 13-18: 1st Week - Daily Reflections

Jan 13: Monday (St. Hilary, Bp, Dr)

 https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-hilary/:

Mk 1: 14-20: 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.” 16 And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. USCCB video reflections: 

1st Week, Tuesday, 14-01-20 Plus Liturgy

NB: Sorry! I add the asterisks for posting on WhatsApp as well - for bold letters

**********

1 Sam 1:9-20 / Mark 1:21-28

*Hannah asks God for a child: She gave birth to Samuel. *

Baptism of the Lord, Year A

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 / Acts 10:34-38 / Matthew 3:13-17

As a matter of fact, about 70% of the earth’s surface is covered with water. That is quite a lot of water. 

1st Week, Monday, Jan 13th Plus Liturgy

1 Samuel 1: 1-8; Mark 1:14-20
*Hannah is barren: Her rival made her burden heavier. *

Jay Kesler tells this story in his book Growing Places. Late one night he was walking down a street in India. A boy with no legs hobbled up on crutches and asked for money. Jay obliged him generously. Jay turned and continued his walk. He hadn’t gone ten steps when he heard a terrible racket.

Saturday after Epiphany - Reflection & Liturgy

1 John 5:14-21 / John 3:22-30

God hears our prayers: We should pray for sinners.

A number of years ago Newsweek magazine carried a moving article about the crash of United Airlines flight 629 in Colorado. Someone had hidden a bomb on the plane, killing all aboard.

Two of the dead passengers were parents of three young sons in Pittsburgh. The pastor of St. Gabriel’s asked the oldest boy, Jerry, if it would be okay to hold a prayer service for his parents that afternoon. Jerry said yes, and then added, “Could we also say a prayer for the man who killed my mother and father?”

BAPTISM OF THE LORD - Liturgy

1. My Beloved Son
2. What About Our Baptism?

Greeting (See Second Reading)

God has revealed to us his kindness and love
in Jesus Christ our Savior
by saving us through the cleansing water of rebirth
and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit.
May the Lord Jesus be always with you. R/ And also with you.

Friday after Epiphany, Jan 10th Plus Liturgy

1 John 5:5-13 / Luke 5:12-16
Jesus is the Son of God: Water, blood, and Spirit testify to Jesus.

After Jesus’ baptism in water, a voice from heaven testified, “You are my own dear Son.” Mark 1:11. After Jesus’ death in blood on the cross, a Roman officer was moved to testify, “This man was really the Son of God!” Mark 15:39

Wednesday after Epiphany, 08-01-19

1 John 4:11-18 / Mark 6:45-52

*Love casts out fear: Have courage on judgment day.*

Ethel Waters was a famous black singer. Her heart was as big as her body. In her last interview before she died, she said:

Thursday after Epiphany, 09-01-20 - Reflections and Liturgy

1 John 4:19 - 5:4 / Luke 4:14-22

How can we be sure we love God?: Whoever loves God must also love others.

Queen Victoria of England had a summer residence at Balmoral, England. One day she was out walking alone and got caught in a rainstorm. She ran to a small cottage for shelter and asked the woman who answered the door if she could borrow an umbrella.

Baptism of the Lord

Gospel Text: Matthew 3:13-17 Michel de Verteuil
Textual Comments
The story of Jesus’s baptism is told in all four Gospels – an indication that the early Christians considered it an important event in the life of Jesus.
There are two aspects to the event:

Tuesday after Epiphany, 07-01-20: Reflection & Liturgy

1 John 4:7-10 / Mark 6:34-44

God is love: Whoever loves knows God.

An old woman suddenly began to have doubts about the existence of God. The woman couldn’t understand why this was happening. Finally, she decided to go to a priest for help. “I’m having terrible problems with my faith,” she confessed. “Is there anything I can do?” The priest’s suggestion surprised her. He simply said, “Begin to love your neighbor more actively and more concretely.” The priest’s advice jibes with John’s words in today’s reading. John says, “Whoever loves . . . knows God.”

Monday after Epiphany, 06-01-20+ Liturgy

1 John 3:22 - 4:6 / Matthew 4: 12-17, 23-25

Do not trust every spirit: Test each spirit to see if it is of God.

In May 1981, a man was accused of killing eight prostitutes. He said he was acting on orders from God. About a month later Mark Chapman, the killer of John Lennon, said God told him to drop his defense and plead guilty to the slaying.