26th Week: Sept 27- Oct 2

 Sept 27 Monday (St. Vincent de Paul, Priest) 

The context: Today’s Gospel describes Jesus’ criterion for greatness with advice to be accepting of others who do good in ways different from ours.

Guardian Angels, Oct 2

 Guardian Angels, Oct 2

Exodus 23:20-23 / Matthew 18:1-5, 10

God protects his people; "My angel will guard you."

Guardian Angels - October 2:

 Who your Guardian Angel is and what they do:  10 things you should know

According to Christian tradition,  every one of us has a guardian angel  who accompanies us from the moment we’re born until the moment  of our death, and stays at our side at every moment of our life. The idea of ​​a spirit, of a supernatural entity that follows and supervises every human being,  was already present in other religions and in Greek philosophy. 

St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, Sept 21

 Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13 / Matthew 9:9-13

There is one Lord over all: Preserve your unity.  

John Howard Griffin dyed his skin black, shaved his head, and posed as a black man in the South in the pre-civil-rights days. One day he asked for a Catholic church. He was told that the nearest "colored Catholic church" was on Drysades Street. 

Mary, Mother of Hope

Saints Peter and Paul -June 29

 
Starter Story:
The year was 1770, and in a small Italian church, two altar boys prepared for Benediction. Annibale Della Genga and Francesco Castiglioni entered the sacristy, put on their albs, and grabbed the heavy brass candlesticks. And then they began to bicker.

June 24: Nativity of John the Baptist

 The Lord called me: You are my servant.

This is the second of the four “servant songs” in Isaiah. (Isaiah 40-50). These songs exalt the perfect Israelite, whose suffering saves many people. (Isaiah 53: ii). In one sense, the songs apply to Israel and to all of its great leaders; but in another sense, they apply ultimately and uniquely to Jesus alone. (Acts 3:13,26)

SOLEMNITY OF ST. JOSEPH - March 19

Introduction

Today’s gospel calls Joseph “a just man.” It is a title that the scriptures of the Old and the New Testaments give to people who try to live according to God’s plans. Indeed, he played an important role in God’s plan of salvation; God entrusted our Savior, Jesus, to his care. He experienced that his important role brought him many difficulties, but he stood the test and served God well, as a man of faith, generous, and indeed “just.”     

29th December, St. Thomas Becket

1 John 2:3-11 / Luke 2:22-35  

A light for all the nations; The light is shining

 

If we don’t love, we are in darkness. Gnosticism was a thorn in the side of the early Church. This heresy derived its name from the Greek word for “knowledge.” Gnosticism took many twists and is difficult to define.

Feast of the Dedication of Lateran Basilica

3 Readings talk about God's presence in three areas: Nature (water & Herb) or creation. This is first temple. Second human persons, second temple. Third: social, civil and ecclesial structures. God first created time, space and context. Then created human beings. Sin and grace take place at a particular, location and context. Paradise had everything for grace and growth. Also the apple tree that caused sin. 

All Saints - Nov 1

From Fr. Tony Kadavil:

NOVEMBER 1, 2017 ALL SAINTS DAY (L-17)

One-page synopsis: The feast and its objectives: All baptized Christians who have died and are now with God in glory are considered saints. All Saints Day is intended to honor the memory of countless unknown and uncanonized saints who have no feast days. Today we thank God for giving ordinary men and women a share in His holiness and Heavenly glory as a reward for their Faith. This feast is observed to teach us to honor the saints, both by imitating their lives and by seeking their intercession for us before Christ, the only mediator between God and man (I Tim. 2:5). The Church reminds us today that God's call for holiness is universal, that all of us are called to live in His love and to make His love real in the lives of those around us. Holiness is related to the word wholesomeness. We grow in holiness when we live wholesome lives of integrity truth, justice, charity, mercy and compassion, sharing our blessings with others.

St. Martha - Jul 29

St. Martha

Martha was born of noble and wealthy parents, but she is still more illustrious for the hospitality she gave to Christ our Lord. After His Ascension into heaven, she was seized by the Jews, together with her brother and sister, Marcella her handmaid, and Maximin, one of the seventy-two disciples of our Lord, who had baptized the whole family, and many other Christians. They were put on board a ship without sails or oars, and left helpless on the open sea, exposed to certain shipwreck. But God guided the ship, and they all arrived safely at Marseilles.

St. Thomas Feast - Jul 3rd: Liturgy

Introduction

The gospel has some beautiful texts about St. Thomas. Not only the “My Lord and my God” after his doubt and hesitation to believe, but also “Let us too go and die with him,” and the question “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How could we know the way?” And the  Lord’s, “Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Tradition has him go as far as Persia and the Malabar region in India, where the Christians are still called “the Christians of St. Thomas.”

13th Week: June 29- July 4: Reflections

29 Monday (Saints Peter & Paul the Apostles): https://www.franciscanmedia.org/solemnity-of-saints-peter-and-paul/ Mt 16: 13-19: 13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

John the Baptist - Nativity - Jun 24th

The Lord called me: You are my servant.

This is the second of the four “servant songs” in Isaiah. (Isaiah 40-50). These songs exalt the perfect Israelite, whose suffering saves many people. (Isaiah 53: ii). In one sense, the songs apply to Israel and to all of its great leaders; but in another sense, they apply ultimately and uniquely to Jesus alone. (Acts 3:13,26)

Birth of John the Baptist - Jun 24 - Liturgy

Greeting (See the First Reading of the Vigil) 

Do not be afraid to speak, says the Lord, for I am with you to protect you.  I am putting my words into your mouth.  Say whatever I command you.  May the Lord speak through us and be always be with you. R/ And also with you.  

St. Matthias, Apostle, Thursday, May 14th

Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 / John 15:9-17 

Jesus speaks about life: “Live in my love; keep my commandments.”

Three people were discussing some recent translations of the Bible.

How faithful are we in translating the Bible into action? Our greatest need is not to gain more knowledge, but to put into practice what we already know.

St . Joseph, the Worker, May 1 - Liturgy

SOLEMNITY OF ST. JOSEPH     

Patron of the Church     

Introduction     

Annunciation-Mar 25

Annunciation, Wednesday, 25-03-20

Isaiah 7:10-14 / Hebrews 10:4-10 / Luke 1:26-38 

St. Augustine was quoted as saying: God does not ask of us the impossible. He may ask us to do the difficult thing, but He will make it possible. 

St. Peter’s Chair: Feb 22nd

1 Peter 5:1-4

Peter talks about service: Watch over those entrusted to your care.

A woman bought a beautiful, old porcelain pitcher. It was cream colored with red and blue flowers painted delicately on its surface. It soon became one of her cherished possessions. One day someone dropped the pitcher, breaking it into many pieces.