DAILY GOSPEL
«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68


Thursday, 06 August 2009
The Transfiguration of the Lord, feast

The Transfiguration of the Lord - Feast
Today the Church celebrates : St. Hormisdas, Pope (+ 523)

Saint John Damascene : "A high mountain apart"


Book of Daniel 7:9-10.13-14.

As I watched, Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was snow bright, and the hair on his head as white as wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Psalms 97(96):1-2.5-6.9.

The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad.
Cloud and darkness surround the Lord; justice and right are the foundation of his throne.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim God's justice; all peoples see his glory.
You, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth, exalted far above all gods.


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 9:2-10.

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them. As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint John Damascene (c.675-749), monk, theologian, Doctor of the Church
Homily for the Feast of the Transfiguration; PG 96, 545

"A high mountain apart"


In former times, the smoke and tempest, darkness and fire on Mount Sinai (Ex 19,16f.) revealed God's extraordinary condescension, which showed that he who gave the Law was inaccessible... and that the Creator is made known by his works. But now everything is filled with light and radiance. For the architect and Lord of all things has come from the bosom of his Father. He has not left his own domain, namely his seat in the Father's breast, but has descended to be with us slaves. He has assumed the condition of a slave and become man in both nature and expres​sion(Phil 2,7) so that the God who is incomprehensible to man might become comprehensible. Through and in himself he manifests the splendor of the divine nature.

Formerly, God united man with his own grace. When he breathed the spirit of life into the man newly formed from the dust, when he gave him all the best things he had, he honored him with his own image and likeness (Gn 1,27). He gave him Eden as his home and made him near brother to the angels. But since we obscured and obliterated the divine image beneath the mud of our uncontrolled desires, the Compassionate One entered into a second form of communion with us, even more certain and exceptional than the first. While still remaining in the heights of his divinity he yet accepted what is beneath him, creating human nature within himself. He mingled the archetype with its image and today reveals his own beauty within it.

His face shone like the sun for he is identified in his divinity with immaterial light; hence he has become the Sun of justice (Mal 3,20). But his clothing became white as snow since they take on this glory on the surface, not by union, by relation and not by nature. And «a cloud covered them with its shadow», thus making available to the senses the shining radiance of the Spirit.

DAILY GOSPEL
«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68


Friday, 07 August 2009
Friday of the Eighteenth week in Ordinary Time

Today the Church celebrates : St. Cajetan, Priest (1480-1547)

Saint John of the Cross : «Whoever loses their life for my sake will find it»


Book of Deuteronomy 4:32-40.

"Ask now of the days of old, before your time, ever since God created man upon the earth; ask from one end of the sky to the other: Did anything so great ever happen before? Was it ever heard of? Did a people ever hear the voice of God speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live? Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, with his strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors, all of which the LORD, your God, did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? All this you were allowed to see that you might know the LORD is God and there is no other. Out of the heavens he let you hear his voice to discipline you; on earth he let you see his great fire, and you heard him speaking out of the fire. For love of your fathers he chose their descendants and personally led you out of Egypt by his great power, driving out of your way nations greater and mightier than you, so as to bring you in and to make their land your heritage, as it is today. This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart, that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and that there is no other. You must keep his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you today, that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may have long life on the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you forever."

Psalms 77(76):12-13.14-15.16.21.

I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, your wonders of old I will remember.
I will recite all your works; your exploits I will tell.
Your way, O God, is holy; what god is as great as our God?
You alone are the God who did wonders; among the peoples you revealed your might.
With your arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
You led your people like a flock under the care of Moses and Aaron.


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 16:24-28.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591), Carmelite, Doctor of the Church
Spiritual Canticle, 29,11 (©Institute of Carmelite Studies)

«Whoever loses their life for my sake will find it»


«I lost myself and was found»

The one who walks in the love of God seeks neither gain nor reward, but seeks only to lose with the will all things and self for God: and this loss the lover judges to be a gain. Thus it is, as St. Paul asserts: «For me death is gain» [Phil.1:21], that is, my death for Christ is my gain, spiritually, of all things and of myself. Consequently the soul declares: I was found. The soul that does not know how to lose herself does not find herself but rather loses herself, as Our Lord teaches in the Gospel: «Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it» (Mt 16:25).

Should we desire to interpret this verse more spiritually and in accord with what we are discussing here, it ought to be known that when a soul treading the spiritual road has reached such a point that she has lost all roads and natural methods in her communion with God, and no longer seeks him by reflections or forms or feelings or by any other way of creatures and the senses, but has advanced beyond them all and beyond all modes and manners, and enjoys communion with God in faith and love, then it is said that God is her gain, because she has certainly lost all that is not God and has truly lost herself.

DAILY GOSPEL
«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68


Saturday, 08 August 2009
Saturday of the Eighteenth week in Ordinary Time

Today the Church celebrates : St. Dominic, Priest (1170-1221)

Saint Thomas More : «I do believe; help my unbelief!» (Mc 9,24)


Book of Deuteronomy 6:4-13.

"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today. Drill them into your children. Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest. Bind them at your wrist as a sign and let them be as a pendant on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates. "When the LORD, your God, brings you into the land which he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that he would give you, a land with fine, large cities that you did not build, with houses full of goods of all sorts that you did not garner, with cisterns that you did not dig, with vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant; and when, therefore, you eat your fill, take care not to forget the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. The LORD, your God, shall you fear; him shall you serve, and by his name shall you swear.

Psalms 18(17):2-3.4.47.51.

He said: I love you, LORD, my strength,
LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, My God, my rock of refuge, my shield, my saving horn, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim! I have been delivered from my enemies.
The LORD lives! Blessed be my rock! Exalted be God, my savior!
You have given great victories to your king, and shown kindness to your anointed, to David and his posterity forever.


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 17:14-20.

When they came to the crowd a man approached, knelt down before him, and said, "Lord, have pity on my son, for he is a lunatic and suffers severely; often he falls into fire, and often into water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him." Jesus said in reply, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him here to me." Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him, and from that hour the boy was cured. Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said, "Why could we not drive it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint Thomas More (1478-1535), English statesman, martyr
Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation

«I do believe; help my unbelief!» (Mc 9,24)


"Lord, increase our faith." Let us consider, by Christ's saying unto them, that, if we would not suffer the strength and fervor of our faith to wax lukewarm-or rather key-cold-and lose its vigor by scattering our minds abroad about so many trifling things that we very seldom think of the matters of our faith, we should withdraw our thought from the respect and regard of all worldly fantasies, and so gather our faith together into a little narrow room.

And like the little grain of mustard seed, which is by nature hot, we should set it in the garden of our soul, all weeds being pulled out for the better feeding of our faith. Then shall it grow, and so spread up in height that the birds-that is, the holy angels of heaven-shall breed in our soul, and bring forth virtues in the branches of our faith. And then, with the faithful trust that through the true belief of God's word we shall put in his promise, we shall be well able to command a great mountain of tribulation to void from the place where it stood in our heart, whereas with a very feeble faith and faint, we shall be scantly able to remove a little hillock. And therefore, as for the first conclusion, since we must of necessity before any spiritual comfort presuppose the foundation of faith, and since no man can give us faith but only God, let us never cease to call upon God for it.

DAILY GOSPEL
«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68


Sunday, 09 August 2009
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today the Church celebrates : St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), co-patron of Europe (1891-1942) - Feast in Europe

Saint Cyril of Alexandria : "The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world"


1st book of Kings 19:4-8.

and went a day's journey into the desert, until he came to a broom tree and sat beneath it. He prayed for death: "This is enough, O LORD! Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers." He lay down and fell asleep under the broom tree, but then an angel touched him and ordered him to get up and eat. He looked and there at his head was a hearth cake and a jug of water. After he ate and drank, he lay down again, but the angel of the LORD came back a second time, touched him, and ordered, "Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!" He got up, ate and drank; then strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb.

Psalms 34(33):2-3.4-5.6-7.8-9.

I will bless the LORD at all times; praise shall be always in my mouth.
My soul will glory in the LORD that the poor may hear and be glad.
Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, who answered me, delivered me from all my fears.
Look to God that you may be radiant with joy and your faces may not blush for shame.
In my misfortune I called, the LORD heard and saved me from all distress.
The angel of the LORD, who encamps with them, delivers all who fear God.
Learn to savor how good the LORD is; happy are those who take refuge in him.


Letter to the Ephesians 4:30-32.5:1-2.

And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. (And) be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 6:41-51.

The Jews murmured about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven," and they said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Stop murmuring among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: 'They shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint Cyril of Alexandria (380-444), Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Commentary on St. Luke's Gospel, 22

"The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world"


How could man, who remained riveted to the earth and subject to death, gain entry to immortality once more? His flesh had to become assimilated to the life-giving force in God. Now, God the Father's life-giving force is his Word, his only Son, and so it was he whom God sent to us as Savior and Redeemer...

If you put a breadcrumb into oil, water or wine, it at once soaks up their properties. If you place iron into contact with fire, it will shortly become full of its energy and, even though by nature it is only iron, will take on the appearance of fire. In the same way, then, God's life-giving Word, by uniting himself to the flesh he assumed, caused it to become life giving.

Did he not say: «Whoever believes in me has eternal life. I am the bread of life.» And again: «I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh... Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.» So then, by eating the flesh of Christ, the Savior of us all, and drinking his blood we have life in ourselves, we become one with him, we remain in him and he in us.

Il fallait donc qu'il vienne en nous de la manière qui convient à Dieu, par l'Esprit Saint, et qu'il se mêle en quelque sorte à nos corps par sa sainte chair et par son sang précieux que nous recevons en bénédiction vivifiante comme dans du pain et du vin. En effet..., Dieu a usé de condescendance envers notre faiblesse et a mis toute la puissance de sa vie dans les éléments du pain et du vin qui sont ainsi dotés de l'énergie de sa propre vie. N'hésite donc pas à le croire, puisque le Seigneur lui-même a dit clairement : « Ceci est mon corps » et « Ceci est mon sang ».
Therefore it is for him to enter within us in a way fitting to God, by the Holy Spirit, and to mingle with our body, after a fashion, through the holy flesh and precious blood we receive as life-giving blessing as if in bread and wine. Indeed..., God has exercised his condescension towards our weakness and placed all his life-force into the elements of bread and wine, which are thus endowed with the spirit of his own life. So don't hesitate to believe in it for our Lord himself has clearly said: «This is my body» and «This is my blood».

DAILY GOSPEL
«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68


Monday, 10 August 2009
Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr - Feast

Today the Church celebrates : St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr (+258)

Saint Ambrose : "If it dies, it produces much fruit"


Second Letter to the Corinthians 9:6-10.

Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

Psalms 112(111):1-2.5-6.7-8.9.

Hallelujah! Happy are those who fear the LORD, who greatly delight in God's commands.
Their descendants shall be mighty in the land, generation upright and blessed.
All goes well for those gracious in lending, who conduct their affairs with justice.
They shall never be shaken; the just shall be remembered forever.
They shall not fear an ill report; their hearts are steadfast, trusting the LORD.
Their hearts are tranquil, without fear, till at last they look down on their foes.
Lavishly they give to the poor; their prosperity shall endure forever; their horn shall be exalted in honor.


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 12:24-26.

Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint Ambrose (c.340-397), Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church
On the duties of the clergy I, 84; II, 28; PL 16,84

"If it dies, it produces much fruit"


When Saint Lawrence saw Bishop Sixtus being led to martyrdom, he started to weep. It was not his Bishop's suffering that drew tears form his eyes but the fact that he was going to martyrdom without him. That was why he began shouting after him in these words: «Father, where are you going without your son? O holy priest, where are you going in such a hurry without your deacon? Yet you have never been accustomed to offer the sacrifice without a minister!... Test it out that you have chosen a good deacon: would you refuse to share the sacrifice of your blood with him to whom you have entrusted the administration of the Lord's blood, with whom you share the sacraments?»...

Then Pope Sixtus replied to Lawrence: «I have not forgotten you, my son, nor am I forsaking you. But to you I am leaving even greater combats to undergo. I am old and can only bear a light struggle. But you are young and there remains an even more glorious triumph against the tyrant to be won by you. You will be coming shortly; dry your tears; you will follow me in three days ...»

Three days later, Lawrence was arrested. He was asked to bring out the Church's wealth and treasures. He promised to do so. The following day he returned with some poor people. He was asked where the treasures were that he had to bring. He showed the poor people, saying: «These are the Church's treasures. What greater treasures could Christ have than those of whom he said: 'Whatever you have done to one of these little ones, you have done to me' (Mt 25,40)?» Lawrence showed forth those treasures and so he was the victor, for the persecutor had no desire to take them from him. But, in his fury, he caused him to be burned alive.

DAILY GOSPEL

«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68


Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Tuesday of the Nineteenth week in Ordinary Time


Today the Church celebrates : St. Philomena, St. Clare, Virgin (1194-1253)


Saint Faustina Kowalska : "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven"


Book of Deuteronomy 31:1-8.

When Moses had finished speaking these words to all Israel, he said to them, "I am now one hundred and twenty years old and am no longer able to move about freely; besides, the LORD has told me that I shall not cross this Jordan. It is the LORD, your God, who will cross before you; he will destroy these nations before you, that you may supplant them. (It is Joshua who will cross before you, as the LORD promised.) The LORD will deal with them just as he dealt with Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites whom he destroyed, and with their country. When, therefore, the LORD delivers them up to you, you must deal with them exactly as I have ordered you. Be brave and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them, for it is the LORD, your God, who marches with you; he will never fail you or forsake you." Then Moses summoned Joshua and in the presence of all Israel said to him, "Be brave and steadfast, for you must being this people into the land which the LORD swore to their fathers he would give them; you must put them in possession of their heritage. It is the LORD who marches before you; he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed."

Deut 32:3-4.7.8.9.12.

For I will sing the LORD'S renown. Oh, proclaim the greatness of our God!
The Rock--how faultless are his deeds, how right all his ways! A faithful God, without deceit, how just and upright he is!
Think back on the days of old, reflect on the years of age upon age. Ask your father and he will inform you, ask your elders and they will tell you:
When the Most High assigned the nations their heritage, when he parceled out the descendants of Adam, He set up the boundaries of the peoples after the number of the sons of God;
While the LORD'S own portion was Jacob, His hereditary share was Israel.
The LORD alone was their leader, no strange god was with him.


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 18:1-5.10.12-14.

At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), religious Sister
Diary, § 244 (©Marians of the Immaculate Conception)

"Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven"


Now a gray, ordinary day has begun. The solemn hours of my perpetual vows have passed, but God's great grace has remained in my soul. I feel I am all God's; I feel I am his child; I feel I am wholly God's property. I experience this in a way that can be physically sensed. I am completely at peace about everything because I know it is my Spouse's business to look after me. I have forgotten myself completely.

My trust in his most merciful Heart has no limits. I am continuously united with him. It seems to me as though Jesus could not be happy without me, nor I without him. Although I understand that, being God, he is happy in himself and has no need of any creature, still, his goodness compels him to give himself to his creatures – and with a generosity beyond our understanding.

DAILY GOSPEL

«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68


Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Tuesday of the Nineteenth week in Ordinary Time


Today the Church celebrates : St. Philomena, St. Clare, Virgin (1194-1253)

Saint Faustina Kowalska : "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven"


Book of Deuteronomy 31:1-8.

When Moses had finished speaking these words to all Israel, he said to them, "I am now one hundred and twenty years old and am no longer able to move about freely; besides, the LORD has told me that I shall not cross this Jordan. It is the LORD, your God, who will cross before you; he will destroy these nations before you, that you may supplant them. (It is Joshua who will cross before you, as the LORD promised.) The LORD will deal with them just as he dealt with Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites whom he destroyed, and with their country. When, therefore, the LORD delivers them up to you, you must deal with them exactly as I have ordered you. Be brave and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them, for it is the LORD, your God, who marches with you; he will never fail you or forsake you." Then Moses summoned Joshua and in the presence of all Israel said to him, "Be brave and steadfast, for you must being this people into the land which the LORD swore to their fathers he would give them; you must put them in possession of their heritage. It is the LORD who marches before you; he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed."

Deut 32:3-4.7.8.9.12.

For I will sing the LORD'S renown. Oh, proclaim the greatness of our God!
The Rock--how faultless are his deeds, how right all his ways! A faithful God, without deceit, how just and upright he is!
Think back on the days of old, reflect on the years of age upon age. Ask your father and he will inform you, ask your elders and they will tell you:
When the Most High assigned the nations their heritage, when he parceled out the descendants of Adam, He set up the boundaries of the peoples after the number of the sons of God;
While the LORD'S own portion was Jacob, His hereditary share was Israel.
The LORD alone was their leader, no strange god was with him.


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 18:1-5.10.12-14.

At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), religious Sister
Diary, § 244 (©Marians of the Immaculate Conception)

"Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven"


Now a gray, ordinary day has begun. The solemn hours of my perpetual vows have passed, but God's great grace has remained in my soul. I feel I am all God's; I feel I am his child; I feel I am wholly God's property. I experience this in a way that can be physically sensed. I am completely at peace about everything because I know it is my Spouse's business to look after me. I have forgotten myself completely.

My trust in his most merciful Heart has no limits. I am continuously united with him. It seems to me as though Jesus could not be happy without me, nor I without him. Although I understand that, being God, he is happy in himself and has no need of any creature, still, his goodness compels him to give himself to his creatures – and with a generosity beyond our understanding.

DAILY GOSPEL

«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68


Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Wednesday of the Nineteenth week in Ordinary Time


Today the Church celebrates : St. Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)


Saint Caesarius of Arles : "Whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven"


Book of Deuteronomy 34:1-12.

Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, the headland of Pisgah which faces Jericho, and the LORD showed him all the land-Gilead, and as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, the circuit of the Jordan with the lowlands at Jericho, city of palms, and as far as Zoar. The LORD then said to him, "This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that I would give to their descendants. I have let you feast your eyes upon it, but you shall not cross over." So there, in the land of Moab, Moses, the servant of the LORD, died as the LORD had said; and he was buried in the ravine opposite Beth-peor in the land of Moab, but to this day no one knows the place of his burial. Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were undimmed and his vigor unabated. For thirty days the Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab, till they had completed the period of grief and mourning for Moses. Now Joshua, son of Nun, was filled with the spirit of wisdom, since Moses had laid his hands upon him; and so the Israelites gave him their obedience, thus carrying out the LORD'S command to Moses. Since then no prophet has arisen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. He had no equal in all the signs and wonders the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh and all his servants and against all his land, and for the might and the terrifying power that Moses exhibited in the sight of all Israel.

Psalms 66(65):1-3.5.8.16-17.

For the leader. A song; a psalm.
Shout joyfully to God, all you on earth; sing of his glorious name; give him glorious praise.
Say to God: "How awesome your deeds! Before your great strength your enemies cringe.
Come and see the works of God, awesome in the deeds done for us.
Bless our God, you peoples; loudly sound his praise,
Come and hear, all you who fear God, while I recount what has been done for me.
I called to the Lord with my mouth; praise was upon my tongue.


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 18:15-20.

If your brother sins (against you), go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that 'every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, (amen,) I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint Caesarius of Arles (470-543), monk and Bishop
Sermon to the laity, no.59 (cf. SC 330, p. 43)

"Whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven"


For our well-being and salvation all the Holy Scriptures warn us constantly and humbly to confess our sins, not only before God but also before a holy and godfearing man. This is what the Holy Spirit advises us to do through the mouth of James the apostle: «Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed» (5,16)..., and the psalmist says: «I confess my faults to the Lord and you took away the guilt of my sin» (Ps 32[31],5).

We are always wounded by our sins and, in the same way, we should always have recourse to the medicine of confession. For indeed, if God wants us to confess our sins, it is not because he would be unable to know what they are but because the devil wants to find something of which to accuse us before the judgement seat of the eternal Judge. That is why he would rather we thought more about excusing them than accusing ourselves of them. Our God, to the contrary, being good and merciful, wants us to confess them in this world so that we may not be ashamed because of them in the next. So if we confess them then he, on his part, shows himself to be merciful; if we acknowledge them then he forgives... As for ourselves, my brethren, we are really your spiritual physicians, seeking with all concern to heal your souls.

DAILY GOSPEL

«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68


Thursday, 13 August 2009
Thursday of the Nineteenth week in Ordinary Time


Today the Church celebrates : St. Radegundes, Queen of France (519-587)


Saint Francis of Assisi : "Seventy-seven times"


Book of Joshua 3:7-10.11.13-17.

Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know I am with you, as I was with Moses. Now command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant to come to a halt in the Jordan when they reach the edge of the waters." So Joshua said to the Israelites, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD, your God." He continued: "This is how you will know that there is a living God in your midst, who at your approach will dispossess the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. The ark of the covenant of the LORD of the whole earth will precede you into the Jordan. When the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the LORD, the Lord of the whole earth, touch the water of the Jordan, it will cease to flow; for the water flowing down from upstream will halt in a solid bank." The people struck their tents to cross the Jordan, with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant ahead of them. No sooner had these priestly bearers of the ark waded into the waters at the edge of the Jordan, which overflows all its banks during the entire season of the harvest, than the waters flowing from upstream halted, backing up in a solid mass for a very great distance indeed, from Adam, a city in the direction of Zarethan; while those flowing downstream toward the Salt Sea of the Arabah disappeared entirely. Thus the people crossed over opposite Jericho. While all Israel crossed over on dry ground, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD remained motionless on dry ground in the bed of the Jordan until the whole nation had completed the passage.

Psalms 114(113A):1-2.3-4.5-6.

When Israel came forth from Egypt, the house of Jacob from an alien people,
Judah became God's holy place, Israel, God's domain.
The sea beheld and fled; the Jordan turned back.
The mountains skipped like rams; the hills, like lambs of the flock.
Why was it, sea, that you fled? Jordan, that you turned back?
You mountains, that you skipped like rams? You hills, like lambs of the flock?


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 18:21-35.19:1.

Then Peter approaching asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.' Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, 'Pay back what you owe.' Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?' Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart." When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), founder of the Friar Minor
Letter to a Franciscan provincial (©Classics of Western spirituality)

"Seventy-seven times"


May the Lord bless you (cf. Num 6:24a)! I speak to you, as I can, concerning the state of your soul. You should accept as a grace all those things which deter you from loving the Lord God and whoever has become an impediment to you, whether [they are] brothers or others... And love those who do these things to you. And do not expect anything different from them, unless it is something which the Lord shall have given to you...

And by this I wish to know if you love the Lord God and me, his servant and yours - if you have acted in this manner: that is, there should not be any brother in the world who has sinned, however much he may have possibly sinned, who, after he has looked into your eyes, would go away without having received your mercy, if he is looking for mercy. And if he were not to seek mercy, you should ask him if he wants mercy. And if he should sin thereafter a thousand times before your very eyes, love him more than me so that you may draw him back to the Lord. Always be merciful to brothers such as these. And announce this to the guardians [of our communities], as you can, that on your part you are resolved to act in this way.

Stand Firm

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
"Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith"
(I Peter 5:9, NLT)

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria
Are you standing firm against the enemy today? In other words, when fear comes against you, do you dwell on those defeating thoughts or do you rise up and start confessing the promises of God over your life? If you choose to dwell on your fears and think about all the reasons why you can't do what God is telling you to, then before long you're going to develop a negative mindset that will hold you back. It's much more difficult to overcome.
Don't just sit on the sidelines of life when there is so much potential on the inside of you! Don't allow the enemy to hold you back with fear any longer. Focus on that vision of victory. Be bold and step out in faith! Today is a new day! It's your new beginning. Just because you feel fear, doesn't mean you have to follow fear. Every person feels fear at some point. The greatest men and women of the Bible all felt fear. But when fear comes, don't give in! Stay the course of faith and follow God's Word. Break that negative power over your life and move forward into the freedom and joy He has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father in heaven, thank You for giving me strength to stand strong against fear in my life. I choose to have an attitude of faith and expectancy by focusing on Your promises. Today I am rising up and pressing forward into the life of victory You have for me. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

DAILY GOSPEL

«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68


Friday, 14 August 2009
Friday of the Nineteenth week in Ordinary Time


Today the Church celebrates : St Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr (1894-1941

Roman Missal : "The two shall become one flesh"


Book of Joshua 24:1-13.

Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, summoning their elders, their leaders, their judges and their officers. When they stood in ranks before God, Joshua addressed all the people: "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: In times past your fathers, down to Terah, father of Abraham and Nahor, dwelt beyond the River and served other gods. But I brought your father Abraham from the region beyond the River and led him through the entire land of Canaan. I made his descendants numerous, and gave him Isaac. To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I assigned the mountain region of Seir in which to settle, while Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. "Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and smote Egypt with the prodigies which I wrought in her midst. Afterward I led you out of Egypt, and when you reached the sea, the Egyptians pursued your fathers to the Red Sea with chariots and horsemen. Because they cried out to the LORD, he put darkness between your people and the Egyptians, upon whom he brought the sea so that it engulfed them. After you witnessed what I did to Egypt, and dwelt a long time in the desert, I brought you into the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I delivered them into your power. You took possession of their land, and I destroyed them (the two kings of the Amorites) before you. Then Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab, prepared to war against Israel. He summoned Balaam, son of Beor, to curse you; but I would not listen to Balaam. On the contrary, he had to bless you, and I saved you from him. Once you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho, the men of Jericho fought against you, but I delivered them also into your power. And I sent the hornets ahead of you which drove them (the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites) out of your way; it was not your sword or your bow. "I gave you a land which you had not tilled and cities which you had not built, to dwell in; you have eaten of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.

Psalms 136(135):1-3.16-18.21-22.24.

Praise the LORD, who is so good; God's love endures forever;
Praise the God of gods; God's love endures forever;
Praise the Lord of lords; God's love endures forever;
Who led the people through the desert, God's love endures forever;
Who struck down great kings, God's love endures forever;
Slew powerful kings, God's love endures forever;
And made their lands a heritage, God's love endures forever;
A heritage for Israel, God's servant, God's love endures forever.
Freed us from our foes, God's love endures forever;


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 19:3-12.

Some Pharisees approached him, and tested him, saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?" He said in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate." They said to him, "Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss (her)?" He said to them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery." (His) disciples said to him, "If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry." He answered, "Not all can accept (this) word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Roman Missal
Nuptial blessing

"The two shall become one flesh"


Father,
to reveal the plan of your love,
you made the union of husband and wife
an image of the covenant between you and your people.
In fulfilment of this sacrament,
the marriage of Christian man and woman
is a sign of the marriage between Christ and the Church (Eph 5,32).
Father, stretch out your hand, and bless N. and N.
And take them under your protection.

Lord,
grant that as they begin to live this sacrament
they may share with each other the gifts of your love
and become one in heart and mind
as witnesses to your presence in their marriage.
Help them to create a home together
and give them children to be formed by the gospel
and to have a place in your family.

Give your blessings to N., your daughter,
so that she may be a good wife and mother, caring for the home,
faithful in love for her husband, generous and kind.
Give your blessings to N., your son,
so that he may be a faithful husband and a good father.
Father,
grant that as they come together to your table on earth,
so they may one day have the joy of sharing your feast in heaven.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

DAILY GOSPEL

«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68



Saturday, 15 August 2009

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Solemnity


THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY - Solemnity
Today the Church celebrates : St. Tarsicius, Martyr (3rd century)

Saint Germanus of Constantinople : "Raised body and soul to the glory of heaven" (Collect of the Feast)


Book of Revelation 11:19.12:1-6. 10.

Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a violent hailstorm. A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth. She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God, that there she might be taken care of for twelve hundred and sixty days. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have salvation and power come, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night.

Psalms 45:10.11.12. 16.

Daughters of kings are your lovely wives; a princess arrayed in Ophir's gold comes to stand at your right hand.
Listen, my daughter, and understand; pay me careful heed. Forget your people and your father's house,
that the king might desire your beauty. He is your lord;
They are led in with glad and joyous acclaim; they enter the palace of the king.


First Letter to the Corinthians 15:20-26.

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came also through a human being. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death,

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 1:39-56.

During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint Germanus of Constantinople (?-733), Bishop
Homily 1 for the Dormition of the Mother of God (PG 98, 346)

"Raised body and soul to the glory of heaven" (Collect of the Feast)


Living Temple of the most holy divinity of the Only-begotten Son, Mother of God, with thanksgiving I say over and over again that your assumption has in no way set you apart from ordinary christians. You live on without decay yet do not dwell far from this decaying world. Instead, you are close to those who call on you and those who seek you in faith will find you. It was indeed fitting that your soul should always remain strong and alive and your body be immortal. For indeed, how could the dissolution of the flesh reduce you to dust and ashes when it was you who delivered mankind from the destruction of death through the incarnation of your Son?...

Children watch out and long for their mothers, and mothers love to live with their children. In the same way, since you possessed a maternal love for your Son and your God in your heart, so you should naturally be able to return to his side and God, in his filial love for you, should very rightly allow you to share in his condition. Thus, dead to what has an end, you have transferred to the imperishable dwelling places of eternity where the God, whose life you will share from henceforth, has his home...

You were his bodily home and now it is he who has become, in return, the place of your rest. «Here is my resting place for ever», he said (Ps 132[131],14) . The resting place of which he speaks is the flesh with which he clothed himself when he had taken it from you, O Mother of God; the flesh in which (as we believe) he revealed himself in the present world and will reveal himself again in the world to come when he comes to judge the living and the dead. Since you are the dwelling of his eternal repose, he removed all corruption from you and took you along with himself since he wished to keep you in his presence and his love. That is why he grants you all you ask of him as to a mother anxious about her children. And everything you wish for, he carries out by his divine power, he who is blessed for ever and ever.

DAILY GOSPEL

«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68


Sunday, 16 August 2009
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Today the Church celebrates : St. Stephen of Hungary (977-1038)

Saint Gaudentius of Brescia : "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him"


Book of Proverbs 9:1-6.

Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven columns; She has dressed her meat, mixed her wine, yes, she has spread her table. She has sent out her maidens; she calls from the heights out over the city: "Let whoever is simple turn in here; to him who lacks understanding, I say, Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding.

Psalms 34(33):2-3.4-5.6-7.

I will bless the LORD at all times; praise shall be always in my mouth.
My soul will glory in the LORD that the poor may hear and be glad.
Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, who answered me, delivered me from all my fears.
Look to God that you may be radiant with joy and your faces may not blush for shame.
In my misfortune I called, the LORD heard and saved me from all distress.


Letter to the Ephesians 5:15-20.

Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord. And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another (in) psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 6:51-58.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint Gaudentius of Brescia (?-after 406), Bishop
Paschal Homily ; CSEL 68, 30

"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him"


The heavenly sacrifice that Christ instituted is indeed the inheritance bequeathed to us through his new covenant. He left it to us on the night he was delivered up to be crucified as a token of his presence. It is viaticum for our journey, food on our life's path until we come to it on quitting this world. That is why our Lord said: «Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you do not have life within you.»

He wished his deeds of kindness to remain among us and the souls he redeemed by his precious blood always to be made holy in the image of his own Passion. This is why he commanded his faithful disciples, instituted as the first priests of his Church, to celebrate these mysteries of eternal life in perpetuity... Thus all the faithful would have before their eyes day by day a representation of Christ's Passion. Taking him in our hands, receiving him in our mouths and hearts, we will hold fast to an indelible remembrance of our redemption.

The bread should be made with the flour of innumerable grains of wheat mixed with water and finished off in the fire. Thus we shall find a close likeness of the body of Christ in it for, as we know, he forms a single body with the multitude of humankind brought to completion by the fire of the Holy Spirit... In the same way, the wine of his blood is taken from many grapes - that is to say the fruit of vine he planted - is crushed beneath the press of his cross, poured into the hearts of the faithful and ferments within them by means of his own power.

This is the Passover sacrifice bringing salvation to all those set free from bondage of Egypt and Pharaoh, that is to say the devil. Receive it in union with us with all the eagerness of a pious heart.

DAILY GOSPEL

«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68


Monday, 17 August 2009
Monday of the Twentieth week in Ordinary Time


Today the Church celebrates : St. Hyacinth, Dominican Missionary (1185-1257)

Saint Athanasius : "You will have treasure in heaven"


Book of Judges 2:11-19.

the Israelites offended the LORD by serving the Baals. Abandoning the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had led them out of the land of Egypt, they followed the other gods of the various nations around them, and by their worship of these gods provoked the LORD. Because they had thus abandoned him and served Baal and the Ashtaroth, the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel, and he delivered them over to plunderers who despoiled them. He allowed them to fall into the power of their enemies round about whom they were no longer able to withstand. Whatever they undertook, the LORD turned into disaster for them, as in his warning he had sworn he would do, till they were in great distress. Even when the LORD raised up judges to deliver them from the power of their despoilers, they did not listen to their judges, but abandoned themselves to the worship of other gods. They were quick to stray from the way their fathers had taken, and did not follow their example of obedience to the commandments of the LORD. Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, he would be with the judge and save them from the power of their enemies as long as the judge lived; it was thus the LORD took pity on their distressful cries of affliction under their oppressors. But when the judge died, they would relapse and do worse than their fathers, following other gods in service and worship, relinquishing none of their evil practices or stubborn conduct.

Psalms 106(105):34-35.36-37.39-40.43.44.

They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them,
But mingled with the nations and imitated their ways.
They worshiped their idols and were ensnared by them.
They sacrificed to the gods their own sons and daughters,
They defiled themselves by their actions, became adulterers by their conduct.
So the LORD grew angry with his people, abhorred his own heritage.
Many times did he rescue them, but they kept rebelling and scheming and were brought low by their own guilt.
Still God had regard for their affliction when he heard their wailing.


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 19:16-22.

Now someone approached him and said, "Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?" He answered him, "Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." He asked him, "Which ones?" And Jesus replied, " 'You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother'; and 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" The young man said to him, "All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint Athanasius (295-373), Bishop of Alexandria, Doctor of the Church
Life of Saint Antony, the Father of monks, 2-4

"You will have treasure in heaven"


After his parents' death... when Antony was about eighteen or even twenty years old..., he went into the church when it happened that the Gospel was being read, and he heard the Lord saying to the rich man: «If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.» It was as if the passage were read on his account. Immediately Antony went out from the Lord's house and gave to the townspeople the possessions he had from his forebears. And selling all the rest that was portable, when he collected sufficient money, he donated it to the poor, keeping a few things for his sister.

But when, entering the Lord's house once more, he heard in the Gospel the Lord saying, «Do not be anxious about tomorrow» (Mt 6,34), he could not remain any longer, but going out he gave those remaining possessions also to the needy. Placing his sister in the charge of respected and trusted virgins, and giving her over to the convent for rearing, he devoted himself from then on to the discipline rather than the household, giving heed to himself and patiently training himself...

He worked with his hands, though, having heard that «he who is idle, let him not eat» (2Thes 3,10). And he spent what he made partly for bread, and partly on those in need. He prayed constantly, since he learned that it is necessary to «pray unceasingly» (Lk 21,36) in private. For he paid such close attention to what was read that nothing from Scripture did he fail to take in; rather, he grasped everything, and in him the memory took the place of books... All those, then, who were from his village and those good people with whom he associated, seeing him living thus, used to call him 'God-loved', and some hailed him as 'son', some as 'brother'.