Sunday, August 31 2014; Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 124

Reading 1
Jeremiah 20:7-9

You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped;
you were too strong for me, and you triumphed.
All the day I am an object of laughter;
everyone mocks me.

Whenever I speak, I must cry out,
violence and outrage is my message;
the word of the LORD has brought me
derision and reproach all the day.

I say to myself, I will not mention him,
I will speak in his name no more.
But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart,
imprisoned in my bones;
I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

R/ (2b) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.

R/ My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
For your kindness is a greater good than life;
my lips shall glorify you.

R/ My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,
and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. 

R/ My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

You are my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.
My soul clings fast to you;
your right hand upholds me.

R/ My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Reading 2
Romans 12:1-2

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. 
Do not conform yourselves to this age
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect.

Gospel
Matthew 16:21-27

Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised. 
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” 
He turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. 
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

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 all according to his conduct.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: MATTER OVER MIND

"Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind." –Romans 12:2

To live a free life pleasing to God, we must have renewed minds. To live in heaven forever, we must "acquire a fresh, spiritual way of thinking" (Eph 4:23) and take on the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16).

However, before our minds become renewed, our bodies must be sacrificed to God (Rm 12:1). Jesus bought our bodies at the price of His death on the cross (1 Cor 6:19-20), so, when we offer our bodies to Him as living sacrifices, we acknowledge His ownership of them. This means that all parts of our bodies become weapons for justice (Rm 6:13). When we sacrifice our bodies to God, we discipline and master them (1 Cor 9:27). We fast frequently, do bodily penance, and fill up in our bodies what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ (Col 1:24).

Through our sacrificed bodies, God transforms our minds. Finally, through our transformed minds, our sacrificed bodies become transformed themselves. When Jesus comes a final time, "He will give a new form to this lowly body of ours and remake it according to the pattern of His glorified body" (Phil 3:21). This wonderful, and eventually total, transformation of mind and body begins with the offering of our bodies to God. Therefore, "I beg you through the mercy of God to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God" (Rm 12:1).

PRAYER: Father, may I not lose my mind by holding onto my body.

PROMISE: "Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. What profit would a man show if he were to gain the whole world and destroy himself in the process?" –Mt 16:25-26

PRAISE: Alleluia! Jesus will raise us from the dead! We will see Him face to face! (1 Cor 13:12) Alleluia!

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Saturday, August 30 2014; Saturday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 430

Reading 1
1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters.
Not many of you were wise by human standards,
not many were powerful,
not many were of noble birth.
Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise,
and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,
and God chose the lowly and despised of the world,
those who count for nothing,
to reduce to nothing those who are something,
so that no human being might boast before God.
It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus,
who became for us wisdom from God,
as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,
so that, as it is written,
Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 33:12-13, 18-19, 20-21

R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
From heaven the LORD looks down;
he sees all mankind.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield,
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Gospel
Matthew 25:14-30

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“A man going on a journey 
called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one– 
to each according to his ability.
Then he went away.
Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them,
and made another five.
Likewise, the one who received two made another two.
But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground
and buried his master’s money.
After a long time 
the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.
The one who had received five talents
came forward bringing the additional five.
He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents.
See, I have made five more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said,
‘Master, you gave me two talents.
See, I have made two more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said,
‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person,
harvesting where you did not plant
and gathering where you did not scatter;
so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground.
Here it is back.’
His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!
So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant
and gather where I did not scatter?
Should you not then have put my money in the bank
so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?
Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten.
For to everyone who has,
more will be given and he will grow rich;
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: JESUS' JOB FOR NOBODIES

"Consider your situation. Not many of you are wise, as men account wisdom; not many are influential; and surely not many are well-born." –1 Corinthians 1:26

As far as I know, not many sports celebrities, entertainers, politicians, and other famous people read One Bread, One Body. Our book doesn't appeal that much to those who "are wise, as men account wisdom." Therefore, the world generally does not consider our readers influential or wellborn but absurd (1 Cor 1:26-27).

However, the Lord has called and chosen our readers to shame these worldly wise and to reduce to nothing those who think they are really "something; so that mankind can do no boasting before God" (1 Cor 1:28-29).

So, readers of One Bread, One Body, "do your stuff," which is God's stuff. Take up your crosses daily (Lk 9:23). Follow Jesus. Be fools for Christ (1 Cor 4:10). Accept Jesus as your Wisdom, Justice, Sanctification, Redemption, Savior, Lord, and God (1 Cor 1:30). Boast in the Lord (1 Cor 1:31). Witness for Jesus (Acts 1:8). Love Jesus with all your hearts (Mt 22:37). Convict and shame the world (Jn 16:8; 1 Cor 1:27).

May every reader of One Bread, One Body be a sign of contradiction to the world (Lk 2:34) and depose "the mighty from their thrones and [raise] the lowly to high places" (Lk 1:52). May you each hear Jesus call to you: "Well done! You are a good and faithful servant. Since you were dependable in a small matter I will put you in charge of larger affairs. Come, share your Master's joy!" (Mt 25:21, our transl.)

PRAYER: Father, may we never be enemies of the cross by being set on the things of the world (Phil 3:18-19).

PROMISE: "Happy the nation whose God is the Lord." –Ps 33:12

PRAISE: Jesus healed 15-month-old Kevin's serious stomach burns within twenty minutes.

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Friday, August 29 2014; Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist

Lectionary: 429/634

Reading 1
1 Corinthians 1:17-25

Brothers and sisters:
Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the Gospel,
and not with the wisdom of human eloquence,
so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written:

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the learning of the learned I will set aside.

Where is the wise one?
Where is the scribe?
Where is the debater of this age?
Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish?
For since in the wisdom of God
the world did not come to know God through wisdom,
it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation
to save those who have faith.
For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
but we proclaim Christ crucified,
a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,
and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 10-11

R. (5) The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten stringed lyre chant his praises.

R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.

R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations;
he foils the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.

R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Gospel
Mark 6:17-29

Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison
on account of Herodias, 
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.
She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers,
his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.
Herodias’ own daughter came in
and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”
He even swore many things to her,
“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask for?”
She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,
“I want you to give me at once
on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders
to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: CRUSH-PROOF?

"Be not crushed on their account, as though I would leave you crushed before them." –Jeremiah 1:17

Often we cannot help being persecuted or even killed, but we can refuse to be crushed. The government might put us in jail, but it cannot crush our spirits unless we let it. We cannot always prevent our enemies from attacking us, but we can always refuse to be manipulated by intimidation into compromise (see Mt 10:26).

If we accept God's grace to be uncrushable, we will stand up and publicly announce what God has commanded us (Jer 1:17). Like John the Baptizer, we will call sin sin, adultery adultery, and lies lies (Mk 6:18). We will stand up for the truth, for Jesus is the Truth (Jn 14:6).

The uncrushed, unintimidated, unmanipulated, and uncompromised are "a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of brass, against the whole land" (Jer 1:18). They are made this way not by their human strength but by God's grace (Jer 1:18). The uncrushed are invincible (Jer 1:19). Even if they die, they will rise in victory. Don't be crushed; be free, true, pure, holy, victorious, and glorious.

PRAYER: Father, may I not fear those who can only destroy my body (Mt 10:28).

PROMISE: "My mouth shall declare Your justice, day by day Your salvation." –Ps 71:15

PRAISE: St. John was such a powerful preacher and prophet that King Herod feared him even when he was in prison (Mk 6:20)

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Thursday, August 28 2014; Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Lectionary: 428

Reading 1
1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Paul, called to be an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Sosthenes our brother,
to the Church of God that is in Corinth,
to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy,
with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (1) I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.

R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works.

R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds
and declare your greatness.
They publish the fame of your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice.

R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

Gospel
Matthew 24:42-51

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: 
if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant,
whom the master has put in charge of his household
to distribute to them their food at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.
Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.
But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’
and begins to beat his fellow servants,
and eat and drink with drunkards,
the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day
and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely
and assign him a place with the hypocrites,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: COMING SOON

"He will strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus." –1 Corinthians 1:8

We know that Jesus is coming a second and final time, but we don't know when. "You cannot know the day your Lord is coming" (Mt 24:42). This motivates us to "stay awake" and be prepared. "Happy that servant whom his master discovers at work on his return!" (Mt 24:46) We try not to fight with our fellow servants (Mt 24:49). The awareness of Jesus' final coming helps us see things in the right perspective. Time and eternity are too precious for us to be entangled with petty disagreements and selfish jealousies. Also, we refrain from getting involved with the foolish pleasures of the world. In the light of Jesus' Second Coming, material things lose much of their value. Jesus' final coming is not only concerned with life after death but also transforms our lives before death.

His Second Coming is and will be such a wonderful part of God's plan of salvation. We rejoice in the final day the Lord has made and try to hasten it by our repentance, intercession, and evangelization (2 Pt 3:12). With the believers of all time, we cry out: "Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!" (see 1 Cor 16:22) He answers: "Soon and very soon" (see Rv 1:1).

PRAYER: Lord, I want to be ready. I give my life to You. Do with me as You want.

PROMISE: "I continually thank my God for you because of the favor He has bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, in Whom you have been richly endowed with every gift of speech and knowledge." –1 Cor 1:4-5

PRAISE: After much struggle, St. Augustine was awakened to the truth of Christianity and prepared for Jesus' coming to him through the sacrament of Baptism.

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Wednesday, August 27 2014; Memorial of Saint Monica

Lectionary: 427

Reading 1 
2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18

We instruct you, brothers and sisters,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
to shun any brother
who walks in a disorderly way
and not according to the tradition they received from us.
For you know how one must imitate us.
For we did not act in a disorderly way among you,
nor did we eat food received free from anyone.
On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked,
so as not to burden any of you.
Not that we do not have the right.
Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you,
so that you might imitate us.
In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that
if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.

May the Lord of peace himself
give you peace at all times and in every way.
The Lord be with all of you.

This greeting is in my own hand, Paul’s.
This is the sign in every letter; this is how I write.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 128:1-2, 4-5

R. (1) Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.

R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.

R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Gospel
Matthew 23:27-32

Jesus said,
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside,
but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth.
Even so, on the outside you appear righteous,
but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You build the tombs of the prophets
and adorn the memorials of the righteous, 
and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors,
we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’
Thus you bear witness against yourselves
that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets;
now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: HOLY IS AS HOLY LOVES

"Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, you frauds!" –Matthew 23:27

The scribes and Pharisees thought they excelled in holiness. They fasted and tithed (Lk 11:42). They dedicated themselves to reading Scripture. They had zeal for God's house. However, they neglected "the love of God" (Lk 11:42).

This means two things. First, the scribes and Pharisees were concerned about God's words and His house (temple) but placed a lower priority on His love. They found it more important to concentrate on other parts of their religion rather than on God's command to love their neighbor (Lv 19:18). To neglect the love of God is to neglect God. In fact, "the man without love has known nothing of God, for God is love" (1 Jn 4:8).

Second, and most important, by neglecting the love of God the scribes and Pharisees neglected to personally love God. The first and most important commandment is to love God before all else (Dt 6:5). They served God but neglected to love Him.

How about you? Is there anything today more important in your life than loving God? How much priority did you place on loving God yesterday? Life is full of distractions, responsibilities, and problems which demand our time and attention. In addition, Satan attempts to prevent us from taking time to love God. Yet those who have fallen in love always manage to find plenty of time to spend with their beloved. If we want to love God, then we have chosen the best part, and we shall not be deprived of loving Him (Lk 10:42). Love God.

PRAYER: Father, nothing can separate me from loving You (Rm 8:39) except my own choice. I devote myself to love You always.

PROMISE: "Happy are you who fear the Lord." –Ps 128:1

PRAISE: St. Monica shared her home with a violent-tempered husband and a disagreeable mother-in-law. Her prayers and patience resulted in the conversion of both.

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Tuesday, August 26 2014; Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 426

Reading 1
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a, 14-17

We ask you, brothers and sisters,
with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
and our assembling with him,
not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly,
or to be alarmed either by a “spirit,” or by an oral statement,
or by a letter allegedly from us
to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.
Let no one deceive you in any way.

To this end he has also called you through our Gospel
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm
and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught,
either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,
who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement
and good hope through his grace,
encourage your hearts and strengthen them
in every good deed and word.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 96:10, 11-12, 13

R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.

R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.

R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.

R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Gospel
Matthew 23:23-26

Jesus said:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin,
and have neglected the weightier things of the law:
judgment and mercy and fidelity.
But these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You cleanse the outside of cup and dish,
but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup,
so that the outside also may be clean.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: "I'D WALK A MILE FOR A CAMEL"

"You strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!" –Matthew 23:24

Jesus accused the Pharisees of straining out the gnat and swallowing the camel. Elsewhere, Jesus said it was easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Mt 19:24). Both times Jesus used the camel as a means to spotlight a ridiculous lifestyle.

Jesus castigated the Pharisees for traveling many miles to convert a person and then making this person into twice the devil that he previously was (Mt 23:15). Jesus tried to shock them into seeing that this effort is ridiculous. Why travel so far and work so hard to end up swallowing a camel?

People still walk miles to swallow camels today. For example, many ignore their spouse and children, slaving for decades to save money – only to lose their retirement in the stock market or in paying off the nursing home (Hg 1:6). Why spend your life to end up in dissatisfaction? (Is 55:2) Why work so hard to end up in hell? (Lk 12:16-21) It's hard to swallow!

How much better it is to let go and let God! (Ps 46:11) If we seek first the kingdom of God on His terms and let His will be done in us, the Father will provide all we need (Mt 6:32-34). "It is vain for you to rise early, or put off your rest, you that eat hard-earned bread, for He gives to His beloved in sleep" (Ps 127:2).

PRAYER: Father, I will spend the rest of my life devoted to Your will rather than on my own desires (1 Pt 4:2-Share.

PROMISE: "Hold fast to the traditions you received from us, either by our word or by letter." –2 Thes 2:15

PRAISE: When her son was killed by a policeman's bullet, Margaret urged prayer rather than protest.

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Monday, August 25 2014; Monday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 425

Reading 1
2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians
in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters,
as is fitting, because your faith flourishes ever more,
and the love of every one of you for one another grows ever greater.
Accordingly, we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God
regarding your endurance and faith in all your persecutions
and the afflictions you endure.

This is evidence of the just judgment of God,
so that you may be considered worthy of the Kingdom of God
for which you are suffering.

We always pray for you,
that our God may make you worthy of his calling
and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose
and every effort of faith,
that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,
and you in him,
in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5

R. (3) Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.

R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.

R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

For great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
awesome is he, beyond all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are things of nought,
but the LORD made the heavens.

R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Gospel
Matthew 23:13-22

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men.
You do not enter yourselves,
nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You traverse sea and land to make one convert,
and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna
twice as much as yourselves.

“Woe to you, blind guides, who say,
‘If one swears by the temple, it means nothing,
but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.’
Blind fools, which is greater, the gold,
or the temple that made the gold sacred?
And you say, ‘If one swears by the altar, it means nothing,
but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.’
You blind ones, which is greater, the gift,
or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it;
one who swears by the temple swears by it
and by him who dwells in it;
one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God
and by him who is seated on it.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: GLORIFY THY NAME

"In this way the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in You." –2 Thessalonians 1:12

I'm looking at the skyline of downtown Cincinnati. Tall buildings display the name of the parent company in lights: Fifth Third Bank, Great American, Kroger, among others. The company name is publicly exalted by these buildings. These buildings are shiny and attractive, qualities which enhance the company name. These companies wouldn't put their name on a rundown, grimy building for fear of disgracing their name.

We are Christians. Accordingly, we bear the name of Jesus. We are "an edifice" that displays the name of Jesus to the world (1 Pt 2:5). As His "buildings" (see 1 Cor 3:16), we want to be shiny and attractive for Jesus (Mt 5:14-16). It's absolutely true that Jesus loves us even when we are rundown and grimy (see Lk 15:16, 20). However, as His ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20), we want to publicly exalt and glorify Jesus' holy name by our holy, shiny, joyful lives.

The world is watching you today as you display the name of Jesus. What will they see as they look at you? How is your life glorifying "the name of our Lord Jesus" today? (2 Thes 1:12)

PRAYER: Jesus, "hallowed be Your name" (Mt 6:9). May I daily grow in zeal for Your name.

PROMISE: "Grace and peace be yours from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." –2 Thes 1:2

PRAISE: St. Louis, king of France, was renowned for his concern for the poor and every day invited thirteen of them to eat with him.

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Sunday, August 24 2014; Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 121

Reading 1
Isaiah 22:19-23

Thus says the LORD to Shebna, master of the palace:
“I will thrust you from your office
and pull you down from your station.
On that day I will summon my servant
Eliakim, son of Hilkiah;
I will clothe him with your robe,
and gird him with your sash,
and give over to him your authority.
He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
and to the house of Judah.
I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim’s shoulder;
when he opens, no one shall shut
when he shuts, no one shall open.
I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot,
to be a place of honor for his family.”

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8

R/ (8bc) Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple.

R/ Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.

I will give thanks to your name,
because of your kindness and your truth:
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.

R/ Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.

The LORD is exalted, yet the lowly he sees,
and the proud he knows from afar.
Your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.

R/ Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.

Reading 2
Romans 11:33-36

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! 
How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!
For who has known the mind of the Lord
or who has been his counselor?
Or who has given the Lord anything
that he may be repaid?
For from him and through him and for him are all things. 
To him be glory forever. Amen.

Gospel
Matthew 16:13-20

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. 
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. 
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. 
I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. 
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 
Then he strictly ordered his disciples
to tell no one that he was the Christ.

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: MASTER KEY

"I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open." –Isaiah 22:22

The Lord gave Eliakim the key to open things so that they could never be shut and to shut things so that they could not be opened. Eliakim had the authority to open the most closed hearts to the Lord's love. He could shut up the demons of abortion, and they would never be unbound. Because of this awesome authority, Eliakim was like "a peg in a sure spot" (Is 22:23). You could hang your future, marriage, family, work, and hopes on Eliakim's authority and they would not fall down.

Jesus, the Son of David, received Eliakim's key of the House of David (Is 22:22). Jesus is "the holy One, the True, Who wields David's key, Who opens and no one can close, Who closes and no one can open" (Rv 3:7). Jesus has "full authority" in heaven and on earth (Mt 28:18). He even holds "the keys of death and the nether world" (Rv 1:18). Moreover, Jesus entrusted the keys of the kingdom of heaven to His body, the Church, and particularly to Peter and his successors, the popes (Mt 16:18-19). Therefore, to hang our lives on "a peg in a sure spot," we must give our lives to Jesus, "the Messiah" and "the Son of the living God" (Mt 16:16), and then live in submission to the Church and the Pope. Under this authority, we will live in victory and security.

PRAYER: Father, may I discipline myself to study the Pope's teachings.

PROMISE: "How deep are the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God!" –Rm 11:33

PRAISE: Praise Jesus, risen with full authority over death! Praise Jesus, seated in glory at the right hand of the Father!

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Saturday, August 23 2014; Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 424

Reading 1
Ezekiel 43:1-7ab

The angel led me to the gate which faces the east,
and there I saw the glory of the God of Israel
coming from the east.
I heard a sound like the roaring of many waters,
and the earth shone with his glory.
The vision was like that which I had seen
when he came to destroy the city,
and like that which I had seen by the river Chebar.
I fell prone as the glory of the LORD entered the temple
by way of the gate which faces the east,
but spirit lifted me up and brought me to the inner court.
And I saw that the temple was filled with the glory of the LORD.
Then I heard someone speaking to me from the temple,
while the man stood beside me.
The voice said to me: 
Son of man, this is where my throne shall be,
this is where I will set the soles of my feet;
here I will dwell among the children of Israel forever.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14

R. (see 10b) The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.

I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD –for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.

R. The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.

Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.

R. The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.

The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him, 
and salvation, along the way of his steps. 

R. The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.

Gospel
Matthew 23:1-12

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people’s shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: GLORY BE

"I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east." –Ezekiel 43:2

Because of the people's refusal to repent, "the glory of the Lord rose from the city" of Jerusalem (Ez 10:23). However, God promised that one day His glory would return to His people (Ez 43:4, 7). This promise was fulfilled in an unimaginable way when God became a human being.

John proclaimed: "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us, and we have seen His glory: the glory of an only Son coming from the Father" (Jn 1:14). When Jesus was born, the angels sang: "Glory to God in high heaven" (Lk 2:14).

Before His death, Jesus said: "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in Him. If God has been glorified in Him, God will, in turn, glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him soon" (Jn 13:31-32). Jesus' body was glorified in His resurrection (see Phil 3:21).

However, many of us don't experience the glory of God's presence and power. Like Ezekiel, we live for years without God's glory. We must repent, totally give our lives to the Lord, and receive the Holy Spirit in power. Then God's glory will come to us. "In His temple all say, 'Glory!' " (Ps 29:9)

PRAYER: "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen."

PROMISE: "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, but whoever humbles himself shall be exalted." –Mt 23:12

PRAISE: St. Rose voluntarily practiced penances for the sake of her own sanctification and that of the Church.

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Friday, August 22 2014; Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Lectionary: 423

Reading 1
Ezekiel 37:1-14

The hand of the LORD came upon me,
and led me out in the Spirit of the LORD
and set me in the center of the plain,
which was now filled with bones.
He made me walk among the bones in every direction
so that I saw how many they were on the surface of the plain.
How dry they were!
He asked me:
Son of man, can these bones come to life?
I answered, “Lord GOD, you alone know that.”
Then he said to me:
Prophesy over these bones, and say to them:
Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!
Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones:
See! I will bring spirit into you, that you may come to life.
I will put sinews upon you, make flesh grow over you,
cover you with skin, and put spirit in you
so that you may come to life and know that I am the LORD.
I prophesied as I had been told,
and even as I was prophesying I heard a noise;
it was a rattling as the bones came together, bone joining bone.
I saw the sinews and the flesh come upon them,
and the skin cover them, but there was no spirit in them.
Then the LORD said to me:
Prophesy to the spirit, prophesy, son of man,
and say to the spirit: Thus says the Lord GOD:
From the four winds come, O spirit,
and breathe into these slain that they may come to life.
I prophesied as he told me, and the spirit came into them;
they came alive and stood upright, a vast army.
Then he said to me:
Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel.
They have been saying,
“Our bones are dried up,
our hope is lost, and we are cut off.”
Therefore, prophesy and say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD:
O my people, I will open your graves
and have you rise from them,
and bring you back to the land of Israel.
Then you shall know that I am the LORD,
when I open your graves and have you rise from them,
O my people!
I will put my spirit in you that you may live,
and I will settle you upon your land;
thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 107:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (1) Give thanks to the Lord; his love is everlasting.

Let the redeemed of the LORD say,
those whom he has redeemed from the hand of the foe
And gathered from the lands,
from the east and the west, from the north and the south.

R. Give thanks to the Lord; his love is everlasting.

They went astray in the desert wilderness; 
the way to an inhabited city they did not find.
Hungry and thirsty,
their life was wasting away within them.

R. Give thanks to the Lord; his love is everlasting.

They cried to the LORD in their distress;
from their straits he rescued them.
And he led them by a direct way
to reach an inhabited city.

R. Give thanks to the Lord; his love is everlasting.

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy
and his wondrous deeds to the children of men,
Because he satisfied the longing soul
and filled the hungry soul with good things.

R. Give thanks to the Lord; his love is everlasting.

Gospel
Matthew 22:34-40

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees,
they gathered together, and one of them,
a scholar of the law, tested him by asking,
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
He said to him,
“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and the first commandment.
The second is like it:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: ALIVE IN THE SPIRIT?

"You shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people! I will put my Spirit in you that you may live." –Ezekiel 37:13-14

The Lord made Ezekiel walk in every direction through a plain of dry bones (Ez 37:1-2). Then He asked Ezekiel if these bones could come to life (Ez 37:3). Ezekiel was not certain that they could, but after he obeyed the Lord's command to prophesy over the bones, they came to life (Ez 37:10).

The Lord raised up Pope John Paul II, the prophet-Pope, to point out the plain of dry bones upon which we walk. He called it a "culture of death." Pope John Paul II and Pope Paul VI prophesied that this culture of death will give way to a "civilization of love," if we are docile to the actions of the Holy Spirit (see Towards The Third Millennium, 18).

Therefore, repent (see Acts 2:38), obey (see Acts 5:32), and stir into flame the gift of the Holy Spirit (2 Tm 1:6-7). "Thus says the Lord God: From the four winds come, O Spirit, and breathe into these slain that they may come to life. I prophesied as He told me, and the Spirit came into them; they came alive" (Ez 37:9-10). Come, Holy Spirit!

PRAYER: "Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love."

PROMISE: "Jesus said to him: ' "You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul, and with all your mind." This is the greatest and first commandment. The second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." On these two commandments the whole law is based, and the prophets as well.' " –Mt 22:37-40

PRAISE: Mary, a lowly teenage girl, was raised to high places (Lk 1:52) as Queen of heaven and earth. Praise be to God Who rewards His beloved for their service to Him!

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Thursday, August 21 2014; Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope

Lectionary: 422

Reading 1
Ezekiel 36:23-28

Thus says the LORD:
I will prove the holiness of my great name, 
profaned among the nations, 
in whose midst you have profaned it.
Thus the nations shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD,
when in their sight I prove my holiness through you.
For I will take you away from among the nations,
gather you from all the foreign lands,
and bring you back to your own land.
I will sprinkle clean water upon you
to cleanse you from all your impurities,
and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you,
taking from your bodies your stony hearts
and giving you natural hearts.
I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes,
careful to observe my decrees.
You shall live in the land I gave your ancestors;
you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19

R. (Ezekiel 36:25) I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your sins.

A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

R. I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your sins.

Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.

R. I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your sins.

For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

R. I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your sins.

Gospel
Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables saying, 
“The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet,
my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then the king said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to meet the guests
he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?’
But he was reduced to silence.
Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet,
and cast him into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’
Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: CLOTHES LINES

"How is it you came in here not properly dressed?" –Matthew 22:12

Are you properly dressed for the wedding feast of heaven? We must clothe ourselves with Christ (Gal 3:27). We must "put on a new man, one who grows in knowledge as he is formed anew in the image of his Creator" (Col 3:10). We are to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh" (Rm 13:14).

By the Holy Spirit, we "are clothed with power from on high" (Lk 24:49). In the Spirit, we clothe ourselves with humility in our relationships (1 Pt 5:5). Also, we clothe ourselves "with heartfelt mercy, with kindness, humility, meekness, and patience" (Col 3:12).

Our heavenly habitation will envelop us, "provided we are found clothed and not naked" (2 Cor 5:2-3). "Happy the man who stays wide awake and fully clothed for fear of going naked and exposed for all to see!" (Rv 16:15) "For this is the wedding day of the Lamb; His bride has prepared herself for the wedding. She has been given a dress to wear made of finest linen, brilliant white. (The linen dress is the virtuous deeds of God's saints.)" (Rv 19:7-8)

PRAYER: Father, may my baptismal garment become a heavenly wedding garment.

PROMISE: "I will give you a new heart and place a new Spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. I will put My Spirit within you." –Ez 36:26-27

PRAISE: Pope St. Pius X combated selfishness by encouraging frequent Communion and by allowing that privilege to the children of the Church.

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Wednesday, August 20 2014; Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church

Lectionary: 421

Reading 1
Ezekiel 34:1-11

The word of the Lord came to me:
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel,
in these words prophesy to them to the shepherds:
Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the shepherds of Israel
who have been pasturing themselves!
Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep?
You have fed off their milk, worn their wool,
and slaughtered the fatlings,
but the sheep you have not pastured.
You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick
nor bind up the injured.
You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost,
but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally.
So they were scattered for the lack of a shepherd,
and became food for all the wild beasts.
My sheep were scattered
and wandered over all the mountains and high hills;
my sheep were scattered over the whole earth,
with no one to look after them or to search for them.

Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
As I live, says the Lord GOD,
because my sheep have been given over to pillage,
and because my sheep have become food for every wild beast,
for lack of a shepherd;
because my shepherds did not look after my sheep,
but pastured themselves and did not pasture my sheep;
because of this, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
Thus says the Lord GOD:
I swear I am coming against these shepherds.
I will claim my sheep from them
and put a stop to their shepherding my sheep
so that they may no longer pasture themselves.
I will save my sheep, 
that they may no longer be food for their mouths.

For thus says the Lord GOD: 
I myself will look after and tend my sheep.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Only goodness and kindness will follow me
all the days of my life; 
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Gospel
Matthew 20:1-16

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,
he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o’clock,
he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.’
So they went off. 
And he went out again around noon,
and around three o’clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o’clock,
he found others standing around, and said to them,
‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.’
When those who had started about five o’clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,
but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,
‘These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’
He said to one of them in reply,
‘My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?’
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: MERCY QUIZ

"When the first group appeared they supposed they would get more." –Matthew 20:10

In the parable of the workers in the vineyard, the Master pays the last group first (Mt 20:8). His purpose in paying them first, as it is so often, is to teach the earliest group, His long-time disciples, more about His mercy. Their responses showed that, although they worked obediently and sacrificially for the Master, they still hadn't grasped and embraced the depth and richness of the Master's mercy. They failed the mercy quiz. They were watching the Master's money rather than the Master's mercy. "Thereupon they complained" rather than rejoiced (Mt 20:11).

Here's another mercy quiz:

You struggle unsuccessfully for years to bring Eucharistic adoration to your parish. Then a new convert, a former criminal, succeeds. Do you rejoice in this success or inwardly complain since he gets the credit?You are a faithful pastor who prayed, fasted, and preached in an effort to persuade your parishioners to attend regular Confession. A young priest succeeds you and in a few months has long Confession lines. Rejoice or complain?Your husband divorces you and leaves you with four young children. You sacrifice for decades to bring them up in the faith. He comes back into their lives when they are grown. When your faithful adult children praise and thank their father, what do you do? Rejoice or complain?

What difficult circumstance is the Lord using to teach you mercy? We modern disciples can also miss the lesson and fail the mercy quiz. Fix your eyes on the mercy of Jesus.

PRAYER: Father, may I be like You: "rich in mercy" (Eph 2:4).

PROMISE: "Thus says the Lord God: I Myself will look after and tend My sheep." –Ez 34:11

PRAISE: St. Bernard often humbled himself before God in prayer, which fueled his life of bringing reform and reconciliation.

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Tuesday, August 19 2014; Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 420

Reading 1
Ezekiel 28:1-10

The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man,
say to the prince of Tyre: 
Thus says the Lord GOD:

Because you are haughty of heart,
you say, “A god am I!
I occupy a godly throne
in the heart of the sea!”—
And yet you are a man, and not a god,
however you may think yourself like a god.
Oh yes, you are wiser than Daniel,
there is no secret that is beyond you.
By your wisdom and your intelligence
you have made riches for yourself;
You have put gold and silver
into your treasuries.
By your great wisdom applied to your trading
you have heaped up your riches;
your heart has grown haughty from your riches–
therefore thus says the Lord GOD:
Because you have thought yourself
to have the mind of a god,
Therefore I will bring against you
foreigners, the most barbarous of nations.
They shall draw their swords
against your beauteous wisdom,
they shall run them through your splendid apparel.
They shall thrust you down to the pit, there to die
a bloodied corpse, in the heart of the sea.
Will you then say, “I am a god!”
when you face your murderers?
No, you are man, not a god,
handed over to those who will slay you.
You shall die the death of the uncircumcised
at the hands of foreigners,
for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD.

Responsorial Psalm
Deuteronomy 32:26-27ab, 27cd-28, 30, 35cd-36ab

R. (39c) It is I who deal death and give life.

“I would have said, ‘I will make an end of them
and blot out their name from men’s memories,’
Had I not feared the insolence of their enemies,
feared that these foes would mistakenly boast.”

R. It is I who deal death and give life.

“‘Our own hand won the victory;
the LORD had nothing to do with it.’”
For they are a people devoid of reason,
having no understanding.

R. It is I who deal death and give life.

“How could one man rout a thousand,
or two men put ten thousand to flight,
Unless it was because their Rock sold them
and the LORD delivered them up?”

R. It is I who deal death and give life.

Close at hand is the day of their disaster,
and their doom is rushing upon them!
Surely, the LORD shall do justice for his people;
on his servants he shall have pity.

R. It is I who deal death and give life.

Gospel
Matthew 19:23-30

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich
to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
“Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible.”
Then Peter said to him in reply,
“We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: DANGER ZONE

"Everyone who has given up home, brothers or sisters, father or mother, wife or children or property for My sake will receive many times as much and inherit everlasting life." –Matthew 19:29

It is difficult for a rich person to enter into God's kingdom (Mt 19:23). Jesus proclaimed: "I repeat what I said: it is easier for a camel to pass through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Mt 19:24). In effect, it is humanly impossible for a rich person to be saved, "but for God all things are possible" (Mt 19:26). Therefore, it's reasonable to not want to take the extreme risk of being rich, unless God insisted on it.

Are you rich? Most of you probably don't think you are. However, if we in the USA are not rich, there are very few people in the world who are rich or have ever been rich. By international and historical standards, most of us are rich. That means Jesus' words in the Bible apply to us. We are in great danger of losing our souls. Our first response to this fact should be to drastically simplify our lifestyles so that we will no longer be rich, even by international, historical, and Biblical standards. Becoming poor is something most of us can do, if we try. This will significantly lessen the very real danger of our eternal damnation. However, a few people will not be allowed by God to become poor. They remain in great danger, but by humble stewardship of God's possessions, they may accept the grace of salvation. Rich people, get out of danger or be extremely careful!

PRAYER: Father, open my eyes to see the warning signs before it's too late.

PROMISE: "Many who are first shall come last, and the last shall come first." –Mt 19:30

PRAISE: St. John was a gifted confessor and successfully led many sinners to repentance and holiness. He had a special anointing in leading people to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

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Monday, August 18 2014; Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 419

Reading 1 
Ezekiel 24:15-23

The word of the LORD came to me: 
Son of man, by a sudden blow
I am taking away from you the delight of your eyes,
but do not mourn or weep or shed any tears.
Groan in silence, make no lament for the dead,
bind on your turban, put your sandals on your feet,
do not cover your beard, and do not eat the customary bread.
That evening my wife died,
and the next morning I did as I had been commanded.
Then the people asked me, “Will you not tell us what all these things
that you are doing mean for us?”
I therefore spoke to the people that morning, saying to them:
Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
Say to the house of Israel: 
Thus says the Lord GOD:
I will now desecrate my sanctuary, the stronghold of your pride,
the delight of your eyes, the desire of your soul.
The sons and daughters you left behind shall fall by the sword.
Ezekiel shall be a sign for you:
all that he did you shall do when it happens.
Thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
You shall do as I have done,
not covering your beards nor eating the customary bread.
Your turbans shall remain on your heads, your sandals on your feet.
You shall not mourn or weep,
but you shall rot away because of your sins and groan one to another.

Responsorial Psalm
Deuteronomy 32:18-19, 20-21

R. (see 18a) You have forgotten God who gave you birth.

You were unmindful of the Rock that begot you.
You forgot the God who gave you birth.
When the LORD saw this, he was filled with loathing
and anger toward his sons and daughters.

R. You have forgotten God who gave you birth.

“I will hide my face from them,” he said,
“and see what will then become of them.
What a fickle race they are,
sons with no loyalty in them!”

R. You have forgotten God who gave you birth.

“Since they have provoked me with their ‘no-god’
and angered me with their vain idols,
I will provoke them with a ‘no-people’;
with a foolish nation I will anger them.”

R. You have forgotten God who gave you birth.

Gospel
Matthew 19:16-22

A young man approached Jesus 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.

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: ALL-WAYS

"What do I need to do further?" –Matthew 19:20

The essence of the Christian life is total abandonment to God's will. The first and greatest commandment is to love God with all our hearts, all our souls, all our strength, and all our minds (Lk 10:27).

For each person, a certain act is the symbol of total abandonment to God. The young man in today's gospel reading would have given all to God if he had sold his possessions (Mt 19:21). Ezekiel gave all to the Lord by prophesying, even using the circumstances of his wife's death to prophesy (Ez 24:15ff). Jewish Christians of the early Church gave God their all when they accepted Gentiles into their Christian community. Gentiles gave their all to God by changing their lifestyle and observing certain Jewish practices (Acts 15:20). The older brother of the prodigal son could have given everything to the Lord by forgiving his brother (Lk 15:28ff). Matthew gave his all by leaving his secular job (Mt 9:9). Barnabas gave his all by selling his property and giving the money to the Church (Acts 4:37). Ananias and Sapphira failed to give their all in similar circumstances (Acts 5:1ff). Mary gave her all by changing her plans and being the mother of God (Lk 1:34ff). Joseph gave his all by not divorcing Mary (Mt 1:19ff).

How does the Lord want to symbolize your total abandonment to Him? "Do whatever He tells you" (Jn 2:5).

PRAYER: Father, I am all Yours forever.

PROMISE: "You will then have treasure in heaven." –Mt 19:21

PRAISE: Cynthia heard and accepted God's call to remain unmarried for the sake of His Kingdom.

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Sunday, August 17 2014; Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 118

Reading 1
Isaiah 56:1, 6-7

Thus says the LORD:
Observe what is right, do what is just;
for my salvation is about to come,
my justice, about to be revealed.

The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
ministering to him,
loving the name of the LORD,
and becoming his servants—
all who keep the sabbath free from profanation
and hold to my covenant,
them I will bring to my holy mountain
and make joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be acceptable on my altar,
for my house shall be called
a house of prayer for all peoples.

Responsorial Psalm 
Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

R/ (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!

May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.

R/ O God, let all the nations praise you!

May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.

R/ O God, let all the nations praise you!

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!

R/ O God, let all the nations praise you!

Reading 2
Romans 11:13-15, 29-32

Brothers and sisters:
I am speaking to you Gentiles. 
Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,
I glory in my ministry in order to make my race jealous
and thus save some of them. 
For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world,
what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. 
Just as you once disobeyed God
but have now received mercy because of their disobedience,
so they have now disobeyed in order that,
by virtue of the mercy shown to you,
they too may now receive mercy. 
For God delivered all to disobedience,
that he might have mercy upon all.

Gospel 
Matthew 15:21-28

At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 
And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,
“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! 
My daughter is tormented by a demon.” 
But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. 
Jesus’ disciples came and asked him,
“Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”
He said in reply,
“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” 
He said in reply,
“It is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs.” 
She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps
that fall from the table of their masters.” 
Then Jesus said to her in reply,
“O woman, great is your faith! 
Let it be done for you as you wish.” 
And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: WHAT IS JESUS TEACHING US TODAY?

Jesus "withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon." –Matthew 15:21

Let's look at today's Gospel passage of a "politically incorrect" interaction from the viewpoint of discipleship. Jesus took his disciples into Tyre and Sidon, a pagan, Gentile stronghold. Jesus wanted to retreat far away from Jewish territory and spend undisturbed time with His disciples, teaching them in a "retreat." In all contexts, Jesus was always teaching His disciples.

How did Jesus teach the disciples in this interaction?

Jesus ignores the Gentile woman (Mt 15:23). The disciples, and all Jews, had ignored Gentiles their entire lives, and Jesus illustrated their behavior back to them.Next, the disciples told Jesus to send the woman away (Mt 15:23). Again, Jesus teaches His disciples, by not sending her away. Disciples are supposed to bring people to Jesus, not send them away.Third, Jesus refers to the woman, and all Gentiles, as "dogs" (Mt 15:26). He is showing the disciples how callously they have been treating Gentiles their entire lives.Finally, Jesus teaches His disciples the great lesson that Gentiles also hunger for God's love and healing, as do the Jews. Jesus treated the woman as the disciples had been treating her. Then He treated her as God wanted and healed her daughter (Mt 15:28).

The disciples got the message, for Peter later baptized many Gentiles (Acts 10:48). Will we get the message? Are we lovingly bringing people to Jesus or rudely sending them away?

PRAYER: Jesus, when You hold a mirror in front of me, may I see the reality of my life, repent, and live as Your faithful servant.

PROMISE: "God's gifts and His call are irrevocable." –Rm 11:29

PRAISE: Praise You, risen Lord Jesus, Teacher, Master, and Lord! Glory and praise to You forever and ever!

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Saturday, August 16 2014; Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 418

Reading 1
Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32

The word of the LORD came to me:
Son of man, what is the meaning of this proverb
that you recite in the land of Israel:

“Fathers have eaten green grapes,
thus their children’s teeth are on edge”?

As I live, says the Lord GOD:
I swear that there shall no longer be anyone among you
who will repeat this proverb in Israel.
For all lives are mine;
the life of the father is like the life of the son, both are mine;
only the one who sins shall die.

If a man is virtuous—if he does what is right and just,
if he does not eat on the mountains,
nor raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel;
if he does not defile his neighbor’s wife,
nor have relations with a woman in her menstrual period;
if he oppresses no one, 
gives back the pledge received for a debt,
commits no robbery;
if he gives food to the hungry and clothes the naked;
if he does not lend at interest nor exact usury;
if he holds off from evildoing,
judges fairly between a man and his opponent;
if he lives by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances,
that man is virtuous—he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD.

But if he begets a son who is a thief, a murderer,
or lends at interest and exacts usury–
this son certainly shall not live.
Because he practiced all these abominations, he shall surely die;
his death shall be his own fault.

Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel,
each one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD.
Turn and be converted from all your crimes,
that they may be no cause of guilt for you.
Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed,
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.
Why should you die, O house of Israel?
For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,
says the Lord GOD. Return and live!

Responsorial Psalm 
Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19

R. (12a) Create a clean heart in me, O God.

A clean heart create for me, O God;
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.

R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.

For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Gospel
Matthew 19:13-15

Children were brought to Jesus
that he might lay his hands on them and pray.
The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said,
“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them;
for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: YOUNG-STIR

"Jesus said, 'Let the children come to Me. Do not hinder them. The kingdom of God belongs to such as these.' " –Matthew 19:14

Do we hinder children from coming to Jesus? When we "celebrate" Mass in a listless way, our youth turn to rock concerts rather than to the Lord for excitement. When we compromise the Gospel with fund-raising, drinking, and gambling, our young people see the contradiction and our hypocrisy. They become turned off to Christianity. When we're ashamed of the Gospel and keep our Christianity to ourselves, our youth are deceived by cults which are not as reluctant as we are to promote their beliefs.

The Lord calls us to reach out to our young people. We should not abandon our children to the secularistic educational system, the sadistic teen culture, or the lying television set. Jesus wants to free our children. He will pray for them and lay His nail-scarred hands on them (Mt 19:13, 15). He is the One they are seeking. He is the Meaning of life. Together with our young people, let's repent and make for ourselves "a new heart and a new spirit" (Ez 18:31). Let the children come to Jesus.

PRAYER: Jesus, may I expect millions of young people to turn to You.

PROMISE: "For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, says the Lord God. Return and live!" –Ez 18:32

PRAISE: Though in the high position of king, St. Stephen made certain he was accessible to the poor and oppressed and strove for justice in their treatment.

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Friday, August 15 2014; Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Reading 1,
Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10

¹⁹ Then the sanctuary of God in heaven opened, and the ark of the covenantcould be seen inside it. Then came flashes of lightning, peals of thunder and an earthquake and violent hail.

¹ Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, robed with the sun, standing on the moon, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.

² She was pregnant, and in labour, crying aloud in the pangs of childbirth.

³ Then a second sign appeared in the sky: there was a huge red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and each of the seven heads crowned with a coronet.

⁴ Its tail swept a third of the stars from the sky and hurled them to the ground, and the dragon stopped in front of the woman as she was at the point of giving birth, so that it could eat the child as soon as it was born.

⁵ The woman was delivered of a boy, the son who was to rule all the nations with an iron sceptre, and the child was taken straight up to God and to his throne,

⁶ while the woman escaped into the desert, where God had prepared a place for her to be looked after for twelve hundred and sixty days.

¹⁰ Then I heard a voice shout from heaven, 'Salvation and power and empire for ever have been won by our God, and all authority for his Christ, now that the accuser, who accused our brothers day and night before our God, has been brought down.

Responsorial Psalm,

Psalms 45:10, 11, 12, 16

¹⁰ Listen, my daughter, attend to my words and hear; forget your own nation and your ancestral home,

¹¹ then the king will fall in love with your beauty; he is your lord, bow down before him.

¹² The daughter of Tyre will court your favour with gifts, and the richest of peoples

¹⁶ Instead of your ancestors you will have sons; you will make them rulers over the whole world.

Reading 2,
First Corinthians 15:20-26

²⁰ In fact, however, Christ has been raised from the dead, as the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep.

²¹ As it was by one man that death came, so through one man has come the resurrection of the dead.

²² Just as all die in Adam, so in Christ all will be brought to life;

²³ but all of them in their proper order: Christ the first-fruits, and next, at his coming, those who belong to him.

²⁴ After that will come the end, when he will hand over the kingdom to God the Father, having abolished every principality, every ruling force and power.

²⁵ For he is to be king until he has made his enemies his footstool,

²⁶ and the last of the enemies to be done away with is death, for he has put all things under his feet.Gospel

Gospel,

Luke 1:39-56

³⁹ Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the hill country to a town in Judah.

⁴⁰ She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴² She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

⁴³ Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?

⁴⁴ Look, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy.

⁴⁵ Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lordwould be fulfilled.'

⁴⁶ And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord

⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;

⁴⁸ because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant. Yes, from now onwards all generations will call me blessed,

⁴⁹ for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name,

⁵⁰ and his faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him.

⁵¹ He has used the power of his arm, he has routed the arrogant of heart.

⁵² He has pulled down princes from their thrones and raised high the lowly.

⁵³ He has filled the starving with good things, sent the rich away empty.

⁵⁴ He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his faithful love

⁵⁵ -according to the promise he made to our ancestors -- of his mercy toAbraham and to his descendants for ever.

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with her some three months and then went home.

REFLECTION

SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: JESUS IS GOD

"They are borne in with gladness and joy; they enter the palace of the king." –Psalm 45:16

Mary was assumed into heaven because she was immaculately conceived. She was immaculately conceived because she was the mother of God. Thus, Mary's special graces indicate that Jesus, her Son, is God. In other words, this feast day, as well as other Marian feasts, are primarily about Jesus and secondarily about Mary. Elizabeth, Mary's kinswoman, expressed this well when she exclaimed: "But who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Lk 1:43) She called the Baby in Mary's womb "Lord," that is, she called Jesus "God."

Today, on this special feast day, Mary is visiting us as she visited Elizabeth. Mary is a walking tabernacle. She brings Jesus to us, or, more precisely, she brings us to Jesus. The purpose of this holy day is not so much to praise Mary as to praise Jesus with Mary by proclaiming the greatness of the Lord and finding joy in God our Savior (Lk 1:46-47). Mary's purpose in mothering us is to call us to do whatever Jesus tells us (Jn 2:5). She is happiest when we worship and live for Jesus alone.

PRAYER: "Mary, assumed into heaven, pray for us who have recourse to thee."

PROMISE: "Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: 'Now have salvation and power come, the reign of our God and the authority of His Anointed One.' " –Rv 12:10

PRAISE: Praise Jesus, Son of Man, Son of Mary, and Son of God! Praise Jesus, Lord and God!

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