Sunday, May 22 2016 The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Reading 1 Prv 8:22-31

Thus says the wisdom of God:
"The LORD possessed me, the beginning of his ways,
the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago;
from of old I was poured forth,
at the first, before the earth.
When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no fountains or springs of water;
before the mountains were settled into place,
before the hills, I was brought forth;
while as yet the earth and fields were not made,
nor the first clods of the world.

"When the Lord established the heavens I was there,
when he marked out the vault over the face of the deep;
when he made firm the skies above,
when he fixed fast the foundations of the earth;
when he set for the sea its limit,
so that the waters should not transgress his command;
then was I beside him as his craftsman,
and I was his delight day by day,
playing before him all the while,
playing on the surface of his earth;
and I found delight in the human race."

Responsorial Psalm Ps 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (2a) O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you set in place —
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him?
R. O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
You have made him little less than the angels,
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
putting all things under his feet:
R. O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
All sheep and oxen,
yes, and the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,
and whatever swims the paths of the seas.
R. O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!

Reading 2 Rom 5:1-5

Brothers and sisters:
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have gained access by faith
to this grace in which we stand,
and we boast in hope of the glory of God.
Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions,
knowing that affliction produces endurance,
and endurance, proven character,
and proven character, hope,
and hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Alleluia Cf. Rv 1:8

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
to God who is, who was, and who is to come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 16:12-15

Jesus said to his disciples:
"I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears,
and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me,
because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine;
for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
and declare it to you."

REFLECTION 

ETERNAL, UNIQUE, TRIUNE RELATIONSHIPS

"All that the Father has belongs to Me (Jesus). That is why I said that what He (the Holy Spirit) will announce to you He will have from Me." –John 16:15

God is one. He is uniquely one, for He is three Persons in one God. God is Trinity. He is Family and Community.

God is a community of eternal begetting and "begottenness." The Father has been begetting and is always begetting the Son. Therefore, the Son is uniquely begotten, and the Holy Spirit is the eternal Fruit of this love of the Father and the Son.

God is a community of eternal sending. The Father has been sending and is always sending Jesus and the Holy Spirit; Jesus also is always sending the Holy Spirit (see Jn 20:21-22; 14:26; 16:7).

God is a community of eternal witnessing. The Spirit witnesses to the Son (Jn 15:26), Who is the faithful and true Witness (Rv 1:5) of the Father, Who also witnesses for Jesus (Jn 5:37; 8:18).

God is Triune Community, and the relationships in this Community are unique. We can understand them enough to know that we can never understand them very well. God is transcendent. His triune life is the mystery of mysteries. Yet He has chosen us to live in Him and in Trinitarian love. Praise the Holy Trinity!

PRAYER:	Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I have been immersed in You through Baptism (Mt 28:19). May my life give glory to You.
PROMISE:	"This hope will not leave us disappointed, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us." –Rm 5:5
PRAISE:	"Praise the Holy Trinity, undivided Unity; Holy God, Mighty God, God immortal, be adored!"

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The Lord be with you...

Saturday, May 21 2016 Saturday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Jas 5:13-20

Beloved:
Is anyone among you suffering?
He should pray.
Is anyone in good spirits?
He should sing a song of praise. 
Is anyone among you sick?
He should summon the presbyters of the Church,
and they should pray over him
and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
The prayer of faith will save the sick person,
and the Lord will raise him up.
If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another
and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.
Elijah was a man like us;
yet he prayed earnestly that it might not rain,
and for three years and six months it did not rain upon the land.
Then Elijah prayed again, and the sky gave rain
and the earth produced its fruit.

My brothers and sisters,
if anyone among you should stray from the truth
and someone bring him back,
he should know that whoever brings back a sinner
from the error of his way will save his soul from death 
and will cover a multitude of sins.

Responsorial Psalm PS 141:1-2, 3 and 8

R. (2a) Let my prayer come like incense before you.
O LORD, to you I call; hasten to me;
hearken to my voice when I call upon you.
Let my prayer come like incense before you;
the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice.
R. Let my prayer come like incense before you.
O LORD, set a watch before my mouth,
a guard at the door of my lips.
For toward you, O God, my LORD, my eyes are turned;
in you I take refuge; strip me not of life.
R. Let my prayer come like incense before you.

Alleluia See Mt 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 10:13-16

People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them,
but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them,
“Let the children come to me; do not prevent them,
for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Amen, I say to you,
whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child
will not enter it.”
Then he embraced the children and blessed them,
placing his hands on them.

REFLECTION

PRAY DAY, PRAY DAY

"They in turn are to pray over him." –James 5:14

The Christians addressed by James were divided and lukewarm. They needed help desperately. After dealing with an array of problems, the author came to the conclusion that the best thing to do would be to pray. He reiterates: "If anyone among you is suffering hardship, he must pray" (Jas 5:13). "This prayer uttered in faith will reclaim the one who is ill" (Jas 5:15). "Pray for one another, that you may find healing. The fervent petition of a holy man is powerful indeed. Elijah was only a man like us, yet he prayed earnestly" (Jas 5:16-17).

Pray for those suffering, sick, or strayed (Jas 5:19), but whatever you do, PRAY. Pray as if your life depended on it. Pray when you feel like it and when you don't feel like it. Pray always and never lose heart (Lk 18:1). "Never cease praying" (1 Thes 5:17).

Mary at Fatima, Pope St. John Paul II at Rome, Bl. Mother Teresa in Calcutta, and other prophets all said the same thing: the Church must once again become a "house of prayer" (Is 56:7).

Jesus is praying at the right hand of the Father (Heb 7:25). The Spirit will help us join Him in prayer (Rm 8:26). Pray!

PRAYER:	Lord, may I "pray in the Spirit" at every opportunity (Eph 6:18; 1 Cor 14:15).
PROMISE:	"He embraced them and blessed them, placing His hands on them." –Mk 10:16
PRAISE:	St. Christopher gave absolution to his executioners and then prayed, "I ask God that the shedding of my blood serves toward the peace of our divided Mexico."

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The Lord be with you...

Friday, May 20 2016 Friday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Jas 5:9-12

Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another,
that you may not be judged.
Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.
Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters,
the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Indeed we call blessed those who have persevered.
You have heard of the perseverance of Job,
and you have seen the purpose of the Lord,
because the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

But above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear,
either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath,
but let your “Yes” mean “Yes” and your “No” mean “No,”
that you may not incur condemnation.

Responsorial Psalm PS 103:1-2, 3-4, 8-9, 11-12

R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Alleluia See Jn 17:17b, 17a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 10:1-12

Jesus came into the district of Judea and across the Jordan.
Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom,
he again taught them.
The Pharisees approached him and asked,
“Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?”
They were testing him.
He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?”
They replied,
“Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce
and dismiss her.”
But Jesus told them,
“Because of the hardness of your hearts
he wrote you this commandment.
But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.
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.”
In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this.
He said to them,
“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another
commits adultery against her;
and if she divorces her husband and marries another,
she commits adultery.”

REFLECTION

SAVING MARRIAGE

"They are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore let no man separate what God has joined." –Mark 10:8-9

The name Jesus means: "Yahweh saves." We need Jesus to save us not only from sin and death but also from the impossible dilemmas of marriage. For example, human beings are social and sexual. Therefore, we want to be with others and are attracted to have sexual relations with some of these people. Human beings also want to be loved deeply and forever. We do not want to be used, "dumped," and rejected. Therefore, we are made to seek a permanent commitment of love, which is often expressed in marriage. However, because of our stubborn, fallen human nature (see Mk 10:5), we aren't able to be close to people for a long time without hurting them badly and being hurt by them. Consequently, our nature has deep-seated needs which can't be fulfilled. We are doomed. Marriage is doomed. Therefore, Moses permitted divorce in an attempt to limit the bad effects of being married in our human condition.

Jesus announced that divorce was no longer necessary. He is God and is able to change our human nature so that we can fulfill our legitimate needs. Baptized into Jesus, we can love deeply and forever. The life and marriage we want are now possible. Christ's salvation and our Baptism into Him makes divorce obsolete and matrimony holy, not harmful. Accept Jesus as the Savior of your marriage and your life.

PRAYER:	Father, I will live my new marriage and my new life in Jesus.
PROMISE:	"Let it be 'yes' if you mean yes and 'no' if you mean no. In this way you will not incur condemnation." –Jas 5:12
PRAISE:	St. Bernardine was called "The Apostle of Italy." He served plague victims before becoming a priest.

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The Lord be with you...

Thursday, May 19 2016 Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Jas 5:1-6

Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.
Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten,
your gold and silver have corroded,
and that corrosion will be a testimony against you;
it will devour your flesh like a fire.
You have stored up treasure for the last days.
Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers
who harvested your fields are crying aloud;
and the cries of the harvesters
have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure;
you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter.
You have condemned;
you have murdered the righteous one;
he offers you no resistance.

Responsorial Psalm PS 49:14-15ab, 15cd-16, 17-18, 19-20

R. (Matthew 5:3) Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
This is the way of those whose trust is folly,
the end of those contented with their lot:
Like sheep they are herded into the nether world;
death is their shepherd and the upright rule over them.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Quickly their form is consumed;
the nether world is their palace.
But God will redeem me
from the power of the nether world by receiving me.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Fear not when a man grows rich,
when the wealth of his house becomes great,
For when he dies, he shall take none of it;
his wealth shall not follow him down.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Though in his lifetime he counted himself blessed,
“They will praise you for doing well for yourself,”
He shall join the circle of his forebears
who shall never more see light.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

Alleluia See 1 Thes 2:13

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Receive the word of God, not as the word of men,
but as it truly is, the word of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 9:41-50

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink
because you belong to Christ,
amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, 
it would be better for him if a great millstone
were put around his neck
and he were thrown into the sea.
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.
It is better for you to enter into life maimed 
than with two hands to go into Gehenna,
into the unquenchable fire.
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off.
It is better for you to enter into life crippled 
than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.
Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye
than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna,
where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

“Everyone will be salted with fire.
Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid,
with what will you restore its flavor?
Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.”

REFLECTION 

HOW MUCH HELL?

"Like sheep they are herded into the nether world." –Psalm 49:15

Years ago, preachers and people in general talked about hell frequently. Today, although the word "hell" is repeatedly mentioned by those using profanity, hell is denied by many people, even Christians, or it is greatly de-emphasized. How much "hell" should we give people, that is, how often should we seriously mention hell at church and other places? This question is difficult to answer.

A possible rule of thumb is to mention hell as often as Jesus does in the Gospels. Jesus wasn't always talking about hell. His favorite subjects were His Father, the kingdom of heaven, and the cross. Nevertheless, Jesus did not ignore or de-emphasize hell. He did not use the term "hell" but spoke of "Gehenna with its unquenchable fire" (Mk 9:43) where "the worm dies not" (Mk 9:48). Jesus also referred to "Hades," translated "the abode of the dead" (Lk 16:23, NAB) or "the netherworld" (Lk 16:23, RNAB). In this place, people are tortured in flames (Lk 16:24). When Jesus taught about Judgment Day, He mentioned "eternal punishment" (Mt 25:46) for evildoers who have been hurled "into the fiery furnace where they will wail and grind their teeth" (Mt 13:42).

Let's fix our eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2) and not on hell or anything else. Nevertheless, let us be as conscious of hell as Jesus wants us to be, as indicated by His words in the Gospels.

PRAYER:	Father, send the Holy Spirit to give me the power to snatch people away from going to hell (see Jude 22).
PROMISE:	"But God will redeem me from the power of the nether world by receiving me." –Ps 49:16
PRAISE:	José prays a rosary each morning on his walk into work.

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The Lord be with you...

Wednesday, May 18 2016 Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Jas 4:13-17

Beloved:
Come now, you who say,
“Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town,
spend a year there doing business, and make a profit”–
you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow.
You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears.
Instead you should say,
“If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that.”
But now you are boasting in your arrogance.
All such boasting is evil.
So for one who knows the right thing to do
and does not do it, it is a sin.

Responsorial Psalm PS 49:2-3, 6-7, 8-10, 11

R. (Matthew 5:3) Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Hear this, all you peoples;
hearken, all who dwell in the world,
Of lowly birth or high degree,
rich and poor alike.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Why should I fear in evil days
when my wicked ensnarers ring me round?
They trust in their wealth;
the abundance of their riches is their boast.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Yet in no way can a man redeem himself,
or pay his own ransom to God;
Too high is the price to redeem one’s life; he would never have enough
to remain alive always and not see destruction.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
For he can see that wise men die,
and likewise the senseless and the stupid pass away,
leaving to others their wealth.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

Alleluia Jn 14:6

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 9:38-40

John said to Jesus,
“Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”
Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us.”

REFLECTION

SINS OF OMISSION

"When a man knows the right thing to do and does not do it, he sins." –James 4:17

Sins are not just what we commit but also what we omit. We will be judged not only for what we say (Mt 12:36) but also for what we don't say (see Ez 3:18; 33:6). We will be judged not only for lending our presence to things that do not glorify God (see 1 Cor 10:31) but also for our absences from the assembly of God's people (Heb 10:25) and from other works of the Lord.

Before we were created, the Lord prepared a life of good deeds for each of us to do (Eph 2:10). He holds us accountable to do all of these deeds. For example, Jesus warned the church of Sardis: "Wake up, and strengthen what remains before it dies. I find that the sum of your deeds is less than complete" (Rv 3:2).

If you are sinning by omission, repent and cry out for the Lord's mercy. "He is an Offering for our sins" (1 Jn 2:2). The Lord will forgive. By His grace, we will do the impossible. We will do all that He asks of us. Live your life for Jesus to the full (see Jn 10:10).

PRAYER:	Father, I put my life in Your hands.
PROMISE:	"Yet in no way can a man redeem himself, or pay his own ransom to God; too high is the price to redeem one's life; he would never have enough to remain alive always and not see destruction." –Ps 49:8-10
PRAISE:	Pope St. John I celebrated Easter in Constantinople and died in prison soon afterward.

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The Lord be with you...

Tuesday, May 17 2016 Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Jas 4:1-10

Beloved:
Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from?
Is it not from your passions that make war within your members?
You covet but do not possess.
You kill and envy but you cannot obtain;
you fight and wage war.
You do not possess because you do not ask.
You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly,
to spend it on your passions.
Adulterers!
Do you not know that to be a lover of the world means enmity with God?
Therefore, whoever wants to be a lover of the world 
makes himself an enemy of God.
Or do you suppose that the Scripture speaks without meaning when it says,
The spirit that he has made to dwell in us tends toward jealousy? 
But he bestows a greater grace; therefore, it says:
God resists the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.

So submit yourselves to God.
Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands, you sinners,
and purify your hearts, you of two minds.
Begin to lament, to mourn, to weep.
Let your laughter be turned into mourning
and your joy into dejection.
Humble yourselves before the Lord
and he will exalt you.

Responsorial Psalm PS 55:7-8, 9-10a, 10b-11a, 23

R. (23a) Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you.
And I say, “Had I but wings like a dove,
I would fly away and be at rest.
Far away I would flee;
I would lodge in the wilderness.”
R. Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you.
“I would wait for him who saves me
from the violent storm and the tempest.”
Engulf them, O Lord; divide their counsels. 
R. Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you.
In the city I see violence and strife,
day and night they prowl about upon its walls. 
R. Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you.
Cast your care upon the LORD,
and he will support you;
never will he permit the just man to be disturbed. 
R. Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you.

Alleluia Gal 6:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 9:30-37

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,
but he did not wish anyone to know about it. 
He was teaching his disciples and telling them,
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men 
and they will kill him,
and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” 
But they did not understand the saying,
and they were afraid to question him.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,
he began to ask them,
“What were you arguing about on the way?” 
But they remained silent.
For they had been discussing among themselves on the way
who was the greatest. 
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,
“If anyone wishes to be first, 
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” 
Taking a child, he placed it in their midst, 
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me.”

REFLECTION 

RANKLED WITH RANKINGS

"If anyone wishes to rank first, he must remain the last one of all." –Mark 9:35

Rankings! Ratings! Polls! Surveys! Standings! Our culture thrives on these measures. We constantly argue about who is most important (Mk 9:34). We have political approval polls, opinion polls, talk shows, sports standings, Most Valuable Players, Nielsen ratings of TV shows, Fortune 500 companies, and even TV shows which rank who is worthy to "survive" another week at the expense of eliminating someone else. However, our modern culture is not the first to be obsessed about ranking. The apostles on several occasions fell into this trap of rivalry. It's part of our fallen human nature (Jas 4:5). If we continue to live by the world's competitive standards, we will destroy ourselves or at least "vote each other off the island"! (see Gal 5:15) We need a new nature to escape this trap.

In our Baptism, Jesus gives us a new nature which brings us into His kingdom. Jesus' kingdom is not like that of this world; living under Jesus' lordship is the complete opposite (Jas 4:4). We are to "never act out of rivalry or conceit" (Phil 2:3). Jesus warns: "It cannot be that way with you" (Mt 20:26). Jesus molds diverse people into complementary parts (1 Cor 12:12ff), not competing ones. We are to be "like-minded" and not rivals (see 1 Cor 1:10). "Let all parties think humbly of others as superior to themselves" (Phil 2:3).

PRAYER:	Father, "I have come to rate all as loss in the light of the surpassing knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil 3:8). Give me the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16).
PROMISE:	"Cast your care upon the Lord, and He will support you; never will He permit the just man to be disturbed." –Ps 55:23
PRAISE:	José accepted Jesus as Lord and himself as His servant.

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The Lord be with you...

Monday, May 16 2016 Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Jas 3:13-18

Beloved:
Who among you is wise and understanding?
Let him show his works by a good life 
in the humility that comes from wisdom.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts,
do not boast and be false to the truth.
Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above
but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist,
there is disorder and every foul practice.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,
then peaceable, gentle, compliant,
full of mercy and good fruits,
without inconstancy or insincerity.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
for those who cultivate peace.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15

R. (9a) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple. 
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye. 
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just. 
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

Alleluia See 2 Tm 1:10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 9:14-29

As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John
and approached the other disciples,
they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.
Immediately on seeing him,
the whole crowd was utterly amazed.
They ran up to him and greeted him. 
He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”
Someone from the crowd answered him,
“Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit.
Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down;
he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid.
I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.”
He said to them in reply,
“O faithless generation, how long will I be with you?
How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.” 
They brought the boy to him.
And when he saw him,
the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions.
As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around 
and foam at the mouth. 
Then he questioned his father,
“How long has this been happening to him?” 
He replied, “Since childhood.
It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him.
But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
Jesus said to him,
“‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.”
Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”
Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering,
rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it,
“Mute and deaf spirit, I command you:
come out of him and never enter him again!”
Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out.
He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!”
But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.
When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private,
“Why could we not drive the spirit out?”
He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”

REFLECTION

THE PENTECOSTAL CYCLE

"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive men's sins, they are forgiven them." –John 20:22-23

Come, Holy Spirit! Happy Pentecost! Happy birthday to the Church! Alleluia!

Before receiving the Holy Spirit, we must repent of sin (Acts 2:38). After receiving the Spirit, we are to proclaim to the nations repentance and the forgiveness of sins (Lk 24:47). After Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to the leaders of the Church, He commanded: "If you forgive men's sins, they are forgiven them; if you hold them bound, they are held bound" (Jn 20:22-23). In summary, before receiving the Spirit, we must begin to remove the planks of sin from our lives (Mt 7:5). After receiving the Spirit, we must then remove the specks of sin from others' eyes (Mt 7:5).

When we first repent ourselves and then try to remove others' sins by warning them (see Ez 3:18; 33:8) and praying for them (1 Jn 5:16), we realize even more our need for greater repentance. This greater repentance opens us to receive the Holy Spirit in greater ways. Then we again join with the Spirit in convicting the world of sin (Jn 16:8) and helping others even more to accept God's grace and be freed from sin. As we see others convicted of sin, we become convicted ourselves. We repent more and receive the Spirit more deeply. Thus we have a cycle which results in ever greater life in the Spirit. By obeying Matthew 7:5, we can have a continuing, ever-increasing Pentecost. Come, Holy Spirit!

PRAYER:	Father, thank You for the privilege of repenting and leading others to do the same. Come, Holy Spirit!
PROMISE:	"Tongues as of fire appeared, which parted and came to rest on each of them. All were filled with the Holy Spirit." –Acts 2:3-4
PRAISE:	Praise You, Lord, for sending the Spirit to instruct us in all things (Jn 14:26). Alleluia!

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The Lord be with you...