Daily Readings for September 15, 2017

Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows

1ST READING

The suffering of Mary should not be underestimated. To watch her Son die on the cross must have been absolutely horrific. Let us walk with Mary in her sorrow. Sometimes, this is all we can do to comfort someone.

Hebrews 5:7-9 (or 1 Timothy 1:1-2, 12-14)

7 In the days when Christ was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; 9 and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

P S A L M

Psalm 31:2, 3, 3-4, 5-6, 15-16, 20 (or Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 11)

R: Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.

1 [2] In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice rescue me, 2 [3] In your justice rescue me, make haste to deliver me! (R) Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety. 3 [4] You are my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake you will lead and guide me. (R) 4 [5] You will free me from the snare they set for me, for you are my refuge. 5 [6] Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, O Lord, O faithful God. (R) 14 [15] But my trust is in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 [16] In your hands is my destiny; rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors. (R) 19 [20] How great is the goodness, O Lord, which you have in store for those who fear you, and which, toward those who take refuge in you, you show in the children of men. (R)

GOSPEL

How do you walk with someone who has lost a child or someone very dear to them? Perhaps the only thing we can do is to be present to them – as someone who cares enough to walk with them in their sorrow. Mary, the Mother of the Church, does that with us whenever we need it. Let us get to know Mary as our mother a little better so that we may draw from the comfort she offers us when we need it.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary; without dying you won the martyr’s crown beneath the Cross of the Lord.

John 19:25-27 (or Luke 2:33-35)

25 Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

Daily Readings for September 14, 2017

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

1ST READING

Difficult times and tragedies happen in our lives. When they occur, we look for signs or symbols, assurances or anchor points that will help us get through the struggle. The standard that Moses built becomes such a thing — to look upon it brings healing and deliverance from deadly snake bites. It is an image the Fathers of the Church will pick up and use to explain the meaning of Jesus’ cross in the Christian life.

Numbers 21:4-9

4 With their patience worn out by the journey, 5 the people complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!” 6 In punishment the Lord sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died. 7 Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned in complaining against the Lord and you. Pray the Lord to take the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people, 8 and the Lord said to Moses, “Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if anyone who have been bitten looks at it, he will recover.” 9 Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

P S A L M

Psalm 78:1-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38

R: Do not forget the works of the Lord!

1 Hearken, my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable, I will utter mysteries from of old. (R) 34 While he slew them they sought him and inquired after God again, 35 remembering that God was their rock and the Most High God, their redeemer. (R) 36 But they flattered him with their mouths and lied to him with their tongues, 37 though their hearts were not steadfast toward him, nor were they faithful to his covenant. (R) 38 But he, being merciful, forgave their sin and destroyed them not; Often he turned back his anger and let none of his wrath be roused. (R)

2ND READING

Jesus submits willingly to the horrors of His passion and death because He knows that it will mean our salvation. If only we had the same depth of faith and trust in the Father’s will that He had, so many of our struggles would dissolve into nothing. Let us remember the example of Jesus the next time we encounter suffering on account of following Him. Let us persevere in our discipleship regardless of the cost in order to be faithful witnesses to the Gospel.

Philippians 2:6-11

6 Brothers and sisters: Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. 7 Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, 8 he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. 9 Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

GOSPEL

Jesus came to reveal to us the love of God our Father, not to condemn us for our sins. Let us concentrate on living a life of love and mercy, rather than worrying about all the difficulties and trials we have. Let us focus on the promise of eternal life, rather than the suffering we have to endure here and now.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your Cross you have redeemed the world.

John 3:13-17

13 Jesus said to Nicodemus: “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Daily Readings for September 13, 2017

1ST READING

What does being “hidden in Christ” mean for you? For me, it conjures up the image of my life being part of something so much greater that it is almost insignificant in comparison. Yet God chose to call me to be a part of the work of the Body of Christ. It brings me comfort and consolation and, at the same time, assurance and confidence.

Colossians 3:1-11

1 Brothers and sisters: If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. 6 Because of these the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. 7 By these you too once conducted yourselves, when you lived in that way. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths. 9 Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all.

P S A L M

Psalm 145:2-3, 10-11, 12-13

R: The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.

2 Every day will I bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the Lord and highly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable. (R) 10 Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord, and let your faithful ones bless you. 11 Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might. (R) 12 Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. 13 Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations. (R)

GOSPEL

The Lucan version of the Beatitudes is far more confrontational than that of Matthew’s. In some ways, it is better for its harshness in dealing out woes in contrast to blessings. Matthew’s version is not wrong but it gives a different feel. People today need the Gospel to shake us around a little bit so that our complacency can be disturbed and challenged.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Rejoice and leap for joy! Your reward will be great in heaven.

Luke 6:20-26

20 Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. 21 Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. 24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. 26 Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”

Daily Readings for September 12, 2017

1ST READING

Paul uses an image for baptism that embraces the Jewish practice of circumcision. He tells us that we must circumcise our hearts of sin — that is, cut off the sin that clings to our lives. He is right. Too often we forget the fact that we are baptized. We have received victory over sin. Let us live as worthy members of the Body of Christ.

Colossians 2:6-15

6 Brothers and sisters: As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, 7 rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to the tradition of men, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ. 9 For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily, 10 and you share in this fullness in him, who is the head of every principality and power. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not administered by hand, by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ. 12 You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And even when you were dead in transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions; 14 obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims, which was opposed to us, he also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross; 15 despoiling the principalities and the powers, he made a public spectacle of them, leading them away in triumph by it.

P S A L M

Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11

R: The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.

1 I will extol you, O my God and King, and I will bless your name forever and ever. 2 Every day will I bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever. (R) 8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. 9 The Lord is good to all and  compassionate toward all his works. (R) 10 Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord, and let your faithful ones bless you. 11 Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might. (R)

GOSPEL

In the Bible, when someone climbs a mountain, we know that it is for the purpose of praying and that something big is about to happen. This time, it is the calling of the 12 Apostles. These men are the foundation stones of the Church. Very early on in the life of the Church, we see bishops tracing their lineage back to one of the Apostles. This is part of our understanding of the tradition of the Church, where they are the protectors of the deposit of faith passed on from one generation to the next.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I chose you from the world, that you may go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.

Luke 6:12-19

12 Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. 13 When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: 14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, 16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. 17 And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon 18 came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. 19 Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.

Daily Readings for September 11, 2017

1ST READING

The work of a pastor in a community is always a struggle filled with trials and difficulties. Let us pray that pastors and lay leaders will always have the grace to persevere in their callings, and serve in the way that God wants them to serve. Laying down one’s life in the service of a community is difficult and we need to do everything to ease their load so that they can better concentrate on leading us in the ways of Christ.

Colossians 1:24-2:3

24 Brothers and sisters: I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his Body, which is the Church, 25 of which I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God, 26 the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past. But now it has been manifested to his holy ones, 27 to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope for glory. 28 It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29 For this I labor and struggle, in accord with the exercise of his power working within me. 2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I am having for you and for those in Laodicea and all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged as they are brought together in love, to have all the richness of fully assured understanding, for the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

P S A L M

Psalm 62:6-7, 9

R: In God is my safety and my glory.

5 [6] Only in God be at rest, my soul, for from him comes my hope. 6 [7] He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed. (R) 8 [9] Trust in him at all times, O my people! Pour out your hearts before him; God is our refuge! (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus knows that many of the Pharisees are hypocrites. So He poses a question that they are unable to answer because they are too caught up in the minutiae of the Law to realize that the demands of love sometimes supersedes the letter of the Law. We all need to take care that we do not fall into the same trap as the Pharisees.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.

Luke 6:6-11

6 On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. 7 The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the Sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. 8 But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up and stand before us.” And he rose and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” 10 Looking around at them all, he then said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored. 11 But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.