Daily Readings for November 13, 2018

1st READING

This is where authority really matters when it comes to the teachings of the Church. We receive the truth from the Church — morally and theologically. We do not have the authority to teach doctrines contrary to those of the Church. Let us ensure that the teachings in our communities are rooted in the truth, as Christ has revealed through the Magisterium of the Church. If the moral teachings of a particular community are wrong, then this endangers the community members.

Titus 2:1-8, 11-14

1 Beloved: You must say what is consistent with sound doctrine, namely, 2 that older men should be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, love, and endurance. 3 Similarly, older women should be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to drink, teaching what is good, 4 so that they may train younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, chaste, good homemakers, under the control of their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited. 6 Urge the younger men, similarly, to control themselves, 7 showing yourself as a model of good deeds in every respect, with integrity in your teaching, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be criticized, so that the opponent will be put to shame without anything bad to say about us. 11 For the grace of God has appeared, saving all 12 and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, 13 as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.

P SA L M 

Psalm 37:3-4, 18, 23, 27, 29

R: The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good, that you may dwell in the land and enjoy security. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will grant you your heart’s requests. (R) 18 The Lord watches over the lives of the wholehearted; their inheritance lasts forever. 23 By the Lord are the steps of a man made firm, and he approves his way. (R) 27 Turn from evil and do good, that you may abide forever. 29 The just shall possess the land and dwell in it forever. (R) 

GOSPEL 

We all have our roles in the overall plan of God for His Church. May we accept our respective roles and work for the common good. Let us pray for humility daily, and work for the Gospel with joy. May we do what God wants us to do and may His will be enough for us.  

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him.

Luke 17:7-10

7 Jesus said to the Apostles: “Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? 8 Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’? 9 Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’”

Daily Readings for November 12, 2018

1st READING

All communities need leaders. If there is no authority exercised within a community, and unless everyone is perfectly good, there will be anarchy. Paul sets up a structure within each of the communities he evangelized. It is the same structures of the Early church —set up by the other Apostles — that has developed into the one we have in the Church today. This ordered exercise of authority sets the Catholic and Orthodox Churches apart from the Protestant and Born Again groups who always split as soon as there is a disagreement among members.

Titus 1:1-9

1 Paul, a slave of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ for the sake of the faith of God’s chosen ones and the recognition of religious truth, 2 in the hope of eternal life that God, who does not lie, promised before time began, 3 who indeed at the proper time revealed his word in the proclamation with which I was entrusted by the command of God our savior, 4 to Titus, my true child in our common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior. 5 For this reason I left you in Crete so that you might set right what remains to be done and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you, 6 on condition that a man be blameless, married only once, with believing children who are not accused of licentiousness or rebellious. 7 For a bishop as God’s steward must be blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled, 9 holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents.

P S A L M 

Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R: Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

1 The Lord’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. 2 For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. (R) 3 Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who may stand in his holy place? 4 He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain. (R) 5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, a reward from God his savior. 6 Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob. (R)

GOSPEL 

There will be sin in the midst of any community. So let us make sure of two things: First, we ensure the sin is not of serious matter, and if it is, we address it appropriately. Second, let us make sure that the sin does not originate with us. We need to avoid sin by God’s grace and the help of the Holy Spirit. 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life.

Luke 17:1-6

1 Jesus said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. 3 Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.” 5 And the Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” 6 The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Daily Readings for November 11, 2018

1st READING

The widow’s generosity in giving the little she has left is rewarded by God with sufficient abundance. She and her son are provided enough for each day, and not made a wealthy woman. Sudden wealth may not be a good thing for many people. Let us seek sufficiency and not aim to be rich. Remember, the love of money is the root of all evil.

1 Kings 17:10-16

10 In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, “Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.” 11 She left to get it, and he called out after her, “Please bring along a bit of bread.” 12 She answered, “As the Lord, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die.” 13 Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid.” Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son. 14 For the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” 15 She left and did as Elijah had said. She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well; 16 the jar of  flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the Lord had foretold through Elijah.

P S A L M 

Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10

R: Praise the Lord, my soul!

7 The Lord keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets captives free. (R) 8 The Lord gives sight to the blind. The Lord raises up those that were bowed down; the Lord loves the just. 9 The Lord protects strangers. (R) The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. 10 The Lord shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia. (R) 

2nd READING

The Scripture teaches us that we die only once. For us Catholics, there is no reincarnation. Let us remember, however, that we need to prepare for the judgment that accompanies our death. We will give an account of our life and the decisions we have made before God. Let us pray for the grace to prepare well for Judgment Day.  

Hebrews 9:24-28

24 Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf. 25 Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own; 26 if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world. But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice. 27 Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, 28 so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

GOSPEL 

Jesus reminds us that modesty is a part of the virtuous life. Drawing attention to what you do, no matter how virtuous the deed, is never right. The blessings of good works will accrue to the modest and humble person, not the one who tries to draw attention to their virtue.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION 

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Mark 12:38-44

38 In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds, “Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, 39 seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.” 41 He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. 44 For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”

Daily Readings for November 10, 2018

Memorial of St. Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

1st READING

Paul has a remarkable way with words. More than a simple message of thanks, he explains to the Philippians the blessings they will receive because of their generosity. To give is to receive. Let us be generous in giving what we have freely received.

Philippians 4:10-19

10 Brothers and sisters: I rejoice greatly in the Lord that now at last you revived your concern for me. You were, of course, concerned about me but lacked an opportunity. 11 Not that I say this because of need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself, to be self-sufficient. 12 I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. 13 I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. 14 Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress. 15 You Philippians indeed know that at the beginning of the Gospel, when I left Macedonia, not a single church shared with me in an account of giving and receiving, except you alone. 16 For even when I was at Thessalonica you sent me something for my needs, not only once but more than once. 17 It is not that I am eager for the gift; rather, I am eager for the profit that accrues to your account. 18 I have received full payment and I abound. I am very well supplied because of what I received from you through Epaphroditus, “a fragrant aroma,” an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

P S A L M 

Psalm 112:1-2, 5-6, 8, 9

R: Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

1 Blessed the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commands. 2 His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed. (R) 5 Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice; 6 he shall never be moved; the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance. (R) 8 His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear. 9 Lavishly he gives to the poor; his generosity shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory. (R)

GOSPEL  

Is it possible to use ill-gotten wealth donated to the Church for its purposes? It depends on the intention of those involved. If someone deliberately raises funds for the Church under false pretenses, there is a problem. However, if someone is trying to correct his ways and wants to donate to Church programs, then it is an acceptable donation. Each situation should be judged on its own merit.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

Luke 16:9-15

9 Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 10 The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. 11 If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth who will trust you with true wealth? 12 If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? 13 No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” 14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him. 15 And he said to them, “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.”

Daily Readings for November 9, 2018

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome 

1st READING

The temple is the place where God dwells in the midst of His people, and it is the source of grace and life. The water that flows from the temple nourishes trees and enables them to yield abundant fruits. All life and grace stem from the Lord; the water in Ezekiel’s vision is the life and grace that God gives us.  Let us keep our spiritual life rooted in prayer, drawing from the life of the Church and our relationship with Jesus.

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12

1 The angel brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the facade of the temple was toward the east; the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 He led me outside by the north gate, and around to the outer gate facing the east, where I saw water trickling from the southern side. 8 He said to me, “This water  flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah, and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh. 9 Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant  fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh. 12 Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.”

P SA L M 

Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9

R: The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High! 

1 [2] God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. 2 [3] Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea. (R) 4 [5] There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High. 5 [6] God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed; God will help it at the break of dawn. (R) 7 [8] The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. 8 [9] Come! Behold the deeds of the Lord, the astounding things he has wrought on earth. (R)

2nd READING

Building God’s Kingdom is a mission, not a competition. We should not be concerned about who gets the acclaim for the proclamation of the Gospel. Instead, we should ensure that it is proclaimed in truth. If someone chooses to build on our proclamation, then so be it, provided they do so truthfully. What matters is that souls are won for God, and that people accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. 

1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17

9 Brothers and sisters: You are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, 11 for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ. 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

GOSPEL  

Jesus wants the temple to be respected as a place of worship and holiness, not a marketplace where people earn money. There can be tension when people talk inside the church while others want to pray. Let us respect those who wish to pray and do our talking outside. Let us keep our church a silent sanctuary to commune with God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION 

I have chosen and consecrated this house, says the Lord, that my name may be there forever.

John 2:13-22

13 Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. 15 He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, 16 and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” 17 His disciples recalled the words of Scriptures, Zeal for your house will consume me. 18 At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” 19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his Body. 22 Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.