Daily Readings for October 5, 2017

1ST READING

Look at how much the people of Israel loved the Word of God. They stood in the sun for hours just to hear it proclaimed. Do you love the Word of God enough to stand for hours to listen to it? If we do not love the Word of God with all our hearts, then this is a grace we should pray for. The saints will tell us that the Word of the Lord is life and, thus, we should desire to hear and know it above all other words.

Nehemiah 8:1-4, 5-6, 7-12

1 The whole people gathered as one in the open space before the Water Gate, and they called upon Ezra the scribe to bring forth the book of the law of Moses which the Lord prescribed for Israel. 2 On the first day of the seventh month, therefore, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, which consisted of men, women, and those children old enough to understand. 3 Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate, he read out of the book from daybreak until midday, in the presence of the men, the women, and those children old enough to understand; and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law. 4 Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the occasion. 5 He opened the scroll so that all the people might see it (for he was standing higher up than any of the people); and, as he opened it, all the people rose. 6 Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people, their hands raised high, answered, “Amen, amen!” Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the Lord, their faces to the ground. 7 Then as the people remained in their places. 8 Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God, interpreting it so that all could understand what was read. 9 Then Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and Ezra the priest-scribe and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all the people: “Today is holy to the Lord your God. Do not be sad, and do not weep” — for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. 10 He said further: “Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared; for today is holy to our Lord. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!” 11 And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Hush, for today is holy, and you must not be saddened.” 12 Then all the people went to eat and drink, to distribute portions, and to celebrate with great joy, for they understood the words that had been expounded to them.

P S A L M

Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R: The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

7 [8] The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; the decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. (R) 8 [9] The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eye. (R) 9 [10] The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just. (R) 10 [11] They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold; sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb. (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus has called many others to help Him proclaim the Gospel. He knows that He cannot get the Word of Salvation out to all the world on His own. He needs other hands, feet and voices to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Let us ask Jesus to lead us on how we can be a channel of His grace to those who do not know Him.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.

Luke 10:1-12

1 Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. 2 He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. 3 Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6 If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. 8 Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’ 10 Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, 11 ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.’ Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand. 12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.”

Daily Readings for October 4, 2017

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, religious

1ST READING

Nehemiah is in exile with the Jews. He seeks permission from King Artaxerxes to return to Jerusalem, the land of his ancestors. Nehemiah’s request is granted and he then encourages others to return with him to rebuild Jerusalem. When we see the energy they devoted to rebuild an earthly city, that ought to inspire us to be committed to build the heavenly city of Jerusalem by being obedient to God’s calling today.

Nehemiah 2:1-8

1 In the month Nisan of the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when the wine was in my charge, I took some and offered it to the king. As I had never before been sad in his presence, 2 the king asked me, “Why do you look sad? If you are not sick, you must be sad at heart.” Though I was seized with great fear, 3 I answered the king: “May the king live forever! How could I not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been eaten out by fire?” 4 The king asked me, “What is it, then, that you wish?” I prayed to the God of heaven 5 and then answered the king: “If it please the king, and if your servant is deserving of your favor, send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors’ graves, to rebuild it.” 6 Then the king, and the queen seated beside him, asked me how long my journey would take and when I would return. I set a date that was acceptable to him, and the king agreed that I might go. 7 I asked the king further: “If it please the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of West-of-Euphrates, that they may afford me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah; 8 also a letter for Asaph, the keeper of the royal park, that he may give me wood for timbering the gates of the temple-citadel and for the city wall and the house that I shall occupy.” The king granted my requests, for the favoring hand of my God was upon me.

P S A L M

Psalm 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6

R: Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!

1 By the streams of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. 2 On the aspens of that land we hung up our harps. (R) 3 Though there our captors asked of us the lyrics of our songs, and our despoilers urged us to be joyous: “Sing for us the songs of Zion!” (R) 4 How could we sing a song of the Lord in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand be forgotten! (R) 6 May my tongue cleave to my palate if I remember you not, if I place not Jerusalem ahead of my joy. (R)

GOSPEL

The lives of the saints give us concrete examples of what it means to respond to God’s call. St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast we celebrate today, is a great example of this. Francis experienced a major conversion — from being a relatively wealthy playboy who heard a call to live a life of poverty, to living and proclaiming the Gospel in simplicity of life.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I consider all things so much rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him.

Luke 9:57-62

57 As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” 59 And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” 60 But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.” 61 And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” 62 Jesus answered him, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”

Daily Readings for October 3, 2017

1ST READING

If our Christian communities lived out the Gospel to the full, then people who witnessed our lives would be clamoring to join us. They would see that we have found the key to a fulfilling life. This is the challenge in our faith walk — to live the Gospel such that unbelievers would want to believe in our God and receive the same peace and happiness that we have.

Zechariah 8:20-23

20 Thus says the Lord of hosts: There shall yet come peoples, the inhabitants of many cities; 21 and the inhabitants of one city shall approach those of another, and say, “Come! Let us go to implore the favor of the Lord”; and, “I too will go to seek the Lord.” 22 Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to implore the favor of the Lord. 23 Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men of every nationality, speaking different tongues, shall take hold, yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”

P S A L M

Psalm 87:1-3, 4-5, 6-7

R: God is with us.

1 His foundation upon the holy mountains 2 the Lord loves: The gates of Zion, more than any dwelling of Jacob. 3 Glorious things are said of you, O city of God! (R) 4 I tell of Egypt and Babylon among those that know the Lord; Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia: “This man was born there.” 5 And of Zion they shall say: “One and all were born in her; and he who has established her is the Most High Lord.” (R) 6 They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled: “This man was born there.” 7 And all shall sing, in their festive dance: “My home is within you.” (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus decided to go to Jerusalem even if He knew that He would not be welcomed there, especially by the Jewish leaders and authorities. He must have known that this would cause conflict, and so He prepared Himself to suffer in obedience to His Father’s will. Are we willing to make the same depth of commitment to God’s will for us? This is what discipleship is all about — we are willing to do whatever God asks of us.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Luke 9:51-56

51 When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, 52 and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, 53 but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” 55 Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56 and they journeyed to another village.

Daily Readings for October 2, 2017

Memorial of the Guardian Angel

1ST READING

The word “angel” means messenger of God. This is how we experience them in the Scriptures. They bring God’s Word to His people. We do not exactly know what they are as heavenly beings, except that they are spiritual in nature. Let us be open to the fact that God could use angels to communicate with us, if He so desired.

Exodus 23:20-23 (or Zechariah 8:1-8)

20 Thus says the Lord: “See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. 21 Be attentive to him and heed his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority resides in him. 22 If you heed his voice and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. 23 “My angel will go before you and bring you to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites; and I will wipe them out.”

P S A L M

Psalm 91:1-2, 3-4, 4-6, 10-11 (or Psalm 102:16-18, 19-21, 29, 22-23)

R: The Lord has put angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.

1 You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, 2 say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (R) 3 For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler, from the destroying pestilence. 4 With his pinions he will cover you, and under his wings you shall take refuge. (R) His faithfulness is a buckler and a shield. 5 You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day; 6 nor the pestilence that roams in darkness nor the devastating plague at noon. (R) 10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall affliction come near your tent, 11 for to his angels he has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways. (R)

GOSPEL

To be like a child does not mean we should be childish. There is a big difference between the two. Jesus wants us to be like a child and trust that God  always desires the best for us. This means we will always defer to and trust in His will for us when we make plans. We take the responsibility to act based on what we discern as His will. A childish person, on the other hand, never takes responsibility for his actions, always blaming others for his faults and failures.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Bless the Lord, all you angels, you ministers, who do his will.

Matthew 18:1-5, 10 (or Luke 9:46-50)

1 The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a child over, placed it in their midst, 3 and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. 10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”

Daily Readings for October 1, 2017

Memorial of St. Therese of Lisieux, virgin and Doctor of the Church

1ST READING

Ezekiel affirms that we have a merciful God and He will always forgive the repentant sinner. We have no cause to doubt the merciful spirit of God. If God forgives someone who sins against us, do we have a right to complain about how He dispenses His mercy? Definitely not, because we are always on the receiving end of His forgiveness as well. Let us not blame God for being merciful but seek to imitate His mercy when we deal with others, especially when they sin against us.

Ezekiel 18:25-28

25 Thus says the Lord: You say, “The Lord’s way is not fair!” Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? 26 When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. 27 But if he turns from the wickedness he has committed, and does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; 28 since he has turned away from all the sins that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

P S A L M

Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R: Remember your mercies, O Lord.

4 Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God, my savior. (R) 6 Remember that your compassion, O Lord, and your love are from of old. 7 The sins of my youth and my frailties remember not; in your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord. (R) 8 Good and upright is the Lord; thus he shows sinners the way. 9 He guides the humble to justice and teaches the humble his way. (R)

2ND READING

St. Paul wants us to seek unity in the Body of Christ. We need to focus on what we have in common and not concentrate on our differences. If we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, we will find a common ground in our faith experiences, rather than always looking for ways to pull others down and promote ourselves or our own brand of Christian faith.

Philippians 2:1-11

1 Brothers and sisters: If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. 3 Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, 4 each looking out not for his own interests, but also for those of others. 5 Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, 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 the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which 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

Obedience to God’s will is the key to growing in holiness. If we always insist on following our own will instead of God’s, we will soon realize that things do not seem to be right. This should encourage us to refocus our minds on what God wants us to do, rather than assume that we know better than God. He desires the best for us, so why don’t we trust and follow His plan for us?

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

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

Matthew 21:28-32

28 Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards changed his mind and went. 30 The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. 32 When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.”