Daily Readings for August 24, 2019

Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle

1st READING 

The faith of the Apostles is the foundation upon which the Church is built. We need to build our own faith so that we can sustain our relationships in a manner befitting our faith. Let us be grateful to the martyrs and saints who gave their lives in the service of the Church.

Revelation 21:9-14

9 The angel spoke to me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. 13 There were three gates facing east, three north, three south, and three west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.

PSALM

Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18

R: Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

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) 17 The Lord is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. 18 The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. (R)

GOSPEL

Philip meets Jesus and then he goes to Nathaniel (Bartholomew) and tells him about Jesus. We are all indebted to hundreds, maybe even thousands, of men and women who link our faith to that of the Apostles. In turn, we become links to Jesus for those who follow us. This is a pattern for evangelization that helps us effectively share the faith with others.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.

John 1:45-51

45 Philip found Nathaniel and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” 46 But Nathaniel said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” 48 Nathaniel said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” 49 Nathaniel answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

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Daily Readings for August 23, 2019

1st READING 

Ruth is a good woman who is committed to her mother-in-law. She is the epitome of faithfulness and loyalty. Let us foster loyalty and faithfulness in our relationship with Jesus. May we grow in discipleship and be better witnesses to the Gospel.

Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14-16, 22

1 Once in the time of the judges, there was a famine in the land; so a man from Bethlehem of Judah departed with his wife and two sons to reside on the plateau of Moab. 3 Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons, 4 who married Moabite women, one named Orpah, the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Chilion died also, and the woman was left with neither her two sons nor her husband. 6 She then made ready to go back from the plateau of Moab because word reached her there that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. 14 Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, but Ruth stayed with her. 15 Naomi said, “See now! Your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her god. Go back after your sister-in-law!” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not ask me to abandon or forsake you! For wherever you go I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” 22 Thus it was that Naomi returned with the Moabite daughter-in- law, Ruth, who accompanied her back from the plateau of Moab. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

PSALM

Psalm 146:5-6, 6-7, 8-9, 9-10

R: Praise the Lord, my soul!

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord, his God, 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them. (R) The Lord keeps faith forever, 7 secures justice for the oppressed, 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)

GOSPEL

The two greatest commandments are about love of God and love of neighbor. If we always take the loving path in our relationships with God and others then we will be able to obey the rest of the commandments. Love for God and neighbor summarizes all of the commandments. May we grow in our love for God and one another.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Teach me your paths, my God, guide me in your truth.

Matthew 22:34-40

34 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them a scholar of the law, tested him by asking, 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and the first commandment. 39 The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

Credits to: www.kerygmafamily.com

Daily Readings for August 22, 2019

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

1st READING

Jephthah makes a vow that he will regret because he will have to sacrifice his daughter to the Lord. Did he do the right thing? Here are the lessons we can learn: One, do not make extravagant commitments, particularly those that may lead to immoral actions; two, do not ever think that God would ask you to sacrifice someone else’s life to Him. Jesus’ sacrifice is the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.

Judges 11:29-39 (or Isaiah 9:1-6)

29 The spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah. He passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and through Mizpah-gilead as well, and from there he went on to the Ammonites. 30 Jephthah made a vow to the Lord. “If you deliver the Ammonites into my power,” he said, 31 “whoever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites shall belong to the Lord. I shall offer him up as a burnt offering.” 32 Jephthah then went on to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the Lord delivered them into his power, 33 so that he inflicted a severe defeat on them, from Aroer to the approach of Minnith (twenty cities in all) and as far as Abel-keramin. Thus were the Ammonites brought into subjection by the children of Israel. 34 When Jephthah returned to his house in Mizpah, it was his daughter who came forth, playing the tambourines and dancing. She was an only child: he had neither son nor daughter besides her. 35 When he saw her, he rent his garments and said, “Alas, daughter, you have struck me down and brought calamity upon me. For I have made a vow to the Lord and I cannot retract.” 36 She replied, “Father, you have made a vow to the Lord. Do with me as you have vowed, because the Lord has wrought vengeance for you on your enemies the Ammonites.” 37 Then she said to her father, “Let me have this favor. Spare me for two months, that I may go off down the mountains to mourn my virginity with my companions.” 38 “Go,” he replied, and sent her away for two months. So she departed with her companions and mourned her virginity on the mountains. 39 At the end of the two months she returned to her father, who did to her as he had vowed.

PSALM 

Psalm 40:5, 7-8, 8-9, 10

R: Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

5 Blessed the man who makes the Lord his trust; who turns not to idolatry or to those who stray after falsehood. (R) 7 Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not; 8 then said I “Behold I come.” (R) “In the written scroll it is prescribed for me. 9 To do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!” (R) 10 I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O Lord, know. (R)

GOSPEL

If we are not willing to live as disciples of Jesus then He will find others who are. Because what would be the point of storing up graces for people who are not interested? Let us accept the graces God offers us and use them well for His service.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Matthew 22:1-14 (or Luke 1:26-38 or Luke 1:39-47)

1 Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables, saying, 2 “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. 3 He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. 4 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.’” 5 Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. 6 The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8 Then the king said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. 9 Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ 10 The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. 11 But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. 12 He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. 13 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.’ 14 Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

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Daily Readings for August 21, 2019

1st READING

Leadership is a big responsibility, particularly in the spiritual arena, as we are dealing with issues that pertain to eternal life. Notable here is God’s choice and their humility in response to it. This is the example of Jesus, Mary, and the saints. Only a few sought leadership roles—they were more likely to have it imposed on them.

Judges 9:6-15

6 All the citizens of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together and proceeded to make Abimelech king by the terebinth at the memorial pillar in Shechem. 7 When this was reported to him, Jotham went to the top of Mount Gerizim, and standing there, cried out to them in a loud voice: “Hear me, citizens of Shechem, that God may then hear you! 8 Once the trees went to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ 9 But the olive tree answered them, ‘Must I give up my rich oil, whereby men and gods are honored, and go to wave over the trees?’ 10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come; you reign over us!’ 11 But the fig tree answered them, ‘Must I give up my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?’ 12 Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come you, and reign over us.’ 13 But the vine answered them, ‘Must I give up my wine that cheers gods and men, and go to wave over the trees?’ 14 Then all the trees said to the buckthorn, ‘Come; you reign over us!’ 15 But the buckthorn replied to the trees, ‘If you wish to anoint me king over you in good faith, come and take refuge in my shadow. Otherwise, let fire come from the buckthorn and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”

PSALM

Psalm 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R: Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

2 O Lord, in your strength the king is glad; in your victory how greatly he rejoices! 3 You have granted him his heart’s desire; you refused not the wish of his lips. (R) 4 For you welcomed him with goodly blessings, you placed on his head a crown of pure gold. 5 He asked life of you: you gave him length of days forever and ever. (R) 6 Great is his glory in your victory; majesty and splendor you conferred upon him. 7 You made him a blessing forever; you gladdened him with the joy of your face. (R)

GOSPEL 

God is merciful and He chooses to whom and how He gives His grace. Instead of questioning His generosity to others, let us be grateful for the blessings He gives us. Every person is different and God will build relationships with us according to our character and nature. Let us allow God to work with us in the way He chooses.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The word of God is living and effective, able to discern the reflections and thoughts of the heart.

Matthew 20:1-16

1 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. 2 After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ 5 So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. 6 Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 7 They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ 8 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.’ 9 When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. 10 So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, 12 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.’ 13 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? 14 Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? 15 Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ 16 Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Credits to: www.kerygmafamily.com

Daily Readings for August 20, 2019

1st READING

God chooses Gideon, an unlikely person from the lower class, and will use him to save Israel from the Midianites. Gideon struggles to accept that God will use him for such a significant purpose. God knows what He is doing. When He calls us, let us trust in Him. It may be unlikely that He will choose us, but He might just surprise you with His choice.

Judges 6:11-24

11 The angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. While his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to save it from the Midianites, 12 the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “The Lord is with you, O champion!” 13 Gideon said to him, “My Lord, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are his wondrous deeds of which our fathers told us when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ For now the Lord has abandoned us and has delivered us into the power of Midian.” 14 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have and save Israel from the power of Midian. It is I who send you.” 15 But Gideon answered him, “Please, my lord, how can I save Israel? My family is the lowliest in Manasseh, and I am the most insignificant in my father’s house.” 16 “I shall be with you,” the Lord said to him, “and you will cut down Midian to the last man.” 17 Gideon answered him, “If I find favor with you, give me a sign that you are speaking with me. 18 Do not depart from here, I pray you, until I come back to you and bring out my offering and set it before you.” He answered, “I will await your return.” 19 So Gideon went off and prepared a kid and a measure of flour in the form of unleavened cakes. Putting the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, he brought them out to him under the terebinth and presented them. 20 The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and unleavened cakes and lay them on this rock; then pour out the broth.” When he had done so, 21 the angel of the Lord stretched out the tip of the staff he held, and touched the meat and unleavened cakes. Thereupon a fire came up from the rock that consumed the meat and unleavened cakes, and the angel of the Lord disappeared from sight. 22 Gideon, now aware that it had been the angel of the Lord, said, “Alas, Lord God, that I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” 23 The Lord answered him, “Be calm, do not fear. You shall not die.” 24 So Gideon built there an altar to the Lord and called it Yahweh-shalom.

PSALM

Psalm 85:9, 11-12, 13-14

R: The Lord speaks of peace to his people.

9 I will hear what God proclaims; the Lord—for he proclaims peace to his people, and to his faithful ones, and to those who put in him their hope. (R) 11 Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. 12 Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. (R) 13 The Lord himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. 14 Justice shall walk before him, and salvation, along the way of his steps. (R)

GOSPEL

The many distractions in the world prevent us from responding in faith to God. Money is one of the most powerful distractions. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us about the difficulties of the wealthy. We need to learn how to use money properly and not allow it to use us.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION 

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

Matthew 19:23-30

23 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. 24 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.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” 28 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. 29 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. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

Credits to: www.kerygmafamily.com