So interesting ... SFX Church website has been nominated for Malaysia Website Award 2016. Voting process from the general public is opened. To vote, simply just click on the link below. We need all your support! Thank you and Gob Bless!

Malaysia Website Awards 2016 - Church of St Francis Xavier

Pope receives first Resident Malaysian Ambassador to the Holy See



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has received in audience the first Resident Ambassador of Malaysia to the Holy See, Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok.

During a private audience in the Vatican on Thursday morning, Ambassador Dompok presented his Credentials.

The Ambassador is the former minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities in Malaysia and prior to that he was Chief Minister of the State of Sabah.

Born in 1949 in what was then British North Borneo, Dompok received his education at the mission schools of St. Michael and La Salle Secondary School before graduating at the University of East London.

His appointment as the country’s first resident ambassador to the Holy See was announced on 22 March 2016; however he has been credited with being instrumental in laying the groundwork for the establishment of diplomatic ties with the Vatican in 2011.

In a conversation with Vatican Radio’s Linda Bordoni, Ambassador Dompok speaks of the how the establishment of formal ties between Malaysia and the Holy See came about and what he hopes his contribution will be in his new role.

Listen:

Ambassador Dompok explains that the establishment of formal relations between his country and the Holy See goes back some time. He says he had the privilege to be present during discussions held with the former Apostolic Nuncio who was resident in Bangkok , and who had been coming to Malaysia and meeting with politicians and his counterparts in the hope of setting up diplomatic ties during the Papacy Saint John Paul II, and he speaks of the general feeling that “the people he met were very keen to do so”.

However, he says, the opportune moment arose only some years later when Prime Minister Najib took a serious stand regarding the issue and together with Dompok, which whom he had served on the Federal Cabinet for more than a decade, came to visit Pope Benedict XVI at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo in 2011 where it all came to a “happy ending” with the formal establishment of diplomatic ties.

The Ambassador explains that the process has taken a long time because Malaysia is a diverse and complex nation with a vast multi-cultural, multi-racial and multi-religious reality.

“We have 60% Muslims, 30% Buddhists, Hindus and so on, and only about 10% - and a bit – Christians, and of that 10% about half of them are Catholics” he says.

He says time was needed to understand that having diplomatic ties with the Vatican will actually “convey to the world a nation that is confident of itself and is willing to take part in the world conversation”.

In fact he points out that Malaysia has much to contribute in experience to the development of inter-religious dialogue.

He speaks of how Malaysia and its ‘bigger’ neighbor, Indonesia, which both have a majority Muslim population, have much to teach the world in this sense and that, although there may be challenges and problems “we are still able to overcome most of them in order to make it possible for all races to live together”.

Dompok speaks of the current Prime Minister’s campaign to encourage “a movement of moderates” trying to rally people together to understand that communities cannot live in isolation and that those with more moderate views have a responsibility to work for peaceful dialogue.

The Ambassador says that extremism is a problem throughout the world and expresses his belief that the only way to overcome the fanaticism that leads to terrorism is to engage in reasoning and dialogue.

One of Ambassador Dompok’s core concerns is the promotion of education. “I wouldn’t be here today, speaking to you” he says “if I hadn’t the opportunity to go to a Mission school”.

And so important has Catholic education been in Malaysia, he says, that it has impacted society and empowered the people like nothing else.

“Catholics came to Borneo Island on the back of education. It was education first and then the spreading of the good news!” he says.

He explains that back home, at this moment in time, the Government has had to take over the running of the Mission schools as they have no funding and it is his concern that the Mission fathers be empowered once again.

“The Church, and the related organizations of the Church, have a vast amount of resources – not fixed assets – but expertise: people in the Church have been in education for a long time (…) and some of this can be transported to the rest of the world” he says.

Education – Ambassador Dompok believes – is the most precious tool for people in developing nations to overcome poverty, and he says one of his main appeals to people in the Vatican would certainly be to support this belief and to engage in the commitment to promote education for peace and development.

Source: http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/06/09...the_hol/1235972

HAPPY FEAST OF SAINT ANTHONY TO ALL CATHOLIC BROTHERS AND SISTERS!!!

Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 365

Reading 1 (1 Kgs 21:1-16)

Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel
next to the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria.
Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to be my vegetable garden,
since it is close by, next to my house.
I will give you a better vineyard in exchange, or,
if you prefer, I will give you its value in money.”
Naboth answered him, “The LORD forbid
that I should give you my ancestral heritage.”
Ahab went home disturbed and angry at the answer
Naboth the Jezreelite had made to him:
“I will not give you my ancestral heritage.”
Lying down on his bed, he turned away from food and would not eat.

His wife Jezebel came to him and said to him,
“Why are you so angry that you will not eat?”
He answered her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite
and said to him, ‘Sell me your vineyard, or,
if you prefer, I will give you a vineyard in exchange.’
But he refused to let me have his vineyard.”
His wife Jezebel said to him,
“A fine ruler over Israel you are indeed!
Get up.
Eat and be cheerful.
I will obtain the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.”

So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and,
having sealed them with his seal,
sent them to the elders and to the nobles
who lived in the same city with Naboth.
This is what she wrote in the letters:
“Proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people.
Next, get two scoundrels to face him
and accuse him of having cursed God and king.
Then take him out and stone him to death.”
His fellow citizens—the elders and nobles who dwelt in his city—
did as Jezebel had ordered them in writing,
through the letters she had sent them.
They proclaimed a fast and placed Naboth at the head of the people.
Two scoundrels came in and confronted him with the accusation,
“Naboth has cursed God and king.”
And they led him out of the city and stoned him to death.
Then they sent the information to Jezebel
that Naboth had been stoned to death.

When Jezebel learned that Naboth had been stoned to death,
she said to Ahab,
“Go on, take possession of the vineyard
of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you,
because Naboth is not alive, but dead.”
On hearing that Naboth was dead, Ahab started off on his way
down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite,
to take possession of it.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 5:2-3ab, 4b-6a, 6b-7)

R. (2b) Lord, listen to my groaning.

Hearken to my words, O LORD,
attend to my sighing.
Heed my call for help,
my king and my God!
R. Lord, listen to my groaning.

At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you.
For you, O God, delight not in wickedness;
no evil man remains with you;
the arrogant may not stand in your sight.
R. Lord, listen to my groaning.

You hate all evildoers.
You destroy all who speak falsehood;
The bloodthirsty and the deceitful
the LORD abhors.
R. Lord, listen to my groaning.

Alleluia (Ps 119:105)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mt 5:38-42)

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one to him as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand him your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go with him for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”

Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 366

Reading 1 (1 Kgs 21:17-29)

After the death of Naboth the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite:
“Start down to meet Ahab, king of Israel,
who rules in Samaria.
He will be in the vineyard of Naboth,
of which he has come to take possession.
This is what you shall tell him,
‘The LORD says: After murdering, do you also take possession?
For this, the LORD says:
In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth,
the dogs shall lick up your blood, too.’”
Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me out, my enemy?”
“Yes,” he answered.
“Because you have given yourself up to doing evil in the LORD’s sight,
I am bringing evil upon you: I will destroy you
and will cut off every male in Ahab’s line,
whether slave or freeman, in Israel.
I will make your house like that of Jeroboam, son of Nebat,
and like that of Baasha, son of Ahijah,
because of how you have provoked me by leading Israel into sin.”
(Against Jezebel, too, the LORD declared,
“The dogs shall devour Jezebel in the district of Jezreel.”)
“When one of Ahab’s line dies in the city,
dogs will devour him;
when one of them dies in the field,
the birds of the sky will devour him.”
Indeed, no one gave himself up to the doing of evil
in the sight of the LORD as did Ahab,
urged on by his wife Jezebel.
He became completely abominable by following idols,
just as the Amorites had done,
whom the LORD drove out before the children of Israel.

When Ahab heard these words, he tore his garments
and put on sackcloth over his bare flesh.
He fasted, slept in the sackcloth, and went about subdued.
Then the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite,
“Have you seen that Ahab has humbled himself before me?
Since he has humbled himself before me,
I will not bring the evil in his time.
I will bring the evil upon his house during the reign of his son.”

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 11 and 16)

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Turn away your face from my sins,
and blot out all my guilt.
Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God;
then my tongue shall revel in your justice.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Alleluia (Jn 13:34)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mt 5:43-48)

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Wednesday (15 June 2016) of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 367



Reading 1 (2 Kgs 2:1, 6-14)

When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind,
he and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here;
the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.”
“As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live,
I will not leave you,” Elisha replied.
And so the two went on together.
Fifty of the guild prophets followed and
when the two stopped at the Jordan,
they stood facing them at a distance.
Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up
and struck the water, which divided,
and both crossed over on dry ground.

When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha,
“Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.”
Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.”
“You have asked something that is not easy,” Elijah replied.
“Still, if you see me taken up from you,
your wish will be granted; otherwise not.”
As they walked on conversing,
a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them,
and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
When Elisha saw it happen he cried out,
“My father! my father! Israel’s chariots and drivers!”
But when he could no longer see him,
Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two.

Then he picked up Elijah’s mantle that had fallen from him,
and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan.
Wielding the mantle that had fallen from Elijah,
Elisha struck the water in his turn and said,
“Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?”
When Elisha struck the water it divided and he crossed over.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 31:20, 21, 24)

R. (25) Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.

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 sight of the children of men.
R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.

You hide them in the shelter of your presence
from the plottings of men;
You screen them within your abode
from the strife of tongues.
R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.

Love the LORD, all you his faithful ones!
The LORD keeps those who are constant,
but more than requites those who act proudly.
R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.

Alleluia (Jn 14:23)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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

Gospel (Mt 6:1-6, 16-18)

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your alms-giving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door,
and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to others to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

There is nothing wrong with using your own words for prayers. No hard and fast rules when it comes to praying, just do it with a open heart and present your thanksgiving and requests to God. If you know one or two basic prayers like the Lord's prayer or the rosary, that would also be of great help.

Additionally, if you really feel the need, do try to read the Bible. Or, if you have the time, attend Mass, on Sunday's and also during the weekdays, liturgy of the word is part of Mass, there scripture will be read out for you to hear and listen. If you are not sure of what you read / hear, i suggest you ask questions or better yet, try going for Bible study classes. Your local Church should run at least one or two during the year.

and why do u feel any reason to feel insecure and afraid?

God bless!

This post has been edited by khool: Jun 16 2016, 02:57 PM

You are referring to your RCIA classes? The classes arejust the beginning of your life in Christ. Catholics are strongly encouraged to read the Bible and attend Bible study classes throughout their life, in order to strengthen their faith and knowledge in Christ. In addition, please do attend Mass regularly, especially weekend Masses to listen to the word of God and also to receive Holy Communion. It is quite important as Christ has already said that His flesh is true food and His blood is true drink. It is said that if one were to attend Mass regularly, one would basically hear the entire Bible being read to them and also explained through the priest's homily.

As bro Yeeck has already mentioned, keep yourself in a constant state of grace; adhere to the 7 sacraments and you cannot go wrong. Take the verse from Matthew, 17:20


So truly, there is no need to doubt or fear anything. Remember, no matter what happens in this world, no matter who our leaders are; Jesus, the Son of God, will always be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and He has dominion over all of creation.

Isaiah 41:10


Amen and the Lord be with you!

St. Paul talks about images and types in the Old Testament being fulfilled in the new.

St. Paul says the law was a pedagogue of Christ. A pedagogue is a child's teacher. The law teaches us the mysteries of Christ. They are shadows of the true spiritual nature of their heavenly realities.

A reality of a type has to take on the same properties as the type.

Circumcision was a sign of God's covenant that he would be the God of the Israelites and he would be their people. Through the law the parents circumcised their children by the eighth day.

St. Paul relates the pedagogue of circumcision to the heavenly reality of Baptism which expands the covenant family making the family universal, Catholic. You are no longer Jews or Gentiles freeman or slave because you have been baptized in Christ Jesus which makes you an heir to the promise of Abraham.

Christ said I did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill the law.

The types become their heavenly reality. Symbols do not evolve into symbols but into eternal truths.

The Eucharist is prefigured in the Passover Lamb that needed to be consumed, the table of the presence that contained a cereal offering that was a perpetual law to be kept in front of the veil that was in front of the Holy of Holies, in the manna that fell from heaven and was placed in the ark that contained Aarons staff that budded ( the cross the tree of life) and the ten commandments ( the law written on our hearts) the heavenly reality was carried in the womb of Mother Mary.

God put in place another sign in the daily temple sacrifice called the Tamid. The Tamid was a sacrifice of Lamb, bread, and wine. At 9:00 in the morning and 3:00 pm everyday the high priest raised the Lamb before the veil sanctifying the bread and wine on the altar then eating what is sanctified.

As Christ died on the cross saying the Todah prayer ( my God my God why have you forsaken me, through the soul of His spouse) the Lamb was raised, the veil was ripped from heaven to earth and the high priest showed us the Holy Mass by presenting the sacrifice before the Holy of Holies which is a type for heaven itself which contains the presence of the Father and the hosts of heaven. It is finished. The true Tamid is established. I have established my kingdom and covenant memorial of the eternal covenant in my blood ( Do this in remembrance of me ) the memorial covenant sacrifice of the eternal cross in the Holy Mass that will always be before the eyes of the Father before he sees the sins of the world in which the table of the presence and the menorah/cross of tree of life, was a type.

We walk by faith not by sight.

And they dedicated themselves to the doctrine and the breaking of the bread and the prayers.

O you foolish Galatians whom before your very own eyes Christ is portrayed as crucified among you.

Hebrews 12: 22-24

This is fullfilled at every Holy Mass in which our high priest Melchizedek mediates with His priests to offer the memorial of the life giving Cross in the form of bread and wine and we are mystically sprinkled with the blood that cleanses all venial sins so that we can be refined and offer the clean oblation (unbloody) without blemish before the Father with the hosts of heaven.

"Do this in remembrance of me ...",
Anamnesis in Greek which means offer this memorial sacrifice.

Malachi 3: 1-4

Malachi 1: 11

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Romans 15: 16

Mysteries mysterion sacramentum sacrament.

The Belief in Purgatory is Much Older Than You Realize

Wasn't Purgatory unheard of in Scripture and only invented in the Dark Ages?

No. Just the term "Purgatory" arose after the time of the apostles, just as the terms "Trinity", "Christianity", "Second Coming", and "Bible" did. But the idea of Purgatory was already present in the period before Jesus was born. So, for instance, we find a Jewish hero named Judas Maccabeus, about a century and a half before Jesus, praying for the dead and specifically asking they be forgiven their sins after they have died (2 Maccabees 12: 43-45). This practice, known as the "kaddish", continues in Judaism to this day and was well-established among Jews in Jesus' own time. Likewise, we find the New Testament frequently assuming the existence of Purgatory. Jesus, during his time in the grave, is said by Peter to have "preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly did not obey" (1 Peter 3: 18-20). Similarly, Jesus teaches that certain sins (notably unforgiveness) will be liable to judgment and imprisonment in the next. But he also implies this punishment is not necessarily eternal: "Truly I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny" (Mt. 5:21-26). Such imagery fits neither heaven (where there are no prisons) nor hell (where there is neither repentance nor "getting out", and therefore no point in preaching). It does, however, fit Purgatory.

Jesus also implies the existence of Purgatory or "forgiveness in the age to come" when he tells his disciples "Whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come" (Matthew 12:32). The Church after Jesus did not, therefore, "invent" Purgatory. On the contrary, it simply repeated and clarified what Jesus and the apostles had taught them concerning the promise of hope for the afterlife.

What does Purgatory mean for us today?

It means what it has always meant: hope! The good news of the gospel was proclaimed long ago by Jesus:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." (Luke 4:18-19).

Purgatory is the assurance that there will, in the end, be absolutely nothing to dim the mirror of our lives from reflecting the glory of God. We, who have been captive to sin for so long, will be released. Moreover, as sharers in the life of Christ, we have an extraordinary promise from him. For he tells us, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father." (John 14:12). In other words, we not only receive grace from him, we do his works of grace with him, for we are "fellow workers" with Christ (1 Corinthians 3:9). This means (among other things) that, as he prays for us, so we can pray for one another with his power and authority. And such prayers can be made not only for the living, but for the dead as well. We can, therefore, help those in Purgatory who are still being purified, just as we can help those on earth-by our prayers and offerings of love, especially in the mass. For, as Paul tells us, "we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another" (Romans 12:5). That unity with God and with each other is not severed by death. Therefore, we can continue to pray for those who have died with the hope of Christ that our prayers will be of real help to them as we "bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). It's all there in Scripture.

Source: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/mark-shea/p...bible-part-four

5 Reasons Every Man Should Love St. Joseph

St. Joseph often slips under the radar because of his quiet demeanor and hidden life. However, he has much to teach us about growing in holiness. Here are 5 reasons to discover St. Joseph.

1. He is the Patron Saint of Workers.
As men work takes up a great portion of our lives. Often we struggle to work in a way that honors God. St. Joseph can teach us how to work well if we ask him. One way to do this is to start your work day with a prayer to St. Joseph.

St. Joseph is also good to invoke if you are having difficulty finding a job. He was commissioned to provide for the Son of God, so he fully understands the pressure men face to provide for their families. In my own life, I have seen the power of St. Joseph’s intercession in finding my friends jobs.

2. His Intercession is Powerful.
A seminarian once told me of the powerful intercession of St. Joseph. He explained that whenever he needed something, he asked for St. Joseph’s help, and his needs were met. Over the past few years, I have witnessed this in my own life. St. Joseph has answered many of my prayers ,whether it be finding a job or starting a family. In her autobiography, St. Teresa of Avila gives us some insight into why St. Joseph’s intercession is so powerful.

To other saints the Lord seems to have given grace to succor us in some of our necessities, but of this glorious saint my experience is that he succors us in them all, and that the Lord wishes to teach us that, as He was Himself subject to him on earth, (for, being His guardian and being called His father, he could command Him) just so in Heaven He still does all that he asks.

3. He Models Fatherhood for Us.
God the Father chose St. Joseph from all men to be the foster-father of Jesus. That truly says something about his character, for he was entrusted with leading, providing for and protecting the Son of God and God’s greatest creature, Our Lady. Joseph faithfully served the Holy Family and protected them from danger so that they could fulfill God’s mission.

St. Joseph taught Jesus in his humanity how to be a man. No doubt he taught him how to be a faithful Jew, as well as the trade of carpentry. He models well for us fathers how to be the spiritual leaders of our families. Like St. Joseph, we are called to show the love of God the Father to our wives and children.

4. He was an obedient man
Every time God asked him to do something, Joseph was eager to say yes. Whether that was taking Mary as his wife, going to Bethlehem for the census, or fleeing with his family to Egypt, Joseph always followed God’s will immediately. In an age where we are told to do things our own way, Joseph is a great reminder that true greatness is found in following God’s will, not our own.

5. He was a man of silence
These are just a few of the many reasons why every Catholic man should develop devotion to St. Joseph. With his feast day coming up in March, it is the perfect time to learn about this great saint and ask for his intercession to live a holy life.

Some Saints are privileged to extend to us their patronage with particular efficacy in certain needs, but not in others; but our holy patron St. Joseph has the power to assist us in all cases, in every necessity, in every undertaking. – St. Thomas Aquinas

Source: http://www.catholicgentleman.net/2015/02/5...love-st-joseph/

Sunday, June 19, 2016
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 96

Reading 1 (Zec 12:10-11; 13:1)

Thus says the LORD:
I will pour out on the house of David
and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem
a spirit of grace and petition;
and they shall look on him whom they have pierced,
and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son,
and they shall grieve over him as one grieves over a firstborn.

On that day the mourning in Jerusalem shall be as great
as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo.

On that day there shall be open to the house of David
and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
a fountain to purify from sin and uncleanness.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9)

R. (2b) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
For your kindness is a greater good than life;
my lips shall glorify you.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,
and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

You are my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.
My soul clings fast to you;
your right hand upholds me.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Reading 2 (Gal 3:26-29)

Brothers and sisters:
Through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus.
For all of you who were baptized into Christ
have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither slave nor free person,
there is not male and female;
for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if you belong to Christ,
then you are Abraham’s children,
heirs according to the promise.

Alleluia (Jn 10:27)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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

Gospel (Lk 9:18-24)

Once when Jesus was praying by himself,
and the disciples were with him,
he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
They said in reply, “John the Baptist;
others, Elijah;
still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”
Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”
He scolded them
and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

Then he said to all,
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”