Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 366



Reading 1 (2 Cor 8:1-9)

We want you to know, brothers and sisters, of the grace of God
that has been given to the churches of Macedonia,
for in a severe test of affliction,
the abundance of their joy and their profound poverty
overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
For according to their means, I can testify,
and beyond their means, spontaneously,
they begged us insistently for the favor of taking part
in the service to the holy ones,
and this, not as we expected,
but they gave themselves first to the Lord
and to us through the will of God,
so that we urged Titus that, as he had already begun,
he should also complete for you this gracious act also.
Now as you excel in every respect,
in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness,
and in the love we have for you,
may you excel in this gracious act also.

I say this not by way of command,
but to test the genuineness of your love
by your concern for others.
For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that for your sake he became poor although he was rich,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 146:2, 5-6ab, 6c- 7, 8-9a)

R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.

Praise the LORD, my soul!
I will praise the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God while I live.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.

Blessed he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD, his God,
Who made heaven and earth,
the sea and all that is in them.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.

Who keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.

The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.

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."



REFLECTION

Love your enemies The commandment to love one’s neighbor is a quotation from Lv 19:18, but the reminder of the verse – “and hate your enemy” – is not from Scriptures. It probably came from an oral commentary inferred from the distinction between the Israelites / Jews and the pagans. To “hate” here means to “love less” or not to put on equal footing, as in the expression, “I loved Jacob but hated Esau” (Rom 9:13).

Against the popular Jewish understanding of love limited to a fellow Jew / Israelite, Jesus extends the love-commandment to one’s “enemies,” i.e., outsiders. The sole motive is, “that you maybe children of your heavenly Father” (v 45). God may be the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but he is also the God and Father of all peoples. His choice of Israel is not an end to itself, but that through Israel, his blessing may go to the Gentiles as well. Proof of his care for everyone is the working of nature: the sun shines and the rain falls on people without distinction. To be “perfect” like the heavenly Father is to love the way the Father lovers – all embracing, without discrimination.

It is humanly impossible to love everybody with the same intensity and attention. But love must be inclusive, not exclusive. Have you “un-friended” someone lately? How?

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.) http://www.ssp.ph/

Ten Rules For A Happy Day…



1. TODAY I WILL NOT STRIKE BACK...
if someone is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is unkind, I will not respond in a like manner.

2. TODAY I WILL ASK GOD TO BLESS MY 'ENEMY'...
If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly, I will quietly ask God to bless that individual. I understand "enemy" could be a family member, neighbor, co-worker or stranger.

3. TODAY I WILL BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I SAY...
I will carefully choose and guard my words being certain that I do not spread gossip.

4. TODAY I WILL GO THE EXTRA MILE...
I will find ways to help share the burden of another person.

5. TODAY I WILL FORGIVE...
I will forgive any hurts or injuries that come my way.

6. TODAY I WILL DO SOMETHING NICE FOR SOMEONE, BUT I WILL DO IT IN SECRET...
I will reach out anonymously and bless the life of another.

7. TODAY I WILL TREAT OTHERS THE WAY I WISH TO BE TREATED...
I will practice the golden rule. "Do Unto others as I would have them do unto me"- with EVERYONE I encounter.

8. TODAY I WILL RAISE THE SPIRITS OF SOMEONE WHO IS DISCOURAGED...
My smile, my words, my expression of support, can make the difference to someone who is wrestling with life.

9. TODAY I WILL NURTURE MY BODY...
I will eat less... I will eat only healthy foods. I will thank God for my body.

10. TODAY I WILL GROW SPIRITUALLY...
I will spend a little more time in prayer today. I will begin reading something spiritual or inspirational; I will find a quiet place (at some point during this day) and listen to God's voice.

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Heavenly Father,” – Matthew 5:44-45

Farewell to a dedicated educator



THE Reverend Brother Felix Donohue (pic), former principal of La Salle Petaling Jaya (LSPJ), passed away on Sunday, June 18 as we celebrated Fathers Day. It is most apt to acknowledge the contributions and sacrifice of Brother Felix who was our beloved father figure at school.

He left Ireland as a young lad, giving up everything to educate a motley bunch of delinquents like us – and he did this for decades!

As students, we found Brother Felix to be stern. This no-nonsense aura was further personified by his tall presence and white robe that he wore coupled with his signature deep voice. His heavily Irish-accented greeting, “Selamat pagi, murid murid”, still reverberates in our memories today. Some of us used to call him the “White Ghost” – in reverence, of course.

Being a boys’ school, one can imagine the chaos that teachers go through daily. However, there was a certain decorum and respect that even the most “havoc” among us reserved for Brother Felix.

He was the line that we never crossed. If at all, the backbone of La Salle PJ then was Brother Felix. It was that disciplined, stern and focused nature which many of us would later appreciate Brother Felix for – after leaving school.

Sapienta Et Caritas (Wisdom and Love) is LSPJ’s motto. During our school days, we did not value it as much. It was later in our lives that we came to realise how teachers and leaders like Brother Felix moulded us based on that motto. Knowledge is available everywhere but to impart wisdom, which is really the essence of social, economic and spiritual development, requires special “teachers”.

Brother Felix’s actions and sacrifice taught us much. His dedicated sense of duty and service educated students of all races and religions to be better human beings and to serve their country and society with dedication and morality. And all this he achieved via his own brand of compassion, which we perhaps call “tough love”.

Thank you for the wisdom, Brother Felix. La Sallians are a successful bunch today. Having left school 30 years ago and now reconnecting with my schoolmates on social media, I can see that many of them are doing extremely well in life.

As a trainer in the finance industry, I can often single out a La Sallian among my participants. All of us collectively agree and attribute this “X Factor” to the quality of the LSPJ education, the school spirit and dedicated educators and teachers like Brother Felix.

Without this “Wisdom and Love”, many of us would not be where we are today.

By the way, I was born a Buddhist and no one ever tried to proselytise me at LSPJ. This validates the notion that the brother directors were dedicated educators. It is a pity there are so few of them today. Brother Felix has indeed left a legacy.

We La Sallians consider ourselves a family regardless of race or religion. This is evident in our LSPJ Class of 1987 social media platforms; we even call ourselves “braders”.

While the family mourns the passing of our father figure, he will be glad to know his efforts were never in vain as the spirit and legacy of La Salle lives on in all the students who have passed the hallowed halls of LSPJ.

And as we sing the school song and rally, remember to lift our hearts and loudly sing for our beloved Bother Felix J. Donohue – a wonderful, selfless person and a dedicated educator!

LIM TIEN CHEE

On behalf of La Salle PJ Class of 1987

Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/...AB4XwyCFQEqs.99

Wake will be in Paul Miki Room, Church of St Francis Xavier (Basement), from Monday 19th June.
Funeral Mass is on Thursday, 22nd June, 10 am,
at Church of St. Francis Xavier

LIVE Broadcast of funeral Mass @ http://Tv.ArchKL.org

Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious
Lectionary: 367



Reading 1 (2 Cor 9:6-11)

Brothers and sisters, consider this:
whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you,
so that in all things, always having all you need,
you may have an abundance for every good work.
As it is written:

He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.

The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food
will supply and multiply your seed
and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

You are being enriched in every way for all generosity,
which through us produces thanksgiving to God.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 112:1bc-2, 3-4, 9)

R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Wealth and riches shall be in his house;
his generosity shall endure forever.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Lavishly he gives to the poor;
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

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 almsgiving 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."



REFLECTION

When you fast… The only fast prescribed by the Torah of Moses is that of the Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement (cf Lv 16:31). Regular fasting becomes common in later Judaism when pious Jews fast twice a week out of devotion. Some occasionally fast out of grief.

Some, however, as Jesus warns in the Gospel, fast to win the admiration of neighbors who will regard them as men of superior piety. This is manifested through obvious external signs: exaggeration of traditional signs of fasting, like putting ashes on heads, or disfiguring one’s appearance.

Jesus’ followers will last, and Jesus teaches them why and how. They will fast in solidarity with him, the Bridegroom who will someday be taken away from them. Their fasting will not take another form of disguise. Still, joy – not fasting or grief – is the mark of their discipleship. Jesus inaugurates a new relationship with God characterized by the joy of salvation, akin to the joy of the wedding banquet.

Do you fast at all? For what reason? What good does fasting do to your soul?

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.) http://www.ssp.ph/

The Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus



The Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a popular prayer found in many Catholic prayer books. It is a great prayer to recite before or after Mass, during Eucharistic Adoration, for the month of the Sacred Heart in June, and any time we need to increase our faith, hope, and charity.

It is the heart of Jesus that was pierced on the cross for our redemption; not just for mankind in general, but for each person in particular. This popular litany honors and praises that Sacred Heart which suffered and died out of inexpressible love for each one of us.

Source: https://www.catholiccompany.com/getfed/pray...y-sacred-heart/


This post has been edited by khool: Jun 21 2017, 09:39 AM

Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 368



Reading 1 (2 Cor 11:1-11)

Brothers and sisters:
If only you would put up with a little foolishness from me!
Please put up with me.
For I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God,
since I betrothed you to one husband
to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning,
your thoughts may be corrupted
from a sincere and pure commitment to Christ.
For if someone comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached,
or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received
or a different gospel from the one you accepted,
you put up with it well enough.
For I think that I am not in any way inferior to these "super apostles."
Even if I am untrained in speaking, I am not so in knowledge;
in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.

Did I make a mistake when I humbled myself so that you might be exalted,
because I preached the Gospel of God to you without charge?
I plundered other churches by accepting from them
in order to minister to you.
And when I was with you and in need, I did not burden anyone,
for the brothers who came from Macedonia
supplied my needs.
So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.
By the truth of Christ in me,
this boast of mine shall not be silenced
in the regions of Achaia.
And why? Because I do not love you?
God knows I do!

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 111:1b-2, 3-4, 7-8)

R. Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.
or:
R. Alleluia.

I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
R. Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Majesty and glory are his work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD.
R. Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.
or:
R. Alleluia.

The works of his hands are faithful and just;
sure are all his precepts,
Reliable forever and ever,
wrought in truth and equity.
R. Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia (Rom 8:15bc)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You have received a spirit of adoption as sons
through which we cry: Abba! Father!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mt 6:7-15)

Jesus said to his disciples:
"In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

"This is how you are to pray:

'Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.'
"If you forgive others their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."



REFLECTION

This is how you are to pray. In praying, Jesus warns against two attitudes: First, the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who go on their way to let people see they are praying and so will be rewarded with people’s praise. The second is the superstitions of the pagans who “babble” when they pray.

Pagans look on prayers as a kind of incantation, and chanted them over and over. Some recite a litany of divine names, hoping to hit on the secret name that would force a response from the deity. Some think that if they say the right words or formula, they will get what they want.

Rejecting a kind of magical conception of prayer aimed at securing God’s attention, Jesus calls for simplicity and trust. While pagans think to draw the gods’ attention or overcome their indifference, Jesus teaches that God is a Father who knows the needs of His children before they can even voice these. The petitions addressed to the Father, rather than disclosing information, are our way of expressing our trust and confidence in God.

Do you know the common Catholic prayers? Do you also pray without words, in mind and spirit, from the heart?

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.) http://www.ssp.ph/

This post has been edited by khool: Jun 22 2017, 11:27 AM

Our Father ...

There's a great chance we've prayed the Our Father hundreds of times. But do we truly pay attention to the words? Here, a simple guide to remember the richness of the Lord's prayer.



Source: https://www.facebook.com/catholiclink1/phot...?type=3&theater

7 Great Habits For Catholic Families to Develop

God’s plan for the family is to be a model of the love of the Holy Trinity. “The Christian family is a communion of persons, a sign and image of the communion of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit. In the procreation and education of children it reflects the Father’s work of creation. It is called to partake of the prayer and sacrifice of Christ.” (CCC 2205)

Every family is called to holiness and it is our job as parents to make Christ the center of the home. How can you build a culture of faith within your family? What is the best way to teach your children about God and the ways of the Catholic Church?

It is no easy task! The best place to begin is with prayer. We don’t have all the answers, but God does. Establish a regular prayer time each day and ask the Lord to give you wisdom in your parenting. We can also learn from the Saints and holy men and women who have gone before us.

This easy to understand infographic will help you become aware of 7 habits that Catholic families should try to develop. Take some time to talk about this with your spouse and your children. Brainstorm ideas on how you can incorporate the faith into your daily activities. What would you add to this list?



Source: http://catholic-link.org/2017/06/21/7-habi...campaign=buffer

Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Lectionary: 170



Reading 1 (Dt 7:6-11)

Moses said to the people:
"You are a people sacred to the LORD, your God;
he has chosen you from all the nations on the face of the earth
to be a people peculiarly his own.
It was not because you are the largest of all nations
that the LORD set his heart on you and chose you,
for you are really the smallest of all nations.
It was because the LORD loved you
and because of his fidelity to the oath he had sworn your fathers,
that he brought you out with his strong hand
from the place of slavery,
and ransomed you from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
Understand, then, that the LORD, your God, is God indeed,
the faithful God who keeps his merciful covenant
down to the thousandth generation
toward those who love him and keep his commandments,
but who repays with destruction a person who hates him;
he does not dally with such a one,
but makes them personally pay for it.
You shall therefore carefully observe the commandments,
the statutes and the decrees that I enjoin on you today."

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 10)

R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

Reading 2 (1 Jn 4:7-16)

Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.

This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.

God is love, and whoever remains in love
remains in God and God in him.

Alleluia (Mt 11:29ab)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord;
and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mt 11:25-30)

At that time Jesus exclaimed:
"I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."



REFLECTION

Meek and humble of heart. The Gospel tells us of Jesus’ humility. He is “meek and humble of Heart.” Humility is derived from the Latin humus, which is translated as ground or soil. A humble person feels close to the dust of the ground from which he came (cf Gn 3:19). He does not aspire to be on the level of the divine.

As the Son of the eternal Father, Jesus belongs to the sphere of the divine. That is why His heart is “sacred.” But Jesus does not cling to His equality with God; rather He empties Himself and becomes a man. He further humbles Himself by dying on the cross (cf Phil. 2:6-8). This He does to show His loving obedience to the Father who gives his only Son to the world that we may have eternal life through Him (cf Jn 3:16).

The Sacrd Heart of Jesus is also the icon of the Father who is revealed to us as the “Father of compassion and God of all encouragement” (2 Cor 1:3).

Just us Jesus invites the weary and the burdened to find rest in Him, so He reveals God as Abba/Father who has only love and forgiveness for all His children, especially the prodigal ones. God is not a God of the wise and the learned, of philosophers and theologians. He is the God of the childlike, those without power, without voice, without anything to boast of. God is the God of the brokenhearted and the weary. His heart is the heart of the Abba which is broken by the rebellion of his children, but which is filled with joy at their return.

Pray to the Lord to give you a heart similar to his.

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.) http://www.ssp.ph/

Amen! Amen!

Sometimes, we are too quick to decide. Let God be a part of your life! Remember he has a plan for you, and the way to discover it is through prayer.



2 Corinthians 5:1-10 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling - if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.

Should You Sing at Mass Even If You Can’t Carry a Tune?

Sometimes the choir sounds so beautiful at Mass that it’s tempting to not join in singing. You’re inclined to just sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

But, that’s just it. This isn’t a show. This is Mass. This is our highest form of worship and prayer and it is not a spectator sport.

We are called to fully give of ourselves in order to be a part of the prayer of the Mass. Even if you’re not the best singer in the Church, we are told to “make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises” (Psalm 98:4-6).

Why should even the worst of singers break forth in song at Mass? Here are 5 reasons everyone needs to sing.

1. The ability to sing is a gift from God.

Last year when we had the opportunity to visit a nursing home with my son’s choir, I noticed one woman in a wheelchair swaying her body to the rhythm of the music, trying to clap her hands, and desperately looking as if she wanted to burst out in song herself. But, she couldn’t. She had lost the ability to speak or sing. We often take for granted that it is a gift to be able to make a joyful noise.

2. When we sing at Mass it is an act of obedience.

There are many Bible verses that encourage us to sing to the Lord, making it clear that this is something God desires from us. In Matthew 26:30 we are told that even Jesus sang hymns. When we don’t really want to sing, but do it anyway, it shows God that we are willing to put Him above all else.

3. Singing unites us as the Body of Christ.

When we sing together, we become united in our prayer and praise to God. It builds the community within the Church by reminding us that we are one in the Lord in the same way that our voices join together as one.

4. We can learn and memorize scripture through singing.

Many of the words we sing at Mass can be found in Scripture. In your own experience, I’m sure you’ve learned that it is easier to remember a song or a jingle than merely memorize text. The same is true for the Word of God. I’m sure that you can recite the lyrics to several hymns off the top of your head right now.

5. Singing is a form of prayer.

This is the most important reason that you should sing during the Mass. St. Augustine said that “He who sings prays twice.” Our song is praise offering to the Lord. The lyrics are more than just words, they are the prayer of heart.

“The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church 1156

Remember, when you sing with joy to God, He hears the prayer of your heart. Even if it sounds a bit off key to everyone else, God is pleased with your desire to praise Him.


One way to prepare yourself to sing more at Mass is to learn the music. Take time to listen to the songs and get comfortable with singing them in your own home or car. Don’t worry about what you sound like, just pray the words and sing with joy to the Lord.

Kyrie ...



Gloria ...



Sanctus ...



Source: http://catholic-link.org/2017/03/10/sing-m...campaign=buffer

This post has been edited by khool: Jun 23 2017, 04:45 PM

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Mass during the Day
Lectionary: 587



Reading 1 (Is 49:1-6)

Hear me, O coastlands,
listen, O distant peoples.
The LORD called me from birth,
from my mother's womb he gave me my name.
He made of me a sharp-edged sword
and concealed me in the shadow of his arm.
He made me a polished arrow,
in his quiver he hid me.
You are my servant, he said to me,
Israel, through whom I show my glory.

Though I thought I had toiled in vain,
and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength,
yet my reward is with the LORD,
my recompense is with my God.
For now the LORD has spoken
who formed me as his servant from the womb,
that Jacob may be brought back to him
and Israel gathered to him;
and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,
and my God is now my strength!
It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15)

R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.

O LORD, you have probed me, you know me:
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.

Truly you have formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother's womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works.
R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.

My soul also you knew full well;
nor was my frame unknown to you
When I was made in secret,
when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.
R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.

Reading 2 (Acts 13:22-26)

In those days, Paul said:
"God raised up David as king;
of him God testified,
I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will carry out my every wish.
From this man's descendants God, according to his promise,
has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.
John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance
to all the people of Israel;
and as John was completing his course, he would say,
'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold, one is coming after me;
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.'

"My brothers, sons of the family of Abraham,
and those others among you who are God-fearing,
to us this word of salvation has been sent."

Alleluia (See Lk 1:76)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Lk 1:57-66, 80)

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child
she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her.
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,
"No. He will be called John."
But they answered her,
"There is no one among your relatives who has this name."
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name,"
and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors,
and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
"What, then, will this child be?"
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
The child grew and became strong in spirit,
and he was in the desert until the day
of his manifestation to Israel.



REFLECTION

What… will this child be? In a style called diptych or narratives in “two frames,” Luke narrates the conception and birth both of John the Baptist and of Jesus. The parallelism also serves to bring out that Jesus is the greater one. Although wondrous signs accompany the conception and birth of John, he is not the Awaited One, the Messiah of God. Rather, he is a prophet who prepares the way of the Lord, as his father Zechariah prophesies (cf v 76). The name John or Yohanan means “God favors” and this is seen in the neighbors and relatives acknowledging the great mercy given to Elizabeth (and Zechariah), and they rejoice with her (cf Lk 1:14, 58).

As the son of a priest, John is supposed to be trained in the Temple services. Instead, he grows up in the desert, far from the luxury in which the Jerusalem priestly aristocracy lives. By his attire, diet, and preaching, John presents himself more like a prophet than a priest. John wears clothing made of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. This garb makes him resemble the prophet Elijah the Tishbite who was described to King Ahaziah as wearing “a hairy garment with a leather belt around his waist” (2 Kgs 1:8). He is thus presented not as a prophet in general; he is the “new Elijah” who will call for reconciliation before the advent of the Lord.

Like Zechariah and Elizabeth, do you experience God’s “graciousness”? In what way?

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.) http://www.ssp.ph/

For Malaysia, the holy days of obligation are as follows:

a. Ascension Day
b. Assumption of Mother Mary
c. All Saints Day
d. Christmas Day

God Bless!


This post has been edited by khool: Jun 24 2017, 10:00 AM

His eye is on the Sparrow
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A



Over the years, I’ve become quite an expert of all sorts at self-pity. Some of you may know the feeling, “No one cares about me.” “No one understands me.” “No one really bothers about my well-being.” To help me ascertain the intensity of the feeling, I’ve come up with an index of three degrees. Starting at the lowest level, there is, “NBC” – “Nobody’s child.” Followed by the next level of intensity, “NBLM” “Nobody loves me.” “Ouch!” But the one that tops the barometer of self-loathing is “EHM” “Everybody hates me.” This may have more to do with the fear of not being loved than the fear of being insulted or rejected. Perhaps, this index may come in useful when you have to negotiate the hills and valleys of community life. It’s not hard to feel misunderstood, alienated, estranged and wronged when you are in the company of strangers, minus the family members, friends and acquaintances. But on second thought, better watch out for them too! Often enough, the nastiest sting often comes from those who are the closest. In a tight space, we often end up rubbing more than shoulders and elbows, rather we seem to successfully rub each other’s ego in the wrong way.

I guess that’s what a little leaven of self-doubt and poor self-esteem does to us. Our Lord had warned us of the leaven of the Pharisees, the putrid, demoralising, bitter negativity that usually begins in small ways and that are often dismissed as too minor for our attention. But it is this leaven, when allowed to fester and breed, that will infect our entire outlook of things. It often begins with the way we view ourselves – as insignificant, not worthy of love or attention, and then it is projected unto others who are blamed as the catalyst and cause of our woes. Rather than expecting and watching out for the insults and mud that will be flung at us by others, we should honestly acknowledge that we are capable of doing greater damage to ourselves than we realise.

Perhaps, the reason why we see so little value in ourselves is because we fail to see how much value we have in the eyes of God. This is at the heart of what Jesus conveys in today’s gospel. Out of all the things He could have chosen, Jesus chose the sparrow; a bird so common, it was practically worthless. Sparrows do not draw attention to themselves. Sparrows are not majestic like eagles. Bird watchers, who seem to have a fascination for all sorts of feathered friends, don’t go sparrow-watching. No, sparrows are in-descript as you see them momentarily flutter by. During the time of Jesus, a person could buy two sparrows at the price of one cent. If one were to pay two cents, a free bird was thrown in. This must have been one of the earliest recorded super value deals. We may not esteem the tiny sparrow, but the Lord tells us that not one sparrow is forgotten before God. He uses this buy-four-get-one-free practice to illustrate how much God values every single life. If God is concerned about the tiny sparrow, how much greater must His concern be for man! If God notices, values, and cares about a tiny sparrow, then how much more must God notice, value, and care about us.

While it is a great encouragement to know that God values the seemingly insignificant sparrow, it is even more encouraging that He values us so much that He takes an interest in every possible detail about us. The Lord revealed the extent of God’s interest by stating that “every hair on your head has been counted.” There is no place we can go, no word we can say, no act too small for God’s notice. If God can give so much value to the tiny worthless sparrow and the insignificant strain of hair, what more, the entire person. As one rotund comedian often commented about her size, “There is so much more of me to Love.”

There are many, many things in this world that argue well as to the worthlessness of man. What is a man to the world? That is one soul among billions that inhabit this third planet from the sun. All the world itself, I suppose, is so put together that a man might have reason to think that whether he lives or dies- what is it? Like a pebble on a beach or just like one other star in the sky? Who are we on the earth, and what is our earth in its universe? When I stare into the skies, the eternal silence of the infinite terrifies me. When they tell us of the light years and billions of light years that separate the earth from other planets, the stars and the galaxies in this universe, in this great cosmic creation; and when they tell us our galaxy is one of the smallest of all, and our earth is one of the smallest planets around the sun –– when you read those astronomical figures, what is a man on the earth? What is your life, or mine?

That is the reason science, with all its promise of a better future, often ends in defeatism and despair. That is the reason infidelity is dead and cold. That is the reason why it is so essential that you and I have to embrace the promise of Christ. That is the reason why the Lord assures us that even if it came to the seemingly insignificant extra sparrow which no one pays attention to, thrown in for nothing – but, God saw it when it fell to the ground. It is the old and neglected, the poor and the homeless, the one who has lost his way or his faith, the one who suffers loneliness and depression, or the newly formed embryo in a mother’s womb, the one who no one sees, but God sees them all. God knows, God understands, because each single person is truly precious and valuable in His eyes, even when the person doesn’t seem to be worthy or deserving of it. Not a single one falls that God didn’t see it.

During moments of self-doubt, during times of home-sickness, during days of loneliness and disaffection, when we are tempted to think, “No one cares for me” or “No one loves me”, as we plod along with heavy hearts and sore feet, let us always remember the truth of what the Lord says at the very end of today’s gospel. Not even the tiny sparrows escape the notice of God. “Every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.”

Some of you may remember this gospel song popularised by the movie Sister Act, “The Eye of the Sparrow,” written by Mrs Civilla Martin at the turn of the 20th century. In 1904, Mrs. Martin, went to visit a bedridden friend in New York. She asked the woman if she ever got discouraged because of her physical condition. Her friend quickly responded: “Mrs. Martin, how can I be discouraged when my heavenly Father watches over each little sparrow and I know He loves and cares for me?” On her journey back home, Mrs. Martin completed the writing of her new text, which has since been a source of much encouragement to many.

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, why should my heart be lonely and long for Heaven and home, when Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me...
“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear, and resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; though by the path He leadeth but one step I may see: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me...
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise, when songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies, I draw the closer to Him; from care He sets me free; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me...

Let’s face it: It is hard to remember, hard to live without fear, hard to live with the assurance of God’s profuse care of even us. But our perspective changes when we remember, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

Source: http://michaelckw.blogspot.my/

God bless, and have a wonderful Holy Spirit filled weekend my brothers and sisters in Christ!

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 94



Reading 1 (Jer 20:10-13)

Jeremiah said:
"I hear the whisperings of many:
'Terror on every side!
Denounce! let us denounce him!'
All those who were my friends
are on the watch for any misstep of mine.
'Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail,
and take our vengeance on him.'
But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion:
my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.
In their failure they will be put to utter shame,
to lasting, unforgettable confusion.
O LORD of hosts, you who test the just,
who probe mind and heart,
let me witness the vengeance you take on them,
for to you I have entrusted my cause.
Sing to the LORD,
praise the LORD,
for he has rescued the life of the poor
from the power of the wicked!"

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35)

R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

For your sake I bear insult,
and shame covers my face.
I have become an outcast to my brothers,
a stranger to my children,
Because zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

I pray to you, O LORD,
for the time of your favor, O God!
In your great kindness answer me
with your constant help.
Answer me, O LORD, for bounteous is your kindness;
in your great mercy turn toward me.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

"See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.
Let the heavens and the earth praise him,
the seas and whatever moves in them!''
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Reading 2 (Rom 5:12-15)

Brothers and sisters:
Through one man sin entered the world,
and through sin, death,
and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned—
for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world,
though sin is not accounted when there is no law.
But death reigned from Adam to Moses,
even over those who did not sin
after the pattern of the trespass of Adam,
who is the type of the one who was to come.

But the gift is not like the transgression.
For if by the transgression of the one the many died,
how much more did the grace of God
and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ
overflow for the many.

Alleluia (Jn 15:26b, 27a)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord;
and you also will testify.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mt 10:26-33)

Jesus said to the Twelve:
"Fear no one.
Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light;
what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;
rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy
both soul and body in Gehenna.
Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?
Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge.
Even all the hairs of your head are counted.
So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Everyone who acknowledges me before others
I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.
But whoever denies me before others,
I will deny before my heavenly Father."



REFLECTION

We are in the hands of a loving father. In the preface to his book Let Go of Fear, Carlos Valles shares how on a leisurely bicycle ride in a lonely countryside road he is stopped by an unusual sight. In the low grass is a cobra, half coiled, half-erect, with its hood spread out and its tongue flickering danger. On the branch of a nearby bush is perched a little bird paralyzed with fear. The bird has wings, but is unable to fly. It has a larynx, but is unable to sing. It is frozen, stiff, mesmerized. Fear holds the bird. Though the vast expanse of the sky is open to it, the prey cannot escape.

Fear haunts all of us. We worry about persons, events, things. We fret over job and possessions, health of body and spirit, welfare and security of loved ones. We are afraid of the varied dangers that threaten our life and disturb our peace of mind. These concerns explain our frantic efforts and frazzled nerves; they visit as nightmares in our troubled sleep.

In the Gospel, the Apostles have reason to be apprehensive about their mission of proclaiming the Kingdom and witnessing to Jesus. True, their Master has just given them authority to expel unclean spirits and to heal diseases. But he has also warned them that their message will not find an easy hearing. They will be entering dens of wolves, filled with hostile forces bent to kill them. They will be maligned and haled before courts, persecuted and murdered.

Jesus addresses their apprehensions by bidding them three times: “Do not be afraid.” They are not to allow themselves to be intimidated or to be crippled by fear.

He tells them that there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, and no secret that will not be known. The message that they have listened to attentively and received from him they are to speak with boldness.

Jesus also says that the disciples need not fear the things or people who can hurt superficially but cannot harm the spirit. No bodily harm human beings can inflict approximates the real death that only separation from God brings.

Finally, Jesus assures the Apostles that they have no reason to be afraid of anything because they are in God’s hands. The heavenly Father’s loving care extends not only to big things like armies in battle, but also to intimate little details like the life of a sparrow. If God attends to sparrows, an entire flock of which is nowhere near the worth of a human being, how much more does he look after the disciples whose every hair is numbered.

How comforting it is to know that God’s providential care for us is always there, even in the smallest details of our lives. Our concerns and preoccupations, our misfortunes and tragedies, our nightmares and disasters — these are all in the hands of a loving Father. Despite appearances, God is absolutely in control. There is nothing to fear.

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.) http://www.ssp.ph/

Be Not Afraid

Our commitment to Christ will be put to the test.

We will hear whispered warnings and denunciations, as Jeremiah does in today’s First Reading. Even so-called friends will try to trap and trip us up.

For His sake we will bear insults and be made outcasts—even in our own homes, we hear in today’s Psalm.

As Jeremiah tells us, we must expect that God will challenge our faith in Him, and probe our minds and hearts, to test the depths of our love.

“Do not be afraid,” Jesus assures us three times in today’s Gospel.



As Jeremiah tells us, we must expect that God will challenge our faith in Him, and probe our minds and hearts, to test the depths of our love.

“Do not be afraid,” Jesus assures us three times in today’s Gospel.

Though He may permit us to suffer for our faith, our Father will never forget or abandon us. As Jesus assures us today, everything unfolds in His Providence, under His watchful gaze—even the falling of the tiniest sparrow to the ground. Each one of us is precious to Him.

Steadfast in this faith, we must resist the tactics of Satan. He is the enemy who seeks the ruin of our soul in Gehenna, or hell.

We are to seek God, as the Psalmist says. Zeal for the Lord’s house, for the heavenly kingdom of the Father, should consume us, as it consumed Jesus (see Jn 2:17). As Jesus bore the insults of those who blasphemed God, so should we (see Rm 15:3).

By the gracious gift of himself, Jesus bore the transgressions of the world, Paul tells us in today’s Epistle. In rising from the dead, He has shown us that God rescues the life of the poor, that He does not spurn His own when they are in distress. In His great mercy, He will turn toward us, as well. He will deliver us from the power of the wicked.

That is why we proclaim His name from the housetops, as Jesus tells us. That is why we sing praise and offer thanksgiving in every Eucharist. We are confident in Jesus’ promise—that we who declare our faith in Him before others will be remembered before our heavenly Father.

Source: http://stpaulcenter.com/reflections/be-not...n-ordinary-time

Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 372



Reading 1 (Gn 13:2, 5-18)

Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.

Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents,
so that the land could not support them if they stayed together;
their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.
There were quarrels between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock
and those of Lot's. (At this time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were occupying the land.)

So Abram said to Lot:
"Let there be no strife between you and me,
or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are kinsmen.
Is not the whole land at your disposal?
Please separate from me.
If you prefer the left, I will go to the right;
if you prefer the right, I will go to the left."
Lot looked about and saw how well watered
the whole Jordan Plain was as far as Zoar,
like the LORD's own garden, or like Egypt.
(This was before the LORD had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
Lot, therefore, chose for himself the whole Jordan Plain
and set out eastward.
Thus they separated from each other;
Abram stayed in the land of Canaan,
while Lot settled among the cities of the Plain,
pitching his tents near Sodom.
Now the inhabitants of Sodom were very wicked
in the sins they committed against the LORD.

After Lot had left, the LORD said to Abram:
"Look about you, and from where you are,
gaze to the north and south, east and west;
all the land that you see I will give to you
and your descendants forever.
I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth;
if anyone could count the dust of the earth,
your descendants too might be counted.
Set forth and walk about in the land, through its length and breadth,
for to you I will give it."
Abram moved his tents and went on to settle
near the terebinth of Mamre, which is at Hebron.
There he built an altar to the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5)

R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

He who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
By whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Alleluia (Jn 8:12)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mt 7:6, 12-14)

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.

"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the Law and the Prophets.

"Enter through the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,
and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few."



REFLECTION

DO TO OTHERS. Jesus’ saying, “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you” (v 12), has been known as the Golden Rule since the 18th century. The rule, in essence, encapsulates the Law and the Prophets. This is not distinctly Christian as in antiquity there were many variations of this saying, although in the negative form. Tobit reminds his son Tobiah, “Do to no one what you yourself hate” (Tb 4:15). Rabbi Hillel, a contemporary of Jesus, is reported to have said, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow creatures.” The negative formulation may also be found among sages of other faiths.

On the other hand, the Law and the Prophets — or the essence of the Scriptures — would be summarized in other ways. Jesus Himself says that the commandment of love of God and neighbor is the first and the sum of all the commandments (cf Mk 12:30-31). And the Apostle Paul declares, “Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom 13:10).

The Golden Rule—in the positive or negative form—is so basic that it is almost implanted in our conscience. If we use common sense or are in our right mind, we will avoid doing to others what we would not like done to ourselves. But Jesus opens a wider vista for doing good. One does not just refrain from harming; one goes out to do good to others.

In your dealings with other people, are you guided by the Golden Rule? Have you followed this lately?

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.) http://www.ssp.ph/

Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr
Lectionary: 373



Reading 1 (Gn 15:1-12, 17-18)

The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:

"Fear not, Abram!
I am your shield;
I will make your reward very great."

But Abram said,
"O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be,
if I keep on being childless
and have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?"
Abram continued,
"See, you have given me no offspring,
and so one of my servants will be my heir."
Then the word of the LORD came to him:
"No, that one shall not be your heir;
your own issue shall be your heir."
He took him outside and said:
"Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can.
Just so," he added, "shall your descendants be."
Abram put his faith in the LORD,
who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.

He then said to him,
"I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans
to give you this land as a possession."
"O Lord GOD," he asked,
"how am I to know that I shall possess it?"
He answered him,
"Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat,
a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."
Abram brought him all these, split them in two,
and placed each half opposite the other;
but the birds he did not cut up.
Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses,
but Abram stayed with them.
As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram,
and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him.

When the sun had set and it was dark,
there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch,
which passed between those pieces.
It was on that occasion that the LORD made a covenant with Abram,
saying: "To your descendants I give this land,
from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River the Euphrates."

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9)

R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.

You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.

He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations—
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia (Jn 15:4a, 5b)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord;
whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mt 7:15-20)
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing,
but underneath are ravenous wolves.
By their fruits you will know them.
Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Just so, every good tree bears good fruit,
and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,
nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down
and thrown into the fire.
So by their fruits you will know them."



REFLECTION

Beware of false prophets. Scriptures attest to the phenomenon of persons claiming to be prophets alongside the authentic messengers of God. The latter call the former “false prophets.” Since they come in “sheep’s clothing,” acting like the real prophets, they are hard to distinguish. Some indicators that they are false are: Their oracles do not come true, they give a false sense of security, and they avoid speaking the “hard truth” of the divine oracle.

With regard to the Christian message, false prophets are bent on preaching the easy way — hence, the easier way of following Jesus that guarantees good feelings and rewards. They embrace that part of the Gospel that makes life smooth and exciting: they have little or nothing to say about the demands of Jesus. They do not mention the cross. They love the advantages that leadership affords them.

Believers should beware of leaders who say only nice things and hide the painful truth about the faith. True prophets - like true friends - should be honest, even if honesty sometimes hurts.

Who are the friends who have been true to you? In what ways?

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.) http://www.ssp.ph/

Saint of the Day:St Irenaeus



St Irenaeus, “Father of Catholic Theology”, as he has been
called, came from a Christian family living in Asia Minor (Turkey). Soon after being ordained a priest, Irenaeus was sent to Lyons, the principal city of Gaul, to assist his countryman, Bishop St Pothinus.

As Bishop of Lyons (in France) for some 24 years, Irenaeus succeeded in gaining many new converts to the faith and rebuilding Churches in Gaul. Having studied the Scriptures exhaustively and mastered both the Greek and oriental philosophies, on which the Gnostic heresies (Gnosticism: Salvation comes from knowledge which is the exclusive possession of a small group) were based, he was able to set forth their absurdities and to refute their claims by Catholic tradition as well as by the Scriptures.

His book Proof of the Apostolic Preaching, a presentation of the doctrines of the faith for the use of lay people and written in dialogue form, emphasizes the recapitulation of all things in Christ, the new Adam; that Mary, the Theotokos, is the new Eve; the Eucharist is both a Sacrament containing the real presence and the true sacrifice of the New Law; and that the body will rise again.

In c.190, Irenaeus, whose name means “lover of peace”, facilitated the establishment of peace between Pope Victor I and the Eastern Churches in relation to the latter’s refusal to conform to the Roman practice concerning the Easter date. According to St Jerome, St Irenaeus died a Martyr’s death under Septimius Severus.

Reflection: “When we come to the public service of God, we come as it were in a formidable body, to do violence to him, and to storm heaven by prayer; and this violence is most pleasing to God” (St Irenaeus).