Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectio Divina

Praise the Lord, my soul!

Buona domenica!

105th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, instituted by Pope Pius X and first celebrated in 1914
In other years: Archangels Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 7:24-30
Mass: Amos 6:1a, 4-7; Resp Ps 146; 1 Tm 6:11-16; Lk 16:19-31

Today's celebration is "not just about migrants", Pope Francis tells us, "it's about all of us, about the human family, called to build together a world more in accord with God's plan" (Twitter, September 29, 2019). In his homily this morning, the Holy Father elaborated: it's about "all those in existential peripheries, who together with migrants and refugees, are victims of the throwaway culture." What then is the Lord asking of us?

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September 29, 2019 Read More

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2019

Lectio Divina

O Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

National Catechetical Sunday
In other years: Our Lady of Sorrows

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 2:33-40
Mass: Ex 32:7-11, 13-14; Resp Ps 51; 1 Tim 1:12-17; Lk 15:1-32

A word for today is mercy. Our readings are saturated with the mercy of God. We begin by using the words of St Paul as a lens for taking in it all in. Quite clearly, St Paul tells us: "Christ came into the world to save sinners" (1 Tm 1:15).

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September 15, 2019 Read More

Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

Lectio Divina

Sing to God, chant praise to his name: whose name is the Lord.

In today's reading from the Book of Sirach, the author tells us front and center to conduct our affairs with humility. Furthermore, those that are greater by way of having more gifts, more opportunities, more privileges and the like should humble themselves all the more. In the Gospel, Jesus relates the parable of those invited to a wedding banquet. Jesus tells us to take the lowest place, not the place of honor, for "the one who humbles himself with be exalted."

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September 03, 2019 Read More

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectio Divina

The Lord is exalted, yet the lowly he sees, and the proud he knows from afar.

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 48 Daily Manual Labor
Mass: Gn 18:20-32; Resp Ps 138; Col 2:12-14; Lk 11: 1-13

These words from St Paul's Letter to the Philippians proclaimed this morning at Lauds I find most comforting and encouraging:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.

Saturday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Lectio Divina

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Saint John Fisher (1469-1535); Saint Thomas More (1477-1535); Saint Paulinus of Nola (355-431)
Blessed Virgin Mary

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 18 The Order of the Psalmody
Mass: 2 Cor 12:1-10; Resp Ps 34; Mt 6:24-34

Everyone experiences diminishment in one form or another as life goes on. Diminishment can be the result of short-term or chronic illness, accidents, age, or injuries as well as emotional stress, grief, and temptations. During times of diminishment we experience weaknesses we never knew we had. Paul called his "a thorn in the flesh". Paul begged the Lord for his thorn to leave him. And the Lord answered, My grace is sufficient for you for power is made perfect in weakness.