O God,
Who knowest us to be set in the midst of such great perils,
that, by reason of the weakness of our nature,
we cannot stand upright,
grant us such health of mind and body,
that those evils which we suffer for our sins we may overcome through Thine assistance.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Plot no evil against your neighbor,
against one who lives at peace with you.
Quarrel not with a man without cause,
with one who has done you no harm.
Envy not the lawless man
and choose none of his ways:
To the LORD the perverse one is an abomination,
but with the upright is his friendship.
The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
but the dwelling of the just he blesses;
When dealing with the arrogant, he is stern,
but to the humble he shows kindness.
– – –
Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
I had a slightly cheeky thought when I read today’s Psalm Response, “The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.” It’s easy to be just living on the Lord’s holy mountain, isn’t it? The readings from Proverbs and Psalm 15 make similar points. They teach us how to treat each other – with kindness, respect, and peacefulness. It seems counter-cultural and is advice our world needs very much to pay attention to, now. Yet, those words are not recent at all, but from centuries ago, before Jesus was even born. It reminds me that our problems in this world are not as new or unique as we think.
Is it possible that some of our problems are because of our behavior? Are we hiding our light under the bed? Keep reading, this will make sense, I promise. Do you hide your faith? Are you hesitant about being the person God created you to be in this world and for this world? Your light is your power, your faith, your commitment to Christ. Your light is what you have been given that makes you uniquely you. And the world needs you.
Often though, showing “me” to the world is frightening. The fear of judgment, of being misunderstood, of seeming like I am too much, makes me pause and turn down the brightness. That is not what Jesus wants.
When He says, “To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away,” I don’t think He is talking about money or possessions. If we hide our light, in other words, turn from following Christ because it is easier on us, what we have will be taken from us – our faith will be taken because it will seem as if we have no use for faith. Does that apply to you?
I don’t know. I know that sometimes it applies to me. When I allow doubt and fear to grow bigger than the promises of Jesus and the words of Scripture. When the sacraments seem like a good idea, but require so much effort, so I tell myself I have too much to do so I can’t go to daily Mass or make it to confession. You see, faith requires action. If I don’t act on my faith, what good is having it?
Our call is to be people of faith, letting the light of Christ shine through us for others to see. How that happens is unique to each one of us. How will you allow Christ’s light to shine through you today?
Cuando leí el Salmo Responsorial de hoy: “¿Quién será grato a tus ojos Señor?”, pensé, “Ees fácil ser una persona justa en momentos buenos, ¿no?” Las lecturas de Proverbios y el Salmo 15 plantean puntos similares. Nos enseñan cómo tratarnos unos a otros, con amabilidad, respeto y paz. Parece contracultural y es un consejo al que nuestro mundo necesita mucho prestar atención ahora. Sin embargo, esas palabras no son de hoy en día, sino de siglos atrás, incluso antes de que Jesús naciera. Me recuerda que nuestros problemas en este mundo no son tan nuevos o únicos como pensamos.
¿Es posible que algunos de nuestros problemas se deban a nuestro comportamiento? ¿Estamos escondiendo nuestra luz debajo de la cama? Si sigues leyendo, esto tendrá sentido, te lo prometo. ¿Escondes tu fe? ¿Dudas que seas la persona que Dios te creó ser en este mundo y para este mundo? Tu luz es tu poder, tu fe, tu compromiso con Cristo. Tu luz es lo que se te ha dado que te hace único. Y el mundo te necesita.
Sin embargo, a menudo mostrar el “yo” al mundo da miedo. El miedo al juicio, a que me malinterpreten, a lucir que soy demasiado, me hace detenerme y bajar el brillo. Eso no es lo que Jesús quiere.
Cuando Él dice: “al que tiene se le dará más; pero al que no tiene se le quitará aun aquello que cree tener”, no creo que esté hablando de dinero o posesiones. Si ocultamos nuestra luz, es decir, nos alejamos de seguir a Cristo porque es más fácil para nosotros, lo que tenemos nos será quitado, nuestra fe será quitada porque parecerá que no tenemos ningún uso para la fe. ¿Eso se aplica a ti?
No sé. Sé que a veces se aplica a mí. Cuando permito que la duda y el miedo crezcan más que las promesas de Jesús y las palabras de las Escrituras. Cuando los sacramentos parecen una buena idea, pero requieren tanto esfuerzo, entonces me digo a mí mismo que tengo mucho que hacer, así que no puedo ir a Misa diaria o llegar a confesarme. Ves, la fe requiere acción. Si no actúo de mi fe, ¿de qué sirve tenerla?
Nuestro llamado es ser personas de fe, dejando que la luz de Cristo brille a través de nosotros para que otros la vean. Cómo sucede eso es diferente para cada uno de nosotros. ¿Cómo permitirás que la luz de Cristo brille a través de ti hoy?
Deanna G. Bartalini, M.Ed.; M.P.A., is a certified spiritual director, writer, speaker and content creator. The LiveNotLukewarm.com online community is a place to inform, engage and inspire your Catholic faith. Her weekly Not Lukewarm Podcast gives you tips and tools to live out your faith in your daily life.
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St. Januarius was born in Italy and was bishop of Benevento during the Emperor Diocletion persecution. Bishop Januarius went to visit two deacons and two laymen in prison. He was then also imprison along with his deacon and lector. They were thrown to the wild beasts, but when the animals did not attack them, they were beheaded. What is believed to be Januarius’ blood is kept in Naples, as a relic. It liquifies and bubbles when exposed in the cathedral. Scientists have not been able to explain …
Lord let me walk with You
Although my steps are small
Stay beside, hold my hand
And never let me fall.
Amen.
Today’s Gospel reading poses a very specific question, “Are you honest or dishonest?” We’re informed by Scripture that one who is trustworthy in small matters is also trustworthy in great ones, but one who is dishonest in small matters is also dishonest in great ones.
The Scripture refers to the topic of wealth and the belongings of others. How do we, as Catholics, handle money? Are we trustworthy or dishonest with our own money or the money of others? In all topics, I hope, we are striving to be honest and true in our words and actions.
This Gospel ends with the fact that we cannot serve two masters. “He will either hate one and love the other or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon.” This is crucial! Our hearts cannot be divided; there is no place for a split between serving God and idolizing other things, whether that’s wealth, jealousy, or dishonesty.
Let us reflect today and check in on our hearts to make sure that we serve one Master, Jesus Christ, who was rich and became poor so that by his poverty, you might become rich. Serving this Master with all honesty in our words and actions is the true place of joy, the richness of grace, and the Kingdom of God. Let’s have our eyes on what truly matters, let us serve Him in small and great matters with trustworthy and honest hearts.
La lectura del Evangelio de hoy plantea una pregunta muy específica: “¿Eres honesto o deshonesto?” Las Escrituras nos informan que el que es fiel en las cosas pequeñas también lo es en las grandes, pero el que es deshonesto en las cosas pequeñas también es deshonesto en las grandes.
La Escritura se refiere al tema de las riquezas y los bienes de los demás. ¿Cómo nosotros, como católicos, manejamos el dinero? ¿Somos dignos de confianza o deshonestos con nuestro propio dinero o con el dinero de los demás? Espero que en todos los temas nos esforzamos por ser honestos y verdaderos en nuestras palabras y acciones.
Este Evangelio termina con el hecho de que no podemos servir a dos señores. “Odiará a uno y amará al otro, o se apegará al primero y despreciará al segundo. En resumen, no pueden ustedes servir a Dios y al dinero”. ¡Esto es crucial! Nuestros corazones no pueden dividirse; no hay lugar para una división entre servir a Dios e idolatrar otras cosas, ya sea la riqueza, los celos o la deshonestidad.
Reflexionemos hoy y revisemos nuestros corazones para asegurarnos de que servimos a un Maestro, Jesucristo, quien fue rico y se hizo pobre para que con su pobreza ustedes pudieran hacerse ricos. Servir a este Maestro con toda honestidad en nuestras palabras y acciones es el verdadero lugar de la alegría, la riqueza de la gracia y el Reino de Dios. Pongamos los ojos en lo que verdaderamente importa, sirvámosle en lo pequeño y en lo grande con corazones honestos y dignos de confianza.
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This reflection was reposted from Diocesan archives. Author: Briana David
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St. Joseph was born in 1603 at Cupertino, in the diocese of Nardo in the Kingdom of Naples. After spending his childhood and adolescence in simplicity and innocence, he finally joined the Franciscan Friars Minor Conventual. After his ordination to the holy priesthood, he gave himself up entirely to a life of devotion to the Lord and his church. His deep devotional life led him to the kind of holiness which is forged through humility, voluntary mortification, and obedience. He was consecrated to …
Body of Christ, save me!
Save me from my great arch-enemy,
my weak and faltering self.
Save me from all greed of money,
of power, and of praise.
Save me from thirst for pleasure,
worldly show, and midnight revelry.
Save me from betraying You, Dear Lord,
in thought, or in word, or in deed.
Amen.
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Robert Bellarmine, priest and Doctor of the Church. St. Robert Bellarmine is the patron saint of catechists and catechumens. Catechists are those who teach the principles of the faith to catechumens who are those preparing to receive the sacrament of Baptism. Although not all of us are called to be formal catechists, all of us are called to teach the Gospel and the tenets of the faith through our lives. In the Gospel for today we hear how our words and actions might be received.
In today’s Gospel we hear the Parable of the Sower. In this parable, Jesus compares the Word of God being received by different types of people to seed being sown on different types of ground. I think in this case we could think of the “Word of God” as the faith as a whole.
In this parable, Jesus not only tells the story but also tells us what He means to convey:
The seed sown on the path represents the person who hears the Word of God without understanding it. The seed that falls on rocky soil represents the person who received the Word of God with joy but quickly fell away. The seed that falls among thorns represents the person who hears the Word of God but is distracted by worldly things and does not share the Word.
The seed that falls on good soil represents the person who hears the Word of God, understands its meaning, lives according to God’s Word, and encourages others to do the same.
This parable invites us to evaluate how we are living our own lives, the ways in which we are spreading God’s Word, and how we receive the Word of God. We can ask ourselves some of these questions: What do we do when we hear the Word of God? Do we hesitate to turn around and share the Word of God with others? Do we dismiss His message because we do not understand it? Do we recognize the relevance of the Gospel in today’s world? Are we intimidated or embarrassed to share the Gospel with others? Or, do we live every day with God and His Word at the center and allow ourselves to be vessels of His Word and His love?
Pope Francis says that in this parable Jesus presents himself as the sower because he does not “impose but proposes”. He throws the seed, inviting us to Him and giving us what we need to grow in faith (the seeds). However, it is up to us to determine what kind of foundation that seed will land upon. We, as Christians trying to build up His Kingdom, should follow Christ’s example of proposing the Gospel message through our words and actions.
May our hearts always be open to the Word of God and our mouths always willing to share His love.
St. Robert Bellarmine, pray for us!
Hoy celebramos la fiesta de San Roberto Belarmino, sacerdote y Doctor de la Iglesia. San Roberto Belarmino es el santo patrón de los catequistas y catecúmenos. Los catequistas son los que enseñan los principios de la fe a los catecúmenos, los que se preparan para recibir el sacramento del Bautismo. Aunque no todos estamos llamados a ser catequistas formales, todos estamos llamados a enseñar el Evangelio y los principios de la fe a través de nuestras vidas. En el Evangelio de hoy escuchamos cómo nuestras palabras y acciones pueden ser recibidas en la parábola del sembrador.
En esta parábola, Jesús compara la Palabra de Dios, recibida por diferentes tipos de personas, con la semilla que se siembra en diferentes tipos de terreno. Creo que en este caso podríamos pensar en la “Palabra de Dios” como la fe completa.
En esta parábola, Jesús no solo cuenta la historia, sino que también nos dice lo que quiere transmitir:
La semilla sembrada en el camino representa a la persona que escucha la Palabra de Dios sin entenderla. La semilla que cae en pedregales representa a la persona que recibió la Palabra de Dios con alegría pero pronto se apartó. La semilla que cae entre espinas representa a la persona que escucha la Palabra de Dios pero se distrae con las cosas del mundo y no comparte la Palabra. La semilla que cae en buena tierra representa a la persona que escucha la Palabra de Dios, comprende su significado, vive de acuerdo con la Palabra de Dios y anima a otros a hacer lo mismo.
Esta parábola nos invita a evaluar cómo estamos viviendo nuestras propias vidas, las formas en que estamos difundiendo la Palabra de Dios y cómo recibimos la Palabra de Dios. Podemos hacernos algunas de estas preguntas: ¿Qué hacemos cuando escuchamos la Palabra de Dios? ¿Dudamos compartir la Palabra de Dios con otros? ¿Descartamos Su mensaje porque no lo entendemos? ¿Reconocemos la relevancia del Evangelio en el mundo de hoy? ¿Estamos intimidados o avergonzados de compartir el Evangelio con otros? ¿O vivimos cada día con Dios y Su Palabra en el centro de nuestras vidas y nos permitimos ser instrumentos de Su Palabra y Su amor?
El Papa Francisco dice que en esta parábola Jesús se presenta como el sembrador porque no “impone sino que propone”. Él lanza la semilla, invitándonos a Él y dándonos lo que necesitamos para crecer en la fe (las semillas). Sin embargo, depende de nosotros determinar sobre qué tipo de terreno caerá esa semilla. Nosotros, como cristianos que tratamos de construir Su Reino, debemos seguir el ejemplo de Cristo de proponer el mensaje del Evangelio a través de nuestras palabras y acciones.
Que nuestro corazón esté siempre abierto a la Palabra de Dios y nuestra boca esté siempre dispuesta a compartir su amor.
¡San Roberto Belarmino, ruega por nosotros!
Dakota lives in Denver, CO with her husband, Ralph, and their two sons, Alfie & Theophilus. She is the Dean of Enrollment Management for Bishop Machebeuf High School where her husband also teaches. You can find Dakota at the zoo or a brewery with her family or with her nose in a book at home. For more of Dakota’s writing check out https://dakotaleonard16.blogspot.com/
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Born at Montepulciano, Italy, October 4, 1542, St. Robert Bellarmine was the third of ten children. His mother, Cinzia Cervini, a niece of Pope Marcellus II, was dedicated to almsgiving, prayer, meditation, fasting, and mortification of the body. Robert entered the newly formed Society of Jesus in 1560 and after his ordination went on to teach at Louvain (1570-1576) where he became famous for his Latin sermons. In 1576, he was appointed to the chair of controversial theology at the Roman …