What are they missing?

What are They Missing

 I saw a video speaking about mass. It was just over two minutes and yet it really does hit the nail on the head. When I go to Mass, I love it. I love every aspect of the mass. Love the idea of going to mass. I know what it means, I see what it all means all together as one act of Grace. Yet, I know not everyone see's what I see. What are people missing? I know I was one of them at a time, where my eyes were not fully opened to what the Mass is or what it gives to each one of us. I guess in some way I knew because when  was not there i felt the absence of the mass. There was a difference in my life. Ask yourselves what do you see when you go to mass? What do you think people are missing? Below is the video I am writing about followed by the daily readings. 

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and let us pray that all will come to see what we have seen. 

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. (see 3a) 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.

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.”

Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 365

Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

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.

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.”

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Lectionary: 164

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Lectionary: 164

Reading 1

EX 34:4B-6, 8-9

Early in the morning Moses went up Mount Sinai

as the LORD had commanded him,

taking along the two stone tablets.

Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood with Moses there

and proclaimed his name, "LORD."

Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out,

"The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God,

slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity."

Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship.

Then he said, "If I find favor with you, O Lord,

do come along in our company.

This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins,

and receive us as your own."

Responsorial Psalm

DN 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56

R/ (52b) Glory and praise for ever!

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,

praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;

And blessed is your holy and glorious name,

praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.

R/ Glory and praise for ever!

Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,

praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.

R/ Glory and praise for ever!

Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,

praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

R/ Glory and praise for ever!

Blessed are you who look into the depths

from your throne upon the cherubim,

praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

R/ Glory and praise for ever!

Reading 2

2 COR 13:11-13

Brothers and sisters, rejoice. 

Mend your ways, encourage one another,

agree with one another, live in peace,

and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Greet one another with a holy kiss.

All the holy ones greet you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ

and the love of God

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Gospel

JN 3:16-18

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,

so that everyone who believes in him might not perish

but might have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,

but that the world might be saved through him.

Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,

but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,

because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 364

Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 364

Reading 1

1 KGS 19:19-21

Elijah set out, and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat,

as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen;

he was following the twelfth.

Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him.

Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said,

“Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,

and I will follow you.”

Elijah answered, “Go back! 

Have I done anything to you?”

Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them;

he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh,

and gave it to his people to eat.

Then he left and followed Elijah as his attendant.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 16:1B-2A AND 5, 7-8, 9-10

R. (see 5a) You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;

I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”

O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,

you it is who hold fast my lot.

R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

I bless the LORD who counsels me;

even in the night my heart exhorts me.

I set the LORD ever before me;

with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. 

R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,

my body, too, abides in confidence;

Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,

nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.

R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Gospel

MT 5:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples:

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,

Do not take a false oath,

but make good to the Lord all that you vow.

But I say to you, do not swear at all;

not by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;

nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

Do not swear by your head,

for you cannot make a single hair white or black.

Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’

Anything more is from the Evil One.”

Prayer Request

Prayer Request 

  With a very heavy and sad heart, I am asking for prayers for two Priests that have been involved in a terrible and horrific event. Last evening two Priests were attacked at Mater Misericordiae Mission in Phoenix. Father Kenneth Walker life was taken and Father Joseph Terra is in critical condition after what is being said as a break in. They have no suspects at this time.

   Please pray for the soul of Father Walker, who was just ordained two years ago. Also pray for Father's Family and Friends at this time. Also keep Father Terra in your prayers for healing at this time. Thank You and God Bless.

Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 362

Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 362

Reading 1

1 KGS 18:41-46

Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink,

for there is the sound of a heavy rain.”

So Ahab went up to eat and drink,

while Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel,

crouched down to the earth,

and put his head between his knees.

“Climb up and look out to sea,” he directed his servant,

who went up and looked, but reported, “There is nothing.”

Seven times he said, “Go, look again!”

And the seventh time the youth reported,

“There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.”

Elijah said, “Go and say to Ahab,

‘Harness up and leave the mountain before the rain stops you.’”

In a trice the sky grew dark with clouds and wind,

and a heavy rain fell.

Ahab mounted his chariot and made for Jezreel.

But the hand of the LORD was on Elijah,

who girded up his clothing and ran before Ahab

as far as the approaches to Jezreel.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 65:10, 11, 12-13

R. (2a) It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.

You have visited the land and watered it;

greatly have you enriched it.

God’s watercourses are filled;

you have prepared the grain.

R. It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.

Thus have you prepared the land: 

drenching its furrows, breaking up its clods,

Softening it with showers, 

blessing its yield.

R. It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.

You have crowned the year with your bounty,

and your paths overflow with a rich harvest;

The untilled meadows overflow with it,

and rejoicing clothes the hills.

R. It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.

Gospel

MT 5:20-26

Jesus said to his disciples: 

“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that

of the scribes and Pharisees,

you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,

You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.

But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother

will be liable to judgment,

and whoever says to his brother,

‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,

and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.

Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,

and there recall that your brother

has anything against you,

leave your gift there at the altar,

go first and be reconciled with your brother,

and then come and offer your gift.

Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him.

Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,

and the judge will hand you over to the guard,

and you will be thrown into prison.

Amen, I say to you,

you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

Our Lady of Sorrows

Our Lady of Sorrows

 I saw this image today and could not help but to stare at the image of Our Lady of Sorrows and just imagine when this frozen moment could have been. 

Is it when Mary realizes what is in store for her Son? 

Is it when Jesus is taken into custody? 

Is it when Jesus leaves to start His mission?

Is it when He is on the cross? 

   

    There are so many moments that this image could be taken from. Even as far as today. Think of the times in the world where Our Lady could shed tears.

Is it every time someone denies her Son?

Is it when an abortion takes place?

When someone is killed because they believe in her Son? 

Could it be when we turn from her Son and allow sin or the devil to enter into our lives?

   As I get older and more so, the more I dive into my faith, Mary has become more and more a refuge for myself. She has always intrigue me and she is a part of my favorite miracle of changing the water into wine. Years ago the statement W.W.J.D, What Would Jesus Do, was big and really changed some peoples ideas and actions. I tend to think about this as well, W.W.M.T. , What Would Mary Think? I think that also would be a good question to ask ourselves. What would Mary think of the things we do and say? Would we act that way if Mary was there or say what we say? I am just putting that out there today for us all to think about and see how we may cause Mary to be weep.

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and may Our Lady of Sorrows watch over us. 

Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle
Lectionary: 580/361

Reading 1

ACTS 11:21B-26; 13:1-3

In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,

and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.

When he arrived and saw the grace of God,

he rejoiced and encouraged them all

to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,

for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.

And a large number of people was added to the Lord.

Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,

and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.

For a whole year they met with the Church

and taught a large number of people,

and it was in Antioch that the disciples

were first called Christians.

Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:

Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger,

Lucius of Cyrene,

Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,

“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul

for the work to which I have called them.”

Then, completing their fasting and prayer,

they laid hands on them and sent them off.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4, 5-6

R. (see 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Sing to the LORD a new song,

for he has done wondrous deeds;

His right hand has won victory for him,

his holy arm.

R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

The LORD has made his salvation known:

in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.

He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness

toward the house of Israel.

R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

All the ends of the earth have seen

the salvation by our God.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;

break into song; sing praise.

R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,

with the harp and melodious song.

With trumpets and the sound of the horn

sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.

R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Gospel

MT 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.

I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.

Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,

not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter

will pass from the law,

until all things have taken place.

Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments

and teaches others to do so

will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.

But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments

will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”