Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 369

Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 369

Reading 1

2 KGS 11:1-4, 9-18, 20

When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah,

saw that her son was dead,

she began to kill off the whole royal family.

But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah,

took Joash, his son, and spirited him away, along with his nurse,

from the bedroom where the princes were about to be slain.

She concealed him from Athaliah, and so he did not die.

For six years he remained hidden in the temple of the LORD,

while Athaliah ruled the land.

But in the seventh year,

Jehoiada summoned the captains of the Carians

and of the guards.

He had them come to him in the temple of the LORD,

exacted from them a sworn commitment,

and then showed them the king’s son.

The captains did just as Jehoiada the priest commanded.

Each one with his men, both those going on duty for the sabbath

and those going off duty that week,

came to Jehoiada the priest.

He gave the captains King David’s spears and shields,

which were in the temple of the LORD.

And the guards, with drawn weapons,

lined up from the southern to the northern limit of the enclosure,

surrounding the altar and the temple on the king’s behalf.

Then Jehoiada led out the king’s son

and put the crown and the insignia upon him.

They proclaimed him king and anointed him,

clapping their hands and shouting, “Long live the king!”

Athaliah heard the noise made by the people,

and appeared before them in the temple of the LORD.

When she saw the king standing by the pillar, as was the custom,

and the captains and trumpeters near him,

with all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets,

she tore her garments and cried out, “Treason, treason!”

Then Jehoiada the priest instructed the captains

in command of the force:

“Bring her outside through the ranks.

If anyone follows her,” he added, “let him die by the sword.”

He had given orders that she

should not be slain in the temple of the LORD.

She was led out forcibly to the horse gate of the royal palace,

where she was put to death.

Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD as one party

and the king and the people as the other,

by which they would be the LORD’s people;

and another covenant, between the king and the people.

Thereupon all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal

and demolished it.

They shattered its altars and images completely,

and slew Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars.

Jehoiada appointed a detachment for the temple of the LORD.

All the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet,

now that Athaliah had been slain with the sword

at the royal palace.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 132:11, 12, 13-14, 17-18

R. (13) The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.

The LORD swore to David

a firm promise from which he will not withdraw:

“Your own offspring

I will set upon your throne.”

R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.

“If your sons keep my covenant

and the decrees which I shall teach them,

Their sons, too, forever

shall sit upon your throne.”

R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.

For the LORD has chosen Zion;

he prefers her for his dwelling.

“Zion is my resting place forever;

in her will I dwell, for I prefer her.”

R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.

“In her will I make a horn to sprout forth for David;

I will place a lamp for my anointed.

His enemies I will clothe with shame,

but upon him my crown shall shine.”

R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.

Gospel

MT 6:19-23

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,

where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.

But store up treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

“The lamp of the body is the eye.

If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light;

but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness.

And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”

Funny & Interesting

Funny & Interesting

   I came across this blog today and found it funny and interesting at the same time.  To read the blog click here. 

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and let us always remember to smile and enjoy our faith. 

Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 368

Reading 1

SIR 48:1-14

Like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah

whose words were as a flaming furnace.

Their staff of bread he shattered,

in his zeal he reduced them to straits;

By the Lord’s word he shut up the heavens

and three times brought down fire.

How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!

Whose glory is equal to yours?

You brought a dead man back to life

from the nether world, by the will of the LORD.

You sent kings down to destruction,

and easily broke their power into pieces.

You brought down nobles, from their beds of sickness.

You heard threats at Sinai,

at Horeb avenging judgments.

You anointed kings who should inflict vengeance,

and a prophet as your successor.

You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire,

in a chariot with fiery horses.

You were destined, it is written, in time to come

to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD,

To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons,

and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob.

Blessed is he who shall have seen you 

And who falls asleep in your friendship.

For we live only in our life,

but after death our name will not be such.

O Elijah, enveloped in the whirlwind!

Then Elisha, filled with the twofold portion of his spirit,

wrought many marvels by his mere word.

During his lifetime he feared no one,

nor was any man able to intimidate his will.

Nothing was beyond his power;

beneath him flesh was brought back into life.

In life he performed wonders,

and after death, marvelous deeds.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 97:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7

R. (12a) Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;

let the many isles be glad.

Clouds and darkness are round about him,

justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne. 

R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

Fire goes before him

and consumes his foes round about.

His lightnings illumine the world;

the earth sees and trembles.

R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,

before the Lord of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim his justice,

and all peoples see his glory.

R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

All who worship graven things are put to shame,

who glory in the things of nought;

all gods are prostrate before him.

R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

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.”

Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 367

Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 367

Reading 1

2 KGS 2:1, 6-14

When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind,

he and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.

Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here;

the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.”

“As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live,

I will not leave you,” Elisha replied.

And so the two went on together.

Fifty of the guild prophets followed and

when the two stopped at the Jordan,

they stood facing them at a distance.

Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up

and struck the water, which divided,

and both crossed over on dry ground.

When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha,

“Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.”

Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.”

“You have asked something that is not easy,” Elijah replied.

“Still, if you see me taken up from you,

your wish will be granted; otherwise not.”

As they walked on conversing,

a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them,

and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

When Elisha saw it happen he cried out,

“My father! my father! Israel’s chariots and drivers!”

But when he could no longer see him,

Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two.

Then he picked up Elijah’s mantle that had fallen from him,

and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan.

Wielding the mantle that had fallen from Elijah,

Elisha struck the water in his turn and said,

“Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?”

When Elisha struck the water it divided and he crossed over.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 31:20, 21, 24

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

How great is the goodness, O LORD,

which you have in store for those who fear you,

And which, toward those who take refuge in you,

you show in the sight of the children of men.

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

You hide them in the shelter of your presence

from the plottings of men;

You screen them within your abode

from the strife of tongues.

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

Love the LORD, all you his faithful ones!

The LORD keeps those who are constant,

but more than requites those who act proudly.

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

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.”

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.”