September 23, 2019
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Optional memorial Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, priest.
In the first reading, King Cyrus of Persia makes a proclamation for God’s people to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus illustrates how one uses a lampstand to maximize light. He then gives a caution as to how they hear, for to those who have, more will be given.
Sharing God’s word brings blessing and responsibility.
Both readings today reveal that those who hear and heed God’s word will be given more blessings to share. Those who follow King Cyrus’ lead to build a house for God in Jerusalem are promised, and then receive, blessings to help them fulfill their mission. Jesus further points out the responsibilities of hearing God’s word. Let us pray: God of Light, who knows no bounds, in your endless wisdom grant all that is good. We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest
Lectionary: 449
Nghe các bài đọc Anh ngữ tại đây
Reading 1 Ezr 1:1-6
In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia,
in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah,
the LORD inspired King Cyrus of Persia
to issue this proclamation throughout his kingdom,
both by word of mouth and in writing:
“Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia:
‘All the kingdoms of the earth
the LORD, the God of heaven, has given to me,
and he has also charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem,
which is in Judah.
Therefore, whoever among you belongs to any part of his people,
let him go up, and may his God be with him!
Let everyone who has survived, in whatever place he may have dwelt,
be assisted by the people of that place
with silver, gold, goods, and cattle,
together with free-will offerings
for the house of God in Jerusalem.'”
Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin
and the priests and Levites–
everyone, that is, whom God had inspired to do so–
prepared to go up to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.
All their neighbors gave them help in every way,
with silver, gold, goods, and cattle,
and with many precious gifts
besides all their free-will offerings.
Responsorial Psalm PS 126:1b-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6
R.(3) The Lord has done marvels for us.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R.The Lord has done marvels for us.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R.The Lord has done marvels for us.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R.The Lord has done marvels for us.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R.The Lord has done marvels for us.
Alleluia Mt 5:16
- Alleluia, alleluia.
Let your light shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Lk 8:16-18
Jesus said to the crowd:
“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel
or sets it under a bed;
rather, he places it on a lampstand
so that those who enter may see the light.
For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible,
and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.
Take care, then, how you hear.
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.”
For the readings of the Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, please go here.
September 24, 2019
« September 23 | September 25 »
DAILY MEDITATION
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Darius, King of Persia, decrees that the Jewish people should be allowed to continue construction on the Temple to God. When the Temple is complete, it was dedicated with hundreds of sacrifices. The Jews set up the priesthood and celebrated the Passover. In the Gospel, Jesus states that my mother and my brothers are those who follow the word of God.
Acting on the word of God will bring us joy.
Following God’s will should bring us great joy, as we both worship him and call Christ our brother. Though it took many years, the Jewish people were able to fulfill God’s command to rebuild the Temple. We, too, should act on the word of God no matter the obstacles, rather than be passive listeners of the word. Let us pray: Father of love and mercy, we ask you to hear these petitions offered by your humble servants gathered here today in the name of your son Jesus, who is Christ the Lord. Amen.
Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 450
Nghe các bài đọc Anh ngữ tại đây
Reading 1 EzR 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20
King Darius issued an order to the officials
of West-of-Euphrates:
“Let the governor and the elders of the Jews
continue the work on that house of God;
they are to rebuild it on its former site.
I also issue this decree
concerning your dealing with these elders of the Jews
in the rebuilding of that house of God:
From the royal revenue, the taxes of West-of-Euphrates,
let these men be repaid for their expenses, in full and without delay.
I, Darius, have issued this decree;
let it be carefully executed.”
The elders of the Jews continued to make progress in the building,
supported by the message of the prophets,
Haggai and Zechariah, son of Iddo.
They finished the building according to the command
of the God of Israel
and the decrees of Cyrus and Darius
and of Artaxerxes, king of Persia.
They completed this house on the third day of the month Adar,
in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
The children of Israel–priests, Levites,
and the other returned exiles–
celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.
For the dedication of this house of God,
they offered one hundred bulls,
two hundred rams, and four hundred lambs,
together with twelve he-goats as a sin-offering for all Israel,
in keeping with the number of the tribes of Israel.
Finally, they set up the priests in their classes
and the Levites in their divisions
for the service of God in Jerusalem,
as is prescribed in the book of Moses.
The exiles kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
The Levites, every one of whom had purified himself for the occasion,
sacrificed the Passover for the rest of the exiles,
for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
R.(1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Alleluia Lk 11:28
- Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are those who hear the word of God
and observe it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Lk 8:19-21
The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him
but were unable to join him because of the crowd.
He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside
and they wish to see you.”
He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers
are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”
September 25, 2019
« September 24 | September 26 »
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In the book of Ezra, we learn that the Israelites were absorbing the ways of the people around them. Ezra was compelled to go before God in shame because of the guilt of the people. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus sends the Twelve out to proclaim the Kingdom of God, instructing them to take nothing with them.
The power of God is the only thing needed for proclamation of the word.
We often speak of the fact that Jesus sent his Twelve Apostles out with nothing, but they were armed with the power and authority of Christ, which would allow them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Let us pray: Loving Father, we turn to you in trust that you hear our prayers and provide for our needs. Amen.
Wednesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 451
Nghe các bài đọc Anh ngữ tại đây
Reading 1 EzR 9:5-9
At the time of the evening sacrifice, I, Ezra, rose in my wretchedness,
and with cloak and mantle torn I fell on my knees,
stretching out my hands to the LORD, my God.
I said: “My God, I am too ashamed and confounded to raise my face to you,
O my God, for our wicked deeds are heaped up above our heads
and our guilt reaches up to heaven.
From the time of our fathers even to this day
great has been our guilt,
and for our wicked deeds we have been delivered up,
we and our kings and our priests,
to the will of the kings of foreign lands,
to the sword, to captivity, to pillage, and to disgrace,
as is the case today.
“And now, but a short time ago, mercy came to us from the LORD, our God,
who left us a remnant and gave us a stake in his holy place;
thus our God has brightened our eyes
and given us relief in our servitude.
For slaves we are, but in our servitude our God has not abandoned us;
rather, he has turned the good will
of the kings of Persia toward us.
Thus he has given us new life
to raise again the house of our God and restore its ruins,
and has granted us a fence in Judah and Jerusalem.”
Responsorial Psalm Tobit 13:2, 3-4a, 4befghn, 7-8
R.(1b) Blessed be God, who lives for ever.
He scourges and then has mercy;
he casts down to the depths of the nether world,
and he brings up from the great abyss.
No one can escape his hand.
R.Blessed be God, who lives for ever.
Praise him, you children of Israel, before the Gentiles,
for though he has scattered you among them,
he has shown you his greatness even there.
R.Blessed be God, who lives for ever.
So now consider what he has done for you,
and praise him with full voice.
Bless the Lord of righteousness,
and exalt the King of ages.
R.Blessed be God, who lives for ever.
In the land of my exile I praise him
and show his power and majesty to a sinful nation.
R.Blessed be God, who lives for ever.
Bless the Lord, all you his chosen ones,
and may all of you praise his majesty.
Celebrate days of gladness, and give him praise.
R.Blessed be God, who lives for ever.
Alleluia Mk 1:15
- Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Lk 9:1-6
Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.
Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.
And as for those who do not welcome you,
when you leave that town,
shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.”
Then they set out and went from village to village
proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.
September 26, 2019
« September 25 | September 27 »
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Optional memorial Saints Comas and Damian, Martyrs
The prophet Haggai warns the governor of Judad and the high priest that the people must re-priorities their ways. They are laboring and worrying over things which God does not desire for them. In the Gospel Herod seeks information about the identity of Jesus Christ.
The power of Christ conquers sin and death.
The story in the Gospel today is one of fear and power. Herod fears Jesus Christ because he will take away his power. But the true power of Christ is one which conquers sin and death. Let us pray: God of power, God of hosts, hear our prayers and grant that through your mercy we may receive that for which we pray. Amen.
Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 452
Nghe các bài đọc Anh ngữ tại đây
Reading 1 Hg 1:1-8
On the first day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius,
The word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai
to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel,
and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak:
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
This people says:
“The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.”
(Then this word of the LORD came through Haggai, the prophet:)
Is it time for you to dwell in your own paneled houses,
while this house lies in ruins?
Now thus says the LORD of hosts:
Consider your ways!
You have sown much, but have brought in little;
you have eaten, but have not been satisfied;
You have drunk, but have not been exhilarated;
have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed;
And whoever earned wages
earned them for a bag with holes in it.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Consider your ways!
Go up into the hill country;
bring timber, and build the house
That I may take pleasure in it
and receive my glory, says the LORD.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b
R.(see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R.The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R.The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
R.The Lord takes delight in his people.
Alleluia Jn 14:6
- Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Lk 9:7-9
Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening,
and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,
“John has been raised from the dead”;
others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”;
still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”
But Herod said, “John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”
And he kept trying to see him.
For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saints Cosmas and Damian, please go here.
September 27, 2019
« September 26 | September 28 »
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Obligation memorial Saint Vincent de Paul, priest
The word of the Lord comes through the prophet Haggai, telling the people to take courage, that the Lord is with them, and peace will be theirs. In the Gospel, Jesus asks the disciples who they say he is. Peter answers: the Christ of God. After directing them not to tell anyone, Jesus foretells of his passion, death and resurrection.
God fulfills his promises.
God constantly assures and reassures his people in the Old Testament that he will never abandon them. He promises them a greater glory and peace than they have ever known. He fulfilled this promise in the person of Jesus Christ, for the Son of God suffered, died and was raised, so that all may be saved. We can always hope for and have confidence in the promises of God. Let us pray: Father, you are the givers of every good gift. Hear the prayers we offer you this day and answer them in accordance with your will. Amen.
Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest
Lectionary: 453
Nghe các bài đọc Anh ngữ tại đây
Reading 1 Hg 2:1-9
In the second year of King Darius,
on the twenty-first day of the seventh month,
the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai:
Tell this to the governor of Judah,
Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel,
and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak,
and to the remnant of the people:
Who is left among you
that saw this house in its former glory?
And how do you see it now?
Does it not seem like nothing in your eyes?
But now take courage, Zerubbabel, says the LORD,
and take courage, Joshua, high priest, son of Jehozadak,
And take courage, all you people of the land,
says the LORD, and work!
For I am with you, says the LORD of hosts.
This is the pact that I made with you
when you came out of Egypt,
And my spirit continues in your midst;
do not fear!
For thus says the LORD of hosts:
One moment yet, a little while,
and I will shake the heavens and the earth,
the sea and the dry land.
I will shake all the nations,
and the treasures of all the nations will come in,
And I will fill this house with glory,
says the LORD of hosts.
Mine is the silver and mine the gold,
says the LORD of hosts.
Greater will be the future glory of this house
than the former, says the LORD of hosts;
And in this place I will give you peace,
says the LORD of hosts!
Responsorial Psalm Ps 43:1, 2, 3, 4
R.(5) Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.
Do me justice, O God, and fight my fight
against a faithless people;
from the deceitful and impious man rescue me.
R. Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.
For you, O God, are my strength.
Why do you keep me so far away?
Why must I go about in mourning,
with the enemy oppressing me?
R. Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.
Send forth your light and your fidelity;
they shall lead me on
And bring me to your holy mountain,
to your dwelling place.
R. Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.
Then will I go in to the altar of God,
the God of my gladness and joy;
Then will I give you thanks upon the harp,
O God, my God!
R. Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.
Alleluia Mk 10:45
- Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Lk 9:18-22
Once when Jesus was praying in solitude,
and the disciples were with him,
he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah;
still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.'”
Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”
He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.
He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
For the readings of the Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, please go here.
September 28, 2019
« September 27 | September 29 »
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Optional memorial Saint Wenceslaus, Martyr;
Saint Lawrence Luiz and Companions martyrs;
Saturday in honor of BVM
In the first reading, Zechariah the prophet speaks to the Israelite people, just returned from exile, assuring them that the Lord is coming to dwell among them. In the Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that the Son of Man would be handed over to men. The disciples did not understand, and were afraid to ask him what he meant.
Jesus is our help in every way.
The disciples were confused by Jesus’ prediction that he would be handed over to men and were afraid to question him about it. Like those disciples, we can be confused by events in our lives, but we should never be afraid to approach Jesus, through prayer, with our questions. Jesus is our help in every way throughout our lives. Let us pray: Heavenly Father, hear the prayer of your people near and far. We ask this in the name of Jesus your Son, our Lord. Amen.
Saturday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 454
Nghe các bài đọc Anh ngữ tại đây
Reading 1 Zec 2:5-9, 14-15a
I, Zechariah, raised my eyes and looked:
there was a man with a measuring line in his hand.
I asked, “Where are you going?”
He answered, “To measure Jerusalem,
to see how great is its width and how great its length.”
Then the angel who spoke with me advanced,
and another angel came out to meet him and said to him,
“Run, tell this to that young man:
People will live in Jerusalem as though in open country,
because of the multitude of men and beasts in her midst.
But I will be for her an encircling wall of fire, says the LORD,
and I will be the glory in her midst.”
Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion!
See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.
Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day,
and they shall be his people and he will dwell among you.
Responsorial Psalm Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12ab, 13
R.(see 10d) The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
he guards them as a shepherd guards his flock.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
The LORD shall ransom Jacob,
he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
they shall come streaming to the LORD’s blessings.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Alleluia See 2 Tm 1:10
- Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Lk 9:43b-45
While they were all amazed at his every deed,
Jesus said to his disciples,
“Pay attention to what I am telling you.
The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.”
But they did not understand this saying;
its meaning was hidden from them
so that they should not understand it,
and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Wenceslaus, please go here.
For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Lawrence Ruiz and Companions, please go here.
September 29, 2019
« September 28 | September 30 »
DAILY MEDITATION
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In the first reading Amos, we hear a warning about comfort and wanton revelry leading to complacency, resulting in exile. Saint Paul writes to Timothy, instructing him to lay hold of eternal life by keeping the commandments and pursuing the goods such as love, righteousness and faith. In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parables of the rich man and Lazarus, who both receive what is just in eternal life.
Lay hold of eternal life by keeping the commandments, and pursuing noble goods.
The reading today are a challenge for all believers to consider the eternal consequences of our actions. God, in his infinite loved, both calls us to himself and gives us the freedom to accept or reject his invitation. We can allow comfort to make us complacent, or we can pursue noble goods and be persuaded by the One who was raised from the dead. Let us pray: Father, we bring our petitions today and trust that in your goodness and in your time, you will hear and answer us. Amen.
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 138
Nghe các bài đọc Anh ngữ tại đây
Reading 1 Am 6:1a, 4-7
Thus says the LORD the God of hosts:
Woe to the complacent in Zion!
Lying upon beds of ivory,
stretched comfortably on their couches,
they eat lambs taken from the flock,
and calves from the stall!
Improvising to the music of the harp,
like David, they devise their own accompaniment.
They drink wine from bowls
and anoint themselves with the best oils;
yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph!
Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile,
and their wanton revelry shall be done away with.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
- (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed he 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.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Reading 2 1 Tm 6:11-16
But you, man of God, pursue righteousness,
devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called
when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.
I charge you before God, who gives life to all things,
and before Christ Jesus,
who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession,
to keep the commandment without stain or reproach
until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ
that the blessed and only ruler
will make manifest at the proper time,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light,
and whom no human being has seen or can see.
To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.
Alleluia Cf. 2 Cor 8:9
- Alleluia, alleluia.
Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Lk 16:19-31
Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man’s table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.’
Abraham replied,
‘My child, remember that you received
what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go
from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’
He said, ‘Then I beg you, father,
send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers,
so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.’
But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.’
He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'”
