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DAILY GOSPEL

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." John 6:68

Wednesday, 27 July 2016

Wednesday of the Seventeenth week in Ordinary Time

Feast of the Church : Joachim and Anne, parents of the Virgin Mary - proper readings
Saint(s) of the day : St. Pantaleon, Martyr († c. 303)

See commentary below or click here
Saint Maximus the Confessor : "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field"

Book of Jeremiah 15:10.16-21.

Woe to me, mother, that you gave me birth! a man of strife and contention to all the land! I neither borrow nor lend, yet all curse me.
When I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart, Because I bore your name, O LORD, God of hosts.
I did not sit celebrating in the circle of merrymakers; Under the weight of your hand I sat alone because you filled me with indignation.
Why is my pain continuous, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You have indeed become for me a treacherous brook, whose waters do not abide!
Thus the LORD answered me: If you repent, so that I restore you, in my presence you shall stand; If you bring forth the precious without the vile, you shall be my mouthpiece. Then it shall be they who turn to you, and you shall not turn to them;
And I will make you toward this people a solid wall of brass. Though they fight against you, they shall not prevail, For I am with you, to deliver and rescue you, says the LORD.
I will free you from the hand of the wicked, and rescue you from the grasp of the violent.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew13:44-46.

Jesus said to his disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it".

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint Maximus the Confessor (c.580-662), monk and theologian
Centuries on love, 4, 69f. (Philokalia, trans. G.E.H. Palmer et al.)

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field"

Centuries on love, 4, 69f. (Philokalia, trans. G.E.H. Palmer et al.)

Some of the brethren think that they are excluded from the Holy Spirit's gifts of grace. Because they neglect to practise the commandments they do not know that he who has an unadulterated faith in Christ has within him the sum total of all the divine gifts. Since through our laziness we are far from having an active love for Him - a love which shows us the divine treasures within us — we naturally think that we are excluded from these gifts.

If, as St Paul says: “Christ dwells in our hearts through faith” (Eph3:17), and “all the treasures of wisdom and spiritual knowledge are hidden in Him” (Col 2:3), then all the treasures of wisdom and spiritual knowledge are hidden in our hearts. They are revealed to the heart in proportion to our purification by means of the commandments. This is the treasure hidden in the field of your heart, which you have not yet found because of your laziness. Had you found it, you would have sold everything and bought that field. But now you have abandoned that field and give all your attention to the land nearby, where there is nothing but thorns and thistles. It is for this reason that the Savior says: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Mt 5:8): for He is hidden in the hearts of those who believe in Him. They shall see Him and the riches that are in Him when they have purified themselves through love and self-control. And the greater their purity, the more they will see.

--

"What the LORD requires of you: 

Only to do right and to love goodness, 

and to walk humbly with your God."

- Micah 6:8 - 

«Alas for you Chorazin and Bethsaida!»

Today, Christ upbraided two Galilean cities, Chorazin and Bethsaida, for their incredulities: «Alas for you Chorazin and Bethsaida! If the miracles worked in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have repented» (Mt 11:21). Christ himself bore witness that the Phoenician cities, Tyre and Sidon, would have done penitence in great humility, if the wonders of the divine power had been done in them.

Nobody enjoys a good scolding. It must however be especially painful to be upbraided by Christ, who loves us with his most merciful heart. There is simply no excuse, no immunity when one is reprimanded by Truth itself. Let us receive humbly and responsibly God's call to conversion each day.

We also notice that Christ did not mince his words. He placed his audience face to face with truth. We too have to take stock of the manner we speak to others about Christ. Often, we too have to fight against our human respect to put our friends before eternal truths such as death and judgment. Pope Francis wittingly described St. Paul as a “trouble-maker”, he said: «May we not take refuge in an easy-going life or in an ephemeral structure (…). Paul, preaching the Lord, caused trouble. But he persisted, because he was a zealous Christian. He had apostolic zeal. He was not a man of compromise». Let us not shun from our duty of charity.

Perhaps, like me, you may find these words of St. Josemaria Escriva enlightening: «(...) It's a question (…) of speaking words of wisdom in clear Christian speech that all can understand». We should not just rest on the laurels because we are understood by many; rather, we have to beg for the grace to be the humble instrument of the Holy Spirit, in order to put each man and woman squarely before the Divine truth.

--

"Time is what we want most,

but what alas! we use worst."

- William Penn -

DAILY GOSPEL

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." John 6:68

Friday, 08 July 2016

Friday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time

Saint(s) of the day : St. Edgar the Peaceful (c.943-975), Bl. Peter Vigne, Priest (1670-1740)

See commentary below or click here
Saint Cyprian : “Like sheep among wolves”

Book of Hosea 14:2-10.

Thus says the LORD: Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt.
Take with you words, and return to the LORD; Say to him, "Forgive all iniquity, and receive what is good, that we may render as offerings the bullocks from our stalls.
Assyria will not save us, nor shall we have horses to mount; We shall say no more, 'Our god,' to the work of our hands; for in you the orphan finds compassion."
I will heal their defection, I will love them freely; for my wrath is turned away from them.
I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like the lily; He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,
and put forth his shoots. His splendor shall be like the olive tree and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.
Again they shall dwell in his shade and raise grain; They shall blossom like the vine, and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols? I have humbled him, but I will prosper him. "I am like a verdant cypress tree"-- Because of me you bear fruit!
Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them. Straight are the paths of the LORD, in them the just walk, but sinners stumble in them.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew10:16-23.

Jesus said to his Apostles: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.
But beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved."
When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes."

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint Cyprian (c.200-258), Bishop of Carthage and martyr
The benefits of patience, 13.16

“Like sheep among wolves”

Our Lord and Master’s precept is salutary: “Whoever holds out till the end will be saved.” He also said: “If you live according to my teaching, you are truly my disciples; then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Jn8:31) We must endure and persevere, beloved brothers. Thus, admitted to the hope of truth and of freedom, we will be able to reach that truth and that freedom, for if we are Christians, it is the work of faith and hope. But if hope and faith are to bear fruit, patience is necessary…

So let us not work impatiently, let us not allow ourselves to be felled on the Kingdom’s path, distracted and overcome by temptations. Not swearing, not cursing, not demanding back what has been taken away from us by force, turning the other cheek, forgiving our brothers all their wrongdoings, loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us – how can we manage to do all that if we are not firm in patience and tolerance? That is what we see in Stephen… He did not ask for revenge, but that his murderers be forgiven: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (Acts 7:59) Thus, Christ’s first martyr… not only preached the Lord’s passion, but he also imitated his extreme gentleness. When patience dwells in our heart, there cannot be any room in it for anger, discord and rivalry. Christ’s patience chases all that out so as to build a peaceful dwelling place in our heart, where the God of peace is pleased to live.

-- 

"Lord, help us realize that 'there is no force so mighty

in the word as perseverance.' "

- Helen Keller -

DAILY GOSPEL

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." John 6:68

Tuesday, 05 July 2016

Tuesday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time

Saint(s) of the day : St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Priest (1502-1539)

See commentary below or click here
Saint John Chrysostom : "Proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness"

Book of Hosea 8:4-7.11-13.

Thus says the LORD: They made kings, but not by my authority; they established princes, but without my approval. With their silver and gold they made idols for themselves, to their own destruction.
Cast away your calf, O Samaria! my wrath is kindled against them; How long will they be unable to attain innocence in Israel?
The work of an artisan no god at all, Destined for the flames-- such is the calf of Samaria!
When they sow the wind, they shall reap the whirlwind; The stalk of grain that forms no ear can yield no flour; Even if it could, strangers would swallow it.
When Ephraim made many altars to expiate sin, his altars became occasions of sin.
Though I write for him my many ordinances, they are considered as a stranger's.
Though they offer sacrifice, immolate flesh and eat it, the LORD is not pleased with them. He shall still remember their guilt and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew9:32-38.

A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,
and when the demon was driven out the mute person spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."
But the Pharisees said, "He drives out demons by the prince of demons."
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest."

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint John Chrysostom (c.345-407), priest at Antioch then Bishop of Constantinople, Doctor of the Church
Homilies on Saint Matthew's Gospel, no.32

"Proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness"

Jesus Christ, loaded with scorn and insults by his foes, set himself still more to doing them good... He went through towns, villages and synagogues, teaching us not to pay back calumny with calumny but with even greater generosity. If you have God's good pleasure and not other people's in mind when you do good to your neighbor, whatever they may do to you don't stop doing good to them. Your reward can only be all the greater... That is why Christ did not wait for the sick to come to him; he himself went to them, taking them two essential goods at the same time: the Good News of the Kingdom and the healing of their ills.

Nor even was that enough for him: he showed his concern in yet another way. “At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.'" Note, once again, his distancing himself from vainglory. Not wanting to draw everyone to follow him, he sent his disciples. He wanted to train them, not just for the struggles they were going to undergo in Judea, but also for the battles they will set in motion throughout the earth...

Jesus gives his disciples the power to heal bodies while waiting before confiding to them the equally important power to heal souls. Note how he demonstrates both the ease and the necessity of this work at the same time. What does he say, in fact? “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.” I am not sending you out to sow but to harvest... In speaking like this our Lord gave them confidence and showed them that the most important work had already been achieved.

The Daily Gospel Inbox x DGO <noreply@evzo.org> Unsubscribe 01:51 (4 hours ago) to me DAILY GOSPEL "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." John 6:68 Sunday, 19 June 2016 Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C Saint(s) of the day : St. Juliana Falconieri (1270-1340), St. Romuald, Abbot (c. 952-1027) See commentary below or click here Saint John XXIII : "He must... take up his cross daily" Book of Zechariah 12:10-11.13:1. Thus says the LORD: I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and petition; and they shall look on him whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son, and they shall grieve over him as one grieves over a firstborn. On that day the mourning in Jerusalem shall be as great as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. On that day there shall be open to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, a fountain to purify from sin and uncleanness. Letter to the Galatians 3:26-29. Brothers and sisters: Through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendant, heirs according to the promise. Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke9:18-24. 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 Messiah 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." Then he said to all, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB Commentary of the day : Saint John XXIII (1881-1963), pope Journal of a soul, 1930, retreat at Rustchuk "He must... take up his cross daily" I feel ever more strongly a love for my Lord's Cross, especially in these days. O blessed Jesus, do not let this be a spurt of flame to flicker out in the first shower of rain, but a burning,inextinguishable fire! During this retreat I have come across another beautiful prayer which corresponds very well to the state of my spiritual life...: «O Jesus, my crucified love, I worship you in all your sufferings... I welcome with all my heart, for love of you, all the afflictions of body and soul which you may send me. And I promise to find all my glory, my treasure and my joy your Cross, that is in humiliations, privations and sufferings, saying with St Paul: 'Far be it from me to glory except in the Cross of our Lord Christ' (Gal 6:14). As for me, I want no other paradise in this world than the Cross of my Lord Jesus Christ.»... The profound and lasting impression I have received... convinces me that the Lord wants me all for himself along the royal road of the holy Cross. It is along this way and none other that I wish to follow him... A characteristic of this retreat has been a greater inner peace and joy which embolden me to offer myself to the Lord for any sacrifice he may wish me to make of what is dear to me. My whole person and my whole life must be imbued with this tranquillity and joy... I must do my best to preserve this cheerfulness in my soul and inward behaviour... One of the similes used by St Francis de Sales, which I love to repeat, is: "I am like a bird singing in a thicket of thorns"; this must be an inspiration to me. So, I must say very little to anyone about the things that hurt me. Great discretion and forbearance in my judgments of people and situations: willingness to pray particularly for those who may cause me suffering, and in everything great kindness and endless patience, remembering that any other sentiment or mixture of sentiments, "Macédoine", as they say here, is contrary to the spirit of the Gospel and of evangelical perfection. So long as charity may triumph, at all costs, I would choose to be considered as of little worth. I will be patient and good to a heroic degree, even if I am to be crushed.

-- 

"The great love she has shown proves that her many sins have been forgiven".  Luke 7:47

+++

DAILY GOSPEL

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." John 6:68

Saturday, 18 June 2016

Saturday of the Eleventh week in Ordinary Time

Saint(s) of the day : St. Elizabeth of Schoenau, St. Gregory Barbarigo, Bishop (1625-1697), Sts. Marcus and Marcellianus, Martyrs (+286)

See commentary below or click here
Saint Vincent de Paul : Seek first the kingdom of God

2nd book of Chronicles 24:17-25.

After the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and the king then listened to them.
They forsook the temple of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and began to serve the sacred poles and the idols; and because of this crime of theirs, wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem.
Although prophets were sent to them to convert them to the LORD, the people would not listen to their warnings.
Then the spirit of God possessed Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest. He took his stand above the people and said to them: "God says, 'Why are you transgressing the LORD'S commands, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have abandoned the LORD, he has abandoned you.'"
But they conspired against him, and at the king's order they stoned him to death in the court of the LORD'S temple.
Thus King Joash was unmindful of the devotion shown him by Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, and slew his son. And as he was dying, he said, "May the LORD see and avenge."
At the turn of the year a force of Arameans came up against Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem, did away with all the princes of the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus.
Though the Aramean force came with few men, the LORD surrendered a very large force into their power, because Judah had abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers. So punishment was meted out to Joash.
After the Arameans had departed from him, leaving him in grievous suffering, his servants conspired against him because of the murder of the son of Jehoiada the priest. They killed him on his sickbed. He was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew6:24-34.

Jesus said to his disciples: "No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin.
But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them.
If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?'
All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil."

DAILY GOSPEL

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." John 6:68

Wednesday, 15 June 2016

Wednesday of the Eleventh week in Ordinary Time

Saint(s) of the day : Sts. Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia, Martyrs, St. Aurelian

See commentary below or click here
Saint Pio of Pietralcina "Padre Pio" : “Close the door, and pray to your Father in private”

2nd book of Kings 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," Elisha replied, "I will not leave you." And so the two went on together.
Fifty of the guild prophets followed, and when the two stopped at the Jordan, 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," he 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 which had fallen from him, and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan.
Wielding the mantle which had fallen from Elijah, he 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.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew6:1-6.16-18.

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 be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCC

DAILY GOSPEL

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." John 6:68

Sunday, 12 June 2016

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C

Saint(s) of the day : St. John of St. Fagondez, priest (+ 1479)

See commentary below or click here
Saint Pio of Pietralcina "Padre Pio" : "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

2nd book of Samuel 12:7-10.13.

Nathan said to David: “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king of Israel. I rescued you from the hand of Saul.
I gave you your lord's house and your lord's wives for your own. I gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were not enough, I could count up for you still more.
Why have you spurned the LORD and done evil in his sight? You have cut down Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you took his wife as your own, and him you killed with the sword of the Ammonites.
Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.'
Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan answered David: "The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die.

Letter to the Galatians 2:16.19-21.

Brothers and sisters: We who know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
For through the law I died to the law, that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ;
yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me.
I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke7:36-50.8:1-3.

A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.
Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,
she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.
Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days' wages and the other owed fifty.
Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?"
Simon said in reply, "The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven." He said to him, "You have judged rightly."
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.
You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment.
So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little."
He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
The others at table said to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve
and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint Pio of Pietralcina "Padre Pio" (1887-1968), Capuchin
CE, 18.16; AD, 54

"Who is this who even forgives sins?"

May our hope in God's mercy uphold us amidst the tumult of passions and contradictions. Let us run confidently to the sacrament of penance where Our Lord is always waiting for us with infinite tenderness. And once our sins have been forgiven we should forget about them because Our Lord has already done so before we do. Even if you were to confess you had committed all the sins in the world, yet the Lord assures you: “Your many sins have been forgiven because you loved much.”

Lord Jesus, you are all sweetness: how could I possibly live without you? Come, Lord, take sole possession of my heart.

-- 

DAILY GOSPEL

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." John 6:68

Saturday, 11 June 2016

Saint Barnabas, apostle - Memorial

Saint(s) of the day : St. Barnabas, Apostle 

See commentary below or click here
Vatican Council II: "Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give"

Acts of the Apostles 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.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew10:7-13.

DAILY GOSPEL

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." John 6:68

Saturday, 11 June 2016

Saint Barnabas, apostle - Memorial

Saint(s) of the day : St. Barnabas, Apostle 

See commentary below or click here
Vatican Council II: "Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give"

Acts of the Apostles 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.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew10:7-13.

Jesus said to his Apostles: “As you go, make this proclamation: 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give."
Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts;
no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep.
Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave.
As you enter a house, wish it peace.
If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you."

DAILY GOSPEL

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." John 6:68

Saturday, 11 June 2016

Saint Barnabas, apostle - Memorial

Saint(s) of the day : St. Barnabas, Apostle 

See commentary below or click here
Vatican Council II: "Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give"

Acts of the Apostles 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.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew10:7-13.

Jesus said to his Apostles: “As you go, make this proclamation: 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give."
Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts;
no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep.
Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave.
As you enter a house, wish it peace.
If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you."

Jesus said to his Apostles: “As you go, make this proclamation: 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give."
Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts;
no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep.
Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave.
As you enter a house, wish it peace.
If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you."