The Good Samaritan
Sunday, October 5th, 2008Luke 10: 25-37
Gal 1: 6-12 / Ps 111: 1b-2, 7-10
And who is my neighbor?
(Luke 10:29)
Jesus is the Good Samaritan
Who came to save mankind from sin;
May we also lend a helping hand
To one in need, stranger or kin.
A scholar of the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit [...]
St. Francis of Assisi’s Joy in Serving the Lord
Saturday, October 4th, 2008Luke 10: 17-24
Jb 42: 1-3, 5-6, 12-17 / Ps 119: 66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130
Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
(Luke 10:20)
I asked as I knelt down to pray,
“These blessings, why do I deserve?”
I rejoiced when I heard Him say,
“Because it’s the Lord [...]
A Call to Repentance
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008Luke 10: 13-16
Jb 38: 1, 12-21; 40: 3-5 / Ps 139: 1-3, 7-10, 13-14
… whoever rejects Me rejects the One Who sent Me.
Luke 10:16
Are we not rejecting Jesus Christ
When we don’t receive Him constantly?
Don’t we fail the Pearl of such great prize
When we miss this opportunity?
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For [...]
Our Guardian Angels
Wednesday, October 1st, 2008Matthew 18: 1-5, 10
Jb 19: 21-27 / Ps 27: 7-9, 13-14
See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly father.
(Matthew 18:10)
Dear Guardian Angel, be my guide
That I may never be misled;
Please always be here at [...]
St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Tuesday, September 30th, 2008Luke 9 : 57-62
Jb 9: 1-12, 14-16 / Ps 88: 10-15
No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.
(Luke 9:62)
No ifs or buts, no fear or doubt,
This is what faith is all about…
Be resolute when we aspire
To serve God, this He [...]
Humility and Forgiveness
Monday, September 29th, 2008Luke 9: 51-56
Jb 3: 1-3, 11-17, 20-23 / Ps 88: 2-8
Jesus resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem.
(Luke 9:51)
He could have “called down fire from above,”
To prove His own divinity,
But Jesus’ power He used for love
To teach us true humility;
When the time for His being taken up was fulfilled, Jesus resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem. [...]
Feast of the Archangels
Sunday, September 28th, 2008John 1: 47-51
Dn 7: 9-10. 13-14 or Rv 12: 7-12 / Ps 138: 1-5
. . . you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.
(John 1: 51)
God’s angels help us be aware
That not all things are what they seem,
And we can only trust in prayer
To counter [...]
Listening to the Master
Saturday, September 27th, 2008Luke 9: 43-45
Eccl 11: 9 – 12: 8 / Ps 90: 3-6, 12-14, 17
Pay attention to what I am telling you: The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men.
(Luke 9:44)
Jesus tells us to “pay attention,”
And let His Word be our foundation,
So that in times of tribulation
We hold on to this consolation.
And [...]
How Real Is Jesus To Me?
Thursday, September 25th, 2008Luke 9: 18-22
Eccl 3: 1-11 / Ps 144: 1-4
But who do you say that I am?
(Luke 9:20)
What Christ means in my life matters
More than what I want my life to be;
What I am and do for others
Show how real my Jesus is to me.
Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with [...]
Trying to See Jesus
Thursday, September 25th, 2008Luke 9: 7-9
Eccl 1: 2-11 / Ps 90: 3-6, 12-14, 17
And he kept trying to see Him.
(Luke 9: 9)
Where can we find our Lord Jesus?
From our troubles His face we seek,
May His Word and Spirit lead us
To see Him in the poor and meek.
Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening; and he [...]
The Mandate for all Christians
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008Luke 9: 1-6
Prv 30: 5-9 / Ps 119: 29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163
So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.
(Luke 9:6)
Proclaim the Gospel everywhere;
This is Christ’s mandate in our lives.
For gold or tunic have no care,
Just depend on what God provides.
Jesus called the Twelve together, [...]
Brotherhood in the Word
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008Luke 8: 19-21
Prv 21: 1-6. 10-13 / Ps 119: 1, 27, 30, 34, 35, 44
My mother and my brothers are all those who hear the Word of God and obey it.
(Luke 8:21)
The Word of God provides the way
For us to become Christ’s brethren;
But we must live it day by day
If we want to be God’s [...]
Sowing the Good Seed
Friday, September 19th, 2008Luke 8: 4-15
1 Cor 15: 35-37, 42-49 / Ps 56: 10-14
Some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold.
(Luke 8:8)
Come Holy Spirit as I write,
Guide this hand that Your Word be told;
Dispel this darkness, be my light,
Let this bear fruit a hundredfold.
While a large crowd was gathering and people [...]
Women in Mission
Thursday, September 18th, 2008Luke 8: 1-3
1 Cor 15: 12-20 / Ps 17: 1, 6-8, 15
These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
(Luke 8: 3)
We’ll never lack for provision,
With wives and sisters in our team;
They are our partners in mission,
Worthy of our love and esteem.
After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to [...]
Of Love and Forgiveness
Thursday, September 18th, 2008Luke 7: 36-50
1 Cor 15: 1-11 / Ps 118: 1-2, 16-17, 28
. . . her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.
(Luke 7: 47)
Our sins are debts we cannot pay
Until we learn how to forgive;
His Word today shows us the way…
God’s love we’ve received we [...]
Being Childlike in Faith
Tuesday, September 16th, 2008Luke 7: 31-35
1 Cor 12: 31 – 13: 13 / Ps 33: 2-5, 12, 22
…wisdom is proved right by all her children.
(Luke 7: 35)
To be like a child once again,
Is to be like Jesus in His ways,
And this can only happen when
Our hearts are open and by God’s grace.
(Jesus said), “To what, then, can I [...]
The Widow at Nain
Tuesday, September 16th, 2008Luke 7: 11-17
1 Cor 12: 12-14, 27-31a / Ps 100: 1- 5
When the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her and He said, “Don’t cry.”
(Luke 7:13)
Moved with pity for a mother’s pain
Jesus raised her dead son at Nain;
In His mercy what we’re praying for,
Through His Mother He will restore.
Soon afterward, Jesus went to [...]
Our Lady of Sorrows
Monday, September 15th, 2008John 19: 25-27 or Luke 2: 33-35
1 Cor 11: 17-26, 33 / Ps 40: 7-10, 17
“Woman, behold your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother.”
(John 19:26)
What was once a great mystery
Was that “sign of contradiction”,
But soon Christ’s Word revealed to me
That His cross was our salvation.
And the child’s father and mother were [...]
St. John Chrysostom: Rock of Faith
Saturday, September 13th, 2008Luke 6: 43-49
1 Cor 10: 14-22 / Ps 116:12-13,17-18
That one is like a person building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock… the river burst against that house but could not shake it…
(Luke 6:48)
Let God’s WORD be our foundation
That we may live a life of truth;
Down through all our generation,
Our tree [...]
Spiritual Blindness
Friday, September 12th, 2008Luke 6: 39-42
1 Cor 9: 16-19, 22-27 / Ps 84: 3-6, 12
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
(Luke 6:41.)
One does not lead others to Christ
On his high chair giving advice;
Before we start to criticize
Make sure there’s no plank [...]
How Do I Measure Up?
Wednesday, September 10th, 2008Luke 6: 27-38
1 Cor 8: 1b-7. 11-13 / Ps 139: 1b-3, 13-14, 23-24
But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
(Luke 6:27-28)
Let our yardstick be compassion,
To measure each mistake or wrong;
Kindness in every occasion
Lightens hearts as [...]
Blessed by Suffering
Wednesday, September 10th, 2008Luke 6: 20-26
1 Cor 7: 25-31 / Ps 45: 11-12, 14-17
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.
(Luke 6:23)
Blessed are the poor and hungry,
Blessed are they now in sorrow;
God will turn their tears to glory,
Theirs is God’s kingdom to follow.
Jesus looked up at His disciples and said: “Blessed [...]
Prayer Power and Community
Tuesday, September 9th, 2008Luke 6: 12-19
1 Cor 6: 1-11 / Ps 149: 1-6, 9
Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
(Luke 6:12)
Jesus prayed all night to the Father
Before He began to teach and heal.
No power can ever be greater,
Believe your prayers God will fulfill!
In those days Jesus went out to a [...]
Prayer Power and Community
Tuesday, September 9th, 2008Luke 6: 12-19
1 Cor 6: 1-11 / Ps 149: 1-6, 9
Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
(Luke 6:12)
Jesus prayed all night to the Father
Before He began to teach and heal.
No power can ever be greater,
Believe your prayers God will fulfill!
In those days Jesus went out to a [...]
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sunday, September 7th, 2008Matthew 1: 1-16, 18-23
Mi 5: 1-4a or Rom 8: 28-30 / Ps 13: 6ab, 6c
Of her was born Jesus, Who is called the Messiah.
(Matthew 1:17)
Reading our Lord’s genealogy
Can be such a puzzling mystery…
But if we look deeply we can see
God’s plan includes Mary’s nativity.
In today’s Gospel of Matthew, he outlines the genealogy of our Lord, [...]
Separating the Chaff from the Grain
Friday, September 5th, 2008Luke 6: 1-5
1 Cor 4: 6b-15 / Ps 145: 17-21
The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.
(Luke 6: 5)
All acts of piety are useless
If in our hearts enmities remain;
Let not our faith be dry and worthless
Like chaff separated from the [...]
Patches and Wineskins
Friday, September 5th, 2008Luke 5: 33-39
1 Cor 4: 1-5 / Ps 37: 3-6, 27-28, 39-40
No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed as well.
(Luke 5:37)
Nothing will last, but in its place,
The old will be replaced with the new;
Leave the comfort of [...]
Fishers of Men
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008Luke 5: 1-11
1 Cor 3: 18-23 / Ps 24: 1-6
Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.
(Luke 5:10)
Thank You, Jesus for making us see
Many are called but few are chosen;
And in this sea of humanity,
You made us to be fishers of men.
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of [...]
The Greater Healing
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008Luke 4: 38-44
1 Cor 3: 1-9 / Ps 33: 12-15, 20-21
I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.
(Luke 4:43)
Jesus showed His great compassion
Curing all kinds of affliction.
Let’s continue His healing mission
Thru His Good News of salvation.
Jesus left the synagogue and [...]
Power of His Word
Monday, September 1st, 2008Luke 4: 31-37
1 Cor 2: 10b-16 / Ps 145: 8-14
What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!
(Luke 4:36)
Don’t fear to face iniquity,
No evil spirits can withstand,
When we speak with authority
The Name ‘Jesus’ at our command.
Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on [...]
In His Native Place
Sunday, August 31st, 2008Luke 4: 16-30
1 Cor 2: 1-5 / Ps 119: 97 - 102
Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.
(Luke 4:21)
Everytime we give in to sin
We cast Christ out from His “native place”.
Lord, let Your Spirit live within
And be with us in all our days.
When Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth, He went to [...]
The Parable of the Talents
Friday, August 29th, 2008Matthew 25: 14-30
1 Cor 1: 26-31 / Ps 33: 12-13, 18-21
‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with small things; I will put you in charge of greater things. Come and share your master’s joy!’
(Matthew 25:23)
For the talents You’re entrusting
May we gainfully parlay,
So that we may be deserving
Of Your joy on Judgment [...]
The Martyrdom of John the Baptist
Thursday, August 28th, 2008Mark 6: 17-29
1 Cor 1: 17-25 / Ps 33: 1-2, 4-5, 10-11
Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist.
(Matthew 11:11)
St. John the Baptist is our model,
For truth his life he sacrificed;
Let his courage be our example,
To be a herald for Jesus Christ.
On the prodding [...]
Vigilance
Wednesday, August 27th, 2008Matthew 24: 42-51
1 Cor 1: 1-9 / Ps 145: 2-7
If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
(Matthew 24:43)
Let not our will by sin be swayed,
Be resolute and firm in Christ;
His judgment [...]
Vigilance
Wednesday, August 27th, 2008Matthew 24: 42-51
1 Cor 1: 1-9 / Ps 145: 2-7
If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
(Matthew 24:43)
Let not our will by sin be swayed,
Be resolute and firm in Christ;
His judgment [...]