Beheading Of John The Baptist

July 31, 2021, Saturday
MEMORIAL OF SAINT IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA, PRIEST (White)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 406

Reading I
Lv 25:1, 8-17

The LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai,
“Seven weeks of years shall you count–seven times seven years–
so that the seven cycles amount to forty-nine years.
Then, on the tenth day of the seventh month, let the trumpet resound;
on this, the Day of Atonement, the trumpet blast shall re-echo
throughout your land.
This fiftieth year you shall make sacred
by proclaiming liberty in the land for all its inhabitants.
It shall be a jubilee for you,
when every one of you shall return to his own property,
every one to his own family estate.
In this fiftieth year, your year of jubilee,
you shall not sow, nor shall you reap the aftergrowth
or pick the grapes from the untrimmed vines.
Since this is the jubilee, which shall be sacred for you,
you may not eat of its produce,
except as taken directly from the field.
“In this year of jubilee, then,
every one of you shall return to his own property.
Therefore, when you sell any land to your neighbor
or buy any from him, do not deal unfairly.
On the basis of the number of years since the last jubilee
shall you purchase the land from your neighbor;
and so also, on the basis of the number of years for crops,
shall he sell it to you.
When the years are many, the price shall be so much the more;
when the years are few, the price shall be so much the less.
For it is really the number of crops that he sells you.
Do not deal unfairly, then; but stand in fear of your God.
I, the LORD, am your God.”

Responsorial Psalm
67:2-3, 5, 7-8

R.     (4)  O God, let all the nations praise you!

May God have pity on us and bless us;
    may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
    among all nations, your salvation.

R.    O God, let all the nations praise you!

May the nations be glad and exult
    because you rule the peoples in equity;
    the nations on the earth you guide.

R.    O God, let all the nations praise you!

The earth has yielded its fruits;
    God, our God, has blessed us.
May God bless us,
    and may all the ends of the earth fear him!

R.    O God, let all the nations praise you!

Alleluia
Mt 5:10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Mt 14:1-12

Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus
and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist.
He has been raised from the dead;
that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”
Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison
on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip,
for John had said to him,
“It is not lawful for you to have her.”
Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people,
for they regarded him as a prophet.
But at a birthday celebration for Herod,
the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests
and delighted Herod so much
that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for.
Prompted by her mother, she said,
“Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was distressed, 
but because of his oaths and the guests who were present,
he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison.
His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl,
who took it to her mother.
His disciples came and took away the corpse
and buried him, and they went and told Jesus.

REFLECTION:

John’s death led his disciples to Jesus. When all seemed lost, they risked their lives in a final act of love to reclaim his body, and then “they went and told Jesus”. Let us realize that the darkest hour often heralds the dawn.

Herod’s generous promise was not balanced by wisdom and justice. I pray for people whose lives are out of balance and who have lost sight of their true good. I call to mind those who suffer injustice because of the pride of others and allow God to tell me what I might do, how I might pray.

PRAYER:

Lord, strengthen my weak heart so that I may truly witness to your values. 

Jesus' Wisdom Surprised His Townspeople

July 30, 2021, Friday
Friday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
(Opt. Mem.) Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (White)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 405

Reading I
Lv 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37

The LORD said to Moses,
“These are the festivals of the LORD which you shall celebrate
at their proper time with a sacred assembly.
The Passover of the LORD falls on the fourteenth day of the first month,
at the evening twilight.
The fifteenth day of this month is the LORD’s feast of Unleavened Bread.
For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.
On the first of these days you shall hold a sacred assembly
and do no sort of work.
On each of the seven days you shall offer an oblation to the LORD.
Then on the seventh day you shall again hold a sacred assembly
and do no sort of work.”
The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the children of Israel and tell them:
When you come into the land which I am giving you,
and reap your harvest,
you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest
to the priest, who shall wave the sheaf before the LORD
that it may be acceptable for you.
On the day after the sabbath the priest shall do this.
“Beginning with the day after the sabbath,
the day on which you bring the wave-offering sheaf,
you shall count seven full weeks,
and then on the day after the seventh week, the fiftieth day,
you shall present the new cereal offering to the LORD.
“The tenth of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement,
when you shall hold a sacred assembly and mortify yourselves
and offer an oblation to the LORD.
“The fifteenth day of this seventh month is the LORD’s feast of Booths,
which shall continue for seven days.
On the first day there shall be a sacred assembly,
and you shall do no sort of work.
For seven days you shall offer an oblation to the LORD,
and on the eighth day you shall again hold a sacred assembly
and offer an oblation to the LORD.
On that solemn closing you shall do no sort of work.
“These, therefore, are the festivals of the LORD
on which you shall proclaim a sacred assembly,
and offer as an oblation to the LORD burnt offerings and cereal offerings,
sacrifices and libations, as prescribed for each day.”

Responsorial Psalm
81:3-4, 5-6, 10-11ab

R.     (2a)  Sing with joy to God our help.

Take up a melody, and sound the timbrel,
    the pleasant harp and the lyre.
Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
    at the full moon, on our solemn feast.

R.     Sing with joy to God our help.

For it is a statute in Israel,
    an ordinance of the God of Jacob,
Who made it a decree for Joseph
    when he came forth from the land of Egypt.

R.     Sing with joy to God our help.

There shall be no strange god among you
    nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
    who led you forth from the land of Egypt.

R.     Sing with joy to God our help.

Alleluia
1 Pt 1:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The word of the Lord remains forever;
This is the word that has been proclaimed to you.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Mt 13:54-58

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue.
They were astonished and said,
“Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?
Is he not the carpenter’s son?
Is not his mother named Mary
and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
Are not his sisters all with us?
Where did this man get all this?”
And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and in his own house.”
And he did not work many mighty deeds there
because of their lack of faith.

REFLECTION:

It seems there was a moment when the light broke through when the people realized the power of Jesus’ wisdom and actions. Then the clouds came over and they thought, ‘If he were so special we would not have missed it.’ It sometimes happens in our lives too, that we have moments of recognition when we see how blessed we are, how fortunate – perhaps compared to others. All too quickly, we may find ourselves returning to our usual complaints. The people of Jesus’ town were in the presence of Jesus but did not recognize him for who he was. I take this time of prayer to be in the presence of Jesus, to recognize who he is, and to ask him to help me to see my life as he does.

Ask Jesus for the grace to realize that every time you meet him in your prayer you are meeting God. Allow his disturbing freshness to captivate you. Like Mary, allow Jesus to do ‘deeds of power’ through you for the good of the world.

PRAYER:

I pray for wisdom and enlightenment so that I may listen to and reflect on the teachings of Jesus with renewed insight and wisdom, seeing their relevance to my walk of faith with Him.

Martha's Response

July 29, 2021, Thursday
Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, Disciples of the Lord (White)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 404/607

Reading I
Ex 40:16-21, 34-38

Moses did exactly as the LORD had commanded him.
On the first day of the first month of the second year
the Dwelling was erected.
It was Moses who erected the Dwelling.
He placed its pedestals, set up its boards, put in its bars,
and set up its columns.
He spread the tent over the Dwelling
and put the covering on top of the tent,
as the LORD had commanded him.
He took the commandments and put them in the ark;
he placed poles alongside the ark and set the propitiatory upon it.
He brought the ark into the Dwelling and hung the curtain veil,
thus screening off the ark of the commandments,
as the LORD had commanded him.
Then the cloud covered the meeting tent,
and the glory of the LORD filled the Dwelling.
Moses could not enter the meeting tent,
because the cloud settled down upon it
and the glory of the LORD filled the Dwelling.
Whenever the cloud rose from the Dwelling,
the children of Israel would set out on their journey.
But if the cloud did not lift, they would not go forward;
only when it lifted did they go forward.
In the daytime the cloud of the LORD was seen over the Dwelling;
whereas at night, fire was seen in the cloud
by the whole house of Israel
in all the stages of their journey.

Responsorial Psalm
84:3, 4, 5-6a and 8a, 11

R.    (2)    How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!

My soul yearns and pines 
    for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
    cry out for the living God.

R.     How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!

Even the sparrow finds a home,
    and the swallow a nest
    in which she puts her young–
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
    my king and my God!

R.     How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!

Blessed they who dwell in your house!
    continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
They go from strength to strength.

R.    How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!

I had rather one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

R.    How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!

Alleluia
Jn 8:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Jn 11:19-27

Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary
to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died].
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming,
she went to meet him;
but Mary sat at home.
Martha said to Jesus,
“Lord, if you had been here,
my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that whatever you ask of God,
God will give you.”
Jesus said to her,
“Your brother will rise.”
Martha said to him,
“I know he will rise,
in the resurrection on the last day.”
Jesus told her,
“I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?”
She said to him, “Yes, Lord.
I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,
the one who is coming into the world.”

OR:

Lk 10:38-42

Jesus entered a village 
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. 
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? 
Tell her to help me.” 
The Lord said to her in reply,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. 
There is need of only one thing. 
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”

REFLECTION:

Martha’s faith in Jesus is absolute. She believes that her brother Lazarus will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. She acknowledges Jesus as ‘the Messiah, the Son of God.

Faith in the resurrection helps us to live with an attitude of hope, sharing in the joy of the victory of the risen Christ over sin and death. It is because of the resurrection that Christ is with me on all of my journeys through life. Can I recognize his presence and open my heart to encounter him more fully?

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, I am forever grateful that You are in our past, present, and future. Thank You for being my Resurrection and Life! AMEN. 

Parables Of The Hidden Treasure And The Pearl

July 28, 2021, Wednesday
Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 403

Reading I
Ex 34:29-35

As Moses came down from Mount Sinai
with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands,
he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant
while he conversed with the LORD.
When Aaron, then, and the other children of Israel saw Moses
and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become,
they were afraid to come near him.
Only after Moses called to them did Aaron
and all the rulers of the community come back to him.
Moses then spoke to them.
Later on, all the children of Israel came up to him,
and he enjoined on them all that the LORD
had told him on Mount Sinai.
When he finished speaking with them,
he put a veil over his face.
Whenever Moses entered the presence of the LORD to converse with him,
he removed the veil until he came out again.
On coming out, he would tell the children of Israel
all that had been commanded.
Then the children of Israel would see
that the skin of Moses’ face was radiant;
so he would again put the veil over his face
until he went in to converse with the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm
99:5, 6, 7, 9

R.     (see 9c)  Holy is the Lord our God.

Extol the LORD, our God,
    and worship at his footstool;
    holy is he!

R.     Holy is the Lord our God.

Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
    and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;
    they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.

R.     Holy is the Lord our God.

From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them;
    they heard his decrees and the law he gave them.

R.     Holy is the Lord our God.

Extol the LORD, our God,
    and worship at his holy mountain;
    for holy is the LORD, our God.

R.     Holy is the Lord our God.

Alleluia
Jn 15:15b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I call you my friends, says the Lord,
for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Mt 13:44-46

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.”

REFLECTION:

Imagine the reaction of the person who finds the hidden treasure in this parable, how their heart must have leaped to find it! Their whole life is turned around; for the first time in their life, they have hope that things will be better. They can’t wait to tell their family but know they have to keep the treasure a secret until they have bought the field. But the person’s family will notice the change in them and wonder what good news has got hold of them.

The kingdom is a treasure as precious as the finest of pearls. It should be our greatest and most important possession. It means that my values are the values of God. Is that how I see it? Would anyone know?

PRAYER:

Lord, you talk of the joy of discovery. That is the sign that I have found your treasure, deep happiness that nothing can separate me from you.

Parable Of The Weeds Explained

July 27, 2021, Tuesday
Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 402

Reading I
Ex 33:7-11; 34:5b-9, 28

The tent, which was called the meeting tent,
Moses used to pitch at some distance away, outside the camp.
Anyone who wished to consult the LORD
would go to this meeting tent outside the camp.
Whenever Moses went out to the tent, the people would all rise
and stand at the entrance of their own tents,
watching Moses until he entered the tent.
As Moses entered the tent, the column of cloud would come down
and stand at its entrance while the LORD spoke with Moses.
On seeing the column of cloud stand at the entrance of the tent,
all the people would rise and worship
at the entrance of their own tents.
The LORD used to speak to Moses face to face,
as one man speaks to another.
Moses would then return to the camp,
but his young assistant, Joshua, son of Nun,
would not move out of the tent.
Moses stood there with the LORD 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,
continuing his kindness for a thousand generations,
and forgiving wickedness and crime and sin;
yet not declaring the guilty guiltless,
but punishing children and grandchildren
to the third and fourth generation for their fathers’ wickedness!”
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.”
So Moses stayed there with the LORD for forty days and forty nights,
without eating any food or drinking any water,
and he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant,
the ten commandments.

Responsorial Psalm
103:6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13

R.     (8a)  The Lord is kind and merciful.

The LORD secures justice
    and the rights of all the oppressed.
He has made known his ways to Moses,
    and his deeds to the children of Israel.

R.     The Lord is kind and merciful.

Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
    slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide,
    nor does he keep his wrath forever.

R.     The Lord is kind and merciful.

Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
    nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
    so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.

R.     The Lord is kind and merciful.

As far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.

R.     The Lord is kind and merciful.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower;
all who come to him will live for ever.

R. Alleluia, alleluia

GOSPEL
Mt 13:36-43

Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house.
His disciples approached him and said,
“Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man,
the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom.
The weeds are the children of the Evil One,
and the enemy who sows them is the Devil.
The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire,
so will it be at the end of the age.
The Son of Man will send his angels,
and they will collect out of his Kingdom
all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.
They will throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine like the sun
in the Kingdom of their Father.
Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

REFLECTION:

Weeds and wheat all grow together and, at the harvest, are separated. In each of our strengths and weaknesses of personality exist together, as do our best and faults. God sees our whole and looks at the total field. All are growing together and too much emphasis on faults means we may forget our goodness. In prayer, let's offer the good to God for strengthening and what is weak for healing and forgiveness.

The good seed is sown in the world as it is. There is no need to wait until things are better, I can do whatever good I can do right now.

PRAYER:

Like a seed growing towards the light, I allow myself to dwell in the presence of God who loves me. I still any voices that are not for my growth, wanting only to respond to the word that God speaks to me.

 

Parables Of The Mustard Seed And The Yeast

July 26, 2021, Monday
Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary (White)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 401

Reading I
Ex 32:15-24, 30-34

Moses turned and came down the mountain
with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands,
tablets that were written on both sides, front and back;
tablets that were made by God,
having inscriptions on them that were engraved by God himself.
Now, when Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting,
he said to Moses, “That sounds like a battle in the camp.”
But Moses answered, “It does not sound like cries of victory,
nor does it sound like cries of defeat;
the sounds that I hear are cries of revelry.”
As he drew near the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing.
With that, Moses’ wrath flared up, so that he threw the tablets down
and broke them on the base of the mountain.
Taking the calf they had made, he fused it in the fire
and then ground it down to powder,
which he scattered on the water and made the children of Israel drink.
Moses asked Aaron, “What did this people ever do to you
that you should lead them into so grave a sin?”
Aaron replied, “Let not my lord be angry.
You know well enough how prone the people are to evil.
They said to me, ‘Make us a god to be our leader;
as for the man Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt,
we do not know what has happened to him.’
So I told them, ‘Let anyone who has gold jewelry take it off.’
They gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out.”
On the next day Moses said to the people,
“You have committed a grave sin.
I will go up to the LORD, then;
perhaps I may be able to make atonement for your sin.”
So Moses went back to the LORD and said,
“Ah, this people has indeed committed a grave sin
in making a god of gold for themselves!
If you would only forgive their sin!
If you will not, then strike me out of the book that you have written.”
The LORD answered, “Him only who has sinned against me
will I strike out of my book.
Now, go and lead the people to the place I have told you.
My angel will go before you.
When it is time for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.”

Responsorial Psalm
106:19-20, 21-22, 23

R.     (1a)  Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

Our fathers made a calf in Horeb
    and adored a molten image;
They exchanged their glory
    for the image of a grass-eating bullock.

R.     Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

They forgot the God who had saved them,
    who had done great deeds in Egypt,
Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham,
    terrible things at the Red Sea.

R.     Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

Then he spoke of exterminating them,
    but Moses, his chosen one,
Withstood him in the breach
    to turn back his destructive wrath.

R.     Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

Alleluia
Jas 1:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Mt 13:31-35

Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds.
“The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed
that a person took and sowed in a field.
It is the smallest of all the seeds,
yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants.
It becomes a large bush,
and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.”
He spoke to them another parable.
“The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast
that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch was leavened.”
All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables.
He spoke to them only in parables, 
to fulfill what had been said through the prophet:
    I will open my mouth in parables,
    I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world.

REFLECTION:

Notice how Jesus spoke about small things, how he found significance in what might easily be overlooked. Let Jesus look at your life – even at your humble tasks – to see if he might not lead you to wisdom, insight, and truth.

PRAYER:

Lord, I pray that I may set my heart on your kingdom first. You invite me to experience the fullness of life which you wish to give me. You love me unconditionally and keep me rooted in faith so that I can grow to know you more and experience the great love which you have for me. Your grace acts within me and spurs me onwards to love others just as you love me.

The Multiplication Of Loaves

July 25, 2021, Sunday
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)
FIL-MISSION SUNDAY
FIRST WORLD DAY FOR GRANDPARENTS AND THE ELDERLY
CYCLE B - YEAR I 
Lectionary: 110

Reading I
2 Kgs 4:42-44

A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing to Elisha, the man of God,
twenty barley loaves made from the firstfruits,
and fresh grain in the ear. 
Elisha said, “Give it to the people to eat.” 
But his servant objected,
“How can I set this before a hundred people?” 
Elisha insisted, “Give it to the people to eat.” 
“For thus says the LORD,
‘They shall eat and there shall be some left over.’” 
And when they had eaten, there was some left over,
as the LORD had said.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18

R. (cf. 16) The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
    and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
    and speak of your might.

R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

The eyes of all look hopefully to you,
    and you give them their food in due season;
you open your hand
    and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

The LORD is just in all his ways
    and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
    to all who call upon him in truth.

R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

Reading II
Eph 4:1-6

Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:
one body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.

Alleluia
Lk 7:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

A great prophet has risen in our midst.
God has visited his people.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Jn 6:1-15

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. 
A large crowd followed him,
because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. 
Jesus went up on the mountain,
and there he sat down with his disciples. 
The Jewish feast of Passover was near. 
When Jesus raised his eyes
and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip,
“Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” 
He said this to test him,
because he himself knew what he was going to do. 
Philip answered him,
“Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough
for each of them to have a little.” 
One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?” 
Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” 
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. 
So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. 
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted. 
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,
“Gather the fragments left over,
so that nothing will be wasted.” 
So they collected them,
and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments 
from the five barley loaves
that had been more than they could eat. 
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,
“This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” 
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

REFLECTION:

In today’s Gospel Jesus performs the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. It is, of course, a symbol of the Eucharist; there are deliberate signals that this is so. This incident is memorable, but it pales insignificance when compared to the wonder of the Eucharist. Try to devote some time to seeing the occasion, speaking to the participants, and drawing fruit for yourself and your life.

PRAYER:

Lord, the hunger of the world screams for my attention. But what can I do? Give me a willingness to go beyond myself, to share my little resources towards building a community where people love and care for one another.

Parable Of The Weeds

July 24, 2021, Saturday
Saturday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
(Opt. Mem.) Saint Sharbel Makhlūf, Priest (White)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 400

Reading I
Ex 24:3-8

When Moses came to the people
and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD,  
they all answered with one voice,
“We will do everything that the LORD has told us.”
Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and,
rising early the next day,
he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar
and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. 
Then, having sent certain young men of the children of Israel
to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice young bulls
as peace offerings to the LORD,
Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls;
the other half he splashed on the altar.
Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people,
who answered, “All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do.”
Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying,
“This is the blood of the covenant
that the LORD has made with you
in accordance with all these words of his.”

Responsorial Psalm
50:1b-2, 5-6, 14-15

R.     (14a)  Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth,
    from the rising of the sun to its setting.
From Zion, perfect in beauty,
    God shines forth.

R.    Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

“Gather my faithful ones before me,
    those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
    for God himself is the judge.

R.    Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

“Offer to God praise as your sacrifice
     and fulfill your vows to the Most High;
Then call upon me in time of distress;
     I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me.”

R.    Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

Alleluia
Jas 1:21bc

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you
and is able to save your souls.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Mt 13:24-30

Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds.
“The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man
who sowed good seed in his field.
While everyone was asleep his enemy came
and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.
When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well.
The slaves of the householder came to him and said,
‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field?
Where have the weeds come from?’
He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’
His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds
you might uproot the wheat along with them.
Let them grow together until harvest;
then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters,
“First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning;
but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

REFLECTION:

Sometimes we may think that perfection is acquired by becoming aware of our faults and working to root these out. However, when we become more familiar with Jesus’ attitude to the limited and sinful side of ourselves we learn to accept our limited and sinful self just as Jesus did with Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10). If we don’t accept this side of ourselves, we tend to become fixated with it and fail to appreciate the fullness of life Jesus has already given us.

The lesson is: We require patience, and trust that this most experienced of cultivators – the Lord of Creation – has the matter well in hand.

Be with Jesus and let him teach you to let the weeds grow with the wheat lest seeking to root them or you might fail to appreciate all that is good and even beautiful about your life.

PRAYER:

Good and evil co-exist in human life and in the world. Nothing or no one is perfect. We are all in need of forgiveness and redemption. Lord Jesus, you know my strengths and my weaknesses. Help me to produce a rich harvest of good works to the greater glory of the Father.

Parable of the Sower Explained (Part 2)

July 23, 2021, Friday
Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
(Opt. Mem.) Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious (White)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 399

Reading I
Ex 20:1-17

In those days:
God delivered all these commandments:
    “I, the LORD, am your God, 
    who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.
You shall not have other gods besides me.
You shall not carve idols for yourselves 
    in the shape of anything in the sky above 
    or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; 
    you shall not bow down before them or worship them.
For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, 
    inflicting punishment for their fathers’ wickedness 
    on the children of those who hate me, 
    down to the third and fourth generation; 
    but bestowing mercy down to the thousandth generation 
    on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain.
For the LORD will not leave unpunished 
    him who takes his name in vain.
“Remember to keep holy the sabbath day.
Six days you may labor and do all your work, 
    but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD, your God.
No work may be done then either by you, or your son or daughter, 
    or your male or female slave, or your beast, 
    or by the alien who lives with you.
In six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, 
    the sea and all that is in them; 
    but on the seventh day he rested.
That is why the LORD has blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.
“Honor your father and your mother, 
    that you may have a long life in the land 
    which the LORD, your God, is giving you.
“You shall not kill.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, 
    nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass, 
    nor anything else that belongs to him.”

Responsorial Psalm
19:8, 9, 10, 11

R.    (John 6:68c)  Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

The law of the LORD is perfect,
    refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
    giving wisdom to the simple.

R.    Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

The precepts of the LORD are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
    enlightening the eye.

R.    Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

The fear of the LORD is pure,
    enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
    all of them just.

R.    Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

They are more precious than gold,
    than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
    or honey from the comb.

R.    Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

Alleluia
See Lk 8:15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Mt 13:18-23

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Hear the parable of the sower.
The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the Kingdom
without understanding it,
and the Evil One comes and steals away
what was sown in his heart.
The seed sown on rocky ground
is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy.
But he has no root and lasts only for a time.
When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,
he immediately falls away.
The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word,
but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word
and it bears no fruit.
But the seed sown on rich soil
is the one who hears the word and understands it,
who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

REFLECTION:

The parable of the sower explains how the Word of God is received. Jesus knows that there are different levels of receiving the Word - allowing it to flourish and bear fruit or not giving it sufficient attention so that its effect diminishes.

PRAYER:

I allow my imagination to dwell with the scene that Jesus presents, picturing the growth, identifying threats to it. I take care not to allow the weeds and barrenness to dominate but accept that God pictures a flourishing harvest and never gives up that hope for me.

Jesus Appears To Mary Magdalene

July 22, 2021, Thursday
FEAST OF SAINT MARY MAGDALENE (White)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 603

Reading I
Sgs 3:1-4b

The Bride says:
On my bed at night I sought him
whom my heart loves–
I sought him but I did not find him.
I will rise then and go about the city;
in the streets and crossings I will seek
Him whom my heart loves.
I sought him but I did not find him.
The watchmen came upon me,
as they made their rounds of the city:
Have you seen him whom my heart loves?
I had hardly left them
when I found him whom my heart loves.

OR: 

2 Cor 5:14-17

Brothers and sisters:
The love of Christ impels us,
once we have come to the conviction that one died for all;
therefore, all have died.
He indeed died for all,
so that those who live might no longer live for themselves
but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh;
even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh,
yet now we know him so no longer.
So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

R. (2) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.

R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
For your kindness is a greater good than life;
my lips shall glorify you.

R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,
and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.

R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

You are my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.
My soul clings fast to you;
your right hand upholds me.

R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Tell us Mary, what did you see on the way?
I saw the glory of the risen Christ, I saw his empty tomb.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Jn 20:1-2, 11-18

On the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don’t know where they put him.”
Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping.
And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
and saw two angels in white sitting there,
one at the head and one at the feet
where the Body of Jesus had been.
And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “They have taken my Lord,
and I don’t know where they laid him.”
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,
but did not know it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?
Whom are you looking for?”
She thought it was the gardener and said to him,
“Sir, if you carried him away,
tell me where you laid him,
and I will take him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to him in Hebrew,
“Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.
Jesus said to her,
“Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
But go to my brothers and tell them,
‘I am going to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples,
“I have seen the Lord,”
and then reported what he told her.

REFLECTION:

Today we celebrate the feast of Mary Magdalene, whom Pope Francis calls the Apostle of the apostles: she was the one sent by the Risen Jesus to announce the Resurrection to the Apostles. I reflect on the important role this woman was given by Jesus and on the role of women in the Church today. I thank God for all the women who helped me know Jesus better and pray that the Church finds ways of giving women their proper place in her ministry and leadership structures.

PRAYER:

I have seen the Lord! This was Mary’s message: the apostle of the resurrection can only be a witness, someone who has already met the Risen Jesus. I look at my relationship with Jesus and ask for the grace to know him better so that I can take him to others out of the fullness of my heart.