Kapamilya Gospel

[Leo Lastimosa]

DAILY GOSPEL «Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6:68 Monday, 02 July 2012 Monday of the Thirteenth week in Ordinary Time Saint(s) of the day : St. Bernardino Realino, Priest (1530-1616) See commentary below or click here Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori : "The Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head" Book of Amos 2:6-10.13-16. Thus says the LORD: For three crimes of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke my word; Because they sell the just man for silver, and the poor man for a pair of sandals. They trample the heads of the weak into the dust of the earth, and force the lowly out of the way. Son and father go to the same prostitute, profaning my holy name. Upon garments taken in pledge they recline beside any altar; And the wine of those who have been fined they drink in the house of their god. Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorites before them, who were as tall as the cedars, and as strong as the oak trees. I destroyed their fruit above, and their roots beneath. It was I who brought you up from the land of Egypt, and who led you through the desert for forty years, to occupy the land of the Amorites: Beware, I will crush you into the ground as a wagon crushes when laden with sheaves. Flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong man shall not retain his strength; The warrior shall not save his life, nor the bowman stand his ground; The swift of foot shall not escape, nor the horseman save his life. And the most stouthearted of warriors shall flee naked on that day, says the LORD. Psalms 50(49):16bc-17.18-19.20-21.22-23. "Why do you recite my statutes, And profess my covenant with your mouth, Though you hate discipline And cast my words behind you?" "When you see a thief, you keep pace with him, And with adulterers you throw in your lot. To your mouth you give free rein for evil, You harness your tongue to deceit." "You sit speaking against your brother; Against your mother's son you spread rumors. "When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it? Or do you think that I am like yourself? I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.   "Consider this, you who forget God, Lest I rend you and there be no one to rescue you.   He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me; And to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God." Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 8:18-22. When Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side. A scribe approached and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." Another of (his) disciples said to him, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father." But Jesus answered him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead." Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB Commentary of the day : Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787), Bishop and Doctor of the Church 8th Address for the Octave of Christmas "The Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head" Just as Jesus Christ was born poor so has he continued to live in poverty all his life – and not just poor but destitute, a “beggar”, according to the expression of Saint Paul (cf. 2Cor 8,9)... Jesus lived in poverty at Nazareth: “poor in dwelling, his furnishings few, such was the lodging of the world's Creator”. There he lived frugally, earning his bread by the sweat of his brow and at the cost of great weariness, just like a workman and the sons of workmen. For the rest, did not the Jews believe him to be, and call him “a carpenter, a carpenter's son”? (Mk 6,3; Mt 13,55). Afterwards he appeared publicly to preach the Gospel. During these last three years of his life, far from improving his means of support, he practised an even more severe form of poverty, living only on donations. To one man, who wanted to follow him in the hope of living more comfortably, he replied: “Understand it well: foxes have holes and the birds of the air have their nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head”. Man, he was trying to say, if you count on finding a leisurely way of life by following after me, you are mistaken, for I have come on earth to teach poverty. With this intention I have become poorer than the foxes and the birds which, at the very least, have some shelter. But I haven't the least plot of ground belonging to me as my own where I might take my rest and it is my wish that my disciples should be like me... “A servant of Jesus Christ possesses nothing beyond Jesus Christ”, states Saint Jerome. He doesn't even desire to possess anything beyond Jesus. In a word, Jesus always lived as a poor man, he also died poor. Wasn't it necessary for Joseph of Arimathea to give him a tomb and for others to make him the gift of a linen shroud to wrap his body?

[Leo Lastimosa]

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

Tuesday, 03 July 2012 Saint Thomas, apostle - Feast Saint(s) of the day : St. Thomas, Apostle -Feast

See commentary below or click here

Saint Basil of Seleucia : «Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature» (Mc 16,15) Letter to the Ephesians 2:19-22. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Psalms 117(116):1bc.2. Praise the LORD, all you nations; Glorify him, all you peoples! For steadfast is his kindness for us, And the fidelity of the LORD endures forever. Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 20:24-29. Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB Commentary of the day :

Saint Basil of Seleucia (?-c.468), bishop Sermon for the Resurrection, 1-4 «Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature» (Mc 16,15) “Put your finger into the mark of the nails”, Jesus said to Thomas. “You were looking for me when I was not there; take advantage of it now that I am. I know what you are wanting to do in spite of your silence. Even before you tell me, I know what you are thinking. I heard what you said and, even though unseen, I was beside you, close to your doubts, and without revealing myself I made you wait so that I could witness your impatience all the better. Put your finger into the mark of the nails; put your hand into my side; and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Then Thomas touched him. All his defiance fell away and, filled with sincere faith and all the love owing to God, he cried out: “My Lord and my God!” And the Lord said to him: “You have believed because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe! Thomas, take the new of my resurrection to those who have not seen. Lead the whole world to belief, not at the evidence of its eyes but at your word. Go through peoples and pagan cities. Teach them to the carry the cross on their shoulders, not weapons... Tell them they are called by grace and, as for you, consider their faith: truly, happy are those who have not seen and yet believe!” Such is the army the Lord has raised; these are the children of the baptismal pool, the works of grace, the harvest of the Spirit. They have followed Christ without having seen him; they sought and they believed. They recognised with the eyes of faith, not of the body. They have not placed their fingers in the marks of the nails but have been fastened to his cross and embraced his sufferings. They have not seen the Lord's side but, through grace, have been made one with his members and have made their own these words of the Lord: “Happy are those who have not seen and have believed!”

[Leo Lastimosa]

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

Wednesday, 04 July 2012 Wednesday of the Thirteenth week in Ordinary Time Saint(s) of the day : St. Elizabeth of Portugal (1271-1336)

See commentary below or click here

Saint Bernard : "Two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him" Book of Amos 5:14-15.21-24. Seek good and not evil, that you may live; Then truly will the LORD, the God of hosts, be with you as you claim! Hate evil and love good, and let justice prevail at the gate; Then it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will have pity on the remnant of Joseph. I hate, I spurn your feasts, I take no pleasure in your solemnities; Your cereal offerings I will not accept, nor consider your stall-fed peace offerings. Away with your noisy songs! I will not listen to the melodies of your harps. But if you would offer me holocausts, then let justice surge like water, and goodness like an unfailing stream. Psalms 50(49):7.8-9.10-11.12-13.16bc-17. "Hear, my people, and I will speak; Israel, I will testify against you; God, your God, am I." "Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, For your burnt offerings are before me always. I take from your house no bullock, No goats out of your fold." "For mine are all the animals of the forests, Beasts by the thousand on my mountains. I know all the birds of the air, And whatever stirs in the plains, belongs to me." "If I were hungry, I should not tell you, For mine are the world and its fullness. Do I eat the flesh of strong bulls, Or is the blood of goats my drink?"

"Why do you recite my statutes, And profess my covenant with your mouth, Though you hate discipline And cast my words behind you?"

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 8:28-34. When he came to the other side, to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road. They cried out, "What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?" Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. The demons pleaded with him, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine." And he said to them, "Go then!" They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB Commentary of the day :

Saint Bernard (1091-1153), Cistercian monk and doctor of the Church Sermon 17 on Psalm 90, § 4 ; PL 183, 252. "Two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him" “I will be with him in distress,” saiys the Lord, “I will deliver him and glorify him” (Ps 90[91], 15); “my delights are to be with the sons of men” (Prv 8,31). Note well that Emmanuel, God with us (Mt 1,23)...  has come down to be with those whose hearts are distressed, to be with us in our distress. However, a day will come when “we shall be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1Thes 4,17) provided we try hard to have him always with us as our companion on the way who will give us our homeland in return. More: so long as he is now our way, he himself will be our homeland then. Therefore it is good for me to be in distress, O Lord, provided you are there with me. It is better for me than to reign without you, be glad without you, be in glory without you. How much better it is for me to cling to you in my distress, to have you beside me in the crucible, than to be without you, even in heaven. In fact, “whom else have I in heaven but you and what can I desire on earth but you?” (Ps 72[73],25). “Gold is tried in the furnace and the just in the crucible of distress” (cf. Sir 2,5). It is there that you stand, in the midst of those gathered together in your name, as in former times the three young men stood in the furnace in Babylon (Dan 3,92)... Why are you trembling, then?... “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8,31). If God rescues us from our enemies' hands, who can snatch us out of his hands?

[Leo Lastimosa]

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

Thursday, 05 July 2012 Thursday of the Thirteenth 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 : « Who but God alone can forgive sins? » (Mk 2,7) Book of Amos 7:10-17. Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to Jeroboam, king of Israel: "Amos has conspired against you here within Israel; the country cannot endure all his words. For this is what Amos says: Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be exiled from its land." To Amos, Amaziah said: "Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah! There earn your bread by prophesying, but never again prophesy in Bethel; for it is the king's sanctuary and a royal temple." Amos answered Amaziah, "I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores. The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel. Now hear the word of the LORD!" You say: prophesy not against Israel, preach not against the house of Isaac. Now thus says the LORD: Your wife shall be made a harlot in the city, and your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword; Your land shall be divided by measuring line, and you yourself shall die in an unclean land; Israel shall be exiled far from its land. Psalms 19(18):8.9.10.11. The law of the LORD is perfect, Refreshing the soul; The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, Giving wisdom to the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, Rejoicing the heart; The command of the LORD is clear, Enlightening the eye.   The fear of the LORD is pure, Enduring forever; The ordinances of the LORD are true, All of them just. They are more precious than gold, Than a heap of purest gold; Sweeter also than syrup Or honey from the comb. Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 9:1-8. He entered a boat, made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Courage, child, your sins are forgiven." At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, "Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" --he then said to the paralytic, "Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home." He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to human beings.

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. 29, 1 « Who but God alone can forgive sins? » (Mk 2,7) « And there people brought to him a paralytic. » Saint Matthew merely says that this paralytic was carried to Jesus. Other evangelists describe how he was let down through an opening in the roof and placed before the Lord without expressing any particular request, leaving it to him to assess the healing,,, « When Jesus saw their faith», the Gospel says, that is to say, the faith of those who had brought the man to him. Consider how sometimes Christ pays no attention to the faith of the sick person: perhaps because the latter is incapable of it, being unconscious or possessed with an evil spirit. However, in this case, this paralytic had great trust in Jesus; otherwise, would he have allowed them to let him down in front of him? Christ responds to this trust with an extraordinary miracle. With the power of God himself he forgives this man's sins. Thus he showed that he is equal to the Father, a truth he had already shown when he said to the leper: “I will do it; be made clean” (Mt 8,3)... and when, with a word, he stilled the tempestuous sea (Mt 8,26), or when, as God, he had cast out the demons who recognized in him their ruler and their judge (Mt 8,32). So here, he shows his adversaries, to their great astonishment, that he is equal to the Father. And once more the Savior shows here how he turns away from anything spectacular or a source of vainglory. On all sides the crowd is pressing him yet he is in no hurry to work a visible miracle by healing the external paralysis of this man... He begins with an invisible miracle by healing the man's soul. This kind of healing is far more beneficial for him and, outwardly speaking, less glorious for Christ.

[Leo Lastimosa]

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

Friday, 06 July 2012 Friday of the Thirteenth week in Ordinary Time Saint(s) of the day : St. Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr (1890-1902),  St. Palladius, Bishop and Apostle of the Scots, (+ c. 450)

See commentary below or click here

Saint Francis of Assisi : "I did not come to call the righteous but sinners" Book of Amos 8:4-6.9-12. Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land! "When will the new moon be over," you ask, "that we may sell our grain, and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat? We will diminish the ephah, add to the shekel, and fix our scales for cheating! We will buy the lowly man for silver, and the poor man for a pair of sandals; even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!" On that day, says the Lord GOD, I will make the sun set at midday and cover the earth with darkness in broad daylight. I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentations. I will cover the loins of all with sackcloth and make every head bald. I will make them mourn as for an only son, and bring their day to a bitter end. Yes, days are coming, says the Lord GOD, when I will send famine upon the land: Not a famine of bread, or thirst for water, but for hearing the word of the LORD. Then shall they wander from sea to sea and rove from the north to the east In search of the word of the LORD, but they shall not find it. Psalms 119(118):2.10.20.30.40.131. Blessed are they who observe his decrees, Who seek him with all their heart. With all my heart I seek you; Let me not stray from your commands. My soul is consumed with longing For your ordinances at all times. The way of truth I have chosen; I have set your ordinances before me. Behold, I long for your precepts; In your justice give me life. I gasp with open mouth, In my yearning for your commands. Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 9:9-13. As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB Commentary of the day :

Saint Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), Founder of the Friars Minor Letter to a Minister of the Franciscan Order (trans. ©Classics of Western Spirituality, 1982) "I did not come to call the righteous but sinners" And by this I wish to know if you love the Lord God and me, his servant and yours-if you have acted in this manner: that is, there should not be any brother in the world who has sinned, however much he may have possibly sinned, who, after he has looked into your eyes, would go away without having received your mercy, if he is looking for mercy. And if he were not to seek mercy, you should ask him if he wants mercy. And if he should sin thereafter a thousand times before your very eyes, love him more than me so that you may draw him back to the Lord. Always be merciful to such as these... If anyone of the brothers at the instigation of the enemy should sin mortally, he is bound by obedience to have recourse to his guardian. And all the brothers who might know that he has sinned are not to bring shame upon him or speak ill of him, but let them show great mercy toward him and keep most secret the sin of their brother; “because it is not the healthy who are in need of the physician, but those who are sick” (Mt 9:12)... And let the Custodian mercifully take care of him as he would like to be taken care of if he were in a similar position. And if this brother falls into some venial sin, let him confess this to a brother who is a priest. And if there is no priest at hand, let him confess to his brother, until he has contact with a priest who will absolve him canonically. And the brothers should have no power to enjoin any other penance except this: “Go and sin no more!” (Jn 8:11).

[Leo Lastimosa]

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

Sunday, 08 July 2012 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B Saint(s) of the day : St. Edgar the Peaceful (c.943-975),  Bl. Peter Vigne, Priest (1670-1740)

See commentary below or click here

Blessed John XXIII : The Son of God, a carpenter in Joseph's workshop Book of Ezekiel 2:2-5. As he spoke to me, spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking say to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their fathers have revolted against me to this very day. Hard of face and obstinate of heart are they to whom I am sending you. But you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD! And whether they heed or resist--for they are a rebellious house--they shall know that a prophet has been among them. Psalms 123(122):1.2.3-4. To you I lift up my eyes Who are enthroned in heaven -- As the eyes of servants Are on the hands of their masters. As the eyes of a maid Are on the hands of her mistress, So are our eyes on the LORD, our God, Till he have pity on us.  Have pity on us, O LORD, have pity on us, For we are more than sated with contempt; Our souls are more than sated With the mockery of the arrogant, With the contempt of the proud. Second Letter to the Corinthians 12:7-10. Because of the abundance of the revelations. Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 6:1-6. He departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house." So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. He went around to the villages in the vicinity teaching.

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB Commentary of the day :

Blessed John XXIII (1881-1963), pope Radio message of 01/05/1960 The Son of God, a carpenter in Joseph's workshop Saint Joseph, Jesus' guardian and most chaste husband of Mary, who spent your life carrying out your duty perfectly while supporting the Holy Family at Nazareth with the work of your hands: protect those who turn confidently to you. You know their longings, anxieties and hopes; to you they come, knowing that in you they will find someone who understands and watches over them. For you, too, have known difficulties, weariness and exhaustion, and yet, even in the midst of your preoccupations with material life, your soul, filled with profound peace, rejoiced with inexpressible joy because of your intimacy with the Son of God entrusted to your hands and his sweetest mother, Mary. May those who seek your protection understand for themselves that they are not alone in their work. May they know how to find Jesus at their side, welcome him gratefully and watch over him faithfully as you yourself did. Grant that, in every family, workplace and yard, wherever christians are at work, all may be sanctified in charity, patience and justice, in a concern to do things well, that the gifts of God's love may abundantly fall on us all.

[Leo Lastimosa]

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

Monday, 09 July 2012 Monday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time Saint(s) of the day : Sts. Agostino Zhao Rong (+ 1815) and Companions, Martyrs in China

See commentary below or click here

Blessed Charles de Foucauld : "Your faith has saved you" Book of Hosea 2:16.17b-18.21-22. Then will I remove from her mouth the names of the Baals, so that they shall no longer be invoked. I will make a covenant for them on that day, with the beasts of the field, With the birds of the air, and with the things that crawl on the ground. Bow and sword and war I will destroy from the land, and I will let them take their rest in security. I will espouse you to me forever: I will espouse you in right and in justice, in love and in mercy; The earth shall respond to the grain, and wine, and oil, and these shall respond to Jezreel. I will sow him for myself in the land, and I will have pity on Lo-ruhama. I will say to Lo-ammi, "You are my people," and he shall say, "My God!" Psalms 145(144):2-3.4-5.6-7.8-9. Every day will I bless you, And I will praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD and highly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable. Generation after generation praises your works And proclaims your might. They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty And tell of your wondrous works. They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds And declare your greatness. They publish the fame of your abundant goodness And joyfully sing of your justice. The LORD is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger and of great kindness. The LORD is good to all And compassionate toward all his works. Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 9:18-26. While he was saying these things to them, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, "My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live." Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, "If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured." Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, "Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you." And from that hour the woman was cured. When Jesus arrived at the official's house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, "Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping." And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land.

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB Commentary of the day :

Blessed Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916), hermit and missionary in the Sahara Retreat at Nazareth 1897 (trans. Charlotte Balfour, 1930 rev.) "Your faith has saved you" Faith is that which makes us believe from the depths of our souls... all the truths that our religion teaches us, all that the Gospel holds and all that the Church sets before us. The just man lives truly by this faith (Rom 1,17), for it replaces for him the greater part of his natural senses. It so transforms all things that the senses are of little use to the soul, which through them is only deceived whilst faith shews it realities. Where the eye sees but a poor man, faith sees Jesus (Mt 25,40). Where the ear hears curses and persecution, faith sings: “Rejoice and be glad” (cf Mt 5,12). The touch feels only blows and stonings, but faith says: “Be glad you are deemed worthy to suffer for the name of Christ” (cf. Acts 5,41)... The smell perceives only incense; faith tells us that the true incense is “the prayers of the saints” (Rv 8,4). The senses lead us astray to created beauty; faith thinks of the eternal beauty and despises all created things, for they are as nothing and as dust beside that beauty. The senses hold pain in horror; faith blesses it as a marriage crown that unites it to its Beloved, like a walk with her Bridegroom hand in divine hand. The senses rebel against injuries, but faith blesses them: “Bless those that curse you” (Lk 6,28)...; she finds them sweet, for in them she shares the lot of Jesus. The senses are full of curiosity; faith is content to know nothing: she thirsts to bury herself, and longs to pass her life motionless before the Tabernacle.

[Leo Lastimosa]

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

Tuesday, 10 July 2012 Tuesday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time Saint(s) of the day : Sts. Rufina & Secunda, Virgins and Martyrs (3rd century)

See commentary below or click here

Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus : "Ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers" Book of Hosea 8:4-7.11-13. 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. Psalms 115(113B):3-4.5-6.7ab-8.9-10. Our God is in heaven; Whatever he wills, he does. Their idols are silver and gold, The handiwork of men. They have mouths but speak not; They have eyes but see not; They have ears but hear not; they have noses but smell not. They have hands but feel not; They have feet but walk not. Their makers shall be like them, Everyone that trusts in them. The house of Israel trusts in the LORD, Who is their help and shield. The house of Aaron trusts in the LORD, Who is their help and shield. Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 9:32-38. As they were going out, a demoniac who could not speak was brought to him, 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 Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897), Carmelite, Doctor of the Church Letter 135 "Ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers" One day I was pondering over what I could do to save souls; a phrase from the Gospel showed me a clear light: Jesus said to his disciples, pointing to the fields of ripe corn, “Look up and see the fields ripe for harvest” (Jn 4,35) and a little later, "The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers". How mysterious it is! Is not Jesus all-powerful? Do not creatures belong to Him who made them? Why then does Jesus say: "Pray the master of the harvest to send out laborers ... "? Why? ... Ah! Jesus has so incomprehensible a love for us, that He wants us to have a share with Him in the salvation of souls. He wants to do nothing without us. The creator of the universe waits for the prayer of a poor little soul to save other souls redeemed like itself at the price of all His blood. Our vocation, yours and mine, is not to go harvesting in the fields of ripe corn; Jesus does not say to us; "Lower your eyes, look at the fields, and go and reap them"; our mission is still loftier. Here are Jesus' words: "Lift up your eyes and see .... " See how in my Heaven there are places empty; it is for you to fill them ... each one of you is my Moses praying on the mountain (Ex 17,8f.); ask Me for laborers and I shall send them, I await only a prayer, a sigh from your heart!