Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, bishop and doctor of the Church
St. Alphonsus Marie Liguori wrote a book called "The Glories of Mary". The first time I read that book, I thought to myself, "This man goes too far in his assessment of Mary." But, after many yearsof studying Scripture and Catholic doctrine, , I read it again and I can honestly say, with clear conscience, that he is "spot on" concerning the reverence every Catholic, every Christian, should hold towards Mary.Lectionary: 403
Reading 1 Jer 15:10, 16-21
Woe to me, mother, that you gave me birth!I rue the day that I was born.
a man of strife and contention to all the land!
Because I fought evil with righeousness.
I neither borrow nor lend, yet all curse me.
I neither took people's money nor gave mine away, yet all hate me.
When I found your words, I devoured them;
When I found your words, O God, I ate them up.
they became my joy and the happiness of my heart,
Your words are my life, O Lord.
Because I bore your name,
Because I am your son, O God.
O LORD, God of hosts. I did not sit celebrating
in the circle of merrymakers;
O my God, I did not rejoice
Under the weight of your hand I sat alone
When your punishment came upon us, I was alone.
because you filled me with indignation.
Because I don't understand what I have done to deserve this punishment.
Why is my pain continuous, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?
I have done all you commanded, yet I suffer like the sinners.
You have indeed become for me a treacherous brook, whose waters do not abide!
How can I trust what you say.
Thus the LORD answered me: If you repent, so that I restore you,
in my presence you shall stand;
And God responded to me and said, "Repent and you shall stand in my presence."
If you bring forth the precious without the vile, you shall be my mouthpiece.
If you preach the good without bringing forth hate speech, you shall be my representative.
Then it shall be they who turn to you, and you shall not turn to them;
Then Israel will turn to you and you will refuse them.
And I will make you toward this people a solid wall of brass.
And I, the Lord, will make you unassailable. Like a wall of metal.
Though they fight against you, they shall not prevail,
For I am with you,
No matter how hard they fight against you, I will be with you.
to deliver and rescue you, says the LORD.
I will free you from the hand of the wicked,
To defend you, protect you and set you free from the wicked.
and rescue you from the grasp of the violent.
and to rescue you from those who would do you harm.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 59:2-3, 4, 10-11, 17, 18
R. (17d) God is my refuge on the day of distress.Rescue me from my enemies, O my God;
from my adversaries defend me.
Rescue me from evildoers;
from bloodthirsty men save me.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
For behold, they lie in wait for my life;
mighty men come together against me,
Not for any offense or sin of mine, O LORD.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
O my strength! for you I watch;
for you, O God, are my stronghold,
As for my God, may his mercy go before me;
may he show me the fall of my foes.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
But I will sing of your strength
and revel at dawn in your mercy;
You have been my stronghold,
my refuge in the day of distress.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
O my strength! your praise will I sing;
for you, O God, are my stronghold,
my merciful God!
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
In this Psalm, the faithful man calls out to God in distress. For to the faith filled man, God is our stronghold, our deliverer and our hope. Our Saviour.
Gospel Mt 13:44-46
Jesus said to his disciples:Jesus presented another parable to His disciples.
"The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
The Church is like a hidden treasure hidden in a parcel of land, which a man finds and hides again.
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
and out of joy goes out and sells all his possessions in order to buy that land and possess that treasure.
Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
Another parable. The Church is like a business man,
searching for fine pearls.
searching for fine jewels.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
and he finds the most precious of jewels
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it."
and goes and sells all his possessions in order that he may possess it.
I have interpreted the Kingdom of Heaven as the Church, because the Church is the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.
Sincerely,
De Maria
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