Memorial of Saint John de Brébeuf and Saint Isaac Jogues, priests and martyrs, and their companions, martyrs. Read more.
Lectionary: 471
Reading 1 from St. Paul's epistle to the Ephesians
Eph 1:11-14
Brothers and sisters:
In Christ we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ.
In order to understand this completely, you need to read from the beginning of the Chapter (Eph 11:1-10) wherein he outlines all that it means to be Christian.He continues by saying that we were ALSO chosen to accomplish the mighty Will of God in order that in the end, we might be glorified together with Him.
In him you also, who have heard the word of truth,
the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
which is the first installment of our inheritance
toward redemption as God's possession, to the praise of his glory.
All this describes conversion, Baptism and the Sacraments.
1. We heard the word of truth and the Gospel of our salvation and believed. That's conversion.
2. We were sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit. This speaks of two Sacraments, Baptism (the promise of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:38-39) and Confirmation (the Seal of the Holy Spirit, Acts 8:15-17).
3. Baptism and Confirmation are the first installment or the first reward which God gives us in this life. In the Sacraments, we begin to walk with the Saints in heaven. We are saved in them.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 12-13
R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
From heaven the LORD looks down;
he sees all mankind.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
From heaven the LORD looks down;
he sees all mankind.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
We are truly blessed who have been chosen by God to follow in His steps. Because God was not obligated to take on human flesh and die for our sins. He could have stayed in heaven and left us victims to the wiles of Satan.
But Love obligated Him to die for us and make us His children. God is Love.
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke
Lk 12:1-7
At that time:
So many people were crowding together
that they were trampling one another underfoot.
Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,
"Beware of the leaven--that is, the hypocrisy--of the Pharisees.
Jesus continues reprimanding the Pharisees. Many are crowding around now to listen to what He is saying. Jesus addresses His students and says that the Pharisaic phony attitude is contagious. Pretending to be holy and obligating others, but inside embracing all nature of sin."There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
But there is nothing hidden from God. Whatever sin they have embraced in secret is known to Him and will be revealed in the Judgment.Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness
will be heard in the light,
and what you have whispered behind closed doors
will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Don't think that anything is hidden from the eyes of God.I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but after that can do no more.
Don't be afraid of human authorities. For they can only kill your physical body.I shall show you whom to fear.
Be afraid of the one who after killing
has the power to cast into Gehenna;
yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.
Be afraid of God. Because when He takes your life back, He can cast you into everlasting fire:
Hebrews 10:31
King James Version (KJV)
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
God knows and sees everything on earth. The smallest creature does not escape His notice.Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows."
But God loves you, yes you, more than any creature on this earth.
Sincerely,
De Maria
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