November 12, 2013

Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr 
Lectionary: 492
Reading 1 WIS 2:23–3:9

God formed man to be imperishable;

God created man to be immortal.

the image of his own nature he made them.

 God created man in his own image.

But by the envy of the Devil, death entered the world,
and they who are in his possession experience it.

 But Satan envied the grace of God which was bestowed upon man. And death entered the world.

But the souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and no torment shall touch them.

 But those who love God and to righteously are in God's hands.

They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction.

 Fools think that the righteous of been destroyed, the day have died.

But they are in peace.

 But they now rest in peace.

For if before men, indeed, they be punished,
yet is their hope full of immortality;

 Although they suffered in this life,  yet their hope is in eternal life.

Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them
and found them worthy of himself.

 Punish the little they shall receive a great reward because of their faith was tried by fire and purified as  gold.

As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.

   their sufferings were sacrifices to God.

In the time of their visitation they shall shine,
and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;

 In the end they will be like stars in the skies.

They shall judge nations and rule over peoples,
and the Lord shall be their King forever.

 They shall sit on thrones and rule the nations.

Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
and the faithful shall abide with him in love:

 All who have faith in God will rest in him.

Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
and his care is with his elect.

 Because God pours out his grace upon those who love him.

Responsorial Psalm PS 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19

R. (2a) I will bless the Lord at all times.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.

R. I will bless the Lord at all times.
The LORD has eyes for the just,
and ears for their cry.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.

R. I will bless the Lord at all times.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
R. I will bless the Lord at all times.

 Praise God all you  who do righteousness. And always  call on his name.

Gospel LK 17:7-10

Jesus said to the Apostles:
“Who among you would say to your servant
who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field,
‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’?
Would he not rather say to him,
‘Prepare something for me to eat.
Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink.
You may eat and drink when I am finished’?
Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?
So should it be with you.
When you have done all you have been commanded, say,
‘We are unprofitable servants;
we have done what we were obliged to do.’”

 We are all unprofitable servants. It is our duty to do the right thing at all times and keep the Commandments. God in his mercy has chosen to shed his grace of salvation upon goals will obey him and do his will by keeping his commandments.