Catholic Caucus: Sunday Mass Readings, 06-01-08, Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 06-01-08 | New American Bible

[Salvation]

June 1, 2008

Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Responsorial Psalm Reading 2 Gospel

Reading 1
Dt 11:18, 26-28, 32

Moses told the people,
“Take these words of mine into your heart and soul.
Bind them at your wrist as a sign,
and let them be a pendant on your forehead.

“I set before you here, this day, a blessing and a curse:
a blessing for obeying the commandments of the LORD, your God,
which I enjoin on you today;
a curse if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD, your God,
but turn aside from the way I ordain for you today,
to follow other gods, whom you have not known.”

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 31:2-3, 3-4, 17, 25

R. (3b) Lord, be my rock of safety.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me,
incline your ear to me,
make haste to deliver me!
R. Lord, be my rock of safety.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake you will lead and guide me.
R. Lord, be my rock of safety.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
Take courage and be stouthearted,
all you who hope in the LORD.
R. Lord, be my rock of safety.

Reading II
Rom 3:21-25, 28

Brothers and sisters,
Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,
though testified to by the law and the prophets,
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ
for all who believe.
For there is no distinction;
all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.
They are justified freely by his grace
through the redemption in Christ Jesus,
whom God set forth as an expiation,
through faith, by his blood.
For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Gospel
Mt 7:21-27

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

[Salvation]

For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.

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Alleluia Ping!

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June Devotion: The Sacred Heart

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. The month of June is set apart for devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. "From among all the proofs of the infinite goodness of our Savior none stands out more prominently than the fact that, as the love of the faithful grew cold, He, Divine Love Itself, gave Himself to us to be honored by a very special devotion and that the rich treasury of the Church was thrown wide open in the interests of that devotion." These words of Pope Pius XI refer to the Sacred Heart Devotion, which in its present form dates from the revelations given to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673-75.

The devotion consists in the divine worship of the human heart of Christ, which is united to His divinity and which is a symbol of His love for us. The aim of the devotion is to make our Lord king over our hearts by prompting them to return love to Him (especially through an act of consecration by which we offer to the Heart of Jesus both ourselves and all that belongs to us) and to make reparation for our ingratitude to God.

INVOCATION

O Heart of love, I put all my trust in Thee; for I fear all things from my own weakness, but I hope for all things from Thy goodness.
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART

Devotion to the Sacred Heart was the characteristic note of the piety of Saint Gertrude the Great (1256-1302), Benedictine nun and renowned mystic. She was, in fact, the first great exponent of devotion to the Sacred Heart. In our efforts to honor the Heart of Jesus we have this prayer as a model for our own:
Hail! O Sacred Heart of Jesus, living and quickening source of eternal life, infinite treasure of the Divinity, and burning furnace of divine love. Thou art my refuge and my sanctuary, 0 my amiable Savior. Consume my heart with that burning fire with which Thine is ever inflamed. Pour down on my soul those graces which flow from Thy love, and let my heart be so united with Thine, that our wills may be one, and mine in all things be conformed to Thine. May Thy divine will be equally the standard and rule of all my desires and of all my actions. Amen.
Saint Gertrude

FOR THE CHURCH

O most holy Heart of Jesus, shower Thy blessings in abundant measure upon Thy holy Church, upon the Supreme Pontiff and upon all the clergy; to the just grant perseverance; convert sinners; enlighten unbelievers; bless our relations, friends and benefactors; assist the dying; deliver the holy souls in purgatory; and extend over all hearts the sweet empire of Thy love. Amen.

A PRAYER OF TRUST

O God, who didst in wondrous manner reveal to the virgin, Margaret Mary, the unsearchable riches of Thy Heart, grant that loving Thee, after her example, in all things and above all things, we may in Thy Heart find our abiding home.
Roman Missal

ACT OF LOVE

Reveal Thy Sacred Heart to me, O Jesus, and show me Its attractions. Unite me to It for ever. Grant that all my aspirations and all the beats of my heart, which cease not even while I sleep, may be a testimonial to Thee of my love for Thee and may say to Thee: Yes, Lord, I am all Thine;
pledge of my allegiance to Thee rests ever in my heart will never cease to be there. Do Thou accept the slight amount of good that I do and be graciously pleased to repair all m] wrong-doing; so that I may be able to bless Thee in time and in eternity. Amen.
Cardinal Merry del Val

MEMORARE TO THE SACRED HEART
Remember, O most sweet Jesus, that no one who has had recourse to Thy Sacred Heart, implored its help, or sought it mercy was ever abandoned. Encouraged with confidence, O tenderest of hearts, we present ourselves before Thee, crushes beneath the weight of our sins. In our misery, O Sacred Hear. of Jesus, despise not our simple prayers, but mercifully grant our requests.

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

The Heart of the World (On the Sacred Heart of Jesus) (Catholic Caucus)

The Sacred Heart Is The Holy Eucharist(Catholic Caucus)

The Origin of the Sacred Heart Badge

Importance of Devotion to the Sacred Heart

An Awesome Homily on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Father Edmond Kline

Catholic Prayer and Devotion: June the Month of the Sacred Heart

Pope Urges Jesuits to Spread Sacred Heart Devotion

The Sacred Heart and the Eucharist

Homilies preached by Father Altier on the Feast of the Sacred Heart

Daily Recomendation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus powerful prayer!

Catholic Meditation and Devotion: The Sacred Heart of Jesus

Catholic Devotions: Sacred Heart of Jesus

June Devotion: The Sacred Heart

Solemnity Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary

The Love of the Sacred Heart

On the Sacred Heart - "We Adore God's Love of Humanity"

HAURIETIS AQUAS (On Devotion To The Sacred Heart) - Encyclical by Pope Pius XII

Sacred Heart a Feast of God's Love, Says John Paul II

The Sacred Heart of Jesus: Symbol of Combativity and the Restoration of Christendom

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus-The Early Church, Middle Ages up to St. Margaret Mary

See this Heart

About Devotion To The Sacred Heart:The Story Of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

Rediscover Feast of Sacred Heart, John Paul II Tells Youth

[Salvation]

JUNE 2008
General:
That Christians may cultivate a deep and personal friendship with Christ so they are able to communicate the strength of His love to those they encounter

Mission:
That the International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec, Canada, may lead to ever deeper understanding of the Eucharist, the heart of the Church and source of evangelization.

[Salvation]

From: Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, 32

A further exhortation

---

[18] “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your
soul; and you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as
frontlets between your eyes.

A blessing and a curse

---

[26] “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: [27] the blessing,
if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this
day, [28] and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your
God, but turn aside from the way which I command you this day, to go after other
gods which you have not known. [32] [Y]ou shall be careful to do all the statutes
and the ordinances which I set before you this day.

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Commentary:

11:26-32. The ceremony of blessing and cursing will be explained fully in chap-
ters 27-28; and Joshua will in due course perform it (cf. Josh 8:30-35). It does not
consist so much in blessing or cursing as in proclaiming a summary of God’s com-
mandments and ordinances in terms like “Cursed be he who does not do them”,
“Blessed be he who obeys them.” Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal are situated the
south-west and north-east respectively of the Samaritan city of Shechem and are
separated by a narrow valley. In later times the Samaritans will come to regard
Gerizim as a holy mountain, building a temple there when the Jews came back
from Babylon (537 BC), to rival the temple of Jerusalem; although the temple was
destroyed towards the end of the 2nd century BC, the Samaritans continued to
see this mountain as a place of worship and sacrifice. The Samaritan woman
mentions it in her conversation with our Lord (cf. Jn 4:20).

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

[Salvation]

From: Romans 3:21-25, 28

Righteousness, a Free Gift through Faith in Christ

---

[21] But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from law,
although the law and the prophets bear witness to it, [22] the righteousness of
God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction
[23] since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] they are justi-
fied by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus,
[25] whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith.
This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had
passed over former sins[.]

[28] For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

21-22. The doctrinal richness of this text and of the whole passage (vv. 21-26)
is here condensed in a way very typical of St Paul’s style. He explains how justi-
fication operates: God the Father, the source of all good, by his redemptive
decree is the “efficient cause” of our salvation; Jesus Christ, by shedding his
blood on the Cross, merits this salvation for us; faith is the instrument by which
the Redemption becomes effective in the individual person.

The righteousness of God is the action by which God makes people righteous,
or just (cf. St Augustine, “De Spiritu Et Littera”, IX, 15). This righteousness was
originally proclaimed in the books of the Old Testament—the Law and the Pro-
phets—but it has now been made manifest in Christ and in the Gospel. Salvation
does not depend on fulfillment of the Mosaic Law, for that Law is not sufficient
to justify anyone: only faith in Jesus Christ can work salvation.

“If anyone says that, without divine grace through Jesus Christ, man can be justi-
fied before God by his own works, whether they were done by his natural powers
or by the light of the teaching of the Law: let him be anathema” (Council of Trent,
“De Iustificatione”, can. 1).

It is not the law, then, which saves, but “faith in Jesus Christ”. This expression
should be interpreted in line with the unanimous and constant teaching of the
Church, which is that “faith is the beginning of human salvation”, and a person’s
will must cooperate with faith to prepare the ground for the grace of justification
(cf. ibid., chap. 8 and can. 9).

23-25. The Apostle first describes the elements that go to make up the mystery
of faith (vv. 23-25): all men need to be liberated from sin; God the Father has a
redemptive plan, which is carried out by the atoning and bloody sacrifice of
Christ’s death; faith is a necessary condition for sharing in the Redemption
wrought by Christ; the sacrifice of the Cross is part and parcel of the History of
Salvation: before the Incarnation of the Word, God patiently put up with men’s
sins; in the fullness of time he chose—through Christ’s sacrifice—to require full
satisfaction for those sins so that men might be enabled to become truly righ-
teous in God’s eyes and God’s perfections become more manifest.

“The Cross of Christ, on which the Son, consubstantial with the Father, renders
full justice to God, is also a radical revelation of mercy, that is, of the love that
goes against what constitutes the very root of evil in the history of man—against
sin and death” (John Paul II, “Dives In Misericordia”, 8).

23. “Fall short of the glory of God”: this shows the position man is in when he is
in a state of sin. Because he has not the life of grace in him, he is not properly
orientated towards his supernatural end, is deprived of the right to heaven that
sanctifying grace confers, and consequently does not have these divine perfec-
tions which supernatural life gives him.

24. All have been justified, that is, all have been made “righteous” (cf. 1 :17).
This justification is the result of a gratuitous gift of God which St Paul describes
in a way which reinforces his point (”grace”, “as a gift”): this identifies the source
of the gift as God’s loving-kindness and it also shows the new state in which jus-
tification places a person so important is this statement—that grace is a gift
which God gives without merit on our part—that the Council of Trent, when using
this text from St Paul, made a point of explaining what it meant: that is, that
nothing which precedes justification (whether it be faith, or morals) merits the
grace by which man is justified (cf. Rom 11:16; Council of Trent, “De Iustifi-
catione”, chap. 8).

This new kind of life, whose motor is grace, requires free and active cooperation
on man’s part; by that cooperation a person in the state of grace obtains merit
through his actions: “For such is God’s goodness to men that he wills that his
gifts be our merits, and that he will grant us an eternal reward for what he has
given us” (”Indiculus”, chap. 9). The fact that grace is a gratuitous gift of God
does not mean that man does not have an obligation to respond to it: we are
not justified by keeping the Law or by a decision of our free will; however, justi-
fication does not happen without our cooperation; grace strengthens our will
and helps it freely to keep the Law (cf. St Augustine, “De Spiritu Et Littera”,
IX, 15).

Justification by grace is attained “through the redemption which is in Jesus
Christ”. The Council of Trent teaches that when a sinner is justified there is “a
passing from the state in which man is born a son of the first Adam, to the state
of grace and adoption as sons of God through the second Adam, Jesus Christ
our Savior” (”De Iustificatione”, chap. 4). This has been made possible because
our Lord saved us by giving himself up as our ransom. The Greek word translated
as “redemption” refers to the ransom money paid to free a person from slavery.
Christ has freed us from the slavery of sin, paying the necessary ransom (cf.
Rom 6:23). By sacrificing himself for us, Christ has become our master or owner,
who mediates between the Father and the whole human race: “Let us all take
refuge in Christ; let us have recourse to God to free us from sin: let us put our-
selves up for sale in order to be redeemed by his blood. For the Lord says, ‘You
were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money’ (Is 52:3); with-
out spending a penny of your inheritance, for I have paid on your behalf. This is
what the Lord says: He paid the price, not with silver but with his blood” (St
Augustine, “In Ioann. Evang.”, 41, 4).

Our very creation means that we belong totally to God the Father and therefore
also to Christ, insofar as he is God, but “as man, he is also for many reasons
appropriately called ‘Lord’. First, because he is our Redeemer, who delivered us
from sin, he deservedly acquired the power by which he truly is and is called our
Lord” (”St Pius V Catechism”, I, 3, 11).

And so, through the Incarnation, whose climax was Christ’s redemptive sacrifice,
“God gave human life the dimension that he intended man to have from his first
beginning; he has granted that dimension definitively [...] and he has granted it
also with the bounty that enables us, in considering the original sin and the
whole history of the sins of humanity, and in considering the errors of the human
intellect, will and heart, to repeat with amazement the words of the sacred Litur-
gy: ‘O happy fault...which gained us so great a Redeemer!’” (John Paul II,
“Redemptor Hominis”, 1).

25. The “expiation” was the cover or mercy seat of the Ark, which stood in the
center of the Holy of Holies in the Temple (cf. Exod 25:17-22). It was made of
beaten gold and had a cherub at either end, each facing the other. It had two
functions: one was to act as God’s throne (cf. Ps 80:2; 99:1), from which he
spoke to Moses during the time of the exodus from Egypt (cf. Num 7:89; Ex.
37:6); the other was to entreat God to pardon sin through a rite of expiatory
sacrifice on the feast of the Day of Atonement (cf. Lev 16): on that day the
High Priest sprinkled the mercy seat with the blood of animals sacrificed as
victims, to obtain forgiveness of sins for priest and people.

St Paul asserts that God has established Jesus as the true expiation, of which
the mercy seat in the Old Testament was merely a figure.

No angel or man could ever atone for the immense evil that sin is—an offense
to the infinite majesty of God. The Blessed Trinity decided “that the Son of God,
whose power is infinite, clothed in the weakness of our flesh, should remove the
infinite weight of sin and reconcile us to God in his Blood” (”St Pius V Cate-
chism”, I, 3, 3).

This expiatory sacrifice, prefigured in the bloody sacrificial rites of the Old Testa-
ment (cf. Lev 16:1 ff), was announced by John the Baptist when he pointed to
Jesus as the Lamb of God (cf. Jn 1:29 and note); and Jesus himself referred to
the sacrifice of the Cross when he said that the Son of man had come “to give
his life as a ransom for many” (Mt 20:28).

This sacrifice is renewed daily in the Holy Mass, one of the purposes of which
is atonement, as the Liturgy itself states: “Lord, may this sacrifice once offered
on the cross to take away the sins of the world now free us from our sins” (”Ro-
man Missal”, Feast of the Triumph of the Cross, prayer over the gifts).

27-31. These words are addressed to the same imaginary interlocutor as ap-
peared at the beginning of the chapter. Although he is Lord of all nations, God
showed special preference for the people of Israel. Relying on this, the Jews
wrongly thought that only they could attain blessedness because only they en-
joyed God’s favor. This led them to look down on other peoples. After the coming
of Christ, they no longer have any basis for this pride: St John Chrysostom ex-
plains that it had simply become outdated, superseded (cf. “Hom. On Rom”, 7),
for God had set up a single way of salvation for all men—the “principle of faith”
which the Apostle refers to. This new way means that Jews must forget their
ancient pride and become humble, for God has opened the gates of salvation to
all mankind.

Consequently, no one—not even the Jew—is justified by works of the Law. What
justifies a person is faith: not faith alone, as Luther wrongly argued, but the faith
which works through charity (cf. Gal 5:6); faith which is not presumptuous self-
confidence in one’s own merits, but a firm and ready acceptance of all that God
has revealed, faith which moves one to place one’s hope in Christ’s merits and to
repent of one’s sins. Therefore it will be “by faith”—not by circumcision—that the
Jews will be justified, and it will be “through their faith” that the uncircumcised
will attain salvation. From this it might appear as though the Law had been re-
voked; but that is not the case: faith ratifies the Law gives it its true meaning and
raises it to perfection. For, through being a preparation for the Gospel, the Mosaic
Law receives from Christ the fullness it was lacking: the precept of charity reveals
the meaning which God gave the law but which lay hidden until Christ made it
manifest, for “love is the fulfilling of the law” (Rom 13:10). St Paul in a way sum-
marizes all this teaching in v. 28, which is the key statement in the passage.

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States. We encourage readers to purchase
The Navarre Bible for personal study. See Scepter

[Salvation]

From: Matthew 7:21-29

Doing the Will of God

---

(Jesus said to His disciples,) [21] “Not every one who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,’
shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who
is in Heaven. [22] On that day many will say to Me, `Lord, Lord, did we not pro-
phesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty
works in Your name?’ [23] And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you;
depart from Me, you evildoers.’

Building on Rock

---

[24] “Every one then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a
wise man who built his house upon the rock; [25] and the rain fell, and the floods
came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because
it had been founded on the rock. [26] And every one who hears these words of
mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon
the sand; [27] and the rain fell, and the floods came, and winds blew and beat
against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it.”

[28] And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at
His teaching, [29] for He taught them as one who had authority, and not as their
scribes.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

21-23. To be genuine, prayer must be accompanied by a persevering effort to do
God’s will. Similarly, in order to do His will it is not enough to speak about the
things of God: there must consistency between what one preaches—what one
says—and what one does: “The Kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in
power” (1 Corinthians 4:20); “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, de-
ceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).

Christians, “holding loyally to the Gospel, enriched by its resources, and joining
forces with all who love and practice justice, have shouldered a weighty task on
earth and they must render an account of it to Him who will judge all men on the
last day. Not every one who says, `Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven,
but those who do the will of the Father, and who manfully put their hands to the
work” (Vatican II, “Gaudium Et Spes”, 93).

To enter the Kingdom of Heaven, to be holy, it is not enough, then, to speak
eloquently about holiness. One has to practice what one preaches, to produce
fruit which accords with one’s words. Fray Luis de Leon puts it very graphically:
“Notice that to be a good Christian it is not enough just to pray and fast and hear
Mass; God must find you faithful, like another Job or Abraham, in times of tribu-
lation” (”Guide for Sinners”, Book 1, Part 2, Chapter 21).

Even if a person exercises an ecclesiastical ministry that does not assure his
holiness; he needs to practice the virtues he preaches. Besides, we know from
experience that any Christian (clerical, religious or lay) who does not strive to
act in accordance with the demands of the faith he professes, begins to weaken
in his faith and eventually parts company also with the teaching of the Church.
Anyone who does not live in accordance with what he says, ends up saying
things which are contrary to faith.

The authority with which Jesus speaks in these verses reveals Him as sovereign
Judge of the living and the dead. No Old Testament prophet ever spoke with His
authority.

22. “That day”: a technical formula in biblical language meaning the day of the
Judgment of the Lord or the Last Judgment.

23. This passage refers to the Judgment where Jesus will be the Judge. The sa-
cred text uses a verb which means the public proclamation of a truth. Since in
this case Jesus Christ is the Judge who makes the declaration, it takes the form
of a judicial sentence.

24-27. These verses constitute the positive side of the previous passage. A
person who tries to put Christ’s teaching into practice, even if he experiences
personal difficulties or lives during times of upheaval in the life of the Church or
is surrounded by error, will stay firm in the faith, like the wise man who builds
his house on rock.

Also, if we are to stay strong in times of difficulty, we need, when things are calm
and peaceful, to accept little contradictions with a good grace, to be very refined
in our relationship with God and with others, and to perform the duties of our state
in life in a spirit of loyalty and abnegation. By acting in this way we are laying
down a good foundation, maintaining the edifice of our spiritual life and repairing
any cracks which make their appearance.

28-29. Jesus’ listeners could clearly see the radical difference between the style
of teaching of the scribes and Pharisees, and the conviction and confidence with
which Jesus spoke. There is nothing tentative about His words; they leave no
room for doubt.

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

[Salvation]

Scripture readings taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd

Mass Readings

First reading

Deuteronomy 11:18 - 28 ©

Let these words of mine remain in your heart and in your soul; fasten them on your hand as a sign and on your forehead as a circlet. See, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: a blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord our God that I enjoin on you today; a curse, if you disobey the commandments of the Lord your God and leave the way I have marked out for you today, by going after other gods you have not known.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 30

Second reading

Romans 3:21 - 28 ©

God’s justice that was made known through the Law and the Prophets has now been revealed outside the Law, since it is the same justice of God that comes through faith to everyone, Jew and pagan alike, who believes in Jesus Christ. Both Jew and pagan sinned and forfeited God’s glory, and both are justified through the free gift of his grace by being redeemed in Christ Jesus who was appointed by God to sacrifice his life so as to win reconciliation through faith. since, as we see it, a man is justified by faith and not by doing something the Law tells him to do.

Gospel

Matthew 7:21 - 27 ©

Jesus said, ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord”, who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. When the day comes many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name?” Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me, you evil men! ‘Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!’

[Salvation]

Words Made Flesh

Words Made Flesh

May 31st, 2008 by Fr. Paul Scalia

“Actions speak louder than words,” we say. “He’s all talk,” describes the man who says a lot and does nothing. Or simply, “Talk is cheap.”

These phrases from our culture all express the same basic point: words and actions must go together. They do not mean that words are useless. On the contrary, it is precisely because we believe words have importance that we fault those whose actions contradict what they say. We sense instinctively — on a natural, gut level — that the man whose words and actions do not match up is himself divided. He lacks the integrity necessary to be a genuine human person. He is not one man but two.

If such hypocrisy offends us on the natural level, how much more must it offend Our Lord on the supernatural. Thus He Himself declares, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Mt 7:21). Our Lord does not intend to rob words of their significance but to emphasize that because our words are important they must be put into action. The faith we profess must be lived. Our words must become flesh.

Christ has not arbitrarily decided to deny celestial entrance to those who say one thing and do another. Such men deny themselves entrance because they lack the integrity of soul necessary for heaven. They not only lie but also make themselves into a lie; they are one thing in word and another in action.

For this reason, Our Lord will say to such men, “I never knew you” (Mt 7:23). Of course, as God, Our Lord knows them better than they know themselves. But, in a sense, He can never know them because as fundamentally divided men — as dis-integrated men — they cannot really be known.

This demand for integrity of word and action helps explain the Church’s rules, restrictions and requirements. Mother Church wants to keep us from hypocrisy — to ensure that we live according to what we believe. In this regard, Pope Benedict recently observed that we Americans are particularly susceptible to a “separation of faith from life: living ‘as if God did not exist.’” John Paul II called this “practical atheism” — professing the Faith of the redeemed but not living as one redeemed. And the world longs to see in us this integrity of faith and action. How will the world believe in a Redeemer unless we live as a people redeemed?

Catholic worship depends on such integrity, on the unity of interior devotion and exterior action. Our thoughts, words and actions must be one in a common movement to God the Father — otherwise, our worship is empty. So Mother Church trains us in integrity of worship. In the Mass she unites our words and actions. As we make the sign of the cross we say, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” As we say that we have sinned through our own fault we strike our breasts. As we profess our belief in the Incarnation we bow low. Our words become flesh. The liturgy’s unity of word and action should characterize the entire Catholic life.

Likewise, Catholic morality is simply the living out of the Faith we profess. Especially by works of charity we give flesh to the words “God is love” (1 Jn 4:16). And again, the world has a right to see such integrity in us. For this reason Pope Benedict called attention to “the scandal given by Catholics who promote an alleged right to abortion.” Such men and women are fundamentally divided, dis-integrated people. They suffer the division not of mere sinners, who strive for virtue but fall short (again and again), but of hypocrites who consciously claim one thing and do another. Having divided word and action, they have divided themselves and present a false Catholicism to the world.

“And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14). Our approach to God follows the same pattern as His approach to us. As the Word became flesh to save us, so we attain salvation when our words become flesh in worship and daily living. As the world came to know God through the Word made flesh, so it continues to know Him through our words made flesh.

 

Fr. Scalia is parochial vicar of St. Rita parish in Alexandria, VA.

(This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald.)

[Salvation]

Sunday, June 1, 2008
Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading: Psalm: Second Reading: Gospel:

Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, 32 Psalm 31:2-4, 17, 25 Romans 3:21-25, 28 Matthew 7:21-27 Whoever doesn't give up prayer can't possibly continue to  offend God. -- St. Alphonsus Liguori

[Salvation]

Office of Readings and Invitatory Psalm

Office of Readings

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

---

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 1

The two paths

Blessed the one who does not follow the counsels of the wicked,
or stand in the paths that sinners use,
or sit in the gatherings of those who mock:
his delight is the law of the Lord,
he ponders his law day and night.

He is like a tree planted by flowing waters,
that will give its fruit in due time,
whose leaves will not fade.
All that he does will prosper.

Not thus are the wicked, not thus.
They are like the dust blown by the wind.
At the time of judgement the wicked will not stand,
nor sinners in the council of the just.

For the Lord knows the path of the just;
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

---

Psalm 2

The Messiah, king and victor

Why are the nations in a ferment? Why do the people make their vain plans?

The kings of the earth have risen up; the leaders have united against the Lord, against his anointed.
“Let us break their chains, that bind us; let us throw off their yoke from our shoulders!”

The Lord laughs at them, he who lives in the heavens derides them.
Then he speaks to them in his anger; in his fury he throws them into confusion:
“But I – I have set up my king on Sion, my holy mountain”.

I will proclaim the Lord’s decrees.
The Lord has said to me: “You are my son: today I have begotten you.
Ask me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, the ends of the earth for you to possess.
You will rule them with a rod of iron, break them in pieces like an earthen pot”.

So now, kings, listen: understand, you who rule the land.
Serve the Lord in fear, tremble even as you praise him.
Learn his teaching, lest he take anger, lest you perish when his anger bursts into flame.

Blessed are all who put their trust in the Lord.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

---

Psalm 3

The Lord is my protector

Lord, how many they are, my attackers!
So many rise up against me, so many of them say:
“He can hope for no help from the Lord”.

But you, Lord, are my protector, my glory: you raise up my head.
I called to the Lord, and from his holy mountain he heard my voice.

I fell asleep, and slept; but I rose, for the Lord raised me up.
I will not fear when the people surround me in their thousands.
Rise up, Lord; bring me to safety, my God.

Those who attacked me – you struck them on the jaw, you shattered their teeth.
Salvation comes from the Lord: Lord, your blessing is upon your people.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

---

Reading

Job 28:1 - 28 ©

Silver has its mines,  and gold a place for refining. Iron is extracted from the earth,  the smelted rocks yield copper. Man makes an end of darkness  when he pierces to the uttermost depths  the black and lightless rock. Mines the lamp-folk dig  in places where there is no foothold,  and hang suspended far from mankind. That earth from which bread comes  is ravaged underground by fire. Down there, the rocks are set with sapphires,  full of spangles of gold. Down there is a path unknown to birds of prey,  unseen by the eye of any vulture; a path not trodden by the lordly beasts,  where no lion ever walked. Man attacks its flinty sides,  upturning mountains by their roots, driving tunnels through the rocks,  on the watch for anything precious. He explores the sources of rivers,  and brings to daylight secrets that were hidden. But tell me, where does wisdom come from?  Where is understanding to be found? The road to it is still unknown to man,  not to be found in the land of the living. ‘It is not in me’ says the Abyss;  It cannot be bought with solid gold,  not paid for with any weight of silver, nor be priced by the standard of the gold of Ophir,  or of precious onyx or sapphire. No gold, no glass can match it in value,  nor for a fine gold vase can it be bartered. Nor is there need to mention coral, nor crystal;  beside wisdom pearls are not worth the fishing. Topaz from Cush is worthless in comparison,  and gold, even refined, is valueless. But tell me, where does wisdom come from?  Where is understanding to be found? It is outside the knowledge of every living thing,  hidden from the birds in the sky. Perdition and Death can only say,  ‘We have heard reports of it.’ God alone has traced its path  and found out where it lives. (For he sees to the ends of the earth,  and observes all that lies under heaven.) When he willed to give weight to the wind  and measured out the waters with a gauge, when he made the laws and rules for the rain  and mapped a route for thunderclaps to follow, then he had it in sight, and cast its worth,  assessed it, fathomed it. And he said to man,  ‘Wisdom? It is fear of the Lord.  Understanding? – avoidance of evil.’

---

Reading	The Confessions of St Augustine
Our hearts find no rest until they rest in you
Great are you, O Lord, and exceedingly worthy of praise; your power is immense, and your wisdom beyond reckoning. And so we men, who are a due part of your creation, long to praise you – we also carry our mortality about with us, carry the evidence of our sin and with it the proof that you thwart the proud. You arouse us so that praising you may bring us joy, because you have made us and drawn us to yourself, and our heart is unquiet until it rests in you. Grant me to know and understand, Lord, which comes first. To call upon you or to praise you? To know you or to call upon you? Must we know you before we can call upon you? Anyone who invokes what is still unknown may be making a mistake. Or should you be invoked first, so that we may then come to know you? But how can people call upon someone in whom they do not yet believe? And how can they believe without a preacher? But scripture tells us that those who seek the Lord will praise him, for as they seek they find him, and on finding him they will praise him. Let me seek you then, Lord, even while I am calling upon you, and call upon you even as I believe in you; for to us you have indeed been preached. My faith calls upon you, Lord, this faith which is your gift to me, which you have breathed into me through the humanity of your Son and the ministry of your preacher. How shall I call upon my God, my God and my Lord, when by the very act of calling upon him I would be calling him into myself? Is there any place within me into which my God might come? How should the God who made heaven and earth come into me? Is there any room in me for you, Lord, my God? Even heaven and earth, which you have made and in which you have made me – can even they contain you? Since nothing that exists would exist without you, does it follow that whatever exists does in some way contain you? But if this is so, how can I, who am one of these existing things, ask you to come into me, when I would not exist at all unless you were already in me? Not yet am I in hell, after all but even if I were, you would be there too; for if I descend into the underworld, you are there. No, my God, I would not exist, I would not be at all, if you were not in me. Or should I say, rather, that I should not exist if I were not in you, from whom are all things, through whom are all things, in whom are all things? Yes, Lord, that is the truth, that is indeed the truth. To what place can I invite you, then, since I am in you? Or where could you come from, in order to come into me? To what place outside heaven and earth could I travel, so that my God could come to me there, the God who said, I fill heaven and earth? Who will grant it to me to find peace in you? Who will grant me this grace, that you should come into my heart and inebriate it, enabling me to forget the evils that beset me and embrace you, my only good? What are you to me? Have mercy on me, so that I may tell. What indeed am I to you, that you should command me to love you, and grow angry with me if I do not, and threaten me with enormous woes? Is not the failure to love you woe enough in itself? Alas for me! Through your own merciful dealings with me, O Lord my God, tell me what you are to me. Say to my soul, I am your salvation. Say it so that I can hear it. My heart is listening, Lord; open the ears of my heart and say to my soul, I am your salvation. Let me run towards this voice and seize hold of you. Do not hide your face from me: let me die so that I may see it, for not to see it would be death to me indeed.

---

Hymn

Te Deum

God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you! You, the Father, the eternal – all the earth venerates you. All the angels, all the heavens, every power – The cherubim, the seraphim – unceasingly, they cry: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts: heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!” The glorious choir of Apostles – The noble ranks of prophets – The shining army of martyrs – all praise you. Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you. – Father of immeasurable majesty, – True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship, – Holy Spirit, our Advocate. You, Christ: – You are the king of glory. – You are the Father’s eternal Son. – You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin’s womb. – You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in you. – You sit at God’s right hand, in the glory of the Father. – You will come, so we believe, as our Judge. And so we ask of you: give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious blood. Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory. Bring your people to safety, Lord, and bless those who are your inheritance. Rule them and lift them high for ever. Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever. Of your goodness, Lord, keep us without sin for today. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us. Let your pity, Lord, be upon us, as much as we trust in you. In you, Lord, I trust: let me never be put to shame. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,  world without end. Amen.

---

Concluding Prayer

O God, your providence is unerring. Hear our prayer:
 protect us from all harm
 and bestow on us everything that we need.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
 who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
 God for ever and ever.
Amen.

[annalex]

Mt 7:21-27
#	Douay-Rheims	Vulgate
21	Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.	non omnis qui dicit mihi Domine Domine intrabit in regnum caelorum sed qui facit voluntatem Patris mei qui in caelis est ipse intrabit in regnum caelorum
22	Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name?	multi dicent mihi in illa die Domine Domine nonne in nomine tuo prophetavimus et in tuo nomine daemonia eiecimus et in tuo nomine virtutes multas fecimus
23	And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.	et tunc confitebor illis quia numquam novi vos discedite a me qui operamini iniquitatem
24	Every one therefore that heareth these my words, and doth them, shall be likened to a wise man that built his house upon a rock,	omnis ergo qui audit verba mea haec et facit ea adsimilabitur viro sapienti qui aedificavit domum suam supra petram
25	And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded on a rock.	et descendit pluvia et venerunt flumina et flaverunt venti et inruerunt in domum illam et non cecidit fundata enim erat super petram
26	And every one that heareth these my words and doth them not, shall be like a foolish man that built his house upon the sand,	et omnis qui audit verba mea haec et non facit ea similis erit viro stulto qui aedificavit domum suam supra harenam
27	And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall thereof.	et descendit pluvia et venerunt flumina et flaverunt venti et inruerunt in domum illam et cecidit et fuit ruina eius magna

[annalex]

21. Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works?
23. And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.

JEROME; As He had said above that those who have the robe of a good life are yet not to be received because of the impiety of their doctrines; so now on the other hand, He forbids is to participate the faith with those who while they are strong in sound doctrine, destroy it with civil works for it is necessary that the servants of God that both their work should be approved by their teaching and their teaching by their works. And therefore He says, Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, enters into the kingdom of heaven.

CHRYS. Wherein He seems to touch the Jews chiefly who placed everything in dogmas; as Paul accuses then, If you are called a Jew, and rest in the Law.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. Otherwise; having taught that the false prophets and the true are to be discerned by their fruits, He now goes on to teach more plainly what are the fruits by which we are to discern the godly from the ungodly teachers.

AUG. For even in the very name of Christ we must be on our guard against heretics, and all that understand amiss and love this world, that we may not be deceived, and therefore He says, Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord. But it may fairly create a difficulty how this is to he reconciled with of the Apostle, No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. For we cannot say that those who are not to enter into the kingdom of heaven have the Holy Spirit. But the Apostle uses the word 'say,' to express the will and understanding of him that says it. He only properly says a thing, who by the sound of his voice depresses his will and purpose. But the Lord uses the word in its ordinary sense, for he seems to say who neither wishes nor understands what he says.

JEROME; For Scripture uses to take words for deeds; according to which the Apostle declares, They make confession that they know God, but in works deny him.

AMBROSIASTER; For all truth by whomsoever uttered is from the Holy Spirit.

AUG. Let us not therefore think that this belongs to those fruits of which He had spoken above, when one says to our Lord, Lord, Lord; and thence seems to us to be a good tree; the true fruit spoken of is to do the will of God; whence it follows, But who does the will of my Father which is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

HILARY; For obeying God's will and not calling on His name, shall find the way to the heavenly kingdom.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. And what the will of God is the Lord Himself teaches, This is, He says, the will of him that sent me, that every man that sees the Son and believes on Him should have eternal life. The word believe has reference both to confession and conduct. He then who does not confess Christ, or does not walk according to His word shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

CHRYS He said not he that does My will, but the will of my Father, for it was fit so to adapt it in the meanwhile to their weakness. But the one secretly implied the other, seeing the will of the Son is no other than the will of the Father.

AUG. Hereto it also pertains that we he not deceived by the name of Christ not only in such as hear the name and do not the deeds, but yet more by certain works and miracles, such as the Lord wrought because of the unbelieving, but yet warned us that we should not be deceived by such to suppose that there was invisible wisdom where was a visible miracle; wherefore He adds, saying, Many shall say to me in that day.

CHRYS. See how He thus secretly brings in Himself. Here in the end of His sermon He shows Himself as the Judge. The punishment that awaits sinners He had shown before, but now only reveals who He is that shall punish, saying, Many shall say to me in that day.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. When, namely, He shall come in the majesty of His Father; when none shall any more dare with strife of many words either to defend a lie, or to speak against the truth, when each man's work shall speak, and his mouth be silent, when none shall come forward for another, but each shall fear for himself. For in that judgment the witnesses shall not he flattering men, but Angels speaking the truth, and the Judge is the righteous Lord; whence He closely images the cry of men fearful, and in straits, saying, Lord, Lord. For to call once is not enough for him who is under the necessity of terror.

HILARY. They even assure themselves of glory for their prophesying in teaching, for their casting out demons, for their mighty works; and hence promise themselves the kingdom of heaven, saying, Have we not prophesied in your name?

CHRYS. But there are that say that they spoke this falsely, and therefore were not saved. But they would not have dared to say this to the Judge in His presence. But the very answer and question prove that it was in His presence that they spoke thus. For having been here wondered at by all for the miracles which they wrought, and there seeing themselves punished, they say in wonderment, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? Others again say, that they did sinful deeds not while they thus were working miracles, but at a time later. But if this be so, that very thing which the Lord desired to prove would not be established, namely, that neither faith nor miracles avail ought where there is not a good life; as Paul also declares, If I have faith that I may remove mountains, but have not charity, I am nothing.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. But note that He says, in my name, not in My Spirit; for they prophesy in the name of Christ, but with the spirit of the Devil; such are the diviners. But they may be known by this, that the Devil sometimes speaks falsely, the Holy Spirit never. Howbeit it is permitted to the Devil sometimes to speak the truth, that he may commend his lying by this his rare truth. Yet they cast out demons in the name of Christ, though they have the spirit of his enemy; or where, they do not cast them out, but seem only to cast them out but, the demons acting in concert with them. Also they do mighty works, that is, miracles, not such as are useful and necessary, but useless and fruitless.

AUG. Read also what things the Magi did in Egypt in withstanding Moses.

JEROME; Otherwise; To prophesy, to work wonders, to cast out demons by divine power, is often not of his deserts who performs the works, but either the invocation of Christ's name has this force; or it is suffered for the condemnation of those that invoke, or for the benefit of those that see and hear, that however they despise the men who work the wonders, they may give honor to God. So Saul and Balaam and Caiaphas prophesied; the sons of Sceva in the Acts of the Apostles were seen to cast out demons; and Judas with the soul of a traitor is related to have wrought many signs among the other Apostles.

CHRYS. For all are not. alike fit for all things; these are of pure life, but have not so great faith; those again have the reverse. Therefore God converted these by the means of those to the showing forth much faith; and those that had faith He called by this unspeakable gift of miracles to a better life; and to that end gave them this grace in great richness. And they may, We have done many mighty works. But because they were ungrateful towards those who thus honored them, it follows rightly, Then will I confess to you, I never knew you.

JEROME; Emphatically, Then will I confess, for a long time He had forborne to say it.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. For great wrath ought to be preceded by great forbearance, that the sentence of God may be made more just, and the death of the sinners more merited. God does not know sinners because they are not worthy that they should be known of God; not that He altogether is ignorant concerning them, but because He knows them not for His own. For God knows all men according to nature, but He seems not to know them for that He loves them not, as they seem not to know God who do not serve Him worthily.

CHRYS. He says to them, I never knew you, as it were, not at the day of judgment only, but not even then when you were working miracles. For there are many whom He has now in abhorrence, and yet turns away His wrath before their punishment.

JEROME; Note that He says, I never knew you, as being against some that say that all men have always been among rational creatures.

GREG. By this sentence it is given to us to learn, that among men Charity and humility, and not mighty works, are to be esteemed. Whence also now the Holy Church, if there be any miracles of heretics, despises them, because she knows that they have not the mark of holiness. And the proof of holiness is not to work miracles, but to love our neighbor as ourselves, to think truly of God, and of our neighbor better than of ourselves.

AUG. But never let it be said as the Manichees say, that the Lord spoke these things concerning the holy Prophets; He spoke of those who after the preaching of His Gospel seem to themselves to speak in His name not knowing what they speak.

HILARY; But thus the hypocrites boasted, as though they spoke somewhat of themselves, and as though the power of God did not work all these things, being invoked; but reading has brought them the knowledge of His doctrine, and the name of Christ casts out the demons. Out of our own selves then is that blessed eternity to be earned, and out of ourselves must be put forth something that we may will that which is good, that we may avoid all evil, and may rather do what He would have us do, than boast of that to which He enables us. These then He disowns and banishes for their evil works, saying, Depart from me, you that work iniquity.

JEROME; He says not, Who have worked, but, who work iniquity, that He should not seem to take away repentance. You, that is, who up to the present hour when the judgment is come, though you have not the opportunity, yet retain the desire of sinning.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. For death separates the soul from the body, but changes not the purpose of the heart.

24. Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26. And every one that hears these sayings of mine, and does them not, shall be likened to a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

CHRYS. Because there would be some who would admire the things that were said by the Lord, but would not add that showing forth of them which is in action, He threatens them before, saying, Every man that hears these words of mine, and does them, shall be likened to a wise man.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. He said not, I will account him that hears and does, as wise; but, He shall be likened to a wise man. He then that is likened is a man; but to whom is he likened? To Christ; but Christ is the wise man who has built His house, that is, the Church, upon a rock, that is, upon the strength of the faith. The foolish man is the Devil, who has built his house, that is, all the ungodly, upon the sand, that is, the insecurity of unbelief, or upon the carnal, who are called the sand on account of their barrenness; both because they do not cleave together, but are scattered through the diversity of their opinions, and because they are innumerable. The rain is the doctrine that waters a man, the clouds are those from which the rain falls. Some are raised by the Holy Spirit, as the Apostles and Prophets, and some by the spirit of the Devil, as are the heretics. The good winds are the spirits of the different virtues, or the Angels who work invisibly in the senses of men, and lead them to good. The bad winds are the unclean spirits. The good floods are the Evangelists amid teachers of the people; the evil floods are men full of an unclean spirit, and overflowing with many words; such are philosophers and the other professors of worldly wisdom, out of whose belly come rivers of dead water. The Church then which Christ has founded, neither the rain of false doctrine shall sap, nor the blast of the Devil overturn, nor the rush of mighty floods remove. Nor does it contradict this, that certain of the Church do fall; for not all that are called Christians, are Christ's, but, The Lord knows them that are his. But against .that house that the Devil has built comes down the rain of true doctrine, the winds, that is, the graces of the Spirit, or the Angels; the floods, that is, the four Evangelists and the rest of the wise; and so the house falls, that is, the Gentile world, that Christ may rise; and the ruin of that house was great, its errors broken up, its falsehoods laid open, its idols through out the whole world broken down. He then is like to Christ, who hears Christ's words, and does them; for He builds on a rock, that is, upon Christ, who is all good, so that on whatsoever kind of good any one should build, he may seem to have built upon Christ. But as the Church built by Christ cannot be thrown down, so any such Christian who has built himself upon Christ, no adversity can overthrow, according to that, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Like to the Devil is he that hears the words of Christ, and does them not. For words that are heard, amid are not done, are likened to sand, they are dispersed and shed abroad. For the sand signifies all evil, or even worldly goods. For as the Devil's house is overthrown, so such as are built upon the sand are destroyed and fall. And great is that ruin if he have suffered anything to fail of the foundation of faith; but not if he have committed fornication, or homicide, because he has whence he may arise through penitence, as David.

RABAN. Or the great ruin is to be understood that with which the Lord will say to them that hear and do not, Go you into everlasting fire.

JEROME; Or otherwise; On sand which is loose and cannot be bound into one mass, all the doctrine of heretics is built so as to fall.

HILARY; Otherwise; By the showers He signifies the allurements of smooth and gently invading pleasures, with which the faith is at first watered as with spreading rills, afterwards Comes down the rush of torrent floods, that is, the motions of fiercer desire, and lastly, the whole force of the driving tempests rages against it, that is, the universal spirits of the Devil's reign attack it.

AUG. Otherwise; Rain, when it is put to denote any evil, is understood as the darkness of superstition; rumors of men are compared to winds; the flood signifies the lust of the flesh, as it were flowing over the land, and because what is brought on by prosperity is broken off by adversity. None of these things does he fear who has his house founded upon a rock, that is, who not only hears the command of the Lord, but who also does it. And in all these He submits himself to danger, who hears and does not. For no man confirms in himself what the Lord commands, or himself hears, but by doing it. But it should He noted, that when He said, He that hears these words of mine, He shows plainly enough that this sermon is made complete by all those precepts by which the Christian life is formed, so that with good reason they that desire to live according to them, may be compared to one that builds on a rock.

Catena Aurea Matthew 7

[annalex]

12th-century church
Armenia

[Salvation]

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings (on USCCB site):
» June 01, 2008
(will open a new window)

Collect: Father, your love never fails. Hear our call. Keep us from danger and provide for all our needs. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

« June 01, 2008 »

Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Old Calendar: Sunday within the Octave of the Sacred Heart

 

"I set before you here, this day, a blessing and a curse: a blessing for obeying the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin on you today; a curse if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD, your God, but turn aside from the way I ordain for you today, to follow other gods, whom you have not known" (Dt 11:26-28).

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Sunday Readings
The first reading, from the book of Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, 32, shows us that external obedience to laws and commandments doesn’t take us very far. God’s word has to sink into our heart and soul, transforming our character and inner attitudes - and it’s when we let God’s grace fill our heart and soul that our outward behavior changes accordingly.

In the second reading taken from St. Paul to the Romans; 3:21-25, 28, Paul’s experience of meeting Christ convinced him that the starting-point of genuine spirituality is a sense of our own weakness and the insufficiency of our own strength, coupled with an openness to God’s grace and a sense of dependence on his saving power.

The Gospel reading is taken from Matthew 7:21-27. Do not be afraid to witness to Jesus before men. In fact, he says, if you deny before before others I will deny you before my Father. Hard words. When we think of giving testimony to Jesus what usually comes to our minds are Jehovah Witnesses going door to door. But you know, they actually get very few converts that way. Most come from our own family, friends, co-workers. The most effective way of testifying to Jesus is with a peer, over a cup of coffee, often in an unguarded moment, to say for example, "What has really helped me through this time is prayer, my belief in God." That's the kind of testimony that will draw someone to Jesus and his Church.

And our actions speak louder than words. How we treat other people, how we spend our money and our spare time. There are 168 hours in a week, but if your friends know your most important hour is at Mass worshiping God, that is a powerful testimony. Particularly in the summer.

What often keeps us back from testifying to Jesus is fear. Someone might laugh at me, make fun of me. Call me a hypocrite. Don't be afraid of that. Jesus says, what is whispered in secret will one day be shouted from the rooftops. I've been a priest almost 25 years and heard plenty of confessions; I can tell you everybody has secrets, awful ones. That includes you and me. We just haven't made the 6 o'clock news. Someday we will. Jesus assures us of that. Don't be afraid about what folks say about you, they don't know the half of it.

But there is someone we should fear. He who can cast us body and soul into hell. Today we tend to downplay the doctrine of eternal punishment, but that was a constant theme of Jesus teaching. In fact the majority of references to hell are not found in St Paul or the book or Revelation, but from the lips of Jesus. And He uses scary images–everlasting flames, the worm that never dies.

To fear God, his judgment is not just for so called "simple folks." A prominent doctor who performed thousands of abortions at some point realized he was killing human beings. He gave up his abortion practice, joined the human life movement and in the process went from being an atheist to a believer in God. And now he is joining the Catholic church. When asked why he is becoming a Catholic, Dr. Nathanson replied, "I do not want to spend forever in hell. I want the forgiveness of my sins and that I will have in the Catholic Church through baptism and confession."

Excerpted from a homily by Fr. Phil Bloom

[Salvation]

Lauds -- Morning Prayer

Morning Prayer (Lauds)

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

---

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 62 (63)

Thirsting for God

O God, you are my God, I wait for you from the dawn.
My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you.
I came to your sanctuary,
 as one in a parched and waterless land,
 so that I could see your might and your glory.
My lips will praise you, for your mercy is better than life itself.

Thus I will bless you throughout my life,
 and raise my hands in prayer to your name;
my soul will be filled as if by rich food,
 and my mouth will sing your praises and rejoice.
I will remember you as I lie in bed,
 I will think of you in the morning,
for you have been my helper,
 and I will take joy in the protection of your wings.

My soul clings to you; your right hand raises me up.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

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Canticle	Daniel 3
All creatures, bless the Lord
Bless the Lord, all his works, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, you heavens; all his angels, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, you waters above the heavens; all his powers, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, sun and moon; all stars of the sky, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, rain and dew; all you winds, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, fire and heat; cold and warmth, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, dew and frost; ice and cold, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, ice and snow; day and night, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, light and darkness; lightning and storm-clouds, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, all the earth, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, mountains and hills; all growing things, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, seas and rivers; springs and fountains, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, whales and fish; birds of the air, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, wild beasts and tame; sons of men, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, O Israel, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, his priests; all his servants, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, spirits of the just; all who are holy and humble, bless the Lord. Ananias, Azarias, Mishael, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him for ever. Let us bless Father, Son and Holy Spirit, praise and exalt them for ever. Bless the Lord in the firmament of heaven, praise and glorify him for ever.

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Psalm 149

The saints rejoice

Sing a new song to the Lord, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its maker, and the sons of Sion delight in their king.
Let them praise his name with dancing, sing to him with timbrel and lyre,
for the Lord’s favour is upon his people, and he will honour the humble with victory.

Let the faithful celebrate his glory, rejoice even in their beds,
the praise of God in their throats; and swords ready in their hands,
to exact vengeance upon the nations, impose punishment on the peoples,
to bind their kings in fetters and their nobles in manacles of iron,
to carry out the sentence that has been passed: this is the glory prepared for all his faithful.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

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Short reading	Apocalypse 7:10 - 12 ©
Victory to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and strength to our God for ever and ever. Amen.

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Canticle	Benedictus
The Messiah and his forerunner
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption. He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David, as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages: to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers, to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father, that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies – in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path, to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven. Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death; to lead our feet in the path of peace. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,  world without end. Amen.

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Prayers and Intercessions

?

Christ the Lord is our day and our sunlight, shining on all men and never setting. Let us praise him, saying: - O Lord, you are our life and our salvation! Creator of the stars, we offer you in gratitude the first-fruits of this day, and we commemorate your resurrection. May your Spirit guide us today to do what is pleasing to you: may your Wisdom lead us always. Let us join together with joy at Mass this Sunday, at the table of your word and your Body and Blood. Our souls give you thanks for your immeasurable kindness.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
 hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
 thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
 and forgive us our trespasses
 as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
 but deliver us from evil.

O God, your providence is unerring. Hear our prayer:
 protect us from all harm
 and bestow on us everything that we need.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
 who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
 God for ever and ever.
Amen.

---

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N

[Salvation]

Vultus Christi

May 31, 2008

9th Sunday of the Year A

Entrance Antiphon

MR/GR
Pity me, Lord, as thou seest me friendless and forlorn.
Quit my heart of its burden, deliver me from my distress.
Restless and forlorn, I claim thy pity,
to my sins be merciful.
V. All my heart goes out to thee, O Lord my God.
Belie not the trust I have inthee,
let not my enemies boast of my downfall.
(Ps 24: 16–18, trans. Msgr. Ronald Knox)

Collect

O God, whose never-failing providence
sets in order all things both in heaven and on earth;
put away from us, we entreat you, all hurtful things,
and give us all that will be for our good.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.

General Intercessions

That the Holy Catholic Church
may summon all the peoples of the world
to keep the words of the Lord in memory,
to treasure them in the heart,
to bind them close to their hands,
and let them hang before their eyes,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.

That those holding public office and those seeking it
may speak and act in the fear of God
and in obedience to his commandments,
lest their projects, being built upon sand, fall into ruin,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.

That all who suffer, especially the peoples of China and Myanmar,
may be illumined by the light of the Holy Face of Christ,
in his merciful love find healing
and in the works of his disciples, relief,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.

That each of us present here
may receive the Word of God
in imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary who treasured it in her Immaculate Heart
and kept that Word ever before her eyes,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.

Collect at the General Intercessions

Almighty and ever-living God,
who have redeemed us
by the Blood of your only-begotten Son
and who justify those
who receive in faith the gift of your grace,
grant that we who glory in that same Precious Blood,
may offer you the acceptable sacrifice of obedience to your will.
Through Christ our Lord.

Offertory Antiphon

GR
Those who acknowledge thy Name, Lord, can trust thee;
never was man forsaken that had recourse to thee.
Sing, then, to the Lord who dwells in Sion:
for he does not forget the afflicted when they cry to him.
(Ps 9: 11, 12, 13, trans. Msgr. Ronald Knox)

Prayer Over the Offerings

Trusting in your faithful love, O Lord,
we hasten to your sacred altar with our gifts,
that, by your purifying grace,
the very mysteries we serve may make us clean.
Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon

MR
And now I cry to thee, the God who ever hearest me;
turn thy ear towards me, and listen to my plea.
(Ps 16:6, trans. Msgr. Ronald Knox)

Prayer After Communion

O Lord, who have nourished us
with the Body and Blood of your Son,
rule us, we beseech you, by your Spirit,
that praising you not by word and tongue alone,
but also by deeds, and in truth,
we may be found worthy of entering the kingdom of heaven.
Through Christ our Lord.

[Salvation]

Regnum Christi

The Right Place of Life
June 1, 2008

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.

Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Father Eugene Gormley, LC

Matthew 7: 21-27
"Not everyone who says to me, ´Lord, Lord,´ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ´Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?´ Then I will declare to them, ´I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.´ "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell--and great was its fall!"

Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe that you are truly present with me now, ready to shower your grace upon me. I have the difficult and daily task of building my life and helping others build their lives on solid ground. I need your grace. I trust in your love and providence to build with joy and happiness.

Petition: Lord, help me every day to desire with all my soul to reach heaven. May the thought of being eternally united with you help me to overcome all inertia, laziness and disappointments, so that I may stay on the true path in working for you and others.

1. A Prize Is Won
The successful hunter comes home with the trophy. He is a person who stays focused on his goals, and he centers his attention on what to use, what to expect, and where to be at the appropriate time. He takes into account all the different factors that can influence his hunt. His body and spirit are ready. He waits patiently for the opportune moment. The desire for success moves him both to try different things and to persevere. In our spiritual life we too must exercise all of these virtues in order to continue progressing along the path of holiness.

2. Our True Prize
We desire to be with Christ. This moves us to center on him and to adapt our style of life to him. We make time for prayer, for God’s word in Scripture, for virtue, and for service to others. We know where to find Christ in the Blessed Sacrament; we know where the door to the confessional is. We believe in what he has prepared for us now and after death. Do I keep my sight focused on him as I travel over the hills and through the valleys, forests, and dark places in my life?

3. We Will Be Ready
Centering on our goal and working with faith and joy will put us in the right place in life. We will be open to what God wants of us. Our houses, built on solid ground, will be able to endure trials, persecutions and storms. Am I “centered”? Am I ready? Do I have a plan, a strategy for my spiritual life?

Dialogue with Christ: Lord, I love you. Life is short, and there are different ways to live it. I want to give you my life. I want to be ready for what you want of me. I want to persevere. So often my love is undermined by my fears and frailty. Give me strength and courage. May I trust always in your providence.

Resolution: Today, I will renew my belief in eternal life and see if there is something distracting me from the road to get there.

[Salvation]

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

A Stradivarius Must Be Played

May 31st, 2008 by Fr. Stephen Anam ·Print · ShareThis

Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dt 11:18, 26-28, 32 / Ps 31:2-3, 3-4, 17, 25 / Rom 3:21-25, 28 / Mt 7:21-27

A violin by the 18th century Italian luthier (maker of stringed instruments) Antonio Stradivari was once purchased by an investor. The man placed the instrument in an airtight vault and kept it there for 10 years expecting its value to dramatically increase during that time.

On the day of the auction, the violin was taken out of the vault and handed to the world’s greatest violinist to demonstrate its authenticity. The Stradivarius was tuned and the auction house became hushed to hear the notes of one of the finest violins in the world. But what came from the instrument was worse than the music from a cheap, beat up, children’s violin. The story has it that a Stradivarius will only reach its potential if it is played regularly and not simply kept hidden in a safe.

 +     +     +

In Sunday’s gospel, Jesus is calling us to do more with the precious gift of God given to us in the Sacraments.

Jesus explained to us the will of his Father in heaven. The Bible is dedicated to it. We have heard it in every Mass. The Church tries to clarify it for us in the Catechism. And God calls us to live it every day.

Unfortunately, not everyone is going to actually follow the directions. Much like what our parents and teachers tried to teach us, we can not just pick and choose which directions we have been given.

We have to understand that doing the will of God is more than just having an episode where we “get saved.” We have to hear what Jesus tells us and then act on it.

There is nothing wrong with the message those football fans regularly write on signs. But John 3:16 is part of Jesus’ point. You can declare that Christ is your Lord and Savior but if you fail to heed Jesus’ message in Matthew 7:21-27, you have not followed ALL the directions.

The very first Bible lesson I was ever taught was on building on rock or sand. Even at that young age, I clearly understood what Jesus was saying. Go and build at sand castle at the beach and you will quickly become an expert on Jesus’ message.

Jesus has given us some very clear directions on how to live. And it does not take an architect to understand his point. Each of us must do the will of the Father. Not some of his will. Not the parts of his we that are easy or popular or socially acceptable. This is an all or nothing statement.

And we can not hear the will of God and decide that if we stick it in the vault of our heart, it will not increase in value with time. Follow the directions daily and Jesus will not declare you to be an evildoer or a fool.

Amen.

[Salvation]

Vespers -- Evening Prayer

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

---

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 109 (110)

The Messiah, king and priest

The Lord has said to my lord: “Sit at my right hand while I make your enemies into your footstool”.

From Sion the Lord will give you a sceptre, and you will rule in the midst of your foes.
Royal power is yours in the day of your strength, glorious and holy; from the time of your birth, before the dawn.

The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: “You are a priest for ever, a priest of the priesthood of Melchisedech”.
The Lord is at your right hand, and on the day of his anger he will shatter kings.

He will judge the nations, he will pile high their skulls;
he will drink from the stream as he goes – he will hold his head high.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

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Psalm 113A (114)

Israel set free from Egypt

When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob’s people from a land of strangers,
Judah became his sanctuary and Israel his domain.

The sea saw it, and fled; the Jordan flowed backwards at the sight;
the mountains leapt like rams; the hills, like yearling sheep.

Sea, what was it, what made you flee? And you, Jordan, why did you flow uphill?
Mountains, why did you leap like rams? Hills, like yearling sheep?

Tremble, Earth, at the presence of the Lord, the presence of the Lord of Jacob,
who has turned the rock into a pool of water and made a fountain out of the flint.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

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Canticle	(Apocalypse 19)
The wedding of the Lamb
Alleluia. Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, because his judgements are true and just. Alleluia. Alleluia. Praise our God, all his servants, and you who fear him, small and great. Alleluia. Alleluia. For the Lord reigns, our God, the Almighty: let us rejoice and exult and give him glory. Alleluia. Alleluia. The marriage of the Lamb has come, and his spouse has made herself ready. Alleluia. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,  world without end. Amen.

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Short reading	2 Corinthians 1:3 - 4 ©
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, a gentle Father and the God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our sorrows, so that we can offer others, in their sorrows, the consolation that we have received from God ourselves.

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Canticle	Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,  and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour –  me, his lowly handmaiden. Now all generations will call me blessed,  because the mighty one has done great things for me. His name is holy,  his mercy lasts for generation after generation  for those who revere him. He has put forth his strength:  he has scattered the proud and conceited,  torn princes from their thrones;  but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things;  the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel,  he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,  to Abraham and his children for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,  world without end. Amen.

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Prayers and Intercessions

?

We worship Christ the Lord: he is our Head and we are his body. In triumph we cry: - Lord, may your kingdom come. Our Saviour, make your Church more and more a sacrament of human unity: and an ever more effective road to salvation. Stand next to the college of Bishops, and our Pope, and give them the gifts of unity, love, and peace. May Christians be more closely united with you as their Head; may the way they live proclaim your kingdom. In your kindness, give peace to the world: make peace and security flower everywhere. Give the deceased a glorious resurrection at the end of time, and allow us to share their blessedness.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
 hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
 thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
 and forgive us our trespasses
 as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
 but deliver us from evil.

O God, your providence is unerring. Hear our prayer:
 protect us from all harm
 and bestow on us everything that we need.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
 who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
 God for ever and ever.
Amen.

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May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N

[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Sunday, June 01, 2008 Meditation Matthew 7:21-27 Jesus concluded his Sermon on the Mount with a parable of the wise man and the fool. The parable presents us with a choice: Will we follow Jesus and found our lives on his teachings, challenging though they may be? Or will we choose a weaker foundation for our lives—one that may seems easy but is far riskier? If Jesus’ words about the perils of building on sand—and his words about how demanding it can be to follow him—sound daunting, don’t panic. Remember: Because of his cross and resurrection, sin has been defeated, and you are a new creation! You can receive the love of Christ to strengthen your will. You can know the mercy of God to overcome your sins. And you can receive the joy of the Holy Spirit to wash away your fears. In baptism, you were cleansed from all sin, and been made into a fit vessel for the life of the Trinity. The very power of God dwells in you, and by that power, you can now fulfill Jesus’ commandments. God’s love is unconditional and eternal. He stands as a rock, the foundation of your security and protection. He has given you marvelous gifts filled with divine potential. If you are feeling inadequate, look to Jesus, crucified and risen, and believe that he has made it possible for you to live in his peace and hope. Listen to how Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta encouraged her sisters, and take these words as your own: If you look at the cross, you shall see his head lowered to kiss you. You will see his arms stretched out to embrace you. You will see his heart open to welcome you. Don’t be afraid. He loves us, and he wants us to love one another. He loves us in spite of how poor and sinful we are. Jesus’ love is real and powerful. So fix your eyes on him today, and watch the blessings flow! “Lord Jesus, I believe in your great love. And in response to that love, I want to found my life on you—the rock of my salvation!” Deuteronomy 11:18,26-28,32; Psalm 31:2-4,17,25; Romans 3:21-25,28

[Salvation]

Compline -- Night Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

---

This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

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Psalm 90 (91)

The protection of the Most High

He will shade you with his wings; you will not fear the terror of the night.

He who lives under the protection of the Most High
 dwells under the shade of the Almighty.
He will say to the Lord:
 “You are my shelter and my strength,
 my God, in whom I trust”.

For he will free you from the hunter’s snare,
 from the voice of the slanderer.
He will shade you with his wings,
 you will hide underneath his wings.
His faithfulness will be your armour and your shield.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
 nor the arrow that flies by day;
nor the plague that walks in the shadows,
 nor the death that lays waste at noon.

A thousand will fall at your side,
 at your right hand ten thousand will fall,
 but you it will never come near.
You will look with your eyes
 and see the reward of sinners.
For the Lord is your shelter and refuge;
 you have made the Most High your dwelling-place.
Evil will not reach you,
 harm cannot approach your tent;
for he has set his angels to guard you
 and keep you safe in all your ways.

They will carry you in their arms
 in case you hurt your foot on a stone.
You walk on the viper and cobra,
 you will tread on the lion and the serpent.

Because he clung to me, I shall free him:
 I shall lift him up because he knows my name.
He will call upon me and for my part, I will hear him:
 I am with him in his time of trouble.
I shall rescue him and lead him to glory.
I shall fill him with length of days
 and show him my salvation.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

He will shade you with his wings; you will not fear the terror of the night.

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Reading	Apocalypse 22:4-5
They will see the face of the Lord, and his name will be marked on their foreheads. There will be no more night: they will not need sunlight or lamp-light, because the Lord God himself will shine upon them. And they will reign for ever and ever.

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Short Responsory	?
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

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Canticle	Nunc Dimittis
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.
Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace.  You have fulfilled your promise. My own eyes have seen your salvation,  which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples. A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness;  the glory of your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,  world without end. Amen.
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.

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Prayer
Let us pray. Today we have celebrated the mystery of the Christ’s resurrection, and so now we humbly ask you, Lord, that we may rest in your peace, far from all harm, and rise rejoicing and giving praise to you. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

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May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.

A M E N

An antiphon to Our Lady should be recited here.

[La Enchiladita]

Armenian manuscript of the four Gospels

"Armenia is the oldest Christian country in the world (301 AD). To be able to translate Greek and Syrian religious texts into Armenian, in the early 5th century (ca. 406-410) a special alphabet was designed which is still in use today. Soon thereafter a true golden age in Armenian book culture developed, when the Bible and patristic authors were translated, grammars, philosophical texts and commentaries. Armenians looked upon manuscripts as a ‘gift in heaven’. In the colophons of the books scribes often allude to their patrons and to the circumstances of their work, providing us today precious ‘ inside’ information."
The Library of Hermetic Philosophy in Amsterdam

[Salvation]

Thanks for your post. I am learning something new everyday! That’s good, huh?

[Salvation]

Faith vs. Works

Faith vs. Works

June 2nd, 2008 by Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D. ·Print · ShareThis

According to many, Protestants say we’re saved by faith while Catholics say we’re saved by good works.

But what does the Bible say?

This Sunday’s readings are clear — it’s neither.  And it’s both.  At the same time.

First, let’s define our terms.  When St. Paul speaks of “works” not being what saves us, he is really referring to two things.  First of all, he is speaking about the “works” of the Mosaic Law, which include everything from keeping dietary regulations to observing the Ten Commandments.  Secondly, it means good actions that a person carries out through his own willpower, without any particular help from God.  Paul had thought that rigorous observance of the Law, carrying out its prescribed works, was the key to making a person right with God.  But his attempts to observe the law met with frustration (see Romans 7:15-24).  The law made him aware of God’s will but did not enable him to carry it out.  “I cannot even understand my own actions.  I do not do what I want to do but what I hate . . . what a wretched man I am.”  His attempts at outward observance didn’t change his heart which was far from God.  It was so far from God that he cruelly persecuted the followers of Jesus, looking on in approval as St. Stephen was stoned to death.

In Romans 3:23 St. Paul lays it out: we have all sinned seriously.  None of us, on our own steam and by our own merits, can ever do enough to earn God’s favor.  So God has fixed the problem — he gives us His favor as a free, undeserved gift in response to the sacrifice of Jesus, His son.  We become pleasing to Him, reconciled to Him, not by our own efforts but by the cross of Christ.  We receive this gift through the act of faith.  So we are saved by faith, not by the works — at least not by the works of the Mosaic Law, done by our own strength.

So the faith camp wins?  Not so fast.  Let’s take a closer look at what the Bible means by faith.

 Many people think that faith is belief.  Belief that God exists . . . that Jesus is the son of God . . . that Jesus rose from the dead.  Intellectual assent to all these truths is of course important, and is an indispensable part of the act of faith.  Such belief often leads to religious actions — the hanging of crucifixes in our home, the wearing of medals, the recitation of prayers.  These acts of piety are also good.

But Sunday’s gospel says that mere belief and acts of piety are not enough to save us.  Those rejected by God in Matt 7:21-23 clearly “believed” in Jesus — in fact they prophesied and worked miracles in Jesus’ name.  Perhaps they also said novenas in His name.  But He said to them “out of my sight, you evil doers.”  One of the strongest lines in the gospels gives the explanation of this: “None of those who cry out, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of God but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

Biblical faith is not just belief.  It is surrender.  It is a complete entrusting of oneself to God in Christ and acceptance of His power, His will, and His plan.  If we truly say yes to Him and let His grace into our hearts, we’ll never be the same.  His love begins to work through us and change our lives.  His Spirit takes up residence within us, giving us the strength to do what we could never do on our own, even to begin to love like He loves.

So true biblical faith is not passive.  It is active, dynamic, and alive.  That’s why St. James says that faith without works is dead (James 2:24-26).  Abraham believed that an unknown God was calling him to leave civilization and march into the desert to find a land that this God has promised him.  He did not sit and contemplate this call or set up a shrine to this God.  He got up and began walking (Genesis 12).

So we are justified by faith, if we mean the authentic biblical faith that causes us to walk in God’s ways.  And we are justified by works, if we mean the works of charity that can only flow from faith and grace.

So really, it’s not faith vs. works.  It’s faith that works.

 

Dr. D'Ambrosio studied under Avery Cardinal Dulles for his Ph.D. in historical theology and taught for many years at the University of Dallas. He now directs www.crossroadsinitiative.com, which offers Catholic resources for RCIA and adult and teen faith formation, with a special emphasis on the Year of the Eucharist, the Theology of the Body, the early Church Fathers, and the Sacrament of Confirmation.

(This article originally appeared in Our Sunday Visitor and is used by permission of the author.)

[La Enchiladita]

The same thing here, learning something new every day and/or having a renewed appreciation for the people and things around me. I’m not a historian nor a scholar of religious manuscripts, but the Armenian Gospels of Gladzor stick in my mind because the manuscript was once on display at the Getty Center.

I was working at the Getty on a temp assignment at the time and we were allowed a sneak preview of the exhibit the night before it opened to the public. I was completely amazed by these, some of the earliest manuscripts of the Bible. What really made the event stick in my mind was that the following day, the day the exhibit was to open, was September 11, 2001.