Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year I)

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - GREEN

First Reading (Dt. 30:10-14)

A reading from the Book of Deuteronomy

Moses said to the people:
“If only you would heed the voice of the LORD, your God,
and keep his commandments and statutes
that are written in this book of the law,
when you return to the LORD, your God,
with all your heart and all your soul.

“For this command that I enjoin on you today
is not too mysterious and remote for you.
It is not up in the sky, that you should say,
‘Who will go up in the sky to get it for us
and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?’
Nor is it across the sea, that you should say,
‘Who will cross the sea to get it for us
and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?’
No, it is something very near to you,
already in your mouths and in your hearts;
you have only to carry it out.”

The Word of the Lord

Responsorial Psalm (Ps. 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37)

R. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.

V. I pray to you, O LORD,
     for the time of your favor, O God!
     In your great kindness answer me
     with your constant help.
     Answer me, O LORD, for bounteous is your kindness:
     in your great mercy turn toward me. (R)

V. I am afflicted and in pain;
     let your saving help, O God, protect me.
     I will praise the name of God in song,
     and I will glorify him with thanksgiving. (R)

V. “See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
     you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
     For the LORD hears the poor,
     and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.” (R)

V. For God will save Zion
     and rebuild the cities of Judah.
     The descendants of his servants shall inherit it,
     and those who love his name shall inhabit it.

or Ps. 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

V. The law of the LORD is perfect,
     refreshing the soul;
     the decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
     giving wisdom to the simple. (R)

V. The precepts of the LORD are right,
     rejoicing the heart;
     the command of the LORD is clear,
     enlightening the eye. (R)

V. The fear of the LORD is pure,
     enduring forever;
     the ordinances of the LORD are true, (R)

V. They are more precious than gold,
     than a heap of purest gold;
     sweeter also than syrup
     or honey from the comb. (R)

Second Reading (Col. 1:15-20)

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Collosians

Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the blood of his cross
through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel (Lk. 10:25-37)

The Proclamation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said,
“Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 
Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? 
How do you read it?” 
He said in reply,
“You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself.”
He replied to him, “You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live.”

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus,
“And who is my neighbor?” 
Jesus replied,
“A man fell victim to robbers
as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. 
They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. 
A priest happened to be going down that road,
but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. 
Likewise a Levite came to the place,
and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. 
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight. 
He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. 
Then he lifted him up on his own animal,
took him to an inn, and cared for him. 
The next day he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,
‘Take care of him. 
If you spend more than what I have given you,
I shall repay you on my way back.’
Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” 
He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” 
Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year I)

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time - GREEN

First Reading (Zec. 12:10-11; 13:1)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Zechariah

Thus says the LORD:
I will pour out on the house of David
and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem
a spirit of grace and petition;
and they shall look on him whom they have pierced, 
and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son,
and they shall grieve over him as one grieves over a firstborn.

On that day the mourning in Jerusalem shall be as great
as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo.

On that day there shall be open to the house of David
and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
a fountain to purify from sin and uncleanness.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps. 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9)

R. (2b) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

V. O God, you are my God whom I seek;
     for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
     like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. (R)

V. Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
     to see your power and your glory,
     For your kindness is a greater good than life;
     my lips shall glorify you. (R)

V. Thus will I bless you while I live;
     lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
     As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,
     and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. (R)
 
V. You are my help,
     and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.
     My soul clings fast to you;
     your right hand upholds me. (R)

Second Reading (Gal. 3:26-29)

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians.

Brothers and sisters:
Through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus.
For all of you who were baptized into Christ
have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither slave nor free person,
there is not male and female;
for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if you belong to Christ,
then you are Abraham’s descendant,
heirs according to the promise.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel (Lk. 9:18-24)

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude,
and the disciples were with him,
he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
They said in reply, “John the Baptist;
others, Elijah;
still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”
Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”
He rebuked them
and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
Then he said to all,
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year I)

June 9, 2013

TENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - GREEN

First Reading: 1Kgs. 17:17-24

A reading from the Book of Kings

Now it happened that, after these things, the son of the woman who was the mother of the family became ill. And the sickness was very powerful, so that no breath remained in him. Therefore, she said to Elijah: "What is there between you and me, O man of God? Have you entered to me, so that my iniquities would be remembered, and so that you would put death to my son?" And Elijah said to her, "Give your son to me." And he took him from her bosom, and he carried him to an upper room where he himself was staying. And he placed him on his own bed. And he cried out to the Lord and he said, "O Lord, my God, have you even afflicted the widow by whom I am, in a sense, sustained, so that you would put to death her son?" and he stretched himself out beside the boy three times. And he cried out to the Lord and said, "O  Lord, my God, let the soul of this boy, I beg you, return to his body." And the Lord heeded the voice of Elijah. And the soul of the boy returned to him, and he revived. And Elijah took the boy, and he brought him down from the upper room to the lower part of the house. And he gave him to his mother. And he said to her, "See, you son lives." And the woman said to Elijah, "By this, I now realize that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is true."

The Word of the Lord.

Psalm Response: Ps. 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13

R. (2a) I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

V. I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
     and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
     O LORD, you brought me up from the nether world;
     you preserved me from among those going down into the pit. (R)

V. Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
     and give thanks to his holy name.
     For his anger lasts but a moment;
     a lifetime, his good will.
     At nightfall, weeping enters in,
     but with the dawn, rejoicing. (R)

V. Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
     O LORD, be my helper.
     You changed my mourning into dancing;
     O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks. (R)

Second Reading: Gal. 1:11-19 

A Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians.

For I would have you understand, brothers and sisters, that the Gospel which has been preached by me is not according to man. And I did not receive it from man, nor did I learn it, except through the revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former behavior within Judaism: that, beyond measure, I persecuted the Church of God and fought against Her. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my equals among my own kind, having proven to be more abundant in zeal toward the tradition of my fathers. But, when it pleased him who, from my mothers womb, had set me apart, and who has called me by his grace, to reveal his Son within me, so that I might evangelize him among the Gentiles, I did not seek the consent of flesh and blood. Neither did I go to Jerusalem, to those who were Apostles before me. Instead, I went into Arabia, and next I returned to Damascus. And then, after three years, I went to Jerusalem to see Peter; and I stayed with him for fifteen days. But I saw none of the other Apostles, except James, the brother of the Lord.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel: Lk. 7:11-17

The Gospel of the Lord according to St. Luke.

Jesus went to a city called Nain and his disciples, and an abundant crowd, went with him. Then, when he had drawn near to the gate of the city, behold, a deceased person was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord had seen her, being moved by mercy over her, he said to her, "Do not weep." And he drew near the coffin and touched the coffin. Then those who carried it stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." And the dead youth sat up and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. Then fear fell over all of them. And they magnified God, saying: "For a great prophet has risen up among us, and, For God has visited his people." And this word about him went out to all of Judea and to the entire surrounding region.

The Gospel of the Lord


FEATURED SONG FOR  THE DAY

Sacred Heart of Jesus (Cycle C, Year I)

June 7, 2013

SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS - WHITE

First Reading: Ez. 34: 11-16

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel

For thus says the Lord God:

"Behold, I myself will seek my sheep, and I myself will visit them. Just as a shepherd visits his flock, in the day when he will be in the midst of his sheep that were scattered, so will I visit my sheep. And I will deliver them from all the places to which they had been scattered in the day of gloom and darkness. And I will lead them away from the peoples, and I will gather them from the lands, and I will bring them into their own land. And I will pasture them into their own land. And I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the settlements of the land. I will feed them in very fertile pastures, and their pastures will be on the lofty mountains of Israel. I will feed my sheep, and I will cause them to lie down," says the Lord God.

"I will  seek what had been lost. And I will lead back again what had been cast aside. And I will bind up what had been broken. And I will strengthen what had been infirm. And I will preserve what was fat and strong. And I will feed them on judgment."

The Word of the Lord.

Psalm Response: Ps. 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6

 R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

V. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
     In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
     beside restful waters he leads me;
     he refreshes my soul. (R)

V. He guides me in right paths
     for his name's sake.
     Even though I walk in the dark valley
     I fear no evil; for you are at my side
     with your rod and your staff
     that give me courage. (R)

V. You spread the table before me
     in the sight of my foes;
     you anoint my head with oil;
     my cup overflows. (R)

V. Only goodness and kindness follow me
     all the days of my life;
     and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
     for years to come. (R)

Second Reading: Rom. 5:5B-11

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans.

Brothers and sisters:

The love of God is poured forth in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Yet why did Christ, while we were still infirm, at the proper time, suffer death for the impious? Now someone might barely be willing to die for the sake of justice, for example, perhaps someone might dare to die for the sake of a good man. but God demonstrates his love for us in that, while we were yet sinners, at the proper time, Christ died for us. Therefore, having been justified now by his blood, all the more so shall we be saved from wrath through him. For if we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, while we were still enemies, all the more so, having been reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. And not only that, but we also glory in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel: Lk. 15:3-7

The Gospel of the Lord according to St. Luke.

Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and the Scribes:

"What man among you, who has one-hundred sheep, and if he will have lost one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the one whom he had lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them: 'Congratulate me! For I have found my sheep, which had been lost.' I say to you, that there will be so much more joy in heaven over one sinner repenting, than over the ninety-nine just, who do not need to repent."

The Gospel of the Lord.

PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

 Divine Jesus, you have said, "Ask and you shall receive; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it will be opened unto you," behold be kneeling at your feet, filled with a lively faith and confidence in the promises dictated by your Sacred Heart and pronounced by your adorable lips. I come to ask this favor: (Here silently mention your petitions.)

To whom can I turn if not to you whose Heart is the source of all graces and merits? Where should I seek if not in the treasure which contains all the riches of your kindness and mercy? Where should I knock if not at the door through which God gives himself to us and through which we go to God? I have recourse to you, Heart of Jesus. In you I find consolation when afflicted, protection when persecuted, strength when burdened with trials, and light in doubt and darkness.

Dear Jesus, I firmly believe that you can grant me the grace I  implore, even though it should require a miracle. You have only to will it, and my prayer will be granted. I admit that I am most unworthy of your favors, but this is not a reason for me to be discouraged. You are the god of mercy and you will not refuse contrite heart. Cast upon me a look of mercy, I beg of you, and your kind Heart will find in my miseries and weaknesses a reason for granting my prayers.

O Sacred Heart, whatever may be your decision with regard to my request, I will never stop adoring, loving, praising, and serving you. My Jesus, be pleased to accept this my act of perfect resignation to the decrees of your adorable Heart which I sincerely desire may be fulfilled by me and by all your creatures forever.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I know that there is but one thing impossible to you: to be without pity for those who are suffering or in distress. Look upon me, I beg of you, dear Jesus, and grant me the grace for which I humbly implore you through the Immaculate Heart of your most sorrowful Mother. You have entrusted me to her as her child, and her prayers are all-powerful with you. AMEN.

FEATURED SONG OF THE DAY:

NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS