May They Be One

May They Be One May They Be One is all about daily Gospel reading and reflections.

25/10/2023

October 25 Wednesday
29th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green)

Psalm 124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8
Our help is in the name of the Lord.

1st Reading: Romans 6:12-18

Gospel: Luke 12: 39-48

“Pay attention to this: If the master of the house had known at what time the thief would come, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”

Peter said, “Lord, did you tell this parable only for us, or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Imagine, then, the wise and faithful steward whom the master sets over his other servants to give them food rations at the proper time. Fortunate is this servant if his master on coming home finds him doing his work. Truly, I say to you, the master will put him in charge of all his property.

But it may be that the steward thinks: 'My Lord delays in coming,' and he begins to abuse the menservants and the servant girls, eating and drinking and getting drunk. Then the master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he doesn't know. He will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.

“The servant who knew his master’s will, but did not prepare to do what his master wanted, will be punished with sound blows; but the one who did what deserved a punishment without knowing it shall receive fewer blows. Much will be required of the one who has been given much, and more will be asked of the one entrusted with more.”

Reflection: "The world will end for us at an hour we do not know."

Since Jesus ascended into heaven forty days after Easter, his faithful followers have been waiting for him to return. During his earthly ministry, Jesus began preparing his disciples for the day of his return, cautioning them to remain always prepared since they would not know the moment of his return. Even today, we continue to wait and to prepare for Jesus’ return.

We've been waiting for that return for almost two thousand years. It’s easy to lose a sense of urgency in that amount of time, ceasing to prepare by following God’s commandments. Still, we continue to wait for Jesus’ return which will bring an end to the world as we know it. The world will end for us (in death or through Jesus’ return) at an hour we do not know. This uncertainty demands that each of us purify our hearts and souls so that we are ready to meet the Lord. May the Lord find us to be diligent and faithful servants when our day of judgment comes.

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ! Always remember, God loved you so much. Take care always!

Gospel Text & Reflection: © Copyright Bible Diary 2023 (Claretian Publications)

10/03/2023

March 10 Friday
2nd Week of Lent
Day of abstinence from meat (age 14 and up).
Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet)

Psalm 105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21
Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

1st Reading: Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a*

Gospel: Mt 21:33-43, 45-46*

Listen to another example: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a hole for the wine press, built a watchtower, leased the vineyard to tenants, and then, went to a distant country. When harvest time came, the landowner sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the harvest. But the tenants seized his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.

Again, the owner sent more servants; but they were treated in the same way.

Finally, he sent his son, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they thought, ‘This is the one who is to inherit the vineyard. Let us kill him, and his inheritance will be ours.’ So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard these parables, they realized that Jesus was referring to them. They would have arrested him, but they were afraid of the crowd, who regarded him as a prophet.

Reflection: "Jesus calls us to produce the fruit of the kingdom."

Who are we willing to sacrifice in pursuit of our own success? We may not sell our sibling into slavery like Joseph’s brothers or kill the heir like the evil tenants, But that doesn’t mean that we are innocent of that sin. Have we failed to mentor a new employee for fear that they would outshine us and earn our bonus? Have we supported policies that leave certain groups of people behind or that damage the earth, but allow us to enjoy added benefits or lower process? Have we sacrificed time with our spouse and family to chase career success?

Jesus calls us to a different way of thinking. The needs of our brothers and sisters should be a consideration in every decision that we make. How will the least among us be affected by my decision? How will this decision affect the earth’s ability to be a safe and healthy home for future generations? Discipleship demands that we think not only of ourselves. Jesus calls us to produce the fruit of the kingdom, fruit to be shared with all.

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ! Always remember, God loved you so much. Take care always!

Gospel Text & Reflection: © Copyright Bible Diary 2023 (Claretian Publications)

08/03/2023

March 09 Thursday
2nd Week of Lent
Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet/White)
St. Frances of Rome, religious

Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 & 6
Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

1st Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-10

Gospel: Luke 16:19-31

Once there was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and feasted every day. At his gate lay Lazarus, a poor man covered with sores, who longed to eat just the scraps falling from the rich man’s table. Even dogs used to come and lick his sores. It happened that the poor man died, and angels carried him to take his place with Abraham. The rich man also died, and was buried. From the netherworld where he was in torment, the rich man looked up and saw Abraham afar off, and with him Lazarus at rest.

He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me, and send Lazarus, with the tip of his finger dipped in water, to cool my tongue, for I suffer so much in this fire!’ Abraham replied, ‘My son, remember that in your lifetime you were well-off, while the lot of Lazarus was misfortune. Now he is in comfort, and you are in agony.

The rich man implored once more, ‘Then I beg you, Father Abraham, send Lazarus to my father’s house, where my five brothers live. Let him warn them, so that they may not end up in this place of torment.’

Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced, even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Reflection: "See Lazarus as a person with dignity and value."

One of the greatest tragedies in today’s Gospel is that even after he died and was in torment in the netherworld, the rich man still doesn’t seem to have learned his lesson. Seeing Lazarus with Abraham, he begs Abraham to send Lazarus to bring him water and to warn his brothers. The rich man still does not see Lazarus as a person with dignity and value. Instead, he sees him as a tool to be used to help the rich man and his brothers – “more important people.” The rich man does not even address his request to Lazarus, speaking to Abraham instead.

How often do we ignore the needs of those we see each day? How often do we value people primarily for what they can do for us? Wrapped up in our own concerns, it is easy to fail to notice those in need. It is easy to ignore the humanity of those who serve our needs, denying them even common courtesy. This Lent, the example of Lazarus and the rich man should open our eyes and shake us from our selfish isolation.

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ! Always remember, God loved you so much. Take care always!

Gospel Text & Reflection: © Copyright Bible Diary 2023 (Claretian Publications)

07/03/2023

March 07 Tuesday
2nd Week of Lent
Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet/Red)
Sts. Perpetua & Felicity, martyrs

Psalm 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 & 23
To the upright, I will show the saving power of God.

1st Reading: Isaiah 1:10, 16-20

Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples. “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees have sat down on the chair of Moses. So you shall do and observe all they say; but do not do as they do, for they do not do what they say. They tie up heavy burdens and load them on the shoulders of the people, but they do not even lift a finger to move them. They do everything in order to be seen by people: they wear very wide bands| of the law around their foreheads, and robes with large tassels. They enjoy the first places at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and they like being greeted in the marketplace, and being called ‘Master’ by the people.

But you, do not let yourselves be called Master, because you have only one Master, and all of you are brothers and sisters. Neither should you call anyone on earth Father, because you have only one Father, he who is in heaven. Nor should you be called Leader, because Christ is the only Leader for you. Let the greatest among you be the servant of all. For whoever makes himself great shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be made great.

Reflection: "Jesus calls us to protect and serve those in greatest need."

We place a great deal of trust in our leaders, especially our religious leaders. We count on them to teach the truth and to show us how to live by the example of their own lives. Given the importance that they have in our lives of faith, it is not surprising that reports of clerical abuse of children and vulnerable persons have rocked the Church. Of course, cases of abuse are not limited to the Church. They are found in every faith community, in schools and community groups, and even in families.

The Church should be a safe place for children and for those in need, but too often it has not been that place. Every member of the Church has a role to play in keeping children safe, in holding leaders accountable, and in helping victims find healing. In today’s Gospel, Jesus called the religious leaders of his day to account, reminding them that their role was not about power, but about service. Jesus makes the same call to religious leaders and people of faith today. He calls us to spend our lives protecting and serving those in greatest need.

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ! Always remember, God loved you so much. Take care always!

Gospel Text & Reflection: © Copyright Bible Diary 2023 (Claretian Publications)

06/03/2023

March 06 Monday
2nd Week of Lent
Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet)

Psalm 79:8, 9, 11 & 13
Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.

1st Reading: Daniel 9:4b-10

Gospel: Luke 6:36-38

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Don’t be a judge of others and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you, and you will receive in your sack good measure, pressed down, full and running over. For the measure you give will be the measure you receive back.”

Reflection: "Jesus is God made flesh."

The most fundamental claim any Christian makes about themselves is a humbling one: I am a sinner. If we do not recognize our own sinfulness, what need do we have for salvation or for a Savior? If we do not need to be saved from our sin and the death that results from it, Jesus is just a life coach or a wisdom teacher, encouraging us to live our best lives. But Jesus is so much more than that! Jesus is God made flesh, who came to live and die as one of us, to bring forgiveness and mercy, and to break the chains of death, once and for all.

We turn to God and confess our sins, the evil we have done and the good we have failed to do. We admit to the times that we have not followed God’s commandments and when we have failed to love our neighbors. We beg for the grace and strength we need to change our lives. God responds with abundant mercy, “pressed down, full and running over.

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ! Always remember, God loved you so much. Take care always!

Gospel Text & Reflection: © Copyright Bible Diary 2023 (Claretian Publications)

03/03/2023

March 03 Friday
1st Week of Lent
Day of abstinence from meat (age 14 and up)
Psalter: Week 1 / (Violet/White)
St. Katherine Drexel, virgin

Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8
If you, O Lord, mark inequities, who can stand?

1st Reading: Ezekiel 18:21-28

Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26

I tell you, if your sense of right and wrong is not keener than that of the Lawyers and the Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

You have heard, that it was said to our people in the past: Do not commit murder; anyone who murders will have to face trial. But now, I tell you: whoever gets angry with a brother or sister will have to face trial. Whoever insults a brother or sister is liable, to be brought before the council. Whoever calls a brother or sister “Fool!” is liable, of being thrown into the fire of hell. So, if you are about to offer your gift at the altar, and you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there, in front of the altar; go at once, and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God.

Don’t forget this: be reconciled with your opponent quickly when you are together on the way to court. Otherwise he will turn you over to the judge, who will hand you over to the police, who will put you in jail. There, you will stay, until you have paid the last penny.

Reflection: "Purifying our hearts is not an easy task."

We often think about Lent as a time to give things up and to develop better habits. But Lent isn’t a self improvement program like a diet or a new exercise regimen. Lent is about conversion, turning away from sin and changing the way we live so that we can follow Jesus more closely.

Lent calls us to go deeper, to do more. It is not enough to avoid murder. After all, that’s a pretty low bar! Instead, Jesus asks us to remove anger and violence from our hearts, replacing them with love and compassion.

It is not enough to offer our gifts to God with anger and division in our hearts. The gift God truly desires to receive is our hearts, humble, contrite, undivided, and pure. Purifying our hearts is not an easy task, accomplished all at once. We are called to conversion throughout our lives, drawing closer and closer to the Lord who saves us.

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ! Always remember, God loved you so much. Take care always!

Gospel Text & Reflection: © Copyright Bible Diary 2023 (Claretian Publications)

02/03/2023

March 02 Thursday
1st Week of Lent
Psalter: Week 1 / (Violet)

Psalm 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8
Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

1st Reading: Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25

Gospel: Matthew 7:7-12

Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives; whoever seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Would any of you give a stone to your son, when he asks for bread? Or give him a snake, when he asks for a fish? However bad you may be, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

So, do to others whatever you would that others do to you: there, you have the law and the prophets.

Reflection: "None of us can do it on our own."

Anyone who has spent time around small children is well acquainted with the phrase, “I can do it by myself.” Being able to feed, bathe, and dress themselves are important developmental milestones for children. Plus, they offer signs of relief for exhausted parents.

But today’s readings remind us that we can prize independence and self-reliance too much. We all need God and the help of our brothers and sisters. None of us can do it on our own. Even Queen Esther, despite her status and wealth, needs to turn to the Lord in her time of need. It can be frightening to let go of control and trust in God. But Jesus assures us that God will respond to all of our requests as a loving Father. He will make sure that we have all we need. And then, following God’s example, we are called to do the same for our brothers and sisters in need. We should treat them as God treats us, with loving concern.

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ! Always remember, God loved you so much. Take care always!

Gospel Text & Reflection: © Copyright Bible Diary 2023 (Claretian Publications)

01/03/2023

March 01 Wednesday
1st Week of Lent
Psalter: Week 1 / (Violet)

Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19
A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

1st Reading: Jonah 3:1-10

Gospel: Luke 11:29-32

As the crowd increased, Jesus spoke the following words: “People of the present time are troubled people. They ask for a sign, but no sign will be given to them except the sign of Jonah. As Jonah became a sign for the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be a sign for this generation. The Queen of the South will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and here, there is greater than Solomon. The people of Nineveh will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for Jonah’s preaching made them turn from their sins, and here, there is greater than Jonah.

Reflection: "God loves us relentlessly."

Jonah is one of the most fascinating and relatable characters in Scripture. God called him to be a prophet and to proclaim a message of repentance to the people of Nineveh. But Jonah didn’t like the Ninevites, so he didn’t want them to repent and be saved. So Jonah tried to escape God’s call, boarding a ship going in the opposite direction. Following storms that almost sank the ship, Jonah ends up tossed overboard, swallowed by a large fish, and spit back on the shore to head out again.

Despite all of his efforts to avoid God’s call, Jonah did go to Nineveh. Not only did he preach his message of repentance, his preaching was enormously successful. Even the king repented and turned away from evil. Nineveh was saved.

The story of Jonah serves as a reminder that God loves us relentlessly. He will keep calling us and drawing us near. He will never abandon or forget us. Even when we ignore or reject God’s offers of love and mercy, he will continue to wait for us to turn to him.

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ! Always remember, God loved you so much. Take care always!

Gospel Text & Reflection: © Copyright Bible Diary 2023 (Claretian Publications)

22/02/2023

February 23 Thursday After Ash Wednesday
Psalter: Week 3 / (Violet/White)
St. Polycarp, bishop & martyr

Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 & 6
Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

1st Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Gospel: Luke 9:22-25

And he added, “The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the elders and chief priests and teachers of the law, and be put to death. Then after three days he will be raised to life.”

Jesus also said to all the people, “If you wish to be a follower of mine, deny yourself and take up your cross each day, and follow me! For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for my sake, you will save it. What does it profit you to gain the whole world, if you destroy or damage yourself?

Reflection: "God wants us to choose."

If the commercials are to be believed, people love having choices. Walk into almost any store and the options seem endless. Online stores seem to offer nearly infinite options to encourage us to purchase. Beyond buying, people often find it difficult to limit their choices and commit to one thing, be it a job, a community, a parish, or a relationship.

The choice that God presents is stark. There are only two options: life/good or death/evil. Clearly God wants us to choose goodness and life, loving him and following his commandments.

But Jesus points out that the decision is not as easy as it may seem. Jesus tells his followers, including us, that choosing life means taking up our cross daily, passing through death. Rather than seeking to protect ourselves, walling ourselves off from others, and tending to our own needs, we are called to lay down our lives in generous service to our brothers and sisters. Only by giving all we have and denying ourselves can we find riches that will never disappear. Only by laying down our lives will we rise to eternal life.

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ! Always remember, God loved you so much. Take care always!

Gospel Text & Reflection: © Copyright Bible Diary 2023 (Claretian Publications)

22/02/2023

February 22 Ash Wednesday
Begin Lenten preparation for the Easter Triduum.
Day of fast (ages 18-59) and abstinence from meat (age 14 and up)
Psalter: Week 3 / (Violet)

Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 & 17
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

1st Reading: Joel 2:12-18

2nd Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Be careful not to make a show of your good deeds before people. If you do so, you do not gain anything from your Father in heaven. When you give something to the poor, do not have it trumpeted before you, as do those who want to be noticed in the synagogues and in the streets, in order to be praised by people. I assure you, they have their reward. If you give something to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your gift remains really secret. Your Father, who sees what is kept secret, will reward you.

When you pray, do not be like those who want to be noticed. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues or on street corners, in order to be seen by everyone. I assure you, they have their reward. When you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is with you in secret; and your Father who sees what is kept secret will reward you. When you fast, do not put on a miserable face, as do the hypocrites. They put on a gloomy face, so that people can see they are fasting. I tell you this: they have been paid in full already. When you fast, wash your face and make yourself look cheerful, because you are not fasting for appearances or for people, but for your Father, who sees beyond appearances. And your Father, who sees what is kept secret, will reward you.

Reflection: "Lent is springtime."

Today we begin Lent, a season to re-commit ourselves to our baptismal commitment and to prepare our hearts for Easter through acts of penance, especially prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. The word “Lent” comes from an Old English word meaning springtime and this is what Lent should be for us. In the spring, farmers prepare and plant their fields. They will tend those fields with care over the long summer, looking forward to the harvest.

In the same way we can use Lent to prepare our souls. We fast to remove the obstacles that keep us from sharing Christ’s mission like a farmer removes stones that might hinder his planting. We give alms to help unite our hearts with the less fortunate, as a farmer gently plants and nourishes the seeds. We pray that we may know God’s will and have the courage to pursue it, as a farmer conditions the soil to receive the seeds.

If we use this season to prepare our souls, our hearts, and our lives, we can come to Easter ready to live more fully our baptismal call to follow Christ and to share in the harvest banquet of heaven.

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ! Always remember, God loved you so much. Take care always!

Gospel Text & Reflection: © Copyright Bible Diary 2023 (Claretian Publications)

LENTThe season of Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday before the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper. F...
22/02/2023

LENT

The season of Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday before the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper. From then on until Easter Sunday the Church celebrates the Easter Triduum of Christ's passion and death, burial, and resurrection.

Lent is characterized by penance for our past sins, works of mercy especially toward the poor, and personal preparation for the renewal of our baptismal promises on Easter Vigil. Thus, Lent has two features: penitential and baptismal. Our tears of penance renew in our hearts and souls the water of baptism.

The ashes imposed on us on Ash Wednesday remind us that we are dust and to dust, we shall return and that therefore the entire life of a Christian should be marked by works of self-denial and generosity. The traditional discipline of Lent consists of constant prayer and reading of God's word, fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, abstinence from meat on Fridays, and works of mercy, especially to those who have less in life. What is important is that through prayer and good works, we allow God's grace to bring about our interior conversion. The sacrament of penance should accompany our Lenten observance.

Holy Week is the high point of the Lenten season. It opens with the procession with blessed palms and the gospel reading of the passion and death of Our Savior. The triumphal entry into Jerusalem ended on Calvary, but we know that Good Friday led to Easter Sunday.

The biblical readings and prefaces extol the virtue of conversion of life, the need to fulfill our baptismal promises, joyful acceptance of daily trials for the love of God, and unselfish service to all who need our assistance.

Caption: © Copyright Bible Diary 2023 (Claretian Publications)
Photo: © Copyright Archdiocese of Cardiff

20/02/2023

February 21 Tuesday
7th WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 3 / (Green/White)
St. Peter Damian, bishop & doctor

Psalm 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40
Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.

1st Reading: Sirach 2:1-11

Gospel: Mark 9:30–37

After leaving that place, they made their way through Galilee; but Jesus did not want people to know where he was because he was teaching his disciples. And he told them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into human hands. They will kill him, but three days after he has been killed, he will rise.” The disciples, however, did not understand these words and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, Jesus asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they did not answer because they had been arguing about who was the greatest.

Then he sat down, called the Twelve and said to them, “If someone wants to be first, let him be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child, placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, “Whoever welcomes a child such as this in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me, but the One who sent me.”

Reflection: "Strive to be like Jesus."

The English word “humility” finds it origin in the Latin word “humus” which means “earth” or “dirt.” We can see that origin in the common phrase used to a humble, kind person – “down to earth.” Put simply, being humble means that we remember that God formed human beings from the earth, instilling in them the breath of life. When we act with humility, we remember that God is God and we are not.

Jesus calls his disciples to seek a life of humble service, not fame and power, rather than striving to be the greatest, we should strive to be like Jesus who gave his life for us. We should model our lives on the lives of small children, dependent on God and trusting in him to provide everything that we need. By receiving everything we have as a gift of God, we do not fall into the trap of believing that we have earned our good fortune, lest we be tempted to ignore those less fortunate as if they somehow deserve less. Rather, in gratitude we place our gifts at the service of others. Amazingly, being down to earth can bring us closer to heaven.

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ! Always remember, God loved you so much. Take care always!

Gospel Text: © Copyright Bible Diary 2023 (Claretian Publications)
Reflection: © Copyright Bible Diary 2023 (Claretian Publications)

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