I have always liked the story Fathe rJames Keller wrote about the five-year-old boy who had learned to pray. One night he added a thought of his own after his “God bless mommy, daddy, grandpa and grandma” — “And please Lord, take care of yourself, ’cause if anything happens to you we are all sunk.” Prayer, Mother Teresa tells us, is what changes our hearts. “Prayer is joy, prayer is love, prayer is peace. You cannot explain it, you must experience it.” Years ago Dr. Alexis Carrel told us that the Bureau of Medical Testimony at Lourdes has registered more than 200 cases of tuberculosis, blindness, cancer and other organic diseases whose instantaneous cure is undisputed. “Man needs help,” he said. “He prays; the help comes.”
Duffy, Father Edwin J. Father Duffys Reflections: Thoughtful Meditations for Our Present Time. Hawaii Catholic Herald: Copyright 1997. Page 7.
1st Reading: Acts 1:1-11 – Jesus, after His resurrection, instructed the apostles to await the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem, promising them power to witness globally. He then ascended into heaven, affirming His eventual return.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 – Sing praise to God as he mounts his throne.
2nd Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23 or Ephesians 4:1-13 – Paul prays for believers to receive wisdom and revelation to know God fully, understanding their hope, inheritance, and the immense power granted to them, the same power that raised Christ. / Paul urges believers to live humbly and gently, preserving unity and peace. Christ, who descended and ascended, bestowed gifts, appointing some as church leaders to mature and unify the faithful.
Gospel Reading: Mark 16:15-20 – Jesus commanded His disciples to spread the gospel to the world, promising salvation to believers baptized and condemnation to non-believers. He assured that miraculous signs would follow believers, including exorcising demons, speaking new languages, and healing the sick. After these instructions, Jesus ascended to heaven. The disciples faithfully preached everywhere, with Jesus confirming their words through signs.
Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) Readings
Sometimes the world delivers a knockout punch to the hopes and dreams of many people. The earthquake in San Francisco and the terrible violence of Hurrican Hugo not only destroyed many human lives but swept away, in the winking of an eye, the homes, furnishings and belongings of many. their personal loss was devastating. Christ prayed that we would not be overcome by the world. He knew there would be times when, faced with tragedy, we might want to quit and grow bitter. But those who have faith can find solace in knowing that he cares and will help. Like air for the lungs, faith in God is essential, if one is not to be crushed and beaten by the world with its power to cripple and destroy.
Duffy, Father Edwin J. Father Duffys Reflections: Thoughtful Meditations for Our Present Time. Hawaii Catholic Herald: Copyright 1997. Page 6
1st Reading: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 – Peter realized God’s impartiality and while he spoke, the Holy Spirit filled everyone present, Jew and Gentile alike. Peter baptized the Gentiles, affirming their reception of the Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 – A song of praise for God’s salvation.
2nd Reading: 1 John 4:7-10 – Love originates from God, and those who love know Him, because God is love itself. God demonstrated His love by sending His Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
Gospel Reading: John 15:9-17 – Jesus instructs His disciples about remaining in His love by obeying His commandments, similar to His adherence to the Father’s. He desires their complete joy through this mutual love. Emphasizing the ultimate expression of love–sacrificing one’s life for friends–he elevates them from servants to friends, sharing divine truths. Jesus underscores His choice of them to bear lasting fruit and assures that their requests in His name will be granted by the Father. His central command: love one another.
Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) Readings
When Mother Teresa opened her first hospital for the sick poor in Calcutta, a mob of orthodox Hindus believed she was trying to Christianize the sick. Stones and bricks were hurled at the hospital and the nuns. LaPierre, in his City of Joy, reported that Mother Teresa threw herself at the feet of the mob and cried, “Kill me! And I’ll be in heaven all the sooner.” An officer who came to expel the “foreign nun” saw the horrible cases the nuns were caring for and told the mob, “When your mothers and sisters come and do the same work as these nuns, then I’ll expel her.”
Duffy, Father Edwin J. Father Duffys Reflections: Thoughtful Meditations for Our Present Time. Hawaii Catholic Herald: Copyright 1997.
1st Reading: Acts 9:26-31 – Initially distrusted, Saul joins Jerusalem disciples through Barnabas’s support, speaking boldly about Jesus. Despite threats, he’s safely sent to Tarsus. The church then experiences peaceful growth, strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32 – The whold world shall praise the Lord.
2nd Reading: 1 John 3:18-24 – We are called to express love in actions and truth, not just words. A clear conscience gives us confidence before God. Obeying His commandments to believe in Jesus and love one another assures us of God’s indwelling Spirit.
Gospel Reading: John 15:1-8 – Jesus described himself as the true vine and his Father as the gardener. Branches not bearing fruit are removed, while fruitful ones are pruned for more yield. He emphasized staying connected to him, akin to branches on a vine, as the key to bearing fruit. Without him, nothing can be achieved. Unfruitful branches are discarded. Fruitfulness in believers brings glory to God and proves discipleship.
Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) Readings
When Moses uttered those rash words at Meriba as he struck the rock, the Lord forgave him the sin but punished him by not allowing him to enter the Promised Land. When King David committed the sin of adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband Uriah killed, the prophet Nathan told him that although God had forgiven him, he would be punished with the death of their child; the sword would never depart from his house and the evil in his house would rise up against him. We read much of the love and forgiveness of God but sometimes forget the justice of God–the punishment for sin. While God might forgive us, there remains the obligation to atone for our sins through prayer, penance and charitable deeds.
Duffy, Father Edwin J. Father Duffys Reflections: Thoughtful Meditations for Our Present Time. Hawaii Catholic Herald: Copyright 1997.
1st Reading: Acts 4:8-12 – Peter declared the healing of a man came through Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they crucified but God raised. He emphasized that salvation can only come through Jesus, the cornerstone the builders rejected.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29 – A prayer of thanksgiving to God for his kindness.
2nd Reading: 1 John 3:1-2 – We are already God’s children, loved deeply by the Father. The world doesn’t know us, as it didn’t know Him. In the future, we’ll fully become like Him, seeing Him as He truly is.
Gospel Reading: John 10:11-18 – I am the good shepherd who sacrifices his life for the sheep, unlike a hired hand who runs when danger comes. I know my sheep and they know me. I also have other sheep not of this pen; they will listen to my voice, making one flock under one shepherd. I lay down my life voluntarily, with the authority to take it up again, as commanded by my Father.
Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) Readings
Epistle: 1 Peter 2:11-19
Gospel: John 16:16-22
For more: go to Latin Mass Helper and select the reading of the day.
1st Reading: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19 – Peter declares that by rejecting Jesus and choosing a murderer instead, the people and their leaders acted in ignorance. His death and resurrection fulfill God’s prophecy. Peter urges repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
2nd Reading: 1 John 2:1-5 – If we sin, Jesus Christ, the righteous, advocates for us. He atoned for our sins, extending beyond us to the whole world. True knowledge of Him is demonstrated by obeying His commands.
Gospel Reading: Luke 24:35-48 – The disciples recounted recognizing Jesus by the breaking of bread. Jesus then appeared, offering peace and dispelling fears of his being a specter by showing his hands and feet and eating fish, demonstrating his physical resurrection. He explained scripture prophecies about his suffering, resurrection, and the call to spread forgiveness in his name, affirming their roles as witnesses.
Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) Readings
Epistle: 1 Peter 2:1-10
Gospel: John 10:11-16
For more: go to Latin Mass Helper and select the reading of the day.
1st Reading: Acts 4:32-35 – The early believers were united, sharing possessions and resources. The apostles’ powerful testimony about Jesus’ resurrection earned them high regard. They distributed funds from sold properties to meet everyone’s needs, ensuring no was in need.
2nd Reading: 1 John 5:1-6 – Belief in Jesus as the Christ shows we are born of God. Loving God and His children means obeying His commandments, which are not burdensome. Our faith in Jesus as God’s Son overcomes the world, affirmed by the Spirit of truth.
Gospel Reading: John 20:19-31 – In a locked room, Jesus appeared to his disciples, offering peace and showing his wounds, which brought them joy. He empowered them with the Holy Spirit and the authority to forgive sins. Thomas, absent initially, doubted their testimony. Later, Jesus appeared again, inviting Thomas to touch his wounds, leading to Thomas’ declaration of faith. Jesus blessed future believers who wouldn’t see yet believe. These events were recorded to affirm faith in Jesus as the Christ.
Traditional Latin Mass Readings
Epistle: 1 John 5:4-10
Gospel: John 20:19-31
For more: go to Latin Mass Helper and select the reading of the day.
Dare to Live in Him 