Today's Reading

I thought the first reading for Mass today was wonderful and wanted to share it here.

God did not make death,
nor does He rejoice in the destruction of the living.
For He fashioned all things that they might have being;
and the creatures of the world are wholesome,
and there is not a destructive drug among them
nor any domain of the netherworld on earth,
for justice is undying.
For God formed man to be imperishable;
the image of His own nature He made him.
But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world,
and they who belong to his company experience it.

Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24

Devotional

"Will God really dwell with men on earth? If the Heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you, how much less this temple that I have built! --I Kings 8:27

"The Mother of God contained the infinite God under her heart, the God Whom no space can contain. Through her, the Trinity is adored, demons are vanquished. Satan is cast out of heaven, and our fallen nature is assumed into heaven." --St. Cyril of Alexandria. [From: "Mary Day by Day"]

"Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. (Mt23:12) These are the Lord's words and they cannot be untrue. Therefore, when God determined to become man in order to redeem lost humankind and reveal His infinite goodness to the world in this way, and when it was necessary for Him to choose a mother on earth, He looked for the woman who was the holiest and most humble of all. And among all the women in the world, there was only one on whom His eyes rested, namely the sweet Virgin Mary. She was already perfect in every virtue, but she considered herself as simple and lowly as a dove. There are young maidens without number: one is my dove, my perfect one (Cant. 6:7). So God said: This one shall be My mother...." --St. Alphonsus Liguori, "The Glories of Mary", Sermon 4: Mary's Annunciation.

The Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist

Today's feast came upon me suddenly and unexpectantly because I was is such a rush and hurry, I wasn't paying attention to the Church calendar. It makes perfect sense, however, to celebrate the nativity of St. John 6 months priority to the nativity of Our Lord. Scripture says that Elizabeth was 6 months pregnant with a child she was to have a child after many years of barrenness. Mary went to visit Elizabeth after the annunciation by the angel Gabriel. John leapt in the womb at the approach of His Lord, the One whom John would announce to the world. Mary stayed three months, presumably to assist in the delivery of her cousin's child. Six months later, she would have her own miracle child, the Saviour of the world, the mighty King, God the Son.

The naming of the child "John" was quite unusual. Most firstborn sons were named after the paternal grandfather, but naming them after their father was not unheard of either. Giving the child a name completely different then a male relative was rare indeed. John means "Yahweh has shown favor." It is a reference to Zechariah and Elizabeth finally being shown favor by having a child. But, it is also a reference to how God is showing favor to the world by sending the saviour, with John as 'Elijah' to His King.

On the news I saw a wonderful celebration of this feast of St. John. In San Juan, Philippines, people were throwing water on each other, spraying each other with water guns, and splashing each other. I thought what fun to have in a city named for Saint John on the feast day of the one who brought us the baptism that Christ would later command His disciples to do ("Go and preach to all nations. Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." citation omitted)

Luke 1:57-66, 80

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, "No. He will be called John." But they answered her, "There is no one among your relatives who has this name." So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, "What, then, will this child be?" For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.

The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Devotional

Lord, open my lips.

Come, let us worship the Lord, our mighty God.

"My God, my God, why have You abandoned me?

Why so far from my call for help,
from my cries of anquish?
My God, I call by day, but You do not answer;
by night, but I have no relief.
Yet You are enthroned as the Holy One;
You are the Glory of Israel.
In You our ancestors trusted;
they trusted and You rescued them.
To You they cried out and they escaped
in You they trusted and were not disappointed.

"But I am a worm, hardly human,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
All who see me mock me;
they curl their lips and jeer,
they shake their heads at me;
'You relied on the Lord-let Him deliver you;
if He loves you, let Him rescue you.'
Yet You drew me forth from the womb,
made me safe at my mother's breast.
Upon You I was thrust from the womb;
since birth You are my God.
Do not stay far from me,
for trouble is near.

"Many bulls surround me;
fierce bulls of Bashan encircle me.
They open their mouths against me,
lions that rend and roar.
Like water my life drains away;
all my bones grow soft.
My heart has become like wax,
it melts away within me.
As dry as a potsherd is my throat;
my tongue sticks to my palate;
You lay me in the dust of death.
Many dogs surround me;
a pack of evildoers closes in on me.
So wasted are my hands and feet
that I can count all my bones.
They stare at me and gloat;
they divide my garments among them;
for my clothing they cast lots.
But You, Lord, do not stay far off;
my strength, come quickly to help me.
Deliver me from the sword,
my forlorn life from the teeth of the dog.
Save me from the lions mouth,
my poor life from the horns of wild bulls.

"Then I will proclaim Your name to the assembly;
in community I will praise You:
'You who fear the Lord, give praise!'
All descendants of Jacob, give honor;
show reverence, all descendants of Israel!
For God has no spurned or disdained
the misery of this poor wretch,
Did not turn away from me,
but heard me when I cried out.
I will offer praise in the great assembly;
my vows I will fulfill before those who fear Him.
The poor will eat their fill;
those who seek the Lord will offer praise.
May your hearts enjoy life forever!'

"All the ends of the earth
will worship and turn to the Lord;
All the families of nations
will bow low before You.
For kingship belongs to the Lord,
the ruler over the nations.
All who sleep in the earth
will bow low before God;
All who have gone down into the dust
will kneel in homage.
And I will live for the Lord;
my descendants will serve You.
The generation to come will be told of the Lord,
that they may proclaim to a people yet unborn
the deliverance You have brought."
-Psalm 22

God Father Praise and Glory
(Hymn 13)
God Father, praise and glory
Your children come to sing.
Good will and peace to mankind,
The gifts your kingdom brings.


(Refrain)
O most Holy Trinity,
Undivided Unity,
Holy God, Mighty God,
God Immortal, be adored.

And you, Lord Coeternal,
God's sole begotten Son,
O Jesus, King anointed,
You have redemption won.
(refrain)

O Holy Ghost, Creator,
The Gift of God most high,
Life, love and holy wisdom,
Our weakness now supply.
(refrain)

Source: Shorter Christian Prayer. New York: Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1988.

Devotion for the Day

Sorry, I've been away so long. I will try to take more care of my blog in the very near future in the meantime, here is a devotion for today.


"Let us draw near with a sincere heart and in fullness of trust, with our hearts cleansed from an evil conscience...and our bodies cleansed in pure water." Hebrews 10:22.

"We must have frequent recourse to the Mother of God for she is the Mother of the supernatural life and the Mother of grace.

"The Lord desires that we receive all graces through her, and this depends on our approaching her." --St. Maximillian Kolbe

O Mary, you are the Mother of Divine Grace. Help me to approach you daily with a clean heart to obtain the graces God wishes to give me through you each day.

From: Mary Day by Day . New York: Catholic Book Publishing Company, 1987.