Daily Bible readings : Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs
Reading 1 : 1 Cor 11:17-26, 33
Brothers and sisters: In giving this instruction, I do not praise the fact that your meetings are doing more harm than good. First of all, I hear that when you meet as a Church there are divisions among you, and to a degree I believe it; there have to be factions among you in order that also those who are approved among you may become known. When you meet in one place, then, it is not to eat the Lord’s supper, for in eating, each one goes ahead with his own supper, and one goes hungry while another gets drunk. Do you not have houses in which you can eat and drink? Or do you show contempt for the Church of God and make those who have nothing feel ashamed? What can I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this matter I do not praise you.
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my Body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my Blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
Responsorial Psalm : Ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17
R. (1 Cor 11:26b) Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again. Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Burnt offerings or sin offerings you sought not; then said I, “Behold I come.” R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again. “In the written scroll it is prescribed for me, To do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!” R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again. I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know. R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again. May all who seek you exult and be glad in you And may those who love your salvation say ever, “The LORD be glorified.” R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
Alleluia : Jn 3:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia. God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life. R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel : Lk 7:1-10
When Jesus had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, “He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.” And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come here, and he comes; and to my slave, Do this, and he does it.” When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
Daily mass readings : Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading 1 : Is 50:5-9a
The Lord GOD opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.
The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame. He is near who upholds my right; if anyone wishes to oppose me, let us appear together. Who disputes my right? Let that man confront me. See, the Lord GOD is my help; who will prove me wrong?
Responsorial Psalm : Ps 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
R. (9) I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: R. Alleluia. I love the LORD because he has heard my voice in supplication, because he has inclined his ear to me the day I called. R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: R. Alleluia. The cords of death encompassed me; the snares of the netherworld seized upon me; I fell into distress and sorrow, and I called upon the name of the LORD, “O LORD, save my life!” R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: R. Alleluia. Gracious is the LORD and just; yes, our God is merciful. The LORD keeps the little ones; I was brought low, and he saved me. R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: R. Alleluia. For he has freed my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I shall walk before the Lord in the land of the living. R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: R. Alleluia.
Reading 2 : Jas 2:14-18
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well, “ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Indeed someone might say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.
Alleluia : Gal 6:14
R. Alleluia, alleluia. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel : Mk 8:27-35
Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.
He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.”
Imagine being able to sit at the feet of the apostles and hear their stories of life with Jesus from their own lips. Imagine walking with those who had walked with Jesus, seen him, and touched him. That was what Polycarp was able to do as a disciple of Saint John the Evangelist.
But being part of the second generation of Church leaders had challenges that the first generation could not teach about. What did you do when those eyewitnesses were gone? How do you carry on the correct teachings of Jesus? How do you answer new questions that never came up before?
With the apostles gone, heresies sprang up pretending to be true teaching, persecution was strong, and controversies arose over how to celebrate liturgy that Jesus never laid down rules for.
Polycarp, as a holy man and bishop of Smyrna, found there was only one answer — to be true to the life of Jesus and imitate that life. Saint Ignatius of Antioch told Polycarp “your mind is grounded in God as on an immovable rock.”
When faced with heresy, he showed the “candid face” that Ignatius admired and that imitated Jesus’ response to the Pharisees. Marcion, the leader of the Marcionites who followed a dualistic heresy, confronted Polycarp and demanded respect by saying, “Recognize us, Polycarp.” Polycarp responded, “I recognize you, yes, I recognize the son of Satan.”
On the other hand when faced with Christian disagreements he was all forgiveness and respect. One of the controversies of the time came over the celebration of Easter. The East, where Polycarp was from, celebrated the Passover as the Passion of Christ followed by a Eucharist on the following day. The West celebrated Easter on the Sunday of the week following Passover. When Polycarp went to Rome to discuss the difference with Pope Anicetus, they could not agree on this issue. But they found no difference in their Christian beliefs. And Anicetus asked Polycarp to celebrate the Eucharist in his own papal chapel.
Polycarp faced persecution the way Christ did. His own church admired him for following the “gospel model” — not chasing after martyrdom as some did, but avoiding it until it was God’s will as Jesus did. They considered it “a sign of love to desire not to save oneself alone, but to save also all the Christian brothers and sisters.”
One day, during a bloody martyrdom when Christians were attacked by wild animals in the arena, the crowd became so mad that they demanded more blood by crying, “Down with the atheists; let Polycarp be found.” (They considered Christians “atheists” because they didn’t believe in their pantheon of gods.) Since Polycarp was not only known as a leader but as someone holy “even before his grey hair appeared”, this was a horrible demand.
Polycarp was calm but others persuaded him to leave the city and hide at a nearby farm. He spent his time in prayer for people he knew and for the Church. During his prayer he saw a vision of his pillow turned to fire and announced to his friends that the dream meant he would be burned alive.
As the search closed in, he moved to another farm, but the police discovered he was there by torturing two boys. He had a little warning since he was upstairs in the house but he decided to stay, saying, “God’s will be done.”
Then he went downstairs, talked to his captors and fed them a meal. All he asked of them was that they give him an hour to pray. He spent two hours praying for everyone he had every known and for the Church, “remembering all who had at any time come his way — small folk and great folk, distinguished and undistinguished, and the whole Catholic Church throughout the world.” Many of his captors started to wonder why they were arresting this holy, eighty-six-year-old bishop.
But that didn’t stop them from taking him into the arena on the Sabbath. As he entered the arena, the crowd roared like the animals they cheered. Those around Polycarp heard a voice from heaven above the crowd, “Be brave, Polycarp, and act like a man.”
The proconsul begged the eighty-six-year-old bishop to give in because of his age. “Say ‘Away with the atheists'” the proconsul urged. Polycarp calmly turned to the face the crowd, looked straight at them, and said, “Away with the atheists.” The proconsul continued to plead with him. When he asked Polycarp to swear by Caesar to save himself, Polycarp answered, “If you imagine that I will swear by Caesar, you do not know who I am. Let me tell you plainly, I am a Christian.” Finally, when all else failed the proconsul reminded Polycarp that he would be thrown to the wild animals unless he changed his mind. Polycarp answered, “Change of mind from better to worse is not a change allowed to us.”
Because of Polycarp’s lack of fear, the proconsul told him he would be burned alive but Polycarp knew that the fire that burned for an hour was better than eternal fire.
When he was tied up to be burned, Polycarp prayed, “Lord God Almighty, Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, through whom we have received knowledge of you, God of angels and powers, of the whole creation and of the whole race of the righteous who live in your sight, I bless you, for having made me worthy of this day and hour, I bless you, because I may have a part, along with the martyrs, in the chalice of your Christ, to resurrection in eternal life, resurrection both of soul and body in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. May I be received today, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, among those who are in you presence, as you have prepared and foretold and fulfilled, God who is faithful and true. For this and for all benefits I praise you, I bless you, I glorify you, through the eternal and heavenly High Priest, Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, through whom be to you with him and the Holy Spirit glory, now and for all the ages to come. Amen.”
The fire was lit as Polycarp said Amen and then the eyewitnesses who reported said they saw a miracle. The fire burst up in an arch around Polycarp, the flames surrounding him like sails, and instead of being burned he seemed to glow like bread baking, or gold being melted in a furnace. When the captors saw he wasn’t being burned, they stabbed him. The blood that flowed put the fire out.
The proconsul wouldn’t let the Christians have the body because he was afraid they would worship Polycarp. The witnesses reported this with scorn for the lack of understanding of Christian faith: “They did not know that we can never abandon the innocent Christ who suffered on behalf of sinners for the salvation of those in this world.” After the body was burned, they stole the bones in order to celebrate the memory of his martyrdom and prepare others for persecution. The date was about February 23, 156.
In His Footsteps: When faced with challenges to your Christian life, try a version of Polycarp’s prayer of martyrdom: “Lord God Almighty, Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, through whom we have received knowledge of you, God of angels and powers, of the whole creation and of the whole race of the righteous who live in your sight, I bless you, for having made me worthy of this day and hour, I bless you, because I may have a part, along with the martyrs, in the chalice of your Christ, to resurrection in eternal life, resurrection both of soul and body in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. For this and for all benefits I praise you, I bless you, I glorify you, through the eternal and heavenly High Priest, Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, through whom be to you with him and the Holy Spirit glory, now and for all the ages to come. Amen.”
Prayer: Saint Polycarp, sometimes Christ seems so far away from us. Centuries have passed since he and the apostles walk the earth. Help us to see that he is close to us always and that we can keep him near by imitating his life as you did. Amen
Daily mass readings : Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Reading 1 : NM 21:4B-9
With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!”
In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died. Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you. Pray the LORD to take the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses, “Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if any who have been bitten look at it, they will live.” Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
R. (see 7b) Do not forget the works of the Lord! Hearken, my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable, I will utter mysteries from of old. R. Do not forget the works of the Lord! While he slew them they sought him and inquired after God again, Remembering that God was their rock and the Most High God, their redeemer. R. Do not forget the works of the Lord! But they flattered him with their mouths and lied to him with their tongues, Though their hearts were not steadfast toward him, nor were they faithful to his covenant. R. Do not forget the works of the Lord! But he, being merciful, forgave their sin and destroyed them not; Often he turned back his anger and let none of his wrath be roused. R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
Reading II : PHIL 2:6-11
Brothers and sisters: Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your Cross you have redeemed the world. R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel : JN 3:13-17
Jesus said to Nicodemus: “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
Although little is known about St. Simon Stock’s early life, legend has it that the name Stock, meaning “tree trunk,” derives from the fact that, beginning at age twelve, he lived as a hermit in a hollow tree trunk of an oak tree. It is also believed that, as a young man, he went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land where he joined a group of Carmelites with whom he later returned to Europe. Simon Stock founded many Carmelite Communities, especially in University towns such as Cambridge, Oxford, Paris, and Bologna, and he helped to change the Carmelites from a hermit Order to one of mendicant friars. In 1254 he was elected Superior-General of his Order at London. Simon Stock’s lasting fame came from an apparition he had in Cambridge, England, on July 16, 1251, at a time when the Carmelite Order was being oppressed. In it the Virgin Mary appeared to him holding the brown scapular in one hand. Her words were: “Receive, my beloved son, this scapular of thy Order; it is the special sign of my favor, which I have obtained for thee and for thy children of Mount Carmel. He who dies clothed with this habit shall be preserved from eternal fire.
It is the badge of salvation, a shield in time of danger, and a pledge of special peace and protection.” The scapular (from the Latin, scapula, meaning “shoulder blade”) consists of two pieces of cloth, one worn on the chest, and the other on the back, which were connected by straps or strings passing over the shoulders. In certain Orders, monks and nuns wear scapulars that reach from the shoulders almost to the ground as outer garments. Lay persons usually wear scapulars underneath their clothing; these consist of two pieces of material only a few inches square. There are elaborate rules governing the wearing of the scapular: although it may be worn by any Catholic, even an infant, the investiture must be done by a priest. And the scapular must be worn in the proper manner; if an individual neglects to wear it for a time, the benefits are forfeited. The Catholic Church has approved eighteen different kinds of scapulars of which the best known is the woolen brown scapular, or the Scapular of Mount Carmel, that the Virgin Mary bestowed on Simon Stock. His feast day is May 16th.
Daily mass readings: Memorial of St. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Reading 1 : 1 COR 9:16-19, 22B-27
Brothers and sisters: If I preach the Gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it! If I do so willingly, I have a recompense, but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my recompense? That, when I preach, I offer the Gospel free of charge so as not to make full use of my right in the Gospel.
Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the Gospel, so that I too may have a share in it.
Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.
Responsorial Psalm : PS 84:3, 4, 5-6, 12
R. (2) How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God! My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the LORD. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God! Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest in which she puts her young— Your altars, O LORD of hosts, my king and my God! R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God! Blessed they who dwell in your house! continually they praise you. Blessed the men whose strength you are! their hearts are set upon the pilgrimage. R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God! For a sun and a shield is the LORD God; grace and glory he bestows; The LORD withholds no good thing from those who walk in sincerity. R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Alleluia : See Jn 17:17b, 17a
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth. R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel : Lk 6:39-42
Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”
Daily mass readings : Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1 : 1 COR 8:1B-7, 11-13
Brothers and sisters: Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up. If anyone supposes he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if one loves God, one is known by him.
So about the eating of meat sacrificed to idols: we know that there is no idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. Indeed, even though there are so-called gods in heaven and on earth (there are, to be sure, many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things are and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are and through whom we exist.
But not all have this knowledge. There are some who have been so used to idolatry up until now that, when they eat meat sacrificed to idols, their conscience, which is weak, is defiled.
Thus, through your knowledge, the weak person is brought to destruction, the brother for whom Christ died. When you sin in this way against your brothers and wound their consciences, weak as they are, you are sinning against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause my brother to sin.
Responsorial Psalm : PS 139:1B-3, 13-14AB, 23-24
R. (24b) Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. O LORD, you have probed me and you know me; you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar. R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works. R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. Probe me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; See if my way is crooked, and lead me in the way of old. R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Alleluia : 1 JN 4:12
R. Alleluia, alleluia. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel : LK 6:27-38
Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.
“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
St. Jerome Emiliani, a remarkable saint who dedicated his life to caring for the vulnerable and abandoned. 🌟
Birth and Early Life:
St. Jerome Emiliani, also known as Gerolamo Emiliani, was born in Venice around 1486.
Initially, he led a careless and irreligious life as a soldier for the city-state of Venice. However, his path took an unexpected turn.
Conversion and New Calling:
Captured during a skirmish, Jerome was imprisoned and chained in a dungeon. In that dark place, he found solace in prayer and gradually learned to seek God.
Upon escaping, he returned to Venice, where he took charge of his nephews’ education and began his own studies for the priesthood.
Compassion in Action:
Plague and famine struck northern Italy, and Jerome responded by caring for the sick and feeding the hungry at his own expense.
His heart turned toward abandoned children, and he founded three orphanages, a shelter for penitent prostitutes, and a hospital.
Founding the Clerks Regular of Somasca:
Around 1532, Jerome, along with two other priests, established the Clerks Regular of Somasca. This congregation was dedicated to the care of orphans and the education of youth.
Their mission was to serve those in need, especially abandoned children.
Legacy and Canonization:
St. Jerome Emiliani died in 1537 from a disease he contracted while tending to the sick.
He was canonized in 1767.
In 1928, Pope Pius XI declared him the patron saint of orphans and abandoned children.
Reflection:
Jerome’s life teaches us that sometimes it takes a form of “imprisonment” to free us from self-centeredness. When we’re caught in challenging situations, we discover the liberating power of God.
Let us learn from St. Jerome Emiliani’s example—to become a source of compassion and care for those around us.
Source: Conversation with Copilot, 03/09/2024 (1) Saint Jerome Emiliani | Franciscan Media. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-jerome-emiliani/. (2) Saint Jerome Emiliani – Catholic Saint | Saint for a Minute: Saints …. https://www.saintforaminute.com/saints/saint_jerome_emiliani. (3) Gerolamo Emiliani – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerolamo_Emiliani. (4) Feb 8 – St Jerome Emiliani (1481-1537) – Catholicireland.net. https://www.catholicireland.net/saintoftheday/st-jerome-emiliani/.
Daily mass readings : Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1 : 1 Cor 7:25-31
Brothers and sisters: In regard to virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. So this is what I think best because of the present distress: that it is a good thing for a person to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek a separation. Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife. If you marry, however, you do not sin, nor does an unmarried woman sin if she marries; but such people will experience affliction in their earthly life, and I would like to spare you that.
I tell you, brothers, the time is running out. From now on, let those having wives act as not having them, those weeping as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not owning, those using the world as not using it fully. For the world in its present form is passing away.
Responsorial Psalm : Ps 45:11-12, 14-15, 16-17
R. (11) Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear. Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, forget your people and your father’s house. So shall the king desire your beauty; for he is your lord, and you must worship him. R. Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear. All glorious is the king’s daughter as she enters; her raiment is threaded with spun gold. In embroidered apparel she is borne in to the king; behind her the virgins of her train are brought to you. R. Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear. They are borne in with gladness and joy; they enter the palace of the king. The place of your fathers your sons shall have; you shall make them princes through all the land. R. Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.
Alleluia : Lk 6:23ab
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Rejoice and leap for joy! Your reward will be great in heaven. R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel : Lk 6:20-26
Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.
Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.
But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”
7 Scriptures to Pray Over Your Children This School Year
As a new school year begins in a week, we as parents often have mixed feeling of excitement and anxiety for their children. While new opportunities for learning and growth abound, so do potential challenges and uncertainties.
In these moments, prayer becomes one of the most powerful ways to support your children. Here are 7 scriptures to pray over your children in this academic year , seeking god’s guidance , protection and blessing for them.
1. Wisdom and Understanding
Scripture : “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God , who gives to all liberally and without reapproach, and it will be given to him
James 1:5
As children face academic challenges and navigate , social complexities, praying for wisdom is crucial. Ask God to grant them the wisdom to make sound decisions, the understanding to grasp new concepts, and the ability to choose the right path in the difficult situations.
The wisdom from God will equip them to excel not only in their studies but all aspects of life.
Prayer :
Lord please bless our children with wisdom and understanding, help them to learn and grow in their studies , and guide them in making wise decisions. Grant them the ability to comprehend new concepts and apply their knowledge in a meaningful ways.
2. Protection from Harm:
Scripture : ” The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life, the Lord will watchover your coming and going both now and forever more
Psalm 121:7-8
In today’s world Safety is a top most concern for parents . This scripture serves as a reminder that God watches over our children’s every step. Let us pray for his divine protection to surround them at school, on the bus & wherever they go. And also ask the lord that may be sheilded from physical harm, bullying and negative influnces.
Prayer :
Heavenly Father, I pray for your protection over our children. Command you angels to guard them in all their ways and keep them safe from any harm. Protect them from physical , emotional, and spiritual dangers and surround them with your loving presence.
3. Strong friendships
Scripture : “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
Proverbs 17:17
Friendships play a significant role in a child’s school experience. Pray for your children to form strong, healthy friendships with peers who will encourage them, uplift them, and walk alongside them through both good times and bad. Ask God to help them be good friends to others, showing kindness, empathy, and love.
Prayer :
Heavenly Father, I pray for my children’s friendships. Please bring kind, loving friends into their lives who will support and encourage them. Help them to be good friends in return, showing love and kindness at all times.
4.Peace
Scripture :
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7
Pray that your children experience the peace of God amidst the stresses and pressures of school life. Ask that their hearts and minds be guarded by His peace, helping them to remain calm and focused.
Prayer :
Lord, I lift up my children to You and ask that You fill their hearts and minds with Your peace. Help them to not be anxious about anything, but to bring their worries to You in prayer. Guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, and grant them peace that transcends all understanding.
5. Strength and Courage
Scripture : “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
Pray for strength and courage for your children as they face new challenges and opportunities. Ask God to help them overcome fear and discouragement, reminding them that He is always with them.
Prayer:
Lord, please grant my children the strength and courage they need to face the challenges and opportunities of this school year. Help them to overcome fear and discouragement, and remind them that You are always with them wherever they go.
6. Integrity
Scripture : “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.”
Proverbs 10:9
Pray for your children to walk in integrity and honesty. Ask God to guide them in making ethical choices and to stand firm in their values, even when faced with peer pressure.
Prayer:
Lord, I pray that my children will walk in integrity and honesty. Guide them in making ethical choices and help them to stand firm in their values, even when faced with peer pressure. Let their actions reflect Your righteousness.
7. Love for Learning
Scripture : “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.”
Proverbs 1:5
Pray that your children develop a love for learning and a desire to grow in knowledge and wisdom. Ask God to instill in them a curiosity and enthusiasm for their studies.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, please instill in my children a love for learning and a desire to grow in knowledge and wisdom. Help them to be curious and enthusiastic about their studies, always seeking to add to their understanding.
Conclusion:
As you pray these scriptures over your children, trust that God hears your prayers and is working in their lives. By lifting them up in prayer, you are covering them with His grace, protection, and blessings, setting them on a path for a successful and spiritually enriched school year.
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