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Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin

Reading 1 : 2 John 4-9

[Chosen Lady:]
I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth
just as we were commanded by the Father.
But now, Lady, I ask you,
not as though I were writing a new commandment
but the one we have had from the beginning:
let us love one another.
For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments;
this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning,
in which you should walk.

Many deceivers have gone out into the world,
those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh;
such is the deceitful one and the antichrist.
Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for
but may receive a full recompense.
Anyone who is so “progressive”
as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God;
whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son.

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 119:1, 2, 10, 11, 17, 18

R. (1b) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
With all my heart I seek you;
let me not stray from your commands.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Within my heart I treasure your promise,
that I may not sin against you.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Be good to your servant, that I may live
and keep your words.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Open my eyes, that I may consider
the wonders of your law.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Alleluia : Luke 21:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Luke 17:26-37

Jesus said to his disciples:
“As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be in the days of the Son of Man;
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage up to the day
that Noah entered the ark,
and the flood came and destroyed them all.
Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot:
they were eating, drinking, buying,
selling, planting, building;
on the day when Lot left Sodom,
fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all.
So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed.
On that day, someone who is on the housetop
and whose belongings are in the house
must not go down to get them,
and likewise one in the field
must not return to what was left behind.
Remember the wife of Lot.
Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it,
but whoever loses it will save it.
I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed;
one will be taken, the other left.
And there will be two women grinding meal together;
one will be taken, the other left.”
They said to him in reply, “Where, Lord?”
He said to them, “Where the body is,
there also the vultures will gather.”

Message from the Readings

Today’s readings deliver a timely message:
Walk in truth, remain faithful to Christ, and live each day ready for His coming.
• Truth and love must go together.
• God’s Word is our guide and protection.
• The Kingdom calls us to vigilance and spiritual readiness.
• Following Christ means placing Him above all earthly attachments.
The message is simple yet powerful:
Stay faithful. Stay watchful. Stay rooted in Christ.

Reflection for the Day

“Let us love one another.” (2 John 5)
The Apostle John gives us a reminder that remains as relevant today as it was in the first century:
Christianity is not merely about knowing the truth. It is about living the truth in love.
In a world filled with competing voices, opinions, and ideologies, it is easy to lose sight of Christ’s teachings. John urges believers to remain firmly rooted in what they have received from the beginning.
Truth without love becomes harsh.
Love without truth becomes empty.
The disciple of Christ embraces both.
“With all my heart I seek you.” (Psalm 119)
The psalm reveals the attitude every Christian should cultivate:
• seeking God wholeheartedly,
• treasuring His Word,
• desiring His wisdom,
• remaining faithful to His commands.
God’s Word is not simply information.
It is formation.
The more we meditate on it, the more our hearts become aligned with God’s will.
“Remember Lot’s wife.” (Luke 17)
Jesus gives a striking warning.
The people in Noah’s day and Lot’s day were busy with ordinary activities:
• eating,
• drinking,
• buying,
• selling,
• building,
• planning.
None of these things were wrong.
The danger was that they were so absorbed in earthly concerns that they became blind to God’s action.
Lot’s wife looked back because her heart remained attached to what she was leaving behind.
Jesus challenges us with the same question today:
What are we holding onto that keeps us from fully following Him?
To be ready for Christ’s coming does not mean living in fear.
It means living with our priorities in order.
It means loving God above all else.
It means keeping our hearts fixed on eternity while faithfully carrying out our responsibilities today.
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini: A Living Example
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini lived with remarkable trust in God’s providence.
Leaving her homeland, she dedicated her life to serving immigrants, the poor, and the forgotten. She did not allow fear, comfort, or uncertainty to stop her from following God’s call.
Like the wise disciple in today’s Gospel, she kept her eyes fixed on Christ and lived ready to do His will.
Her life reminds us that holiness is found in faithful obedience, courageous service, and unwavering trust.

 Living This Word Today

Today’s readings invite us to:

1. Walk in truth and love
   Let your faith be grounded in Christ’s teachings and expressed through charity.
2. Treasure God’s Word
   Spend time reading Scripture and allowing it to shape your thoughts and decisions.
3. Live ready for Christ
   Do not become so attached to worldly concerns that you lose sight of eternal realities.
4. Follow God’s call with courage
   Like Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, trust God’s guidance even when the path seems uncertain.
   Let today be a day of faithfulness, vigilance, and wholehearted trust in the Lord.

Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father,
thank You for the gift of Your truth and Your love.
Help me remain faithful to Your Word and steadfast in following Jesus Christ.
Keep my heart focused on what truly matters and free me from attachments that draw me away from You.
Teach me to live each day with vigilance, gratitude, and hope, always ready to welcome Your presence.
Through the intercession of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, give me courage to serve others generously and trust You completely.
May my life reflect Your truth, proclaim Your love, and bring glory to Your name.
Amen. 🙏