Category: Uncategorized

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Gospel: Luke 6: 12-16

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray,
and he spent the night in prayer to God.

When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,
James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon who was called a Zealot,
and Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Today we celebrate the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles. Consider three reasons why the Lord might’ve chosen them. They are also three reasons why the Lord chooses us.

Jesus chose Simon and Jude to be his friends. Like us, the Lord wanted people to share his life and ministry with. 

Do you feel that same invitation, to be a friend of Jesus?

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Secondly, he chose them to be disciples. To be a disciple means to “learn” from a teacher. Jesus wanted Simon and Jude to learn how to live a fulfilling life, which leads to eternal life.

Are you a disciple of Jesus? How much do you “learn” from him?

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Finally, he chose them because they were ordinary. We know at least some of the disciples were either fishermen or tax collectors. None of them were wealthy, powerful, or well educated. They were all “blue collar” men, who ended up changing the world.

There’s a lesson in that for us: God doesn’t need the wealthy or powerful to do his will; he needs ordinary believers like us who have an open mind and a willing heart.

Am I open to doing the Lord’s will?

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Saints Simon and Jude were ordinary people whose lives were changed by the Lord. Then they changed others.

May we do the same.

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Image credits: (1) Heavenly Treasures Ministry (2) Finding Strength. Gaining Courage. Loving God., WordPress (3) Pinterest

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Ephesians 6: 10-20

Brothers and sisters:
Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.
Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm
against the tactics of the Devil.
For our struggle is not with flesh and blood
but with the principalities, with the powers,
with the world rulers of this present darkness,
with the evil spirits in the heavens.
Therefore, put on the armor of God,
that you may be able to resist on the evil day
and, having done everything, to hold your ground.
So stand fast with your loins girded in truth,
clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,
and your feet shod in readiness for the Gospel of peace.
In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield,
to quench all the flaming arrows of the Evil One.
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God.

With all prayer and supplication,
pray at every opportunity in the Spirit.
To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication
for all the holy ones and also for me,
that speech may be given me to open my mouth,
to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel
for which I am an ambassador in chains,
so that I may have the courage to speak as I must.

The Word of the Lord.

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Several times in his pastoral letters, Saint Paul uses military terms to illustrate our faith. Salvation is a battle that must be fought … and won. Christ has done his part – he’s defeated death – but now, Saint Paul says, we must do ours.

“Draw your strength from the Lord,” he says in our first reading. “Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the Devil.”

In particular, guard yourself with the breastplate of righteousness. In one-on-one combat, the breastplate is the most important source of armor because it protects the heart.

On a spiritual level, the heart is considered the seat of all of our intentions. It’s where we harbor sin and grace; it’s where light and darkness vie for our attention. It’s where the battle for salvation is fought… and won.

Priests are reminded of this before celebrating Mass. While putting on our vestments, there is a separate prayer attached to each garment. The alb comes first. With it, the following prayer is said:

“Cleanse me, O LORD, and purify my heart, that washed in the Blood of the Lamb, I may attain everlasting joy.”

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In what ways do I protect my heart? How do I allow the light in and cast out the darkness?

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May we draw our strength from the Lord and fight the good fight today.

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Image credits: (1) Pastor Brad Abley’s Blog, WordPress (2) Liquid Church (3) Gateway Rescue Mission

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Gospel: Luke 13:22-30

Jesus passed through towns and villages,
teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.
Someone asked him,
“Lord, will only a few people be saved?”
He answered them, 
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
‘Lord, open the door for us.’
He will say to you in reply,
‘I do not know where you are from.’
And you will say,
‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’
Then he will say to you,
‘I do not know where you are from.
Depart from me, all you evildoers!’
And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God
and you yourselves cast out.
And people will come from the east and the west
and from the north and the south
and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God.
For behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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If you’ve ever traveled through an airport, then you know the drill of going through security.

When it’s your turn, you must empty your pockets, remove your jacket, belt, and shoes, and place your luggage on a conveyor belt before walking through the metal detector.

That “narrow gate” has no room for your luggage; we ourselves can barely fit!

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Isn’t that an appropriate image for life? 

We cannot take anything with us when we pass through the “narrow gate.” All we can bring with us are the intangibles: the good works we’ve done and the faith we’ve nurtured.

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In what ways might I grow in charity and faith?

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“Strive to enter through the narrow gate,” Jesus says, “for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”

But, amazingly, those whose faith rests in the Son of God will squeeze through.

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Image credits: (1) Christianity.com (2) Smiths Detection (3) loveliveson.com