Tag: kingdom of heaven

Memorial of Saint John Vianney, Priest

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:54-58)

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

As Jesus comes to his hometown of Nazareth, people who know him are astonished at his words and hearing of his miracles. Matthew tells us that the people take offense at Jesus, the carpenter’s son whose mother is Mary and whose brothers they know by name. Because of their lack of faith, Jesus did not perform many miracles in his native place. Although their disbelief seems extraordinary, Jesus is taken for granted and his identity as the beloved Son of God is unrecognized in the same way that we might take for granted the so-called ordinary people who are closest to us. How does their practice of virtue, their imitation of Christ, lead us to grow in relationship with God?

God, help me see in the spiritual struggles of those closest to me that you are calling them to holiness. Help me recognize my role in supporting them and helping nurture their relationship with you. “The way of perfection,” the Catechism says, “passes by way of the Cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle.” Give me the grace to see you as you enter into relationship with each other in the seeming ordinariness of their lives. Give me strength to hold on to my cross.

Lord, help me in my disbelief and ongoing conversion. From the Gospel acclamation, “The word of the Lord remains forever; this is the word that has been proclaimed to you.” Saint John Vianney, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:47-53)

Jesus said to the disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

In sharing this with the disciples, Jesus elaborates further on the kingdom of heaven. The net thrown into the sea describes the end of the age, the final judgment. In the net are the wicked and the righteous, which the angels sort for eternal life in heaven or in condemnation. The wicked, Jesus says, will wail and grind their teeth in the fiery furnace. But the righteous, Jesus says, would “shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” In his own words, Jesus makes clear the reality of the judgment. How one responds to that makes all the difference.

God, help me see the reality of your kingdom, present in the veil of this earthly life yet still to come, when Christ your Son comes again to separate the wicked from the righteous and establish the new heaven and earth. Through the Church’s teachings and sacraments, help me today choose to live not for the mere goods of this present reality but for the reality that is to come in the full realization of your kingdom. Give me the grace, God, to know your will and serve you in this life so that for the sake of your glory I will enjoy your presence forever in the kingdom to of heaven.

From the responsorial psalm: “My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the LORD. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” Lord, have mercy on me!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:44-46)

Jesus said to his disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

The words of Jesus from today’s Gospel, also heard in last Sunday’s Mass, stress the necessity of possessing the kingdom of heaven. The one who finds the treasure, Jesus says, goes and sells everything he has to buy that field so that he can own the treasure. The one who finds a pearl of great price sells all that he has to buy it. In both instances, Jesus relates the joy of finding it and the urgent response in buying it, or investing one’s whole self in it.

God, help me understand how to see the value not only in the words of your Son but in acting on them. Among my family, in the people I encounter, and in your word, you offer the kingdom of heaven to me every day. The value of the kingdom of heaven surpasses all other possessions and pursuits. Yet, unlike the goods of this world, it loses no value as you offer it to me time after time. It is worth giving up everything for its sake; let me hear and respond to the treasure you offer.

Lord, help me today to recognize the pearl of great price when I see it. I often walk away from the very thing I’m searching for. As Saint Padre Pio says, “Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:36-43)

Jesus said to his disciples: “The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus explains the parable of the weeds among the wheat. In his own words, the Son of God teaches us about the final judgment and the distinction between the righteous and the wicked. The harvest, or final judgment, represents the end of the age when the angels will separate the righteous from the wicked. Jesus also says that he is the sower. Although the enemy who sows the weeds is the devil, Jesus himself is the sower. Dwelling on that offers consolation while considering that the Son of Man will send his angels to toss into the fiery furnace all those who cause others to sin and all evildoers, while the righteous in heaven will shine like the sun.

God, help me understand the parables you shared with the disciples and share today with all believers who hear your word. Evil is a reality in this world, and working through that every day presents me with many more challenges than I can take alone. Stay beside me and be merciful, Lord, as I navigate this world where good and evil exist side by side. Strengthen me to persevere in the face of evil and let me work toward the eternal reward of life in your kingdom.

From the responsorial psalm: “Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. Saint Alphonsus Liguori, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:31-35)

All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world.

Matthew relates the parables Jesus proposed to the crowds about the kingdom of heaven. It is like a mustard seed, the smallest of seeds but as a full-grown plant becomes large enough for birds to dwell in its branches. In another parable, he describes it as yeast mixed into three measures of wheat flour, leavening the whole batch. In each distinct parable, the mustard seed in its fullness and the yeast spread throughout the batch of dough become a means of sustaining life. The branches of the mustard plant become a place where birds dwell, where the spirit resides. The yeast becomes one with the batch of dough, transforming it and providing sustenance.

God, help me understand these parables and how they apply to this day. The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, seemingly small but producing profound impact and providing a spiritual dwelling. Give me the grace today to allow you to permeate my entire being and transform it. Let me find shelter in your care, and make me into a new person through communion with Christ and in his indwelling through the Holy Spirit. Nourish and sustain me, Lord; strengthen me with your presence.

From the responsorial psalm, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.” Saint Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:44-46)

Jesus said to his disciples: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

Jesus shares with the disciples parables that have come to be known as the Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Value. These parables convey the profound significance of finding the great treasure of the kingdom of heaven, or God’s reign in our lives. In each parable, the one who finds the treasure shows a sense of joy and urgency. Joy because the one who finds recognizes its authentic value, and urgency because finding it requires a response. In the first reading, Solomon asks God, “Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.” For asking for that, God blesses him beyond what he can imagine. Every time we ask God that his kingdom come and his will be done, from the mystery of his grace we find the hidden treasure of understanding and wisdom.

God, help me learn to seek what is authentic in asking that your will be done. The kingdom of heaven at times can seem remote and unseen, the pearl of greatest value overlooked. Direct my gaze with the gift of understanding toward what you have hidden in plain sight. The kingdom is here, the kingdom is to come. Give me the grace to understand the urgency in listening out for your voice, and having found it, respond to your will. As Saint Paul says, “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Grant me the wisdom, Lord, to understand your call.

From the responsorial psalm, “Wonderful are your decrees; therefore I observe them. The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple.” Thank you, Lord, for the immeasurable gift of your kingdom.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:18-23)

Jesus said to his disciples: “The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus explains to his disciples the meaning of the Parable of the Sower. Seed sown on the path the Evil One steals. Seed sown on rocky ground gives joy but has no root and withers. Seed sown among thorns is choked by worldly anxiety and the lure of riches. But seed sown on rich soil takes root and bears abundant fruit. Anyone who is even the least receptive to the word of God has experienced at some point what Jesus describes in the parable. Yet, God leaves the decision to receive his word entirely up to each of us.

God, you invite me to soften the soil of my heart for you, but you don’t force; you merely invite. How I respond because you give me the gift of free will is my choice. How often does the well-trodden, rocky, or thorny ground prevent me from hearing and understanding your word? I think about worldly anxiety and the lure of riches. Daily it pricks me and chokes my ability to respond and learn to love you. After the Our Father during Mass, the priest says something I want to remember today, a remedy to treat the rocky ground and thorny path: “Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of Your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.” 

God, help me soften my heart today to receive and understand your word. From the Gospel acclamation: “Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:10-17)

The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?” He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. . . . Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

Today’s Gospel takes place immediately after Jesus teaches the crowds by the sea. Afterward, the disciples approach him and ask why he speaks to the crowds in parables. The disciples who are close to Jesus are granted knowledge of the kingdom of heaven, but many in the crowd have not been given the same knowledge. The parables enrich those who know little of the kingdom but are open to hearing the words of Jesus. Of the disciples, Jesus says, “To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” To grow rich in the knowledge of the kingdom is to hear and receive the richness of Christ’s mercy through his word and in the sacraments.

God, help me comprehend the incomprehensible gift of Jesus your Son seen and heard on this earth and alive in his Church today. I am easily distracted by myriad thoughts even as I participate in the celebration of the Mass. Give me the grace of longing for your word so that I can grow rich in all that you offer me every day. Just as the Israelites prepared themselves to see and hear you in peals of lightning and thunder, let me be ready to listen out for your voice today; let me be open to conversion of heart to receive your unfathomable healing and mercy.

From the responsorial psalm: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.” Soul of Christ, sanctify me!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Fourth Sunday of Lent

“Live as children of light,” Saint Paul says, “for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

“If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, worth reading and rereading because of its richness and majesty, Jesus heals a man who was born blind. John’s account of the story begins with Jesus and his disciples encountering the blind man, and the disciples asking whether the man’s blindness was caused by his own sin or that of his parents. Jesus responds that neither the man nor his parents sinned, but rather the man was born blind so that “the works of God might be made visible through him.” Jesus heals the man by spitting on the ground, making mud with the saliva, and spreading the mud over the man’s eyes. Jesus then instructs the man to wash his eyes in the pool of Siloam. The healing causes controversy among the Pharisees, who question the man and his parents about the healing. They are skeptical of the healing and accuse Jesus of being a sinner because he healed on the Sabbath, and they throw the man out of the synagogue. When Jesus hears about this, he approaches the man and Jesus asks if he believes that he is the Son of Man. The man says to Jesus, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worships him. Jesus tells him: “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.” In this Gospel passage, the man’s physical blindness is lifted, allowing him to see the world around him. Greater yet, he gains spiritual insight into the truth of Jesus’ power and divinity and worships him. Compare this to the Pharisees who reject Jesus and his healing power remain in spiritual darkness, unable to see the truth of who Jesus is.

God, help me distinguish between blindness and sight. Keep me in your light, visible to you, and bring me to life through you. As Saint Paul says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” When the man’s physical blindness is lifted, he comes to believe in you. Bring into the light the things that lie in darkness and lead to death so that I can reject them. From the Gospel acclamation: “I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.”

Lord, I want to live in the light of your truth. “Live as children of light,” Saint Paul says, “for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.” Keep me in your light, Lord!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

https://youtu.be/2W-KSOPWWBY

Readings

Saturday of the Third Week of Lent

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

“But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’”

Jesus tells the parable about those convinced of their own righteousness. He compares the prayers in the temple of two people: a Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisee took a position in the temple and spoke a prayer to himself: “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.” Meanwhile, the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not raise his eyes to heaven. He beat his breast and prayed: “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” Jesus says of the tax collector and the sinner: “I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” How often have I been like the Pharisee who looks at others and says, “Thank God I am not like them”?

God, help me see the ways I have convinced myself of my own righteousness and release me from its bondage. Although I come to you at times humbled and in need of your compassion, at other times I am thankful for the position I have taken up in life and despise others for the choices they have made and the lives they lead. Be merciful, Lord; give me the grace to be merciful to others. Contrary to what the Pharisee believes, I am like the rest of humanity and in as much need of God’s mercy as those that through pride I fall into believing I am superior to. “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” Make me a means of mercy to others.

From the Responsorial Psalm: “Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Readings