Tag: Saint Cecilia

“My house shall be a house of prayer.” | Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr

From the responsorial psalm: “How sweet to my palate are your promises, sweeter than honey to my mouth! How sweet to my taste is your promise!”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 19:45-48)

Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

The religious leaders who close in on Jesus are frustrated as he teaches every day in the temple area and one day drives out those who are selling things. Just as the scroll in the first reading is sour to swallow, so are the words of Jesus to those who oppose him because of the people who hear his words and hang on them. Taken in, the the words of Jesus are sweet. “How sweet to my taste is your promise!” the psalmist sings. Yet, taking in the words sometimes puts us in bitter opposition to people and the rulers of the world who seek to impose their purpose, which is to put to death the Word made flesh. Hearing and following his voice, we remain in him.

God, help me understand what it means to “take and swallow” your word. Jesus, the Word incarnate, is present body and blood, soul and divinity, in the Eucharist. How sweet is the promise of Christ, fulfilled through his death and resurrection, and given every time I receive the Eucharist. To take and eat is not to envelop myself in a supernatural shield but to be strengthened to confront suffering and sorrow with divine sustenance and help. Give me the grace, Lord, to listen out for you and follow your voice; if I fail in that effort, stir in me the desire to recognize my state and turn again to you. Saint Cecilia, 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.

Maximilian Kolbe Shrine—Blessed Sacrament

Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here–the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

Today’s Gospel reading from Luke follows immediately where yesterday’s reading left off, where Jesus observed the widow who contributed two small coins to the treasury. The placement of the two readings together come back to the theme of earthly wealth compared to the true wealth of dependence on God. Jesus seems to say, “Don’t you see the ruins that this temple will soon become?” And today he says not to be deceived by others who come in his name. Life is short; a day, a lifetime, passes quickly. Where do I place my faith?

God, help me see beyond passing things and keep my gaze fixed on you in this short life. I want to see you through the lives of others I encounter and in the opportunities you present to me. Nothing lasts but you. Through your grace help me remember you in moments when I stand among the rubble of something that seemed to my mind unassailable. I don’t know or understand well enough, Lord, that your love for me is not deception; you alone are unassailable. As Saint Thérèse says: “Jesus is on fire with love for us. Look at his adorable face! Look at his eyes lifeless and lowered! Look at his wounds. Look at Jesus in his face. There you will see how he loves 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. Saint Cecilia, pray for us!

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