Date: 2020-07-01
Day of the Week: Wednesday
Day Description: [USA: Saint Junpero Serra, Priest]
Color of the Day: green
Readings: Am 5:14-15, 21-24/Ps.50:7-13,16-17/Mt 8:28-34
Thought of the Readings: Today’s gospel is a repeat of John’s gospel where Jesus casts out the demons into the swine. In Matthew’s description today there are two demoniacs. Immediately they fear Jesus. When we are with the Lord there is always a struggle between good and evil. The Lord will sustain us!
Date: 2020-07-02
Day of the Week: Thursday
Day Description: Weekday
Color of the Day: green
Readings: Am 7:10-17/Ps.19:8-11/Mt 9:1-8
Thought of the Readings: Do not be surprised that when you are on God’s side that there will be constant rejection or put down. Such is the case in the gospel today where the Pharisees come against Jesus. They say that He has blasphemed. Jesus responds by telling the paralytic to rise take up his mat and go home. Stick with Jesus all the time especially in the crisis that we are encountering!
Date: 2020-07-03
Day of the Week: Friday
Day Description: Saint Thomas, Apostle Feast
Color of the Day: red
Readings: Eph 2:19-22/Ps/117″1-2/Jn 20:24-29
Thought of the Readings: Today is the Feast o f St. Thomas the Apostle. He is an apostle for our time because he challenged and doubted Jesus so many times. He asked Jesus; “show us the Father and that will be enough for us” Jesus aid; “Thomas, if you know Me you know the Father!” The famous gospel scene is where Thomas doubted the Resurrection of Jesus. Jesus stood before him and said put your hand into my side. Thomas answered with a very famous intense prayer, “My Lord, and my God!” There is always an anointing when we allow or permit Jesus to break through to us!
Date: 2020-07-04
Day of the Week: Saturday
Day Description: [USA: Independence Day; BVM]
Color of the Day: green, white, white
Readings: Am 9:11-15/Green, white,white/Mt 9:14-17
Thought of the Readings: Today is the Celebration of Independence Day! It is an Historic occasion! Just recently in all the protesting and marches they sought to destroy confederate heroes and even Catholic statues. These have historical significance, they are etched in their time and whether you disagree with them or not, you cannot remove them from the history, or their impact upon us! No matter what they do at Christmas “Jesus is the reason for the season” and ultimately Jesus is the reason for our lives!
Date: 2020-07-05
Day of the Week: Sunday
Day Description: FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME green
Color of the Day: green
Readings: Zec 9:9-10/Ps.145:1-2,8-11,13-14/Rom 8:9, 11-13/Mt 11:25-30
Thought of the Readings: There are three things that are stressed in the readings. In the first reading we are called to rejoice especially when there is an absence of weapons of war. The second reading tells us; “you are not in the flesh; on the contrary you are in the Spirit!” The gospel Jesus invites us to come to Him when we are overburdened! What a recipe for life if only we would accept it!
Date: 2020-07-06
Day of the Week: Monday
Day Description: Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr
Color of the Day: green/red
Readings: Hos 2:16, 17b-18, 21-22/Ps.145:2-9/Mt 9:18-26
Thought of the Readings: The first reading from Hosea, the Prophet speaks about a marriage covenant between God and Israel. “I will lead her into the desert and there speak to her heart!” It shows God’s desire for Israel. Much more so is Jesus’ desire for each one of us! In fact, Jesus speaks to our hearts every day! How long are we going to ignore Him? Listen to St. Augustine, “Thou hast made us for thyself Oh Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee!”
Date: 2020-07-07
Day of the Week: Tuesday
Day Description: Weekday
Color of the Day: green
Readings: Hos 8:4-7, 11-13/Ps.115:3-10/Mt 9:32-38
Thought of the Readings: The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few. We may be under the illusion that it is the priests that are the laborers. The truth is by our baptism we are all called to be laborers! The excuse is that I am not cut out for that type of ministry. The Truth is that Jesus Himself told us that we are to be His witnesses and not to worry that the Holy Spirit would direct and teach us! We are simply called to witness to what God is doing in your life, despite your inhibitions and excuses you are proud of Jesus or you are not, it is up to you!
Date: 2020-07-08
Day of the Week: Wednesday
Day Description: Weekday
Color of the Day: green
Readings: Hos 10:1-3, 7-8, 12/Ps.105:2-7-10/Mt 10:1-7
Thought of the Readings: The responsorial asks us “To seek always the face of the Lord!” That is not as farfetched as we think. People pray for healing: people pray for requests. All the time they are telling God what they want. They never realize that God already knows what they want! They telling God what God should do or are they open to let God be God and surrender it to Him! Sadly, there is no other option!
Date: 2020-07-09
Day of the Week: Thursday
Day Description: St Augustine Zhao Rong, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs
Color of the Day: green/red
Readings: Hos 11:1-4, 8-9/Ps.80:2-3,15-16/Mt 10:7-15
Thought of the Readings: The gospel today tells us how to be a disciple. To do this you must preach, teach, and love a Christ filled life. This will take a convicted heart! Your heart must be convicted that God loves you and that love is the definitive force behind your discipleship and moreover God is with you to protect and love you!
Date: 2020-07-10
Day of the Week: Friday
Day Description: Weekday
Color of the Day: green
Readings: Hos 14:2-10/Ps.51:3-4,8-9,12-14,17/Mt 10:16-23
Thought of the Readings: Jesus tells us the hard facts of discipleship in the gospel. There will be opposition and that opposition could end up in your death. That opposition still exists today in our society, but there is an intensity and hatred in it. Bitterness exists in the land for those who follow Jesus Christ! We have two choices. Either we become passive and lose Christ or we continue to witness to Christ no matter!
Date: 2020-07-11
Day of the Week: Saturday
Day Description: Saint Benedict, Abbot, Memorial
Color of the Day: white
Readings: Is 6:1-8/Ps.93:1-2,5/Mt 10:24-33
Thought of the Readings: In this month so far we are learning from Matthew’s gospel what it takes to be a disciple. We continue today. Jesus tells us that the real enemy is Satan! We need to be schooled in the ways of Satan! If it leads to God it is good, but if it leads away from God it is not so good. Fulton Sheen put it this was. Our greatest advocate in temptation is Satan, while our greatest opposition is Jesus Christ! Once the sin is committed the opposite is true.
Date: 2020-07-12
Day of the Week: Sunday
Day Description: FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Color of the Day: green
Readings: Is 55:10-11/Ps.65:10-14/Rom 8:18-23/Mt 13:1-23 or 13:1-9
Thought of the Readings: Today’s readings focus on God’s way. In the first reading God tells us that His word (Bible) does not return to him empty! Those who are disposed for it, it will bear fruit. In the second reading God tells us that suffering has a purpose in our lives! Then in the gospel Jesus tell us of the parable of the sower. Of all the seed sown there is only 25% chance of it being successful. So that is the challenge, but we can do it with God’s help and grace!
Date: 2020-07-13
Day of the Week: Monday
Day Description: Saint Henry
Color of the Day: green/white
Readings: Is 1:10-17/Ps.50:8-9,16-17.21.23/Mt 10:34?11:1
Thought of the Readings: I suppose that the best description of the gospel is that of a contradiction and this is the essence of Jesus teaching. Jesus is to be preferred over family and Jesus is to be preferred to success! The whole teaching is that Jesus is number ONE and all the rest will fall into place! Jesus does not so much condemn the family only to tell us if we put family first then we are depriving them of His love!
Date: 2020-07-14
Day of the Week: Tuesday
Day Description: USA: Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin Memorial
Color of the Day: white
Readings: Is 7:1-9/Ps.48:2-8/Mt 11:20-24
Thought of the Readings: The first reading today has a warning for us in these difficult times. We are told “Unless your faith is firm, you shall not be firm!” The gospel confirms this teaching with Jesus condemning the towns. They experienced God’s blessing and yet it did not bear fruit. Think and embrace who you are in Christ Jesus and not only will you be safe but you will grow!
Date: 2020-07-15
Day of the Week: Wednesday
Day Description: St Bonaventure, Bishop/Doctor of the Church Memorial
Color of the Day: white
Readings: Is 10:5-7, 13b-16/Ps.94:5-10,14-15/Mt 11:25-27
Thought of the Readings: The gospel in a way is humiliating because it praises those the little ones who know nothing, but nevertheless are open and able to receive God’s wisdom. Jesus is stressing an openness to be able to receive. So often we are impressed by wise and learned people and their teachings, but the bottom line is, does if lead to God and most importantly be in union with His church and teaching!
Date: 2020-07-16
Day of the Week: Thursday
Day Description: Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Color of the Day: green/white
Readings: Is 26:7-9, 12, 16-19/Ps.102:13-21/Mt 11:28-30
Thought of the Readings: Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Mt Carmel. It is a great witness. It was on Mt. Carmel that Elijah is the Old Testament fought the false prophets of Baal and established there. The Carmelite Order sprung up there. It should confront us today with what is true versus what is false in our lives!
Date: 2020-07-17
Day of the Week: Friday
Day Description: Weekday
Color of the Day: green
Readings: Is 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8/Isaiah 38:10-12,16/Mt 12:1-8
Thought of the Readings: The gospel tells us “it is mercy I seek and not sacrifice!” This is borne out with a great example. Hezekiah is told by the prophet Isaiah that he (Hezekiah) is about to die. Hezekiah pleads with God and God gives him 15 more years of life. Mercy is certainly there for Hezekiah!
Date: 2020-07-18
Day of the Week: Saturday
Day Description: USA: Saint Camillus de Lellis, Priest; BVM
Color of the Day: green/white/white
Readings: Mi 2:1-5/Ps.10:1-4,7-8,14/Mt 12:14-21
Thought of the Readings: In the gospel today we have the prophecies about the Messianic Jesus. The Pharisees sought an excuse to kill Jesus and the gospel gives the real reason for Jesus in our lives! So often we relegate Jesus to an historic figure who was a “good man,” Jesus is much more than that. Jesus is our Savior, our Redeemer sent by the Father to bring us back into full membership with God! Jesus is not dead, not an historic figure, not a good man, but He is alive and wants to live IN us!
Date: 2020-07-19
Day of the Week: Sunday
Day Description: SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Color of the Day: green
Readings: Wis 12:13, 16-19/Ps.86:5-6,9-10,15-16/Rom 8:26-27/Mt 13:24-43 or 13:24-30
Thought of the Readings: The gospel today is the parable of the good seed and the enemy who sowed weeds in the midst of the good seed. It is a perfect example of how it is today in our world. It seems that the wicked prosper and those who do evil have success. Jesus tells His disciples to let the weeds grow among the good seed and then at harvest time they can be separated and the weeds can be destroyed. Oftentimes we need to be able to identify the weeds for what they are, but also to know the good seed!
Date: 2020-07-20
Day of the Week: Monday
Day Description: Saint Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr
Color of the Day: green/red
Readings: Mi 6:1-4, 6-8/Ps.50:5-6,8-9,16-17,21,23/Mt 12:38-42
Thought of the Readings: The gospel addresses the age old question of getting a sign. Honestly, is your faith base on a sign? Jesus gives them two significant signs from the Old Testament and says that they have a greater one in their midst, but are missing Him. Our faith is a Gift from God and does not depend on signs and wonders, it is Faith and we need to stand Firm on it!
Date: 2020-07-21
Day of the Week: Tuesday
Day Description: Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Color of the Day: green/white
Readings: Mi 7:14-15, 18-20/Ps.85:2-8/Mt 12:46-50
Thought of the Readings: The gospel today sounds like a rebuke of His Mother. When told that His mother and brothers were outside looking for him, He said “Rather Blessed are they who do the will of My heavenly Father!” He was drawing the distinction between those who were outside and those in His presence, thus emphasizing all those who were in His presence!
Date: 2020-07-22
Day of the Week: Wednesday
Day Description: Saint Mary Magdalene, Feast
Color of the Day: white
Readings: Sg 3:1-4b or 2 Cor 5:14-17/Ps.63:2-6,8-9/Jn 20:1-2, 11-18
Thought of the Readings: Today is the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene. Aside from the scriptural readings her life is a great example of God’s Mercy. It is said that seven demons were cast out of her. She loved Jesus and was rewarded for it by being the first to encounter Jesus after the Resurrection. So often we get trapped by our sinfulness, our shame and our guilt. It is as if we are trapped by our own unworthiness. Yet, it is always God’s mercy that is there for us calling us to forgiveness and to love! Don’t look at the pit you are in, but at the glory to which you are called!
Date: 2020-07-23
Day of the Week: Thursday
Day Description: Saint Bridget, Religious
Color of the Day: green/white
Readings: Jer 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13/Ps.36:6-11/Mt 13:10-17
Thought of the Readings: During the month of July it is mostly from St. Matthew’s gospel. Matthew was at pains to explain Jesus to his own people. He thought that they most of all would get Jesus and His gospel first. They had the background and yet they didn’t, why? Because they were trapped in their own thinking! It had to be Jesus according to them. He had to be a king and reestablish the kingdom in Israel. This is not uncommon even in our time. We have Jesus on our terms and will not allow Jesus to be Jesus!
Date: 2020-07-24
Day of the Week: Friday
Day Description: Saint Sharbel Makhlf, Priest
Color of the Day: green/white
Readings: Jer 3:14-17/Jeremiah 31:10-13/Mt 13:18-23
Thought of the Readings: Look at what happens to the seed of faith is the gospel today. It is destroyed by the devil, it has no root and it is choke by thorns or concerns of the world. The seed has to be planted on good soil where it can have roots. It cannot be choked off by concerns and it must be strong enough to resist the devil. God is the only answer! From the beginning the seed must be entrusted to the Lord and it needs your commitment for its growth!
Date: 2020-07-25
Day of the Week: Saturday
Day Description: Saint James, Apostle, Feast
Color of the Day: red
Readings: 2 Cor 4:7-15/Ps.126:1-6/Mt 20:20-28
Thought of the Readings: Today is the Feast of St. James, the Apostle. When I think of his life I wonder how far can you run from God. James ran to Spain to escape the persecution. He had an apparition of Our Blessed mother, called the Lady of the Pillar, who advised his to go back to Jerusalem where he was martyred in 44 AD. God’s will is always done in our lives! It is better to be in agreement with it!
Date: 2020-07-26
Day of the Week: Sunday
Day Description: SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Color of the Day: green
Readings: 1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12/Ps.119:57,72,76-77,127-130/Rom 8:28-30/Mt 13:44-52 or 13:44-46
Thought of the Readings: There is a false judgment put on Solomon and that is that he was a wise man and asked God for wisdom. The truth is quite the opposite. He asked God for an understanding heart! The heart is a very important organ with regards to our life with God. David was chosen because he had a heart like God! It is in the heart that we store love and no matter what our minds may say if our hearts are not in it then we labor in vain. Jesus said of the Israelites. “This people worship me with their lips while their hearts are far from Me!”
Date: 2020-07-27
Day of the Week: Monday
Day Description: Weekday
Color of the Day: green
Readings: Jer 13:1-11/Deuteronomy 32:18-21/Mt 13:31-35
Thought of the Readings: It must have been very frustrating for Jesus. He proposes two examples of the Kingdom of God for His disciples. The two examples speak of intensity, an attraction. It is understood that there is no other option other that this intensity for the treasure or even the bulging yeast. St. Augustine had it correct when he said “thou hast made us for Thyself, Oh God, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee!”
Date: 2020-07-28
Day of the Week: Tuesday
Day Description: Weekday
Color of the Day: green
Readings: Jer 14:17-22/Ps.79:8-9,11,13/Mt 13:36-43
Thought of the Readings: In the first reading from Jeremiah there is a sense of being abandoned. Jeremiah is decrying the situation of desolation. When we lose God there is a sense of depression or abandonment. Jeremiah is asking us to flee to God, to trust in God and to return to the lord! This is the only way and what is more the Lord awaits us!
Date: 2020-07-29
Day of the Week: Wednesday
Day Description: Saint Martha, Memorial
Color of the Day: white
Readings: Jer 15:10, 16-21/Ps.59:2-4,10-11,17-18/Jn 11:19-27 or Lk 10:38-42
Thought of the Readings: Today is the Feast of St. Martha. Martha and her sister Mary received the Lord as guest. There is conflict between the two. One, Martha is always busy while Mary’s attention is on the Lord. Martha is depicted in scripture as a woman who despite being busy about many things, did learn the one thing that was necessary and recognized Jesus as the Christ!
Date: 2020-07-30
Day of the Week: Thursday
Day Description: Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Color of the Day: green/white
Readings: Jer 18:1-6/Ps.146:1-6/Mt 13:47-53
Thought of the Readings: In the first reading Jeremiah uses the example of the potter working with the clay. When his creation is not turning out right, he destroys the work and starts out again. God uses us in that very manner. God has a plan on our life and He is constantly at work to bring the full of me about in that plan.
Date: 2020-07-31
Day of the Week: Friday
Day Description: Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest, Memorial
Color of the Day: white
Readings: Jer 26:1-9/Ps.69:5,8-10,14/Mt 13:54-58
Thought of the Readings: Today is the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola. He was a knight and enjoyed that life. He was interested in the ladies and was a complete soldier. He was injured in the Battle of Lepanto. During his recuperation they brought him romantic novels. He devoured them, to such a degree that they ran out of these books. They then gave him the lives of the saints and he began reading them. This led to his conversion and he kept saying to himself, “I could do that!” So began the foundation of the Jesuits. We are never beyond the scope of God’s design for us!