Sunday, April 25, 2010

Support for The Holy Father

I found this at Catholics Online a sight where you can pledge your support to the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI. The sight is Support The Pope
I signed up it was quick and easy and on top of the prayers for the Holy Father in these troubling times every little bit helps.
When will these attacks ever stop on the Holy Father?
I was listening to a Hungarian program on Maria Radio and they were talking with some nuns from Hungary who had served around the world and one of them had served in the United States and Canada and had an interesting observation about North Americans. It was we were interested in the religion but not truly devoted as they are in Europe and elsewhere.
Maybe now is the time for us to become more spiritual as we have to defend the Holy Father and the Holy Catholic Church from the constant attacks and misinformation!
Take time to pray for Pope Benedict say The Rosary for him and God Bless you all!

The Sunday Reading

First Reading - Acts 13:14,43-52

14 Yet truly, they, traveling on from Perga, arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. And upon entering the synagogue on the Sabbath day, they sat down.
43 And when the synagogue had been dismissed, many among the Jews and the new worshipers were following Paul and Barnabas. And they, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 Yet truly, on the following Sabbath, nearly the entire city came together to hear the Word of God.
45 Then the Jews, seeing the crowds, were filled with envy, and they, blaspheming, contradicted the things that were being said by Paul.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas said firmly: “It was necessary to speak the Word of God first to you. But because you reject it, and so judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 For so has the Lord instructed us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
48 Then the Gentiles, upon hearing this, were gladdened, and they were glorifying the Word of the Lord. And as many as believed were preordained to eternal life.
49 Now the word of the Lord was disseminated throughout the entire region.
50 But the Jews incited some devout and honest women, and the leaders of the city. And they stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas. And they drove them away from their parts.
51 But they, shaking the dust from their feet against them, went on to Iconium.
52 The disciples were likewise filled with gladness and with the Holy Spirit.

Psalm - Ps 100:1-2,3,5

1 A Psalm of Confession.
2 Shout joyfully to God, all the earth. Serve the Lord with rejoicing. Enter into his sight in exultation.
3 Know that the Lord himself is God. He made us, and we ourselves did not. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
5 For the Lord is sweet, his mercy is in eternity, and his truth is from generation to generation.


Second Reading - Rev 7:9,14b-17

9 After these things, I saw a great crowd, which no one could number, from all the nations and tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and in sight of the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.
14b “My lord, you know.”
15 Therefore, they are before the throne of God, and they serve him, day and night, in his temple. And the One who sits upon the throne shall dwell over them.
16 They shall not hunger, nor shall they thirst, anymore. Neither shall the sun beat down upon them, nor any heat.
17 For the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will rule over them, and he will lead them to the fountains of the waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Gospel - Jn 10:27-30

27 My sheep hear my voice. And I know them, and they follow me.
28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall not perish, for eternity. And no one shall seize them from my hand.
29 What my Father gave to me is greater than all, and no one is able to seize from the hand of my Father.
30 I and the Father are one.”

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Words to Live By

The Gospel today are words to live by and again as I have always found in my little feeble mind that are pertinent to the current world today.

Jn 6:35-40

Jesus said to the crowds,
“I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
But I told you that although you have seen me,
you do not believe.
Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day.”

Only if we all could live by these words!! Take care God Bless!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

The Sunday Reading

First Reading - Acts 5:27-32,40b-41

27 And when they had brought them, they stood them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,
28 and said: “We strongly order you not to teach in this name. For behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and you wish to bring the blood of this man upon us.”
29 But Peter and the Apostles responded by saying: “It is necessary to obey God, more so than men.
30 The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a tree.
31 It is he whom God has exalted at his right hand as Ruler and Savior, so as to offer repentance and the remission of sins to Israel.
32 And we are witnesses of these things, with the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to all who are obedient to him.”
40b they warned them not to speak at all in the name of Jesus.
41 And indeed, they went forth from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer insult on behalf of the name of Jesus.

Psalm - Ps 30:2,4-6,11-13

2 I will extol you, Lord, for you have sustained me, and you have not allowed my enemies to delight over me.
4 Lord, you led my soul away from Hell. You have saved me from those who descend into the pit.
5 Sing a psalm to the Lord, you his saints, and confess with remembrance of his holiness.
6 For wrath is in his indignation, and life is in his will. Toward evening, weeping will linger, and toward morning, gladness.
11 The Lord has heard, and he has been merciful to me. The Lord has become my helper.
12 You have turned my mourning into gladness for me. You have cut off my sackcloth, and you have surrounded me with joy.
13 So then, may my glory sing to you, and may I not regret it. O Lord, my God, I will confess to you for eternity.

Second Reading - Rev 5:11-14

11 And I saw, and I heard the voice of many Angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders, (and their number was thousands of thousands)
12 saying with a great voice: “The Lamb who was slain is worthy to receive power, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.”
13 And every creature that is in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and all that is within the sea: I heard them all saying: “To the One sitting upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing, and honor, and glory, and authority, forever and ever.”
14 And the four living creatures were saying, “Amen.” And the twenty-four elders fell down on their faces, and they adored the One who lives forever and ever.

Gospel - Jn 21:1-19

1 After this, Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. And he manifested himself in this way.
2 These were together: Simon Peter and Thomas, who is called the Twin, and Nathanael, who was from Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.
3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “And we are going with you.” And they went and climbed into the ship. And in that night, they caught nothing.
4 But when morning arrived, Jesus stood on the shore. Yet the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any food?” They answered him, “No.”
6 He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the ship, and you will find some.” Therefore, they cast it out, and then they were not able to draw it in, because of the multitude of fish.
7 Therefore, the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” Simon Peter, when he had heard that it was the Lord, wrapped his tunic around himself, (for he was naked) and he cast himself into the sea.
8 Then the other disciples arrived in a boat, (for they were not far from the land, only about two hundred cubits) dragging the net with the fish.
9 Then, when they climbed down to the land they saw burning coals prepared, and fish already placed above them, and bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just now caught.”
11 Simon Peter climbed up and drew in the net to land: full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, “Approach and dine.” And not one of them sitting down to eat dared to ask him, “Who are you?” For they knew that it was the Lord.
13 And Jesus approached, and he took bread, and he gave it to them, and similarly with the fish.
14 This was now the third time that Jesus was manifested to his disciples, after he had resurrected from the dead.
15 Then, when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
16 He said to him again: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
17 He said to him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was very grieved that he had asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” And so he said to him: “Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my sheep.
18 Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked wherever you wanted. But when you are older, you will extend your hands, and another shall gird you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
19 Now he said this to signify by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Reading of the Day

I think I have mentioned this before but many of the readins from the bible are so appsopriate for the world we live in today! Here is a reading from the Gospel today that we should apply to ourselves as it is real appropriate for the mess of a world we live in!

Gospel: Jn 3:16-21
Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Yes, God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but may have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world; instead, through him the world is to be saved. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned. He who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the Name of the only Son of God. “This is how the Judgment is made: Light has come into the world and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For whoever does wrong hates the light and doesn’t come to the light for fear that his deeds will be shown as evil. But whoever lives according to the truth comes into the light so that it can be clearly seen that his works have been done in God.”

Read the words over and over and you will see what I mean! God Bless!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

It Continues!

Totally unacceptable! Yes the media continues to attack the church and misrepresent facts. Luckily I have seen many people coming out to help Pope Benedict XVI and the church. I guess the media today does not worry about facts but about impact to be able to sell advertising spots after all money talks! Yes in today's godless society that the media has created God has been eliminated as a place to turn to. No we have to see a shrink we have to accuse people and then we get to sue them for huge amounts of money. All great stuff for headlines!
So here is a story that is good to see in these tough times, a reporter coming out in the aid of the church!



Vatican Peruvian reporter denounces witch hunt against Catholic Church


Vatican City, Apr 9, 2010 / 10:53 pm (CNA).- Peruvian reporter Martha Meier recently published an article in the newspaper El Comercio denouncing the “witch hunt against the Catholic Church” being carried out by the media, which is attempting to smear Pope Benedict XVI over cases of sexual abuse by some members of the clergy.

Meier said those who are seeking to tarnish the Pope's image “want to bring back their outdated ideology.”

After noting that the full force of the law must fall upon abusive priests, Meier asked, “Are those who rend their garments over the abominable acts of pedophilia really concerned about children? Do those who spill gobs of ink really seek the truth? The answer is no.”

Through their disinformation, she argued, “they discredit the Catholic Church, they cast blame on everyone and want to make the more than 2 billion Catholics all feel guilty.”

“Sexual abuse of pre-teen children by priests is the exception, not the norm,” Meier said. “The statistics reveal that it is an uncommon situation that involves 0.3% of the clergy.”

The Peruvian author then compared the treatment given to these few cases in the Church with those of humanitarian agencies such as the United Nations in emergency zones.

“Should the UN Peacekeeping forces disappear? Are Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his predecessors responsible?” she asked, referring to abuses carried out by peacekeeping troops. “If we followed the logic of the anti-clericals we would have to blame them, because the actions continue in those places where there ought to be help for those most in need,” she explained.

Meier said the kind of witch hunt being carried out against the Church does nothing to further democracy and ends up being a perverse and opportunistic form of terrorism.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Sunday Reading

First Reading - Acts 5:12-16

12 And through the hands of the Apostles many signs and wonders were accomplished among the people. And they all met with one accord at Solomon’s portico.
13 And among the others, no one dared to join himself to them. But the people magnified them.
14 Now the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord was ever increasing,
15 so much so that they laid the infirm in the streets, placing them on beds and stretchers, so that, as Peter arrived, at least his shadow might fall upon any one of them, and they would be freed from their infirmities.
16 But a multitude also hurried to Jerusalem from the neighboring cities, carrying the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits, who were all healed.

Psalm - Ps 118:2-4,13-15,22-24

R. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
2. Let Israel now say: For he is good, for his mercy is forever.
3. Let the house of Aaron now say: For his mercy is forever.
4. Let those who fear the Lord now say: For his mercy is forever.
R. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
13. Having been pushed, I was overturned so as to fall. But the Lord took me up.
14. The Lord is my strength and my praise. And he has become my salvation.
15. A voice of exultation and salvation is in the tabernacles of the just.
R. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
22. The stone which the builders have rejected, this has become the head of the corner.
23. By the Lord has this been done, and it is a wonder before our eyes.
24. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us exult and rejoice in it.
R. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.

Second Reading - Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19

9 I, John, your brother, and a sharer in the tribulation and in the kingdom and in patient endurance for Christ Jesus, was on the island which is called Patmos, because of the Word of God and the testimony to Jesus.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a great voice, like that of a trumpet,
11a saying,
12 And I turned around, so as to see the voice which was speaking with me. And having turned around, I saw seven golden lampstands.
13 And in the midst of the seven golden lampstands was one resembling the Son of man, clothed to the feet with a vestment, and wrapped to the breast with a wide belt of gold.
17 And when I had seen him, I fell at his feet, like one who is dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
18 And I am alive, though I was dead. And, behold, I live forever and ever. And I hold the keys of death and of Hell.
19 Therefore, write the things which you have seen, and which are, and which must occur afterward:

Gospel - Jn 20:19-31

19. Then, when it was late on the same day, on the first of the Sabbaths, and the doors were closed where the disciples were gathered, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and he said to them: “Peace to you.”
20. And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and side. And the disciples were gladdened when they saw the Lord.
21. Therefore, he said to them again: “Peace to you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
22. When he had said this, he breathed on them. And he said to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit.
23. Those whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them, and those whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.”
24. Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus arrived.
25. Therefore, the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I will see in his hands the mark of the nails and place my finger into the place of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26. And after eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas was with them. Jesus arrived, though the doors had been closed, and he stood in their midst and said, “Peace to you.”
27. Next, he said to Thomas: “Look at my hands, and place your finger here; and bring your hand close, and place it at my side. And do not choose to be unbelieving, but faithful.”
28. Thomas responded and said to him, “My Lord and my God.”
29. Jesus said to him: “You have seen me, Thomas, so you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
30. Jesus also accomplished many other signs in the sight of his disciples. These have not been written in this book.
31. But these things have been written, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so that, in believing, you may have life in his name.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Sunday Reading

First Reading - Acts 10:34a, 37-43

34a Then, Peter, opening his mouth
37 You know that the Word has been made known throughout all Judea. For beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached,
38 Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power, traveled around doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil. For God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all that he did in the region of Judea and in Jerusalem, he whom they killed by hanging him on a tree.
40 God raised him up on the third day and permitted him to be made manifest,
41 not to all the people, but to the witnesses preordained by God, to those of us who ate and drank with him after he rose again from the dead.
42 And he instructed us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the One who was appointed by God to be the judge of the living and of the dead.
43 To him all the Prophets offer testimony that through his name all who believe in him receive the remission of sins.”

Psalm - Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

1 Alleluia. Confess to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy is forever.
2 Let Israel now say: For he is good, for his mercy is forever.
16 The right hand of the Lord has wrought virtue. The right hand of the Lord has exalted me. The right hand of the Lord has wrought virtue.
17 I will not die, but I will live. And I will declare the works of the Lord.
22 The stone which the builders have rejected, this has become the head of the corner.
23 By the Lord has this been done, and it is a wonder before our eyes

Second Reading - Col 3:1-4

1 Therefore, if you have risen together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
2 Consider the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth.
3 For you have died, and so your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Gospel - Jn 20:1-9

1 Then on the first Sabbath, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and she saw that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb.
2 Therefore, she ran and went to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and she said to them, “They have taken the Lord away from the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”
3 Therefore, Peter departed with the other disciple, and they went to the tomb.
4 Now they both ran together, but the other disciple ran more quickly, ahead of Peter, and so he arrived at the tomb first.
5 And when he bowed down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not yet enter.
6 Then Simon Peter arrived, following him, and he entered the tomb, and he saw the linen cloths lying there,
7 and the separate cloth which had been over his head, not placed with the linen cloths, but in a separate place, wrapped up by itself.
8 Then the other disciple, who had arrived first at the tomb, also entered. And he saw and believed.
9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that it was necessary for him to rise again from the dead.