2023

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading: Is 8:23-9:3

First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulun
and the land of Naphtali;
but in the end he has glorified the seaward road,
the land west of the Jordan,
the District of the Gentiles.
Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness:
for there is no gloom where but now there was distress.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14

Response– The Lord is my light and my salvation

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R– The Lord is my light and my salvation

One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R– The Lord is my light and my salvation

I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R– The Lord is my light and my salvation

Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:10-13,17

I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree in what you say,
and that there be no divisions among you,
but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.
For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters,
by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you.
I mean that each of you is saying,
“I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,”
or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”
Is Christ divided?
Was Paul crucified for you?
Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel,
and not with the wisdom of human eloquence,
so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.

Alleluia:

Alleluia, alleluia. Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom and cured every disease among the people. Alleluia, alleluia!

Gospel: Mt 4: 12-23 or 4:12-17

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.
He went around all of Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness among the people.

The Readings and Gospel were sourced from:

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »

Micah 6:8

Verse:

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” - Micah 6:8

A Prayer for Peace Making

Jesus, rightful Advocate of peace, Elegant Champion of reconciliation, Your victories echo harmoniously. You taught me the way towards peace, My assurance of congenial oneness. Teach me to carry the torch of peace, That it may reside within my heart And radiate in my surroundings. Through the Grace of Your power, Transform the world into a Heaven. You are the only hope of mankind: You are the most gracious Peace Maker!

Micah 6:8 Read More »

Saint Blaesilla

Saint Blesilla was a Roman widow at the age of 18 and a disciple of Jerome. She was born into a wealthy senatorial family in Rome, the eldest daughter of Paula of Rome and sister of Eustochium, who were members of a group of wealthy Christian women who followed the teachings of Jerome.

After a life-threatening fever, became “a changed woman” and a severe ascetic, practicing fasting as a spiritual discipline. Her fasts dramatically weakened her, and she died within four months, at the age of 20. Blaesilla’s death caused “bitter controversy” in Rome; many Romans blamed Jerome for her death and demanded that he be removed from Rome. Eventually, Jerome left Rome, with Blaesilla’s mother and sister, to live as an ascetic in the Holy Land.

Most of the knowledge about Blaesilla’s life comes from the writings of Jerome, in which he described her piety and virtue. She also inspired Jerome to translate the book of Ecclesiastes.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaesilla
https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=1797
Cruz, Joan Carroll (2015). Lay Saints: Ascetics and Penitents. Charlotte, North Carolina: TAN Books. ISBN 978-0-89555-847-3. OCLC 958120637.
Hooper, Finley; Schwartz, Matthew (1991). Roman Letters: History from a Personal Point of View. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. 206.

Saint Blaesilla Read More »

Amos 5:14

Verse:

“Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.” - Amos 5:14

Prayer for Healing

Jesus, Master Physician of all times, Your Divinity did not require a Ph.D. Eagerly, You resurrected the dead, Restoring the health of the sick. Be it physical or spiritual torment, None were a great obstacle to You: For Your loving power is omnipotent. I ask for Your abounding healing love; Maintain my body and soul vigorous So I may fulfill my daily functions. The world will be conquered by You, All afflictions will be dissipated!

Sources:

Amos 5:14 Read More »

Saint Germanicus of Smyrna

Saint Germanicus was a youth who was arrested and martyred for his faith in Smyrna during the reign of the Roman Emperor Antoninus. As Germanicus stood in the arena, facing a wild beast, the Roman proconsul pleaded with him that in view of his youth he should deny his faith to obtain a pardon. But the young man refused to apostatize, and willingly embraced martyrdom.

Germanicus was praised for his courage facing the wild beasts used to kill him, and was referenced in the Martyrdom of Polycarp.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanicus_of_Smyrna
https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=3557
St. Germanicus Catholic Online
Page 653 A Dictionary of Christian Biography, Literature, Sects and Doctrines

Saint Germanicus of Smyrna Read More »

Proverbs 16:24

Verse:

“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” - Proverbs 16:24

Prayer for the Family

O God of goodness and mercy, to Thy fatherly guidance we commend our family, our household and all our belongings. We commit all to Thy love and keeping; do Thou fill this house with Thy blessings even as Thou didst fill the holy House of Nazareth with Thy presence.

Keep far from us, above all else, the blemish of sin, and do Thou alone reign in our midst by Thy law, by Thy most holy love and by the exercise of every Christian virtue. Let each one of us obey Thee, love Thee and set himself to follow in his own life Thine example, that of Mary, Thy Mother and our Mother most loving, and that of Thy blameless guardian, Saint Joseph.

Protect us and our house from all evils and misfortunes, but grant that we may be ever resigned to Thy divine will even in the sorrows which it shall please Thee to send us. Finally give unto all of us the grace to live in perfect harmony and in the fullness of love toward our neighbor. Grant that every one of us may deserve by a holy life the comfort of Thy holy Sacraments at the hour of death. O Jesus, bless us and protect us.

Sources:

Original version of the prayer: https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=66

Proverbs 16:24 Read More »

Saint Margaret of Hungary

Saint Margaret of Hungary Hilario Barbal was a Dominican nun and the daughter of King Béla IV of Hungary and Maria Laskarina. She was the younger sister of Kinga of Poland (Kunegunda) and Yolanda of Poland and, through her father, the niece of the famed Elizabeth of Hungary.

Saint Margaret was born in Klis Fortress in the Kingdom of Croatia, the eighth and last daughter (9th of 10 children) of the royal couple. The three-year-old Margaret was entrusted by her parents to the Dominican monastery at Veszprém in 1245. Six years later she was transferred to the Monastery of the Blessed Virgin founded by her parents on Nyulak Szigete (Rabbit Island) near Buda (today Margaret Island, named after her, and a part of Budapest; the ruins of the monastery can still be seen). She spent the rest of her life there, dedicating herself to religion and opposing all attempts of her father to arrange a political marriage for her with King Ottokar II of Bohemia.
She appears to have taken solemn vows when she was eighteen years old. In marked contrast to the customs of her Order, she received the Consecration of Virgins along with some other royals to prevent further attempts on the part of her father to have her vows dispensed by the pope for marriage.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_of_Hungary_(saint)

https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=727

[Klis – A gateway to Dalmatia] (PDF). Građevinar (in Croatian). Zagreb: Croatian Society of Civil Engineers. 53 (9): 605–611. September 2001. ISSN 0350-2465. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-18.
"Margaret's Isle, Budapest, Hungary, Austro-Hungary". World Digital Library. 1890
Aldásy, Antal. "Bl. Margaret of Hungary." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company,

Saint Margaret of Hungary Read More »

Philippians 4:23

Verse:

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.” - Philippians 4:23

A Prayer For Godly Grace

How I thank and praise You for the everlasting life that You have given to me by Your wonderful grace and love. May I grow day by day to be more like You, full of compassion and kindness. Saturate my heart with Your love so that I may love You more with every passing breath, my Jesus.

Thank you for Your Holy Spirit, Who is making me to be more like You Lord Jesus. I want to reflect Your grace and Your beauty in thought, word and deed. I ask that I may devote my time and heart to reflect on all You are and all You have done for me, so that You are magnified more and more in my life, so that the beauty of my Lord Jesus may be seen and reflect in me. In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Philippians 4:23 Read More »

Saint Anthony of Egypt

The life of Saint Anthony of Egypt will remind many people of Saint Francis of Assisi. At 20, Anthony was so moved by the Gospel message, “Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor” (Mark 10:21b), that he actually did just that with his large inheritance. He is different from Francis in that most of Anthony’s life was spent in solitude. He saw the world completely covered with snares, and gave the Church and the world the witness of solitary asceticism, great personal mortification and prayer. But no saint is antisocial, and Anthony drew many people to himself for spiritual healing and guidance.
At 54, he responded to many requests and founded a sort of monastery of scattered cells. Again, like Francis, he had great fear of “stately buildings and well-laden tables.”
At 60, he hoped to be a martyr in the renewed Roman persecution of 311, fearlessly exposing himself to danger while giving moral and material support to those in prison. At 88, he was fighting the Arian heresy, that massive trauma from which it took the Church centuries to recover. “The mule kicking over the altar” denied the divinity of Christ.
Saint Anthony of Egypt is associated in art with a T-shaped cross, a pig and a book. The pig and the cross are symbols of his valiant warfare with the devil—the cross his constant means of power over evil spirits, the pig a symbol of the devil himself. The book recalls his preference for “the book of nature” over the printed word. Anthony died in solitude at age 105.

Sources:

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-anthony-of-egypt/

Saint Anthony of Egypt Read More »

Isaiah 40:29

Verse:

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” - Isaiah 40:29

Prayer for the Help of the Holy Spirit

O God, send forth your Holy Spirit into my heart that I may perceive, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate. Inspire me to speak with piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end. May your grace ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with wisdom from on high, for the sake of your infinite mercy. Amen.

Sources:

Original version of the prayer:

https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayeroftheday/

Isaiah 40:29 Read More »