DAILY MASS READING

God the Father by Cima da Conegliano, c. 1515

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"I am the LORD, and there is no other"

Wednesday, December 14, 2011
St. John of the Cross, Priest, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

FIRST READING

Isaiah 45: 6 - 8, 18, 21 – 25

6 that men may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. 7 I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe, I am the LORD, who do all these things. 8 "Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may sprout forth, and let it cause righteousness to spring up also; I the LORD have created it. 

18 For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it a chaos, he formed it to be inhabited!): "I am the LORD, and there is no other. 

21 Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. 22 "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. 23 By myself I have sworn, from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness a word that shall not return: `To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.' 24 "Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed, all who were incensed against him. 25 In the LORD all the offspring of Israel shall triumph and glory."

PSALM RESPONSE

Psalms 85: 9 – 14

9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. 10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. 12 Yea, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before him, and make his footsteps a way.

GOSPEL

Luke 7: 18 – 23 

18 The disciples of John told him of all these things. 19 And John, calling to him two of his disciples, sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?" 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, `Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?'" 21 In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many that were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is he who takes no offense at me."

He who walks along a precipice, although he may not fall over, yet he trembles and often falls through that very fear. Even so, he who flies not far from sin, but keeps near to it, lives in continual fear, and often falls. -- St John Chrysostom

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/inspiration_12dec2011.htm#ixzz1f2DDdp00

Merry Christmas!

Christmas In Our Hearts - By: Jose Mari Chan {With Lyrics} 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYAM9Hav6XQ&feature=related   

DAILY MASS READING

 from:biblica.frih.org

Monday, December 05, 2011
Advent Weekday
 

FIRST READING

Isaiah 35: 1 – 10

1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus 2 it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God. 3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you." 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; 7 the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. 8 And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not pass over it, and fools shall not err therein. 9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. 10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

PSALM RESPONSE

Psalms 85: 9 – 14

9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. 10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. 12 Yea, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before him, and make his footsteps a way.

GOSPEL 

Luke 5: 17 – 26

17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 And behold, men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they sought to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?" 22 When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, `Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, `Rise and walk'? 24 But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -- he said to the man who was paralyzed -- "I say to you, rise, take up your bed and go home." 25 And immediately he rose before them, and took up that on which he lay, and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen strange things today."

 Christ would forgive the sins of one because of the faith his friends have in God.

In this story,  the paralytic receives forgiveness of sins because of the faith of those who brought him to Jesus.

It is also through the Death and Resurrection of Jesus that forgiveness has been given to all.  He becomes our way back to the Father.

Jesus commanded baptism as a necessity for everyone to include infants, to enter into the kingdom of God.

And 'Faith'  is God’s gift, not something that we get when we study some doctrines.

Here, the faith of the parents and Godparents of the child to be baptized, follows the example of Jesus, who forgave sins because of the faith of others .

 

Lead me Lord by Basil Valdez with Lyrics-
httpwww.youtube.comwatchv=wNq6Y3TDTKw&feature=related

Let us  pray the Mystery of Light  of the Holy Rosary

(Thursday)

Mother Mary promised that if  just one member of the family prays it every day, She will save that family. And this promise is signed and sealed by the Divine Trinity.”

              

 The Complete Rosary, Luminous Mysteries; a free professional presentation.  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRuPXtyq-r8

 

 

DAILY MASS READING

 from: delcarmen-r11.blogspot.com

Sunday, December 04, 2011
Second Sunday of Advent

FIRST READING

Isaiah 40: 1 - 5, 9 – 11

1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." 

9 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!" 10 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

PSALM RESPONSE

Psalms 85: 9 – 14

9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. 10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. 12 Yea, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before him, and make his footsteps a way

SECOND READING

2 Peter 3: 8 – 14

8 But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up. 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire! 13 But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

GOSPEL

Mark 1: 1 – 8

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight -- " 4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Whatever you do, think not of yourself, but of God.

-- St Vincent Ferrer

The Baptism In Jordan (Original Song).m4v

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfP6qNT0waE  

 

 

The Most Holy Rosary

The Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary comes to us from Our Lady through the hands of her Apostle St. Dominic. It is the sword of the spirit (Eph. 6:17) for the defense of the Catholic faith, and the catechism set to prayer. The Rosary is a union of vocal and mental prayer. The words of the "Hail Mary"are its body, and meditation on its 15 mysteries its soul.
 

Our Lady of Fatima insisted that the Rosary be said every day (at least five decades). No one who prays it with devotion and perserverance will be lost or long enslaved by mortal sin. After the holy sacrifice of the Mass with its accompanying Divine Office, the Rosary is the greatest Catholic prayer.
 

The Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is the companion of the Rosary and the shield of faith (Eph. 6:16) that goes with the sword. Our Lady of Fatim wishes it to be worn as the sign of our consecration to her Sorrowful and Immaculate  Heart.

Let us pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Holy Rosary

(Wednesday & Sunday)

  The Complete Rosary, Glorious Mysteries; a free professional presentation. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSKsCW4WxUw&feature=related