Denying one’s self and taking up one’s cross are the small gate and narrow path that leads to life.

Only by uniting our suffering in life to that of Jesus can we carry our crosses.

 

St. Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome  

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

Nahum 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7

 See, there on the mountains,

 

                     "Be on your guard and avoid every kind of gred,

                                                   for even though you have many possessions,

                       it is not that which gives you life."

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23

 All is meaningless –                                                                                                                                                   

 

 

 

Jesus asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’

And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

And I tell you, you are Peter,

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,and on this rock I will build my church,

  "Lord Jesus, I profess and believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Jeremiah 31:31-34

  The time is coming –

 

“It is not lawful for you to have her.”

John stood up for what was right and wrong.John the Baptist, the fearless champion
of truth and justice?

John did something that cost him his life.Beheading, like crucifixion, was a shameful death.

Blessed Virgin Mary

St. Peter Chrysologus, bishop & doctor

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊   

Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24

Then the priests and the prophets

 

"Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David."
"Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
The woman persists, and Jesus praises her for her for faith.
Jesus said, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish."

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Jeremiah 31:1-7

Yahweh declares that when

 

we should have an open and trusting heart,

Lord, teach us to see with the eyes of faith.

St. Martha, Mary & Lazarus

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Jeremiah 26:1-9

At the beginning of the reign of Judah’s

 

          In the middle of the storm?  “Where is Jesus now that we need him?”

        “Do not be afraid!” for I am with you; The presence of Jesus reassures me,
when I turn my eyes upon God, who is strong even when I am weak.

 

St. Eusebius of Vercelli, bishop

St. Peter Julian Eymard, priest

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22

  This is another word

 

Jesus did not come to abolish the Old Covenant but to fulfill it.

The Old Testament prepares for the New and the New Testament fulfils the Old – the two shed light on each other.

Augustine had said that “The New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old is unveiled in the New”.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊   

Jeremiah 18:1-6

 This is the word of Yahweh that came to Jere­miah:

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Jeremiah 28:1-17                        

 

Ps 119:29, 43, 79, 80,95, 102

Lord, teach me your statutes.

 

 

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure

The Kingdom of God is worth far more than anything else.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21

 Woe is me,