“I am the living bread that came down from heaven.

Whoever eats this bread will live forever.

This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

“Do not work for food that spoils,

but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a

Remember how the Lord,

 "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

It was spoken in response to a trick question about paying taxes to the Roman Empire.

It acknowledges that people have obligations to their secular government;

authorities have their place, a person's ultimate loyalty, life, and soul belong to God.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

2 Peter 3:12-15a, 17-18

As you wait for

Despite being in deep poverty, she completely entrusted herself to God

by placing her last two small copper coins into the Temple treasury.

Wealthy gave out of their abundance, she gave everything she had to live on. 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

2 Timothy 4:1-8

In the presence of God

"TO YIELD AND GIVE WAY TO OUR PASSIONS IS THE LOWEST SLAVERY,

EVEN AS TO RULE OVER THEM IS THE ONLY LIBERTY."

                                                              - Saint Just

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

2 Peter 1:2-7

May grace and peace

 Cherishing the Word of God transforms our hearts,

building a foundation of character, wisdom, and peace.

By dwelling on its truth daily,

we discover spiritual riches and a lasting lifeline of hope.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

2 Timothy 3:10-17

You, instead,

 "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."

Living in love, Gracious Forgiveness True connection

requires letting go of grudges and showing deserved grace.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Exodus 34:46-6, 8-9 -

So Moses cut two tablets of stone

 Because God loved humanity first,

experiencing that unconditional love through Jesus

empowers believers to extend that

same grace to themselves and others.

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊   

2 Timothy 2:8-15

Remember Christ Jesus,

 In this iconic biblical confrontation, Jesus masterfully

deflected the trap set by the religious leaders.

Jesus countered-Question: Was John the Baptist's

baptism of heavenly origin or of human origin?

If they said "human," they feared a backlash from the crowd,

who viewed John as a true prophet.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Jude 17, 20b-25

But, most beloved,

 Faith in the Resurrection is the cornerstone of Christian theology,

affirming that Jesus Christ defeated death.

It validates His identity, ensures the forgiveness of sins,

and serves as the absolute foundation for the hope of eternal life.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

2 Timothy 1:1-3, 6-12

From Paul,

 In the Jewish scriptures, the fruit of a fig tree is used as a metaphor

to describe the relationship of the people to God.

Symbolically directed against the Jews who did not accept Jesus as king.

he shows "His justice on the sinners who bring forth not the expected fruits of grace."

In cursing the fig-tree, but now also he confirms the faith of

his disciples, instead by displaying the rigours of his justice.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Peter 4:7-13

The end of all things