Leprosy was highly contagious. They were forbidden to have contact with anyone, were cut off from all society.

What a profound and trusting faith this leper had! He come to Jesus,

He referred to Jesus as "Lord." The leper knew Jesus had the power to heal him.

The leper displayed humility. The leper had a confidence in the power of Christ. He tells Jesus, You can make me clean . Lord, if You are willing.

Jesus understood the leper and was moved by his request.

He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying "I am willing; be cleansed".

St. Irenaeus, bishop, martyr & doctor

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

2 Kings 25:1-12

In the ninth year

 Today's Gospel narrates the storm on the sea.

In our journey sometimes storms gather and batter us. We are buffeted on all sides.

Jesus appeared to expose the weak faith of his disciples.

Jesus says to the disciples:"Why are you afraid, little faith ones?"

we turn and call to God for help.

In Jesus, creation is once again renewed because He will restore order to the world brought in chaos by sin.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Job 38:1, 8-11

Then Yahweh answered Job out of the storm:

Jesus closes the Sermon on the Mount with the story of the houses they have chosen to build.

If I build my life on his word I can withstand fierce of problems and storms.

who is truly a disciple.
The metaphor of the building to describe a life is particularly powerful. One person hears Jesus’ words and acts on them,

putting them into practice. The other hears Jesus’ words and doesn’t act on them.

  St. Cyril of Alexandria, bishop & doctor

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

2 Kings 24:8-17

Jehoiachin was eighteen years old

God, our Father, You love us with endless mercy.

Just believe in Him, never lose hope for He will never fail us.

Almighty God is the center of our lives, not the money and material things that revolve around us.

Do not worry about what you eat. Does not mean that food is unimportant;

Followers of Jesus should pray for “daily bread” , Yet, life is more than food and clothing.

 Blessed Virgin Mary/St. John Fisher, bishop/St. Thomas More, martyrs/St. Paulinus of Nola, bishop

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

2 Chronicles 24:17-25*

After the death of Jehoiada,

 Our so called “fruits”.

 If a tree is known by its fruits, by what fruit is a true Christian known?

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” .

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊   

2 King 22:8-13; 23:1-3

At that moment Hilkiah,

A mother cannot take her eyes off her baby, because her baby is the treasure that her heart cherishes.

Where our treasure is, there will our heart be.

When I look at my heart,

Jesus is asking me not to put my heart and hopes in material possessions.

St. Aloysius Gonzaga, religious

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20*

When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah,

 The pearls at the metaphoric level could indicate the teachings of the wise or the interpretation of the Torah.

The pearl is the image of the kingdom of God.

There are no “short-cuts” to a genuine living of the faith,

there can be no “cutting corners” to a truly deep and meaningful spiritual life.

There are two roads that are in counter-position, that of death and that of life.

Anyone who chooses the narrow road, that of life, should know that it is full of afflictions;

narrow means tried by suffering for the sake of faith.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

2 Kings 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36*

Again Sennacherib sent messengers to

Jesus tells listeners to not put too much emphasis in the use of words when relating to God.

Prayer is not a conversation with God per se but a relationship.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.

God knows us in and out anyway, with our needs, frustrations, with our needs, frustrations, hopes, fears sins, and dreams.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Sirach 48:1-14

Then came the prophet Elijah,

Only three birthdays are celebrated on the Church’s liturgical calendar,

the Nativity of Our Lord ; The Nativity of His Mother ;

and the Nativity of His forerunner, John the Baptist.

Saint John the Baptist was a significant figure connected to the Incarnation and the Redemption. 

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Isaiah 49:1-6*

Listen to me,

During this season, the faithful are summoned to do more works of charity,

to pray more intensely and to fast more meaningfully.

In today's Gospel, Jesus reminds us not to trumpet our religious practices out loud but rather to do them secretly.

Jesus also instructs us to keep our good deeds secret.

"Rend your heart, not your garment." 

St. Romuald, abbot

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊      

2 Kings 2:1, 6-14*

(...) When Elijah and Elisha stood by the Jordan,