＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Ephesians 4:1-6

Therefore, I, the prisoner of Christ,

  When you come in your glory.
" Grant us to sit one at your right and one at your left. "

Woever would be great among you must be your ser­vant, and whoever would be first among you shall make himself slave of all.

While one climbs the ladder of earthly success, in heaven success is a downward movement of self-emptying and of serving others in humility.

 

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Isaiah 53:10-11

Yet it was the will of Yahweh

In today's Gospel, Jesus says that he has come to bring fire on the earth.

There is a long tradition in the Bible of God appearing as fire.

When Abraham made his covenant with the Lord, the Lord appeared as a flaming torch to ratify the pact.

In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit descends on the gathered disciples as tongues of fire.

 

St. Anthony Mary Claret, bishop

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Ephesians 3:14-21

And now

 It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that one can call out “Abba, Father.

If one rejects that Spirit, we have rejected God for ever.“There are no limits to the mercy of God,

but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting,

rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit”

 

Blessed Virgin Mary/St. John de Brébeuf,

St. Isaac Jogues, priests, & componions,

martyrs/St. Paul of the Cross, priest

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Ephesians 1:15-23

I have been told of your faith

The Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

But Jesus has never left us either!

Who is the wise steward?  He is the one who awaits conscientiously labors for the Master whose return he awaits.

 

St. John of Capistrano, priest

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Ephesians 3:2-12

You may have heard of the graces God

These days we have been listening to some pretty strong words

from Jesus directed specifically at the Pharisees and the teachers of the law.

He was all the more severe on them because, as leaders of the people,

they had greater responsibility to live according to God’s heart

and be an inspiration for the people, but they chose otherwise.

We are all redeemed sinners, made holy by the grace of God.

 

St. Ignatius of Antioch, bishop & martyr

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Ephesians 1:1-10

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus,

 There is always time for those who are willing to change and repent.

The decision is ours whether we want to be dressed and ready for His second coming.

    

 

St. John Paul II, pope

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Ephesians 2:12-22

At that time,

 The Sacred Heart of Christ is an inexhaustible fountain.

and its sole desire is to pour itself out into the hearts of the humble

so as to free them and prepare them to lead lives according to his good pleasure.

From this divine heart three streams flow endlessly. The first is the stream of mercy for sinners;

it pours into their hearts sentiments of contrition and repentance.

The second is the stream of charity which helps all in need

and especially aids those seeking perfection in order to

find the means of surmounting their difficulties.

From the third stream flow love and light for the benefit of his friends

who have attained perfection; these he wishes to unite to himself

so that they may share his knowledge and commandments and,

in their individual ways, devote themselves wholly to advancing his glory.

                                               ~~~ From a letter by Saint Margaret Mary

　

St. Hedwig, religious St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, virgin

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊   

Galatians 5:18-25 на

But when you are led

 In his parable about the rich man, our relationship with our possessions.

Do we own them or do they own us?

Or possessions do not have eternal value, we should set our hearts on the things of heaven.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Ephesians 2:1-10

You were dead,

  St. Teresa of Avila, virgin & doctor

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Galatians 5:1-6

Christ freed us,