The scribes could not accept Jesus’ teaching. He was accused of being in league with the forces of evil,

though he was clearly on the side of what was good.

Jesus is indeed the stronger one. He takes on the forces of evil, and the powers of darkness cannot master him.

Jesus is scathing of those who cannot recognise goodness and who see only evil.

The Word of God teaches us to trust in the divine power and kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

With Him, all sins in the world and all evil will be gone through His mighty name.

 

 

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

St. Vincent of Saragossa, deacon and martyr

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

2 Samuel 5:1-7, 10

All the tribes of Israel

Solid Faith and Liquid Hearts.

We need rock-like faith, but liquid hearts that can melt in compassion for the other.

However, the Pharisees were solid in the wrong place –

in their own hearts which only got closed in on itself. 

  

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51142

David said to Saul,

Jesus continues the preaching ministry that John inaugurated and began to look for collaborators,

like-minded men who would help Him spread the Good News.

In today’s story he calls four fishermen at the Sea of Galilee — Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John.

There was something remarkably compelling

about Jesus to cause these and others to follow him into an uncertain future.

‘Who is Jesus?’ and ‘What are Jesus’ disciples meant to be like?’.

anyone can be a disciple.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Jonah 3:1-5, 10

The word of Yahweh

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Samuel 15:16-23

Samuel then told Saul,

Jesus ignored the hope of his disciples that he would be a king.

He spent much of his ministry being misunderstood by his own family,

let's go to the Lord and ask him to lead us and show us how to minister, serve,

and respect those around us so that we can reach them with God's grace.

 

Blessed Virgin Mary

St. Fabian, pope & martyr St. Sebastian, martyr

Ps 80:2-3, 5-7 Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.

 

1st Reading: 2 Samuel 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27

After the death of Saul,

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19

Samuel lay in the house

Jesus called His disciples and from them selected the Twelve who would be His closest collaborators.

The Son of God, the most powerful who can effect anything He wants welcomed human collaborators to Help Him in His task.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Samuel 24:3-21*

(...)Now David and his men

John was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.

When people really 'see' Jesus - life is never again the same.

To 'see' Jesus is to have some sort of glimpse of who he really is - the compassionate healer,

the one who loves to the end, the Son of God.

‘Come and see'. Jesus invites you.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19

Samuel lay in the house

We in our day can ‘touch’ Jesus in many ways.

They approach him with one desire – to touch him and be healed. Loving energy flows out from Jesus.

As I spend this time with Jesus, I let him quell any spirits in me that are not for my good.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Samuel 18:6-9; 19:1-7

When they arrived after

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The Pharisees assumed that if a person ate with sinners, that person was a sinner, too.

Jesus invited to Levi to follow Him, without regard to qualifications or merits.

Levi will be changed not by harsh words and fear mongering of eternal punishment but by the gentle love of Jesus.

Jesus was coming into contact with sinners. But instead of the sinners making him unclean, he was making them clean.

 

Blessed Virgin Mary St. Hilary, bishop & doctor

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1

There was a man