“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

  This light is the presence of God Himself, made flesh in Jesus Christ,

who has come to illuminate the path for us and to dispel the darkness in our hearts.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊   

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11)

St. Augustine, bishop and doctor

＂Pray as though everything depended on God.

Work as though everything depended on you. ＂

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

1 Thessalonians 3:7-13

What a consolation for us,

  “Today this Scripture is fulfilled,”

Jesus declares that he is that prophet, that he has been “anointed” by the Spirit and sent

by the Father, particularly to four categories of people:

the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed.

His mission is to “proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour,” that is, a Jubilee!

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊   

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Brothers and sisters,

  "Raised to new life by Christ"

through faith in Jesus Christ and His resurrection,

believers are spiritually resurrected from a life of sin to a new, transformed life in Him.

"buried with Christ" through baptism and then "raised" to walk in "newness of life".

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 pm

Remember our labor and toil;

 " Do not choose the best seat."

Jesus observed guests trying to take places of honor at a banquet and told a parable advising against it.

Anyone who exalts themselves will be humbled, and anyone who humbles themselves will be exalted.

“Christ took the lowest place in the world—the Cross—and by this radical humility he redeemed us” (Benedict XVI)

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29

My son,

 "Purify the inside first, then the outside, too, will be purified"

It means that true cleanliness or righteousness must begin with inner moral

and spiritual cleansing, not with mere outward appearances or actions.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Thessalonians 2:1-8

You well know,

  In the parable, Each of us has a vocation which no one else has been given.

now, by sharing in his work. We are created to be co-workers

with the Lord and sharers in his mission to build up the Kingdom of God.

「Good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a little;

I will set you over much. Come and share in the joy of your master.」

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Thessalonians 4:9-11

Regarding mutual love,

 ” In prosperity, give thanks to God with humility and fear, lest by pride,

you abuse God's benefits and so offend him. “
                                                                                         

                                                          - St. Louis   

St. Joseph Calasanz, priest 

St. Louis

25 AUGUST Monday

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8b-10  

From Paul,

  "God has called us to live in holiness"

As God is holy, His followers are called to be holy,

reflecting His nature in their conduct.

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy".

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

For the rest,

"For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able."

“Lord, are only a few men to be saved?”

Away from me all you workers of evil.'

Strive to enter in at the strait gate.

With joy we recall his words to the repentant thief:

“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

 Isaiah 66:18-21

Now I am going to gather