GOSPEL READING TODAY - Peter's Profession of Faith

Luke 9:18-22

18 Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” 21 He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. 22 He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

GOSPEL READING TODAY - The Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist

Matthew 9:9-13

9 As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. 10 While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. 11 The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. 13 Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

GOSPEL READING TODAY - Matthew 18:15-20 - Fraternal Correction

Matthew 18: 15 - 20

15 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Gospel Reading Today, August 1

G O S P E L

In this story where Jesus feeds the five thousand, we see a foretaste of the greater feeding that Jesus will do, not just through the loaves and fish but by His body and blood. The food Jesus fed the crowds nourished their physical bodies while in the Holy Eucharist Jesus nourishes our spirits and  gives us food for eternal life.

ALLELUIA

R: Alleluia, alleluia

    One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the  

    mouth of God.

R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 14:13-21

13 When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. 14 When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 He said to them, “There is  no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” 17 But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” 18 Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” 19 and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over — twelve wicker baskets full. 21 Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.

Reflections

T h i n k : God will not reject us when we come to Him and truly express what is in our

                 hearts.

Gospel Today

Matthew 12:1-8

1 Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, 4 how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent? 6 I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you knew what this meant, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned these innocent men. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

Gospel Today

G O S P E L

In the presence of the person of Jesus, we see the power of the Kingdom of God invading our world: demons are driven out, the sick healed and the lost forgiven. Today, let us be like the people in the crowd who reached out in faith to receive healing from Jesus.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 9:32-38
32 A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, 33 and when the demon was driven out the mute person spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.” 35 Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. 36 At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were  troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; 38 so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

Reflections
Think: We need to have a passion for God and be honest about ourselves to Him.

Gospel Today, July 3, 2011

G O S P E L  Today

Jesus invites us, His disciples, to come to Him because He wants to give us His comfort, peace and rest. How much of our lives are under the control of compulsions that drive us relentlessly? The Gospel’s call today is for us to come and allow Jesus to order our lives so that we will dwell in Him and in His peace.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 11:25-30

25 At that time Jesus exclaimed, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

Reflections
T h i n k : How much of our lives are under the control of compulsions that drive us relentlessly?