teaching Archives - Daily Mass Meditations

St. Augustine gives us a very strange principle to understand the phrase of Jesus about not casting our pearl before swine. “We must be careful not to reveal anything to one who cannot bear it, for it is better that one make a search for what is concealed than assail or despise what is revealed.” How are we to understand this in the context of Evangelization. Jesus gives us the image of the Word of God that is almost and seemingly carelessly scattered everywhere: good soil, rocky soil, the road, etc. He contrasts this image with the pearl: something valuable that ought not be given away easily. When we are sent to bring the good news to people, it is the Word of God itself that we should sow liberally. We ought not distribute as liberally how the Word has become a treasure in our hearts personally. If we reveal to others how suffering and toil with the Word have caused it to become the treasure of our hearts, they may reject it and – because it exposes our vulnerability – injure us in the process. The Word of God is different, it is God Himself who speaks and if we communicate that Word to others, He Himself bears the brunt of any insult or rejection. Pearls are reserved for those who already believe but struggle and find it difficult. read more

Daily Readings

Friday of the Third Week of Easter
by USCCB on April 19, 2024 at 8:30 am
Reading 1 Acts 9:1-20 Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,went to the high priest and asked himfor letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that,if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus,a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"He said, "Who are you, sir?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do." The men who were traveling with him stood speechless,for they heard the voice but could see no one.Saul got up from the ground,but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias,and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He answered, "Here I am, Lord." The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straightand ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul.He is there praying,and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananiascome in and lay his hands on him,that he may regain his sight."But Ananias replied,"Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man,what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem.And here he has authority from the chief prieststo imprison all who call upon your name." But the Lord said to him,"Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mineto carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel,and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name." So Ananias went and entered the house;laying his hands on him, he said,"Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me,Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came,that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately things like scales fell from his eyesand he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized,and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus,and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues,that he is the Son of God. Responsorial Psalm Ps 117:1bc, 2 R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.or:R. Alleluia.Praise the LORD, all you nations;glorify him, all you peoples!R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.or:R. Alleluia.For steadfast is his kindness toward us,and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 6:56 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood,remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 6:52-59 The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,"How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them,"Amen, amen, I say to you,unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood,you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Bloodhas eternal life,and I will raise him on the last day.For my Flesh is true food,and my Blood is true drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Bloodremains in me and I in him.Just as the living Father sent meand I have life because of the Father,so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,whoever eats this bread will live forever." These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

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