So let's talk about today's readings 12/09/09

[cheeto1]

December 9, 2009

Reading 1
Is 40:25-31

To whom can you liken me as an equal?
says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high
and see who has created these things:
He leads out their army and numbers them,
calling them all by name.
By his great might and the strength of his power
not one of them is missing!
Why, O Jacob, do you say,
and declare, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God”? Do you not know
or have you not heard?
The LORD is the eternal God,
creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint nor grow weary,
and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.
He gives strength to the fainting;
for the weak he makes vigor abound.
Though young men faint and grow weary,
and youths stagger and fall,
They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength,
they will soar as with eagles’ wings;
They will run and not grow weary,
walk and not grow faint.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10

R. (1) O bless the Lord, my soul!
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
Gospel
Mt 11:28-30

Jesus said to the crowds:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

 

[cheeto1]

"Why…do you say…
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God”? "
– Or, God doesn’t mind my sins, and God doesn’t give me all the good I deserve.
Why do we say that?

" forget not all his benefits.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!..He heals all your ills."
– Note how everyone who came to Jesus for healing never said, “Why did you
make me blind? Why did you give me leprosy? Why did you kill my daughter?”
That’s because they knew that it is the good things that come from God. The
good things. It is the devil who comes to kill and to steal. Jesus came that they
may have life, and have it to the full.

““Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest”"
– These are some of the most comforting words in the whole bible. Since we are
to be like Jesus, then do we also give this invitation to others? Do we help
those who are burdened? And how about our “advice”? Do we offer a yoke that
is easy, a burden that is light, rest for a weary soul? Or instead, do we tie up
a heavy burden, like the Pharisees, and not lift a finger to help move it, saying
instead, I’ll pray for you? Prayer is indeed the most important thing, but cannot
substitute for assistance needed.

Today is the day of Juan Diego

So what struck you about today’s readings? :bible1::twocents:

 

[CHRISTINE77]

"Why…do you say…
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God”? "
– Or, God doesn’t mind my sins, and God doesn’t give me all the good I deserve.
Why do we say that?

" forget not all his benefits.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!..He heals all your ills."
– Note how everyone who came to Jesus for healing never said, “Why did you
make me blind? Why did you give me leprosy? Why did you kill my daughter?”
That’s because they knew that it is the good things that come from God. The
good things. It is the devil who comes to kill and to steal. Jesus came that they
may have life, and have it to the full.

““Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest”"
– These are some of the most comforting words in the whole bible. Since we are
to be like Jesus, then do we also give this invitation to others? Do we help
those who are burdened? And how about our “advice”? Do we offer a yoke that
is easy, a burden that is light, rest for a weary soul? Or instead, do we tie up
a heavy burden, like the Pharisees, and not lift a finger to help move it, saying
instead, I’ll pray for you? Prayer is indeed the most important thing, but cannot
substitute for assistance needed.

Today is the day of Juan Diego

So what struck you about today’s readings? :bible1::twocents:

It struck me that God is merciful and that mercy and compassion are the two best qualities a human can show towards his fellow humans.

Who is Juan Diego?

 

[cheeto1]

I agree, mercy and compassion. That’s what we need to have, to be like Jesus.

Juan Diego sounds funny, like a made-up name, doesn’t it?
He is a man from Mexico who had a vision of Mary, telling him to build a
shrine in honor of her love at the spot where he was receiving this vision.
He went to the Bishop, who asked for a sign, and a sign was given. A portrait
of Mary was left on Juan Diego’s cloak. A shrine was built, and at this place,
Mary in the vision is known as “Our Lady of Guadalupe”. She has her own
feast day on December 12, coming up.

 

[CHRISTINE77]

I agree, mercy and compassion. That’s what we need to have, to be like Jesus.

Juan Diego sounds funny, like a made-up name, doesn’t it?
He is a man from Mexico who had a vision of Mary, telling him to build a
shrine in honor of her love at the spot where he was receiving this vision.
He went to the Bishop, who asked for a sign, and a sign was given. A portrait
of Mary was left on Juan Diego’s cloak. A shrine was built, and at this place,
Mary in the vision is known as “Our Lady of Guadalupe”. She has her own
feast day on December 12, coming up.

Oh yeah, now I remember. This time of year is a lot about Mary. Yesterday was Mary’s Immaculate Conception, that was a lovely service!

 

[cheeto1]

I think all year long is a lot about Mary. All the other saints just get one day.
So many days are called “Our Lady of…(fill in blank)”.
Think of the rosary too. That’s all about Mary, all year long.
She truly is the Queen of all saints!
The next Mary Day coming up is New Year’s Day.
Don’t forget! I never even knew about it until I started reading the daily roman missal.