Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading I

 

Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18

 

The LORD is a God of justice,

who knows no favorites.

Though not unduly partial toward the weak,

yet he hears the cry of the oppressed.

The Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan,

nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint.

The one who serves God willingly is heard;

his petition reaches the heavens.

The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds;

it does not rest till it reaches its goal,

nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds,

judges justly and affirms the right,

and the Lord will not delay.

 

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23

 

R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

I will bless the LORD at all times;

his praise shall be ever in my mouth.

Let my soul glory in the LORD;

the lowly will hear me and be glad.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

The LORD confronts the evildoers,

to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.

When the just cry out, the Lord hears them,

and from all their distress he rescues them.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;

and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.

The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;

no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

 

Reading II

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

 

Beloved:

I am already being poured out like a libation,

and the time of my departure is at hand.

I have competed well; I have finished the race;

I have kept the faith.

From now onthe crown of righteousness awaits me,

which the Lord, the just judge,

will award to me on that day, and not only to me,

but to all who have longed for his appearance.

 

At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf,

but everyone deserted me.

May it not be held against them!

But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength,

so that through me the proclamation might be completed

and all the Gentiles might hear it.

And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat

and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom.

To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

 

Gospel

Luke 18:9-14

 

Jesus addressed this parable

to those who were convinced of their own righteousness

and despised everyone else.

"Two people went up to the temple area to pray;

one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.

The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,

'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity --

greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector.

I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’

But the tax collector stood off at a distance

and would not even raise his eyes to heaven

but beat his breast and prayed,

'O God, be merciful to mea sinner.'

I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;

for whoever exalts himself will be humbled,

and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

 

 

New American Bible

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm: Sunday 39

October 28, 2007

 

Featured Artwork  and Artist of the Week

 

• The Parable Of The Pharisee And The Tax Collector, 1864 Relief Print by Sir John Everett Millais

 

 

John Everett Millais was born in Southampton in the year 1829,  Considered a child prodigy, he came to London in 1838 where he was sent to Sass's Art School, and there won a silver medal at the Society of Arts at the age of nine. In 1840 he was admitted to the Royal Academy Schools as their youngest ever student, winning a silver medal in 1843 for drawing from the antique, and a gold medal in 1847 for his painting The Tribe of Benjamin Seizing the Daughters of Shiloh. His first Pre-Raphaelite painting was Isabella (1848-9, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), which he exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1849. His entry for the following year, Christ in the House of His Parents ('The Carpenter's Shop') (1849-50, Tate Gallery N03584), was received unfavorably. Nevertheless, Millais was made an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1853, and a full member in 1863. In 1885 he was created a baronet and in 1896 was elected Presidentof the Royal Academy, but died shortly thereafter in London. He is buried in St Paul's Cathedral.

 

 

Enhancement by Evelyn F. Altheimer-Fain

10.28.07

 

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

READING 1

EXODUS 17:8-13

 

In those days, Amalek came and waged war against Israel.

Moses, therefore, said to Joshua,

"Pick out certain men,

and tomorrow go out and engage Amalek in battle.

I will be standing on top of the hill

with the staff of God in my hand."

So Joshua did as Moses told him:

he engaged Amalek in battle

after Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur.

As long as Moses kept his hands raised up,

Israel had the better of the fight,

but when he let his hands rest,

Amalek had the better of the fight.

Moses’hands, however, grew tired;

so they put a rock in place for him to sit on.

Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands,

one on one side and one on the other,

so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people

with the edge of the sword. 

 

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

 

R. (cf. 2) Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

I lift up my eyes toward the mountains;

whence shall help come to me?

My help is from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth.

R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

May he not suffer your foot to slip;

may he slumber not who guards you:

indeed he neither slumbers nor sleeps,

the guardian of Israel.

R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

The LORD is your guardian; the LORD is your shade;

he is beside you at your right hand.

The sun shall not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

The LORD will guard you from all evil;

he will guard your life.

The LORD will guard your coming and your going,

both now and forever.

R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

 

 

 

Gospel

Lk 18:1-8

 

Jesus told his disciples a parable

about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.

He said, "There was a judge in a certain town

who neither feared God nor respected any human being.

And a widow in that town used to come to him and say,

<SPANSTYLE="FONT-SIZE: 10pt?>For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought,

'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being,

because this widow keeps bothering me

I shall deliver a just decision for her

lest she finally come and strike me.'"

The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.

Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones

who call out to him day and night?

Will he be slow to answer them?

I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.

But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

 

New American Bible

Twenty-Ninth Sundayin Ordinary Time

October 21, 2007

Featured Artwork of the Week

 

• The Victory of Joshua over the Amalekites by Nicolas C. Poussin, 1624-25
• The Widow and Unjust Judge by John Everett Millais,  1864 

Enhancement by Evelyn F.Altheimer-Fain

10.20.07

 

Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

                                                                  Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

READING 1

2 KINGS 5:14-17

 

Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times

at the word of Elisha, the man of God.

His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child,

and he was clean of his leprosy.

 

Naaman returned with his whole retinue to the man of God.

On his arrival he stood before Elisha and said,

"Now I know that there is no God in all the earth,

except in Israel.

Please accept a gift from your servant."

 

Elisha replied, "As the LORD lives whom I serve, I will not take it;"

and despite Naaman's urging, he still refused.

Naaman said: "If you will not accept,

please let me, your servant, have two mule-loads of earth,

for I will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice

to any other god except to the LORD."

 

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

PSALM 98:1, 2-3, 3-4

 

R. (cf. 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Sing to the LORD a new song,

for he has done wondrous deeds;

his right hand has won victory for him,

his holy arm.

R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

The LORD has made his salvation known:

in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.

He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness

toward the house of Israel.

R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

All the ends of the earth have seen

the salvation by our God.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands:

break into song; sing praise.

<BSTYLE="MSO-BIDI-FONT-WEIGHT: normal?>R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

  

Christ Heals the Ten Lepers

 

GOSPEL

LUKE 17:11-19

 

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,

he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.

As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.

They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,

"Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!"

And when he saw them, he said,

"Go show yourselves to the priests."

As they were going they were cleansed.

And one of them, realizing he had been healed,

returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;

and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.

He was a Samaritan.

Jesus said in reply,

"Ten were cleansed, were they not?

Where are the other nine?

Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"

Then he said to him, "Stand up and go;

your faith has saved you."

 

New American Bible

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm: Sunday 37

October 14, 2007

 

Featured Artwork of the Week

 

<ULSTYLE="MARGIN-TOP: type="disc" 0in?>

The Leper Naaman Bathes in The Jordan River To Heal Himself

Christ Heals The Ten Lepers

Jesus and One of The Lepers

                                                           This week’s artist is unknown.

Enhancement By Evelyn F. Altheimer-Fain

10.13.07

 

 

Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

READING 1

HABAKKUK 1:2-3; 2:2-4

 

How long, O LORD? I cry for help

but you do not listen!

I cry out to you, "Violence!"

but you do not intervene.

Why do you let me see ruin;

why must I look at misery?

Destruction and violence are before me;

there is strife, and clamorous discord.

Then the LORD answered me and said:

Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets,

so that one can read it readily.

For the vision still has its time,

presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint;

if it delays, wait for it,

it will surely come, it will not be late.

The rash one has no integrity;

but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.

 

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

PSALM 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

 

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;

let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;

let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us bow down in worship;

let us kneel before the LORD who made us.

For he is our God,

and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Oh, that today you would hear his voice:

"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,

as in the day of Massah in the desert,

Where your fathers tempted me;

they tested me though they had seen my works."

R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

 

READING II

2 TIMONTHY 1:6-8, 13-14

 

Beloved:

I remind you, to stir into flame

the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.

For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice

but rather of power and love and self-control.

So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,

nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;

but bear your share of hardship for the gospel

with the strength that comes from God.

 

Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me,

in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit

that dwells within us.

 

 

GOSPEL

LUKE 17:5-10

 

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."

The Lord replied,

"If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,

you would say to this mulberry tree,

'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

 

"Who among you would say to your servant

who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field,

'Come here immediately and take your place at table'?

Would he not rather say to him,

'Prepare something for me to eat.

Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink.

You may eat and drink when I am finished'?

Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?

So should it be with you.

When you have done all you have been commanded,

say, 'We are unprofitable servants;

we have done what we were obliged to do.'"

 

New American Bible

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm: Sunday 37

October 07, 2007

 

Featured Artist of the Week

 

Juan Correa de Vivar was a Spanish painter, and he was borne in Mascaraque in the year of 1510. Some say that his true date of birth was 1516. Being very well thought of by his peers, Vivar was linked to his master Juan de Borgoña and two well-known Toledo painters, Pedro de Cisneros and Francisco de Comontes by 1527. Vivar painting included altarpieces, which included biblical the paintings "King David', Pontius Pilate Washing His Hands", "The Prophet Jeremiah", and of course the painting above "The Prophet Habakkuk". Juan Correa de Vivar died in Toledo on April 6. 1

 

"Faith As A Mustard Seed", Christian Clipart. 2

 

                                                                                                   1-2 Graphic Enhancements - Evelyn F. Altheimer-Fain 

                                                                                                                                                     October 06, 2007.

                                                                                     

 

Previous Mass Reading

                          TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

 

READING 1

AMOS: 1A, 4-7

 

Thus says the LORD the God of hosts:

Woe to the complacent in Zion!

Lying upon beds of ivory,

stretched comfortably on their couches,

they eat lambs taken from the flock,

and calves from the stall!

Improvising to the music of the harp,

like David, they devise their own accompaniment.

They drink wine from bowls

and anoint themselves with the best oils;

yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph!

Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile,

and their wanton revelry shall be done away with.

 

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

PSALM 6:7, 8-9, 9-10

 

R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!

or:

R. Alleluia.

Blessed he who keeps faith forever,

secures justice for the oppressed,

gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets captives free.

R. Praise the Lord, my soul!

or:

R. Alleluia.

The LORD gives sight to the blind.

The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;

the LORD loves the just.

The LORD protects strangers.

R. Praise the Lord, my soul!

or:

R. Alleluia.

The fatherless and the widow he sustains,

but the way of the wicked he thwarts.

The LORD shall reign forever;

your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.

R. Praise the Lord, my soul!

or:

R. Alleluia.

 

READING II

1 TIMOTHY 6:11-16

 

But you, man of God, pursue righteousness,

devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

Compete well for the faith.

Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called

when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.

I charge you before God, who gives life to all things,

and before Christ Jesus,

who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession,

to keep the commandment without stain or reproach

until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ

that the blessed and only ruler

will make manifest at the proper time,

the King of kings and Lord of lords,

who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light,

and whom no human being has seen or can see.

To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.

 

 

 

THE GOSPEL

LUKE 16:19-31

 

Jesus said to the Pharisees:

"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen

and dined sumptuously each day.

And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,

who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps

that fell from the rich man's table.

Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.

When the poor man died,

he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.

The rich man also died and was buried,

and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,

he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off

and Lazarus at his side.

And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.

Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,

for I am suffering torment in these flames.'

Abraham replied,

'My child, remember that you received

what was good during your lifetime

while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;

but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.

Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established

to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go

from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’

He said, 'Then I beg you, father,

send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers,

so that he may warn them,

lest they too come to this place of torment.'

But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets.

Let them listen to them.'

He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham,

but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,

neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"

 

 

New American Bible

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 30, 2007

Psalm: Sunday 36

 

 

Featured Artwork and Artist:  Lazarus Dying and The Rich Man Torment In Hell

by Bernaert Van Orley

 

Bernaert van Orley was born in 1488. He was a Netherlandish painter who specialized in religious subjects and portraits. Among his contemporaries, Bernaert van Orley was called the "Raphael of the Netherlands" because of his interpretation of Italian Renaissance ideas and art forms. He was famous in Brussels and working as the court painter for Margaret of Austria, regent of the Netherlands in 1518 and her successor, Mary of Hungary beginning in 1532. Italian painters influenced Orley’s work, although there is no evidence to suggest that he spent any time in Italy. Orley’s Job altarpiece is considered his greatest achievement. He died in 1541.

Previously Posted Mass - Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Hello Everyone,

Evelyn here,

The following scripture reading is one of twelve from previous Masses, which I will be adding here one by one from the archives at the new site during this Advent and Christmas season for store as i do not like losing articles. For the latest Mass entry go the new A Catholic's Life site.

-------------

 

 

Reading 1

Amos 8:4-7

 

Hear this, you who trample upon the needy

and destroy the poor of the land!

“When will the new moon be over,” you ask,

“that we may sell our grain,

and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat?

We will diminish the ephah,

add to the shekel,

and fix our scales for cheating!

We will buy the lowly for silver,

and the poor for a pairof sandals;

even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!”

The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob:

Never will I forget a thing they have done!

 

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8

 

R. (cf. 1a, 7b) Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Praise, you servants of the LORD,

praise the name of the LORD.

Blessed be the name of the LORD

both now and forever.

R. Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.

or:

R. Alleluia.

High above all nations is the LORD;

above the heavens is his glory.

Who is like the LORD, our God, who is enthroned on high

and looks upon the heavens and the earth below?

R. Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.

or:

R. Alleluia.

He raises up the lowly from the dust;

from the dunghill he lifts up the poor

to seat them with princes,

with the princes of his own people.

R. Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.

or:

R. Alleluia.

 

Reading Ii

1 Timothy 2:1-8

 

Beloved:

First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers,

petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,

for kings and for all in authority,

that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life

in all devotion and dignity.

This is good and pleasing to God our savior,

who wills everyone to be saved

and to come to knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God.

There is also one mediator between God and men,

the man Christ Jesus,

who gave himself as ransom for all.

This was the testimony at the proper time.

For this I was appointed preacher and apostle

— I am speaking the truth, I am not lying —,

teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

 

It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray,

lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.

 

Gospel

Luke 16:1-13 or 16:10-13

 

Jesus said to his disciples,

“A rich man had a steward

who was reported to him for squandering his property.

He summoned him and said,

‘What is this I hear about you?

Prepare a full account of your stewardship,

because you can no longer be my steward.’

The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do,

now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me?

I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg.

I know what I shall do so that,

when I am removed from the stewardship,

they may welcome me into their homes.’

He called in his master’s debtors one by one.

To the first he said,

‘How much do you owe my master?’

He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’

He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note.

Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’

Then to another the steward said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’

He replied, ‘One hundred kors of wheat.’

The steward said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note;

write one for eighty.’

And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.

“For the children of this world

are more prudent in dealing with their own generation

than are the children of light.

I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth,

so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

The person who is trustworthy in very small matters

is also trustworthy in great ones;

and the person who is dishonest in very small matters

is also dishonest in great ones.

If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth,

who will trust you with true wealth?

If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another,

who will give you what is yours?

No servant can serve two masters.

He will either hate one and love the other,

or be devoted to one and despise the other.

You cannot serve both God and mammon.”

 

 

New American Bible

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 23, 2007

Psalm: Sunday 35

----------------

 

Evelyn out.

Just For The Laughs -Who Said Sheep Were Dumb?

Hello Everyone,

Evelyn here,

I was researching for an article when I came across this video on YouTube, and being the Catholic that I am, it made me laugh until my sides ached. Best viewed in mute mode.

 

                 So, just for fun, I present to you, "The Devil Sheep!"

               

I think a little bit of Freud got into the my psyche with this one becuase I think it is so ridiculously funny.

Evelyn out.