Thursday, December 07, 2006

Today's Mass readings

Tomorrow (12/8): Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION
Masses- Thurs: 7:30 pm (Vigil)
Friday: 8:30 am, 10:00 am, 7:30 pm
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament - Friday: 6-7 pm
-----------------------------------------
Here are today's readings from Mass:

Reading 1 (Is 26:1-6)
On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah:

"A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you."

Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a)
- Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Gospel
Mt 7:21, 24-27

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

2 Comments:

At 6:57 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

See you later everybody! I am off to Boston! It is going to be greaaaaaaaaaat! I am going to meet a very holy priest and I am very excited as I will get a chance to speak to him at length. Whatever he says I will follow to the letter!

Have a great weekend everybody and don't forget to go to Mass tomorrow as it is a Holy Day of Obligation!

 
At 8:43 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee

I'm sure you have all received this message at one time or another.

So let's say that God, the Author of Life, is the creator of the mayonnaise jars. Us.
That said, now you can read...

When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes".

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions--and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else--the small stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18 holes. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first--the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked."

"It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

 

Post a Comment

<< Home