Saturday 6th Week of Ordinary Time

 

The human tongue James :3:1-10

Horses have bits to tame them;

Ships have rudders to guide them;

But what does the human tongue have?

A single spark can set an entire forest ablaze.

Just so a single word can cause unspeakable harm

That can never be taken back once spoken.

Amazing how We praise God with the same tongue with which we curse our neighbor.

What we say today not only makes a difference tomorrow

But for all Eternity.

Friday 6th week of Ordinary Time

 

Faith and works James 2:14-26

We are not saved by our works or what we do.

We do not earn our way into heaven.

Rather We are saved by faith.

Saved by our Faith in the death and resurrection of Christ.

But how do we know we have Faith?

Just because a person says, “Lord, Lord!”

Does that mean they have Faith?

Faith becomes visible in what we do and say.

Faith welcomes strangers.

Faith feeds the hungry and clothes the naked.

Faith visits those who are sick and in prison. Mt. 25: 31-46

Actions speak louder than words,

And our Faith speaks loudest when we put it into practice

Thursday 6th Week of Ordinary Time

 

Show no partiality. James 2:1-9

Would you rather associate with the rich or the poor?

With the famous or the forgotten?

With saint or sinner?

St. James tells us to show no partiality.

Because Jesus showed none.

He was born among the poor in a stable.

He emptied Himself of all His riches and took the form of a slave

And He ate with sinners and tax collectors.

We are most like Jesus therefore when we show no partiality

But love our neighbor whoever it may be,

As ourself.

Wednesday 6th week of Ordinary Time

 

Quick and slow. James 1:19-27

What is the source of most of the problems in the world.

Of most of the problems in families and between friends?

It is that many people are slow to listen, quick to speak and quick to anger!

St. James tells us to be the opposite.

To be quick to listen;

Slow to speak;

Slow to anger;

For those who are quick to listen;

Will have the Wisdom to speak

And avoid the foolishness of anger?

Tuesday 6th Week of Ordinary Time

Temptation James 1:12-18

Temptation is a seed that does not bear good fruit.

First it lands on the soul.

Then the desires of the heart water it.

Then it takes root and grows.

Until it bears nothing good.

St. James tells us not to be deceived by temptations.

For nothing good comes of them.

Rather every good gift comes from above,

From the Father of Lights.

Who desires to give His children every good gift that bears fruit 30,60 and a 100 fold.

Monday 6th Week of Ordinary Time

Liturgical colour: white

White is the colour of heaven. At Mass,
it is used to celebrate feasts of the Lord; Christmas and Easter, the great seasons of the Lord; and the saints. Sometimes one will see gold to portray the splendor of God.

In the earliest centuries all vestments were white – the white of baptismal purity and of the robes worn by the armies of the redeemed in the Apocalypse, washed white in the blood of the Lamb. As the persecutions ended at the Edict of Milan in 313AD, the Church began to use colour so that our sense of sight could deepen our experience of the mysteries of salvation, just as incense recruits our sense of smell and music that of hearing. Over the centuries various schemes of colour for feasts and seasons were worked out, and it is only as late as the 19th century that they were harmonized into their present form.

6th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

The Beatitudes

We really have only two things to do while we are alive.

Make the most out of this life

and prepare for the next !

Jesus shows us how to do both,

At the same time!

For Jesus came that we might have life,

and have it more Abundantly.

here and now. Jn. 10:10

And have Eternal life when this one ends. Jn. 10:28

The Beatitudes are the way to Abundant Life here and in the next.

1. Blessed are the Poor for they will not spend their life chasing after Fools Gold.
2. Blessed are those who Mourn, for the wounded are much wiser.
3. Blessed are those who are Meek, for Pride goes before a Fall.
4. Blessed are those who are Merciful, for they have learned from their sins and struggles.
   
5. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for holiness, for they strive to be like God.
6. Blessed are the Pure in Heart, for they never lose sight of what really matters.
7. Blessed are the Peacemakers for they have no enemies.
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for Holiness’ sake, for they have not given in to the ways of the world.

But Woe to those who are rich, for their riches are fleeting.

Woe to those who seek to fill themselves up with every physical pleasure, for they will never be satisfied.

Woe to those who live only to have a good time,

For those times always come to an end.

And Woe to those who seek the approval of others,

For they are false friends.

Those who follow the Beatitudes will have Abundant Life in this world and the next.

While Woe to those who do not.