Thursday, August 28, 2025
Reading 1 (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8)
Brothers and sisters,
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us
how you should conduct yourselves to please God–
and as you are conducting yourselves–
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
This is the will of God, your holiness:
that you refrain from immorality,
that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself
in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion
as do the Gentiles who do not know God;
not to take advantage of or exploit a brother or sister in this matter,
for the Lord is an avenger in all these things,
as we told you before and solemnly affirmed.
For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.
Therefore, whoever disregards this,
disregards not a human being but God,
who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 97:1 and 2b, 5-6, 10, 11-12)
R. (12a) Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD loves those who hate evil;
he guards the lives of his faithful ones;
from the hand of the wicked he delivers them.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Alleluia (Matthew 5:10)
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel (Mark 6:17-29)
Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison
on account of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.
She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers,
his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.
Herodias’ own daughter came in
and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”
He even swore many things to her,
“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask for?”
She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,
“I want you to give me at once
on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders
to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Reading 1 (1 Thessalonians 2:9-13)
You recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery.
Working night and day in order not to burden any of you,
we proclaimed to you the Gospel of God.
You are witnesses, and so is God,
how devoutly and justly and blamelessly
we behaved toward you believers.
As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children,
exhorting and encouraging you and insisting
that you walk in a manner worthy of the God
who calls you into his Kingdom and glory.
And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly,
that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us,
you received it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God,
which is now at work in you who believe.
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 139:7-8, 9-10, 11-12ab)
R. (1) You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence where can I flee?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall guide me,
and your right hand hold me fast.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
If I say, "Surely the darkness shall hide me,
and night shall be my light"–
For you darkness itself is not dark,
and night shines as the day.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
Alleluia (1 John 2:5)
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever keeps the word of Christ,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel (Matthew 23:27-32)
Jesus said,
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside,
but inside are full of dead men's bones and every kind of filth.
Even so, on the outside you appear righteous,
but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You build the tombs of the prophets
and adorn the memorials of the righteous,
and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors,
we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets' blood.'
Thus you bear witness against yourselves
that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets;
now fill up what your ancestors measured out!"
Thursday, May 1, 2025
St. Joseph, a carpenter (or "tekton") in the New Testament, exemplifies the dignity of labor through his commitment to providing for Mary and Jesus. His actions reflect his deep obedience to God's will, despite the Gospels not recording any words he spoke. This silent strength speaks volumes about his character, highlighting the importance of honest work and family devotion.
As the spouse of the Virgin Mary and the foster father of Jesus, St. Joseph embodies virtue, faithfulness, and a steadfast commitment to God's plan. His life serves to sanctify everyday work and family responsibilities, showing that these tasks hold great value in the eyes of God.
In recognition of his contributions and the Christian significance of labor, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker is celebrated on May 1. Established by Pope Pius XII in 1955, this feast was created in response to the Communist May Day celebration, emphasizing the Christian value of work and the dignity it brings.
Honored as the patron saint of workers, St. Joseph the Worker symbolizes humility and the essential role of providing for one’s family, making his legacy a powerful reminder of the sacredness of labor and the importance of familial devotion.
Friday, March 21, 2025
Amang Makapangyarihan,
inakay Mo ang Iyong bayan galing sa Ehipto,
mula sa pagkaalipin tungo sa kalayaan.
Sa pamamagitan ng iyong Anak na si Hesus,
inakay mo kami mula kamatayan tungo sa buhay
sa kanyang Misteryo Paskwal
at kaloob na Espiritu Santo.
Nagpapakumbaba kaming lumalapit sa Iyo,
nagtitiwala sa Iyong pangakong hilumin ang aming bayan.
Iunat Mong muli ang Iyong makapangyarihang kamay
at akayin kami sa panahong ito ng krisis, alitan, at pagkalito.
Magningning nawa ang katotohanan,
tulad ng haliging ulap sa araw
at haliging apoy sa gabi,
upang tanglawan kami sa landas
tungo sa pagkakaisa at kapayapaan.
Umagos nawa ang katarungan,
tulad ng tubig na bumukal mula sa bato,
upang pawiin ang uhaw ng mga naghahangad ng hustisya,
linisin ang mga sugat,
at buksan ang
daan tungo sa paghilom at pagkakasundo.
Pinakain Mo sila ng mana sa ilang,
busugin Mo ang aming pagkagutom sa katarungan,
upang hindi na kami magnasa ng kapangyarihan,
kayamanan, at pansariling pakinabang.
Palambutin mo ang pusong matitigas tulad ng sa Paraon,
at buksan ang mga matang binulag ng kasakiman,
upang manaig ang tunay na pagmamahal sa bayan
higit sa anumang alyansang pampulitika o pansariling interes.
Turuan Mo kaming makita ang isa't isa,
hindi bilang kakampi o kaaway,
kundi bilang magkakapatid sa Iyo.
Nawa ang Taon ng Hubileyo ay magtulak sa amin
upang maglakbay bilang isang bayan.
Ito nawa ang aming maging Paskwa, ang aming pagtawid:
mula sa kasinungalingan tungo sa katotohanan,
mula sa karuwagan tungo sa katapangan,
mula sa kawalan ng katarungan tungo sa katuwiran,
mula sa pagkakawatak-watak tungo sa pagkakaisa,
mula sa panghihina ng loob tungo sa pag-asa,
mula sa pagiging makasarili tungo sa tunay na pag-ibig.
Sa panahong ito ng pananariwa,
matuklasan nawa naming muli
ang aming kadakilaan bilang isang bansa
at ang aming dangal bilang isang bayang
iniibig Mo nang lubos.
Hinihiling namin ito sa pangalan ni Hesus,
ang aming Korderong inialay,
na gumagabay sa amin sa pamamagitan ng Krus
mula sa kamatayan tungo sa bagong buhay.
Amen.
Mahal na Birhen ng Kapayapaan, ipanalangin mo kami.
San Miguel, Arkanghel, ipanalangin mo kami.
Heavenly Father,
you led your people out of Egypt
from slavery to freedom.
In Jesus your beloved Son,
You led us from death to life
through his Paschal Mystery,
and by the gift of the Holy Spirit.
We humble ourselves before you today,
trusting in your promise to heal our land.
Stretch forth your mighty hand once again
and lead our nation,
in this time of crisis, conflict, and confusion.
Let the light of truth shine
like a pillar of cloud by day
and a pillar of fire by night,
to guide us along the path that leads to unity and peace.
Make justice gush forth
like water from the rock
quenching the thirst of victims,
cleansing wounds,
and opening the way to healing and reconciliation.
As You fed Your people with manna in the wilderness,
satisfy our hunger for righteousness,
that we may cease to crave for power, wealth and selfish gain.
Soften hearts hardened like Pharaoh's,
and open eyes blinded by greed,
that our love for our country may triumph
over all political loyalties and personal interests
and we may learn to see each other,
not as allies or enemies
but as we truly are- brothers and sisters all.
May this Jubilee Year inspire us
to journey together as one people. Let this be our Passover:
from lies to truth,
from cowardice to courage,
from injustice to righteousness,
from division to unity,
from despair to hope,
from selfishness to love.
May this time of renewal
enable us to discover again
our greatness as a nation
and our dignity as a people so dear to your heart.
We ask this in the name of Jesus,
our Paschal Lamb,
who leads us through the Cross
from death to new life.
Amen.
Our Lady of Peace, pray for us
St. Michael the Archangel, pray for us.
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