August 19, 2019 - Monday
Mt 19:16-22


Give and you shall have treasure in heaven


It’s better to give than to receive. Easy to say but often hard to do, as we see in the case of the rich young man. Sometimes we get attached to what we possess, getting our satisfaction and sense of security and even a sense of identity from them.


Jesus invites us today to give up this attachment and desire instead the much better treasure —His eternal kingdom. Lord help us to detach ourselves from worldly things that will not last.


#PrayVD

August 18, 2019 – Sunday

Gospel: Luke 12:49-53

“I have come to get the earth on fire.”

Fire here is a symbol of God’s love for us: He wants us to keep our love on fire too, for Him and the many others in this topsy-turvy world who  may be needing our help and compassion.

We express our love by saying Yes through the little things we do each day: cleaning, cooking, serving others. That’s how we die for Him, and our flame is not diminished by each trial and difficulty. His love keeps us alive to continue on, and inspire others. It only takes a spark to start a forest fire. Let us be that spark!     

​August 17, 2019 – Saturday

Gospel: Matthew 19:13-15

“Let the children come to me....”

  Jesus Christ said on many occasions that children and adults alike (helpless children who need assistance) should be brought to Him, that He may lay His hands on them and pray for them. What a privilege! We are therefore obliged to bring them to the Lord.

Children have a clean, innocent heart, thus they are so open and sincere. Let’s not (even at a late age) stop acting like children.. Our relationship with Him should deepen and progress as we mature, yet we must continue to act and think like little children who would always run to Him.

August 16, 2019 – Friday

Gospel: Matthew 19:3-12

“What God has put together, let no man separate.”

Marriage must be looked upon as a gift from God. When we view marriage as a partnership, working for the family, the children, their welfare together, and when God is a third party to the union, trials are a little easier to handle because we know we have a strong foundation.

 “What God has put together, man cannot dissolve” becomes our basic tenet. We see the consequences of a weak union, the casualties are the children, who are emotionally unstable, and the effect to society in general. Let us live in our families the virtues of respect, service, and concern for everyone.

​August 15, 2019 – Thursday

Gospel: Luke 1:39-56

“Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

 On this feast day of the Assumption of Our Lady, we are filled with joy of having a mother in heaven who was brought up in glory body and soul. She who has comforted us all our lives, we look up to her and emulate her humility, though she is the Mother of Jesus, what she went through isn’t comparable to what we are going through. As we go through our own suffering, let us be like her, quiet in grace and dignity. She’s the closest we can get to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Cling to her like a child, wrapped in her warm motherly embrace.

​August 14, 2019 – Wednesday

Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

 “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, as repentance we go to seek God’s mercy. Although we have offended Him, He is not angered and readily forgives us through the Absolution, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall become white as snow....” (Is 1:18)

He seeks not punishment for us nor vengeance for our offenses, but repentance and conversion from our hearts. We give thanks to the Lord for this gift of forgiveness, and for making Himself always available to us.