Fourth Week & Mass Reflections

I have been away for 4 days, and out of touch, but not out of touch with our Lord.
Many themes and reflections today. Lord, your mercy is my hope, my heart rejoices in your saving power. I will sing to the Lord for his goodness to me.

It can be restful to be away, but it is always great to get back home to the routine of life in our part of the country. Our life style is one of quiet, and peaceful at most times with our daily rhythm of prayer, and attending Mass. One has to make an effort to have what happens on a daily basis here when elsewhere.

2Kings 22:8-13;23:1-3 (The king gathered all the elders of Judah & Jerusalem,priests, prophets and all the people)
"He had the entire contents of the book of the covenant that had been found in the temple of the Lord, read out to them. Standing by the column, the king made a covenant before the Lord that they would follow him and observe his ordinances, statutes, and decrees with their whole hearts and souls, thus reviving the terms of the covenant which were written in this book. And all the people stood as participants in the covenant.

Being people of the Covenant in this day, I am glad to be under his Lordship. Listening to his instructions through Scriptures,and further on in the Mass readings of today, be aware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves, quoting Jesus from Matthew 7:15-20 etc. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them."

Psalm 19 Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time- Reflections

After the 9 day Novena to St. Anthony of Padua, the Lord blessed our Secular Franciscan Fraternity with a beautiful Mass for the profession of Johnathon & Danielle on June 13, the Feast of St. Anthony. Our celebrant was our Spiritual Assistant, and music by our TOR Sisters. I believe our newly professed have soared to 'new Franciscan' heights. Praise God!

Now to reflect on today's Mass readings. The opening prayer: Almighty God, our hope and our strength, without you we falter, help us to follow Christ and to live according to your will. In the 1st Reading from Exodus, I was struck with the words; "you have seen how I treated the Egyptians and how I bore you up on eagle's wings and brought you here to myself. Therefore, if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my special possession, dearer to me than all other people, though all the earth is mine. You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation."

Our God sets us apart for his own, to be his people, how he has guarded us, protected us, and calls us to holiness. From eternity, the Father has longed to gather his children into one body living under the headship of his Son, he works to fulfill this plan. Third Eucharistic Prayer "from age to age you gather a people to yourself so that from east to west a perfect offering may be made to the glory of your name."

Responsorial Psalm 100 R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

2nd Reading: Romans 5:6-11
But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

Gospel: Matthew 9 ------Jesus' heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.

One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
(Ps 27:4)

Have a Blessed Sunday and week!

Day 9 of the Novena to St. Anthony of Padua

St. Anthony, servant of Mary, glory of the Church, pray for our Holy Father, our bishops, our priests, our religious orders, that through their apostolic labors all may be united in faith and give greater glory to God. Please intercede on my own behalf that I too may live my life as a true disciple of Christ. Amen

As we have prayed for Jonathon and Danielle, may the follow the Gospel as they make their final Profession in the Secular Franciscan Order, on Friday, June 13, on the wonderful feast of St. Anthony of Padua.

Evening Prayer
Canticle of Mary
Antiphon: If you hunger for holiness, God will satisfy your longing, good measure, and flowing over. (St. Luke 1:46-55)

Day 8 of Novena St. Anthony of Padua ; Feast of An Apostle St. Barnabas

O holy St. Anthony, you have shown yourself so compassionate toward those who invoke you in suffering and distress, I beseech you most humbly and earnestly to plead my cause before Our Father in Heaven, and through your miraculous intercession please help the lonely, the neglected, and the abused find comfort and strength.

Pray for Johnathon and Danielle.

St. Barnabas, born in Cyprus, he is numbered among the first of the faithful at Jerusalem. He preached the Gospel at Antioch and a companion of St. Paul who journeyed on his first mission. He was also present at the Council of Jerusalem. He spread the Gospel in to his native land and died there.

Blessed are you, St. Barnabas: you were a man faith filled with the Holy Spirit and counted among the Apostles. Help us to proclaim the Gospel by word and deed, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Day 7 of Novena St. Anthony of Padua

O renowned champion of the faith of Christ, most holy St. Anthony, glorious for your many miracles, obtain for me from the bounty of my Lord and God the grace which I ardently seek in this Novena, and intercede for the strength of families and the protection of children.

Pray for Johnathon and Danielle.


Mass Readings of Today
1Kings 17:7-16 "The jar of flour shall not empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the Lord sends rain upon the earth."

Psalm 4 You put gladness into my heart, more than when grain and wine abound.

Communion Antiphon
I can rely on the Lord; I can always turn to him for shelter. It was he who gave me my freedom. My God, you are always there to help me! (Ps 18:2)

Meditation Snippets - The Word Among Us magazine- today's meditation.
Quote- God does come through for us in amazing ways. Just when we've come to the end of our own resources, we begin to see the boundless generosity of our heavenly Father---and we are brought to our knees in praise and worship.
Sometimes it may not be easy--but it's usually when obedience is the hardest that He blesses us the most. Indeed, we can never outgive God!

Personally, when I was in a situation of giving to others and it was hurting , I was learning to exercise 'wings of faith' and trust in Him, God came through and from that lesson I learned that you cannot outgive God and He will reward you for the giving if the heart is truly giving out of love and expecting nothing in return. Resources were given to help advance a person who owned a Christian book store and those resources aided in putting up more shelves to display more books, she eventually sold more and was able to move her store to another location which was geographically more profitable and successful. It required listening to God, being obedient and acting upon the word from the Lord. Just as Elijah listened and obeyed in the Scripture readings of the Mass for today.

Prayer-- "Lord, I want to give you more. Open my heart and my hands to the needs of others, and bless my efforts according to the riches of your glory."

Day 6 of the Novena

O glorious St. Anthony, chosen by God to preach His Word, you received from Him the power of working the most extraordinary miracles. I pray that you may help the world find peace from hatred and conflict, and that you may help me obtain the answers I seek in this Novena in your honor.

Please intercede for Johnathon and Danielle.

The time for profession is 'flying'. It just seemed awhile ago that we met and planned when to start the monthly lessons for Candidacy; the readings, our many discussions, our laughs and now here in this week we are preparing for the Mass of Profession, readers, gifts, music, getting out invitations and the reception after. Wow, all to follow Christ in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi. To proclaim the Gospel, in our daily living, being an instrument for the Church.

God Bless us all!

Day 5 of the Novena

I salute you, St. Anthony, lily of purity, ornament and glory of Christianity. I ask you by the love you did feel toward the Infant Jesus as you held Him in your arms to tell Him now of the favor I seek through your intercession. I beseech you to reach out to those who have lost their faith and guide them back to the Church.


2 Corinthians 1:21-22
God is the one who firmly established us along with you in Christ; it is he who anointed us and has sealed us, thereby depositing the first payment, the Spirit, in our hearts.

Day 4 of the Novena

St. Anthony, the world confidently turns to you and experiences your tender compassion and powerful assistance in so many necessities and sufferings. Obtain for me the grace that I desire by obtaining a favorable answer to my request in this Novena, and provide guidance to those who question the sanctity of life.

Pray for Johnathon & Danielle.


Morning Prayer
2 Peter 1:10-11 Be solicitous to make your call and election permanent, brothers; surely those who do so will never be lost. On the contrary, your entry into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for.

Day 3 of the Novena

O purest St. Anthony, who through your angelic virtue was made worthy to be caressed by the Divine child Jesus, I beseech you to intercede for me that God may grant my own request, and also to provide comfort to those who are ill and dying.

Pray for Jonathon & Danielle.

Day 2 of the Novena

O most favored friend of the Infant Jesus, bring my humble prayers before the throne of God, strengthen them by your intercession and obtain for me the favor I seek in this Novena. O eloquent preacher of the divine mercy, I also seek in my prayers your intercession on behalf of the poor and homeless, for whom you are the Patron Saint.
Pray for Johnathon and Danielle.

Day 1 of Novena to St. Anthony of Padua

To all SFO Members, our Fraternity started a Novena for our 2 candidates for Profession on June 13, the Feast of St.Anthony of Padua. Their chosen Franciscan names are: Anthony (approp. for the Feast, plus a great preacher to model in life) and Pia, (feminine Italian to live in piety from a pious Franciscan monk, St. Pio. who is now in the news and lying incorrupt). Please pray with us for our 'new members' who will be a great asset to our Franciscan way of life, spirituality, and to our Fraternity. It has been a pleasure working with the Holy Spirit, having his way in them and their lives and seeing them grow over the past year of Candidacy. It has been great working with them as well. May all the Franciscan family living and deceased bless them through their intercession.

Novena Prayer to St. Anthony of Padua
O holy St. Anthony, greatest of Saints, your love for God and Charity for His creatures, made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited on your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me (request). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle; even so you are the Saint of Miracles. O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the Sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms; and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen.

St. Anthony and St. Pio pray for us and them.

Day 1 O wonderful St. Anthony, glorious on account of the fame of your miracles, regard not the unworthiness of those who pray to you, but the glory of God that it may be once again magnified by the granting of the request which I now ask for with persevering earnestness, including intercession for my health and the health of my loved ones and for Jonathon & Danielle. Amen.