One Walk

04252009

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The Words of Jesus of Nazareth by Lee Cantelon

The Great Commission

Let those who are spiritually dead attend to their earthly concerns; but you go and proclaim the coming of the kingdom of God to the waiting world.

There is a great harvest before you, but sadly, the laborers are few. Pray to the Lord of the harvest that he will send more laborers to gather in his harvest. No one who puts his hand to the plough and then looks back is suitable for the kingdom of God .

If you believe in me, you will do the same works that I do. Even greater works will you accomplish, for I must return to my Father in Heaven. If you wish to serve me, follow me; and where I am, there you, my servant, will be as well, honored by my Father.

Go announce to the world: "The kingdom of heaven has come to dwell among you."

Heal the sick, restore the lepers to health, raise the dead, and cast out devils! Remember what I have told you: "Freely you have received. Freely give!"

If you are not for me, you are against me; and they that do not gather with me, scatter.

Whenever you are invited into a house, offer first a blessing, and say: "Peace be to this house." If those in the house are for peace, your blessing will be accepted, and they will be benefited. If not, the benefits of your blessing will return to you.

Do not hesitate to accept hospitality, yet remain purposeful. Resist aimless wandering. Enjoy whatever food and drink is offered you, for the person who labors is worthy of just wages.

Those who accept you accept me also, and they that accept me welcome also the Father who has sent me.

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Lord God, Abba Father, seeking a heart that is thankful in all things and to remain a humble through all times, I ask and pray for a heart and attitude of a disciple; focused, pure, selfless, kind, gentle, strong, courageous and persevering. For I wait, I wait on Your will preparing myself to be ready, knowing I am not alone for with Jesus in the Spirit I can remain connected as one with You. In the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, Amen.

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O only-begotten Son and Word of God, immortal being, you who deigned for our salvation to become incarnate of the holy Mother of God and ever-virgin Mary, you who without change became man and were crucified, O Christ our God, you who by your death have crushed death, you who are one of the Holy Trinity, glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us!

— Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Troparion "O monogenes"

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Reading 1
1 Pt 5:5b-14
Beloved:
Clothe yourselves with humility
in your dealings with one another, for:

God opposes the proud
but bestows favor on the humble.

So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time.
Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.

Be sober and vigilant.
Your opponent the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, steadfast in faith,
knowing that your brothers and sisters throughout the world
undergo the same sufferings.
The God of all grace
who called you to his eternal glory through Christ Jesus
will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you
after you have suffered a little.
To him be dominion forever. Amen.

I write you this briefly through Silvanus,
whom I consider a faithful brother,
exhorting you and testifying that this is the true grace of God.
Remain firm in it.
The chosen one at Babylon sends you greeting, as does Mark, my son.
Greet one another with a loving kiss.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17
R. (2) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The heavens proclaim your wonders, O LORD,
and your faithfulness, in the assembly of the holy ones.
For who in the skies can rank with the LORD?
Who is like the LORD among the sons of God?
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Gospel
Mk 16:15-20
Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:
"Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them,
was taken up into heaven
and took his seat at the right hand of God.
But they went forth and preached everywhere,
while the Lord worked with them
and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

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MP3 audio link to today’s readings:

http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_04_25.mp3

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Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:

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04242009

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The Words of Jesus of Nazareth by Lee Cantelon

Food for the Soul

It is written: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out from the mouth of God."

I am the bread of life: if you come to me, you will never again hunger spiritually; and if you believe in me, you will never again know spiritual thirst. Rise up! Take hold of the living bread, the spiritual bread that has come down from heaven: if you eat of this bread, you will live forever. The bread that I offer you is my life, which I give for the life of the world. I am the bread of life come down from heaven so that you may feast on spiritual food, and because of this receive spiritual life and not die.

All of your energies are spent in the pursuit of food that perishes; instead, seek spiritual food that will endure forever. This is the food that I long to give you, for God the Father has given me this power.

Since childhood you have heard the story of how your ancestors ate manna in the desert, but that was long ago, and now they are ancient memories. In spite of those miracles, Moses was not able to provide the true bread of heaven, that which my Father is offering to you now. For the bread of God is embodied in the one who is speaking to you, who has come down from heaven, and offered his own life for the world.

If you understood this, you would beg me to give you living water as well; for whoever drinks natural water soon thirsts again, but whoever drinks of the water that I give will discover a well that springs up within, overflowing with eternal life.

Are you thirsting spiritually? Come to me and drink; for they that believe in me, as it has been written, "Out of their innermost being will flow rivers of living water." 

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Lord God, Abba Father, moved by today’s Reading, Psalm and Gospel I pray, You are my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? You are my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? One thing I ask of You and this I seek: to dwell in Your house all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of You Lord God and contemplate Your temple. I believe that I shall see the bounty You LORD God in the land of the living. I wait for You with courage; being stouthearted, I wait for You LORD God, Abba Father, through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit. I wait for You LORD God, this one thing I ask of You and this I seek: to dwell in Your house all the days of my life! In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

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For God hath made the father honourable to the children: and seeking the judgment of the mothers, hath confirmed it upon the children. He that loveth God, shall obtain pardon for his sins by prayer, and shall refrain himself from them, and shall be heard in the prayer of days. And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up a treasure. He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own children, and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard. He that honoureth his father shall enjoy a long life: and he that obeyeth the father, shall be a comfort to his mother.

— Ecclesiasticus 3:2-7

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Reading 1
Acts 5:34-42
A Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel,
a teacher of the law, respected by all the people,
stood up, ordered the Apostles to be put outside for a short time,
and said to the Sanhedrin, "Fellow children of Israel,
be careful what you are about to do to these men.
Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important,
and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed,
and all those who were loyal to him
were disbanded and came to nothing.
After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census.
He also drew people after him,
but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered.
So now I tell you,
have nothing to do with these men, and let them go.
For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin,
it will destroy itself.
But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them;
you may even find yourselves fighting against God."
They were persuaded by him.
After recalling the Apostles, they had them flogged,
ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus,
and dismissed them.
So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin,
rejoicing that they had been found worthy
to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes,
they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Christ, Jesus.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
One thing I ask of the LORD
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.

Gospel
Jn 6:1-15
Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.
A large crowd followed him,
because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain,
and there he sat down with his disciples.
The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?"
He said this to test him,
because he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him,
"Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough
for each of them to have a little."
One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?"
Jesus said, "Have the people recline."
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.
So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,
"Gather the fragments left over,
so that nothing will be wasted."
So they collected them,
and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments
from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,
"This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world."
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

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MP3 audio link to today’s readings:

http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_04_24.mp3

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Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:

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04232009

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The Words of Jesus of Nazareth by Lee Cantelon

Following the Resurrection

Oh fools, so slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Should not Christ have suffered all of these things and then enter into his glory? Be faithless no longer, but believe.

This is what I have told you from the beginning, that all things must be fulfilled which are written in the law of Moses, and by the prophets, and by the Psalm-writers, concerning me! Christ must suffer, and then rise from the dead on the third day; that repentance and forgiveness of sins might be preached in his name among all nations, beginning in Jerusalem .

I know from where I have come, and where I will go. You cannot tell from where I have come, or where I am going. You are from the earth. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world.

No one has ascended up to heaven, except he that has come down from heaven, the Son of God who is in heaven. Go, tell my brothers that I will ascend to my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Why are you troubled, allowing doubt to fill your minds? Be in peace. Witness my hands and my feet. Touch me, and verify my resurrected body; for a ghost does not appear having flesh and bones. Because you have seen me, you believe. More blessed are those who come after you, who having not seen me, believe.

In a little while, the world will see me no more; but my presence will remain with you; and because I live, you will live also.

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Lord God, Abba Father, just as John said in the verse preceding today’s Gospel reading; You must increase and I must decrease! For I truly believe ‘the one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all.’ For this reason I seek to be more of You and less of me; knowing that it is Your will I seek; Your Wisdom that I ask and pray for in all things. Help me Lord, bless me indeed, keep me from evil and pain. Guide my thoughts, words and acts. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

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Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me: Thou hast known my sitting down, and my rising up.

— Ps. cxxxviii. 17

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Reading 1
Acts 5:27-33
When the court officers had brought the Apostles in
and made them stand before the Sanhedrin,
the high priest questioned them,
"We gave you strict orders did we not,
to stop teaching in that name.
Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching
and want to bring this man’s blood upon us."
But Peter and the Apostles said in reply,
"We must obey God rather than men.
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,
though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.
God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior
to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.
We are witnesses of these things,
as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."

When they heard this,
they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20
R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Gospel
Jn 3:31-36
The one who comes from above is above all.
The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things.
But the one who comes from heaven is above all.
He testifies to what he has seen and heard,
but no one accepts his testimony.
Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy.
For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God.
He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.
The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,
but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life,
but the wrath of God remains upon him.

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MP3 audio link to today’s readings:

http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_04_0.mp3

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04222009

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The Words of Jesus of Nazareth by Lee Cantelon

An Invitation to Life

Everyone who believes in the Son will have life everlasting.

A wealthy man planned a great banquet, and invited many guests. When the preparations were completed, he sent his servant to gather those who had been invited. "Come,” he said, “for all things are ready."

But all those who had been invited began to make excuses.

The first replied: "I have just purchased a piece of land, and I must go and look at it again. Please have me excused."

The second said: "I have just purchased a herd of cattle, and I must go and examine it. Please have me excused."

A third answered: "I have recently been married, and for this, I cannot attend."

Finally, the servant returned and reported what had happened. Hearing the disappointing news, the master commanded: "Go quickly into the streets of the city, and gather the poor, the lame, the ill, and the blind."

The servant hurried to do this and soon returned, saying: "Sir, I have done as you commanded, and still there is room at the table."

"Go then," the rich man replied, "along the highways and among the fields, and urge those you meet to come in, that my table might be filled. For I say to you: none of those that were originally invited will taste of the banquet that I had prepared for them."

Whoever hears my word and believes in the One who has sent me will find eternal life and not be condemned. Instead, they will pass from death unto life. Do not be amazed at this , for the time is coming when even the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear his voice shall live. In their graves, the dead will recognize his voice and be raised up; those that have done good will be raised to new life, and those who have lived wrongfully will be raised to condemnation.

Herein lies the way to eternal life: know the only true God and Jesus Christ, the one sent to you by God. Take my words to heart. For God so loved the world that he offered his only Son a living sacrifice, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but be redeemed and have everlasting life. This good news of the kingdom shall be preached to the entire world as a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come.

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Lord God, Abba Father, O that You would bless me indeed, enlarge my territory for You by helping me make the right decisions, and keeping me from evil by placing me with those fellow believers whom I can work together with for Your good and glory, while keeping me from causing pain and from being hurt by those lost souls who let the ways under the sun harden their hearts and drive their thoughts, words and acts. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

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Man, though made of body and soul, is a unity. Through his very bodily condition he sums up in himself the elements of the material world. Through him they are thus brought to their highest perfection and can raise their voice in praise freely given to the Creator. For this reason man may not despise his bodily life. Rather he is obliged to regard his body as good and to hold it in honor since God has created it and will raise it up on the last day.

— Gaudium et spes

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Reading 1
Acts 5:17-26
The high priest rose up and all his companions,
that is, the party of the Sadducees,
and, filled with jealousy,
laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail.
But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison,
led them out, and said,
"Go and take your place in the temple area,
and tell the people everything about this life."
When they heard this,
they went to the temple early in the morning and taught.
When the high priest and his companions arrived,
they convened the Sanhedrin,
the full senate of the children of Israel,
and sent to the jail to have them brought in.
But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison,
so they came back and reported,
"We found the jail securely locked
and the guards stationed outside the doors,
but when we opened them, we found no one inside."
When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report,
they were at a loss about them,
as to what this would come to.
Then someone came in and reported to them,
"The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area
and are teaching the people."
Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them,
but without force,
because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R.(7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Gospel
Jn 3:16-21
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

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MP3 audio link to today’s readings:

http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_04_22.mp3

Moody Radio Online http://www.moodyradio.org/

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Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:

http://www.richardangulo.com/reading

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04212009

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The Words of Jesus of Nazareth by Lee Cantelon

The Promise of the Spirit

I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot understand them just now. However, when the breath of God has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak of himself; but whatever he hears, that he will speak, showing you those things that are to come.

He will praise me and glorify me, by revealing my glory to you. All of the Father’s glory is mine as well. This is why I am able to make this promise to you: the Spirit will reveal my divine nature to you. If your child asked of you bread, would you offer a stone? If your child asked fish to eat, would you offer a snake? Would you serve a scorpion to the little ones who ask for an egg?

If you then, being of this earth, know how to provide good things for your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the breath of God to those who ask him?

When the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, whom I will send to you from the Father has come, he will testify of me. He will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I have told you.

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Lord God, Abba Father, O that You would bless me and mine, keep us from evil and from pain. Guiding our walk through the Holy Spirit by the Light of Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we will never see the dark to hide any thought, word or act; renewing our heart at the foot of the Cross where we shall be reminded of the passing ways under the sun and the eternal life that awaits us in and through Jesus, and reminding us that as the seasons those things that worry us so, those people who offend, hurt and try to take advantage of us, are but lost sheep seeking the way and we are all called to be lights, an example of Jesus presence in our hearts, minds and bodies. This I ask and pray, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

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We must love our neighbor as being made in the image of God and as an object of His love.

— St. Vincent de Paul

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Reading 1
Acts 4:32-37
The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common.
With great power the Apostles bore witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great favor was accorded them all.
There was no needy person among them,
for those who owned property or houses would sell them,
bring the proceeds of the sale,
and put them at the feet of the Apostles,
and they were distributed to each according to need.

Thus Joseph, also named by the Apostles Barnabas
(which is translated "son of encouragement"),
a Levite, a Cypriot by birth,
sold a piece of property that he owned,
then brought the money and put it at the feet of the Apostles.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5
R. (1a) The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed:
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.

Gospel
Jn 3:7b-15
Jesus said to Nicodemus:
"’You must be born from above.’
The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Nicodemus answered and said to him,
‘How can this happen?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this?
Amen, amen, I say to you,
we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen,
but you people do not accept our testimony.
If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe,
how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
No one has gone up to heaven
except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."

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MP3 audio link to today’s readings:

http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_04_21.mp3

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   Today in the Word            http://www.moodyradio.org/brd_ProgramToday.aspx?id=35654

Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:

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04202009

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The Words of Jesus of Nazareth by Lee Cantelon

The Promise of the Spirit

It is the Spirit that has the power to give life.

If you love me, then keep my commandments. And I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another comforter to be with you forever. His is the breath of truth. The world does not accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you will know him, for he will dwell with you, and in you.

I will not leave you comfortless. Now it is necessary for you that I go away; for if I do not leave, the Comforter, the very breath of God, will not come to dwell among you. If I depart, I will send him to you.

When he has come, he will reveal to the world what is sin, and what is righteousness and judgment. Sin, because you do not believe in me; righteousness, because I go to my Father, and you will not see me; judgment, because the oppressive power of the prince of this world has been broken.

I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot understand them just now. However, when the breath of God has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak of himself; but whatever he hears, that he will speak, showing you those things that are to come.

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Lord God, Abba Father, through the Spirit let Jesus Christ nurture the seed You planted in me to know, love and be with You. Let You will replace mine, let me fulfill Your purpose for me. O that You would please me indeed, enlarge my territory, and keep me from evil and pain. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

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How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts! My soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord.

— Psalm lxxxiii. 2,3

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Reading 1
Acts 4:23-31
After their release Peter and John went back to their own people
and reported what the chief priests and elders had told them.
And when they heard it,
they raised their voices to God with one accord
and said, "Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth
and the sea and all that is in them,
you said by the Holy Spirit
through the mouth of our father David, your servant:

Why did the Gentiles rage
and the peoples entertain folly?
The kings of the earth took their stand
and the princes gathered together
against the Lord and against his anointed.

Indeed they gathered in this city
against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed,
Herod and Pontius Pilate,
together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
to do what your hand and your will
had long ago planned to take place.
And now, Lord, take note of their threats,
and enable your servants to speak your word
with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal,
and signs and wonders are done
through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook,
and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 2:1-3, 4-7a, 7b-9
R. (see 11d) Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples utter folly?
The kings of the earth rise up,
and the princes conspire together
against the LORD and against his anointed:
"Let us break their fetters
and cast their bonds from us!"
R. Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
He who is throned in heaven laughs;
the LORD derides them.
Then in anger he speaks to them;
he terrifies them in his wrath:
"I myself have set up my king
on Zion, my holy mountain."
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD.
R. Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall rule them with an iron rod;
you shall shatter them like an earthen dish."
R. Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.

Gospel
Jn 3:1-8
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
He came to Jesus at night and said to him,
"Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God,
for no one can do these signs that you are doing
unless God is with him."
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
Nicodemus said to him,
"How can a man once grown old be born again?
Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?"
Jesus answered,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born of water and Spirit
he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
What is born of flesh is flesh
and what is born of spirit is spirit.
Do not be amazed that I told you,
‘You must be born from above.’
The wind blows where it wills,
and you can hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

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MP3 audio link to today’s readings:

http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_04_0.mp3

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   Today in the Word            http://www.moodyradio.org/brd_ProgramToday.aspx?id=35654

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04192009

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The Words of Jesus of Nazareth by Lee Cantelon

A Place for You

I go to prepare a place for you.

Know this: if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and take you to be there with me; so that where I am, there you may be also. Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I must go away, but I will come again to you. If you truly loved me you would rejoice, because I return to the Father.

Do not marvel when I say: for little while, you will not see me; but not long after that, you will see me again. You will weep and be sad, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned to joy.

A woman, when she is in childbirth, knows pain and agony; but as soon as the child is delivered she forgets her suffering, rejoicing that her child is born into the world. For a moment you may experience sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will be able to take your joy from you.

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Lord God, Abba Father, all I can do is love You above all else, and continue to seek to know You more in and through Jesus in the Spirit; and love others as You love me. This I seek each day through a renewal of my heart in Jesus through the Spirit; knowing all along that You are with me and mine and will provide what we need for each day, if we let You by being less of us and more of You I all we think, say and do. O Lord God for the sale of His sorrowful passion have mercy on us and on the whole world. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

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It often happens that we pray God to deliver us from some dangerous temptation, and yet God does not hear us but permits the temptation to continue troubling us. In such a case, let us understand that God permits even this for our greater good. When a soul in temptation recommends itself to God, and by His aid resists, O how it then advances in perfection.

— St. Alphonsus Liguori

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Reading 1
Acts 4:32-35
The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common.
With great power the apostles bore witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great favor was accorded them all.
There was no needy person among them,
for those who owned property or houses would sell them,
bring the proceeds of the sale,
and put them at the feet of the apostles,
and they were distributed to each according to need.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
R. (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
Let the house of Israel say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let the house of Aaron say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let those who fear the LORD say,
"His mercy endures forever."
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.

Reading II
1 Jn 5:1-6

Beloved:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and blood.
The Spirit is the one that testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.

Gospel
Jn 20:19-31
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, "Peace be with you."
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained."

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord."
But he said to them,
"Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."

Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you."
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe."
Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

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MP3 audio link to today’s readings:

http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_04_19.mp3

Moody Radio Online http://www.moodyradio.org/

   Today in the Word            http://www.moodyradio.org/brd_ProgramToday.aspx?id=35654

Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:

http://www.richardangulo.com/reading

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