Cristy Li

Jesus said, “…The Words that I have spoken to you are the Spirit and Life.”
Simon Peter answered, ‘…You have the Words of Eternal Life.’ – CF. John 6:63B; 68B (NRSVCE)
Image Courtesy: Sister Veronica Paul

The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;

The Decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;

The Precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

The Commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;

The Fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever;

The Ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. –Psalm 19:7-10

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

Then a Lawyer stood up to test Jesus, ‘Teacher, what must I do to inherit Eternal Life?’

Jesus said to him, “What is written in the Law? What do you read there?”

The Lawyer answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your

soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.’ (Deuteronomy 6:49; Matthew 22:37-40)

Jesus replied to him, “You have given the right answer, do this and you shall live.”

Wanting to justify himself, the Lawyer asked Jesus, ‘Who is my neighbor?’

Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of

robbers, who stripped him, beat him and went away, leaving him half-dead. Now by chance a

Priest was going down the road and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So

likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side but a

Samaritan while traveling came near him and when he saw him. he was moved with pity. He

(the Samaritan) went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them.

Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an Inn and took care of him. The next day,

he took out two Denarii (silver coins) gave them to the Innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him

and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three do you

think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”

The Lawyer said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’

Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” –Luke 10:25-37

Related: For Today’s Bible Readings and More, Visit: -USCCB

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts to which indeed you were called to one body and be thankful.
Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly. –Colossians 3:15-16A (NRSVCE)
Image Courtesy: St. Paul Center

The Mission of the Seventy

The Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of Him in pairs to every town and place where He Himself intended to go. He (The Lord Jesus) said to them, “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few, therefore ask the the Lord of the Harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ If anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick who are there and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God has come near to you.’

Whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. You know this, the Kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, on that day, it will be more tolerable for Sodom that for that town.

Whoever listens to you listens to Me and whoever rejects you rejects Me and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”

The Return of the Seventy

The seventy returned with joy saying, ‘Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!’

He (Jesus) said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. Se I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you but rejoice that your names are written in Heaven.” –Luke 10:1-12;16-20

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For the love of Christ urges us on because we are convinced that One has died for all, therefore all have died and He died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for Him who died and was raised for them. –2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NRSVCE)  Image Courtesy: Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word

The Impotence of Idols and the Greatness of God

Not to us O Lord, not to us but to Your name give glory, for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness.

Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’

Our God is in the Heavens; He does whatever He pleases.

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths but do not speak, eyes but do not see. They have ears but do not hear; Noses but do not smell. They have hands but do not feel; Feet but do not walk, they make no sounds in their throats. Those who make them are like them, so all who trust in them.

O Israel, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.

O House of Aaron, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.

You Who Fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.

The Lord has been mindful to us; He will bless us; He will bless the House of Israel; He will bless the House of Aaron; He will bless Those who fear the Lord, both small and great.

May the Lord give you increase, both you and your children.

May you be blessed by the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth.

The Heavens are the Lord’s Heavens but the Earth He has given to human beings. (See also: God’s Promise to Create a New Heaven and a New Earth –Isaiah 65:17-25)

The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any that go down into silence but we will bless the Lord from this time on and forevermore.

Praise the Lord! –Psalm 115:1-18

If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; Everything old has passed away, see, everything has become new!

All this is from God who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.
–2 Corinthians 5:17-19

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Jesus said to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen Me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” –John 20:29 (NRSVCE)
Image Courtesy: EWTN

Jesus speaking to His Disciples said, “Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved but the one who does not believe will be condemned.” –Mark 16:15-16

Universal Call To Worship

Praise the Lord, all you nations!

Extol Him, all you peoples!

For Great is His steadfast love toward us and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord! –Psalm 117:1-2

“Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News to the whole creation.” –Mark 16:15

Jesus and Thomas

Thomas (who was called the Twin) one of the twelve (Apostles) was not with them when Jesus came, so the other Disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’

Thomas said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails and my hand in His side, I will not believe.’

A week later His (Jesus’) Disciples were again in the house and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

Then He (Jesus) said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it in My side. Do not doubt but believe.”

Thomas answered Him, ‘My Lord and My God!’

Jesus said to him (Thomas) “Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” –John 20:24-29

Related: For Today’s Bible Readings on the Memorial of St. Thomas the Apostle -USCCB

Lord, I love the House in which You dwell and the place where Your glory abides. –Psalm 26:8 (NRSVCE)
Image Courtesy: Blue Army Shrine Our Lady of Fatima

Plea For Justice and Declaration of Righteousness

For Your steadfast love is before my eyes. –Psalm 26:3A

Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.

Prove me, O Lord and try me; Test my heart and mind. For Your steadfast love is before my eyes and I walk in faithfulness to you.

I do not sit with the worthless nor do I consort with hypocrites; I hate the company of evildoers and I will not sit with the wicked. (See Also: 1 Corinthians 15:33  “Bad company ruins good morals.”)

I wash my hands in innocence and go around Your Alter, O Lord, singing aloud a Song of Thanksgiving and telling all Your wondrous deeds.

O Lord, I love the House in which You dwell and the place where Your glory abides.

Do not sweep me away with sinners, nor my life with the bloodthirsty, those in whose hands are evil devices and whose right hands are full of bribes.

As for me, I walk in my integrity; Redeem me and be gracious to me.

My foot stands on level ground in the great congregation I will bless the Lord. –Psalm 26:1-12

Related: For Today’s Bible Readings and More Visit — USCCB

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. –103:8 (NRSVCE)
Image Courtesy: Blue Army Shrine Our Lady of Fatima

Thanksgiving For God’s Goodness

Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His Holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul and do not forget all His benefits — who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit (Hell), who crown you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His way to Moses, His acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always accuse, nor will He keep His anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as the Heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, so far He removes our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear Him. For He knows how we were made; He remembers that we are dust.

As for mortals, their days are like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field, for the wind passes over it is gone and its place knows it no more but the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him and His righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep His Covenant and remember to do His Commandments.

The Lord has established His throne in the Heavens and His Kingdom rules over all.

Bless the Lord, O you His angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding, obedient to His spoken Word.

Bless the Lord, all His hosts, His ministers that do His will.

Bless the Lord, all His works, in all places of His dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul. –Psalm 103:1-22

Related: For Today’s Bible Readings and More Visit: -USCCB

Paul an Apostle: “Grace to you and peace from God Our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the Will of Our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever!” Amen. –Galatians 1:1A; 3-5
Image Courtesy: Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word

Song of Trust and Security in God

Protect me O God, for in You I take refuge. I say to the Lord, ‘You are My Lord, I have no good apart from you.’

As for the holy ones in the land, they are noble in whom is all mt delight.

Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows, their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup, You hold my lot. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a good heritage.

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel, in the night also my heart instructs me. I keep the Lord always before me because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body also rests secure. For You do not give me up to Sheol (Hell) or let Your faithful one see the Pit.

You show me the path of life. In Your presence there is fullness of joy. In your right hand are pleasures forevermore. –Psalm 16:1-11

There Is No Other Gospel

Paul an Apostle: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the One who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — not that there is another gospel but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the Gospel of Christ – Even if we or an Angel from Heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed!

As we have said before, so now, I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed! –Galations 1:1-9

The Bread From Heaven

The next day (after Jesus had given Thanks to God and fed the 5,000  –John 6:1-14) the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with His disciples but that His disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given Thanks. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

When they found Him (Jesus) on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, ‘Rabbi, when did You come here?’

Jesus answered them, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for Me, not because you saw signs but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on Him that God The Father has set His seal.”

Then they said to Him (Jesus), ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’

Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

So they said to Him (Jesus), ‘What sign are you going to give us then so that we may see it and believe You? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “He gave them bread from Heaven to eat.”‘ (Psalm 78:23-25)

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from Heaven but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from Heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from Heaven and gives life to the world.”

They said to Jesus, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’

Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. I have said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to Me and anyone who comes to Me I will never drive away. For I have come down from Heaven, not to do My own will but the will of Him who sent Me and this is the will of Him (God) who sent Me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given Me but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of My Father, that all who see the Son and believe in Him may have eternal life and I will raise them up on the last day.” –John 6:22-40

Related: For Today’s Bible Readings and More Visit: -USCCB

Jesus speaking, “I am the Good Shepherd.
I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father
and I lay down My life for the sheep.” –John 10:14-15 (NRSVCE)  Image Courtesy: EWTN

Results of Justification

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through Our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God and not only that but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character and character produces hope and hope does not disappoint us because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person — though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die but God proves His love for us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by His Blood, will we be saved through Him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life but more than that, we even boast in God through Our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now been received reconciliation. –Romans 5:1-11

Related: For Today’s Bible Readings on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus -USCCB