＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Zephaniah 3:14-18a (or Romans 12:9-16)

Cry out with joy,

The Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The Trinity is first and foremost a mystery.

As The Divine Mystery above all mysteries, we must begin by humbly acknowledging that we will never,

not even in Heaven, have a complete understanding of God’s essence, His inner reality.

Above all, directs us toward the goal of our journey.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40

Ask of the times past.

 Like Bartimaeus in today's gospel, I would long to open my eyes.

Bartimaeus truly exemplifies the disciple who sees where the way ahead leads

and yet follows and believes Jesus.

Jesus’ followers, blinded and broken as they are by grief and despair.

Like Bartimaeus, Jesus’ followers begin to ‘see’ once more.

1st Reading: 1 Peter 2:2-5, 9-12

Like newborn children,

Simony–the buying and selling of sacred offices and things; the unlawful marriage of the clergy;

and lay investiture—kings and nobles controlling the appointment of Church officials, plagued the Church then.

Gregory’s papalreasserted the unity of the whole Church based on Christ.

 Blessed Virgin Mary/St. Bede the Venerable, priest & doctor

St. Gregory VII, pope/ St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, virgin

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

James 5:13-20

Are any among you discouraged?

Jesus responds “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink,

or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”

He is speaking of a cup of suffering, not a cup of victory and triumph.

Jesus comes into his glory through the cross,

We seek not our own glory but His glory.

St. Paul VI, pope

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Peter 1:18-25

Remember, that you were freed from

 Jesus answered to them, "What did Moses command you?"
And they said, "Moses permitted a man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY."

Jesus says, "Yes, that regulation is in the Law –
but it is there to restrain evil, not as a pointer to God’s character. 

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

James 5:9-12

Beloved, do not fight

 To be a Christian is to know and to follow Jesus.

‘You cannot serve God and wealth.’

“We have given up everything to follow you.”

The reward will be joy in this world and everlasting life hereafter.

While the cost of following Jesus is high, Jesus takes time to assure the disciples

that all who suffer loss in following Him

will receive back far more than they lose – both now and in the future.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Peter 1:10-16

This was the salvation for which

 Do you set a good example for others to follow?

Jesus reminds us not give offense or bad example that might lead another to sin.

As salt purifies, preserves, and produces rich flavor for food,

so the disciple of Christ must be salt in the world of human society to purify, preserve,

and bring the flavor of God's kingdom of righteousness, peace, joy, and mercy.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

James 5:1-6

So, now, for what

 “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus says he lacks one thing. He is to sell what he has and give it to the poor in order to obtain treasure in heaven.

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

then, as they ask, “Who can be saved?”

The rich have a bigger challenge than that faced by anyone else.

 St. Augustine of Canterbury, bishop

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Peter 1:3-9

Let us praise God,

Jesus sees all who act in his name as having much in common.

A genuine believer –this man who was casting out demons is a genuine believer.

Why would the disciples try to stop a man from doing good in the name of Jesus?

Because they aren’t a part of your group?

St. Rita of Cascia, Religious

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

James 4:13-17

Listen now, you who speak like this,