GOSPEL REFLECTION OF POPE FRANCIS – 07/31/23 (Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola)

From the Gospel according to MatthewMt 13:31-35 Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds.“The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seedthat a person took and sowed in a field.It is the smallest of all the seeds,yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants.It becomes a large bush,and the birds of the sky come

THE BEAUTY OF SACRIFICE – 07/30/23 (Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

From the Gospel according to MatthewMt 13:44-52 Jesus said to his disciples:“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,which a person finds and hides again,and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchantsearching for fine pearls.When he

GOSPEL REFLECTION OF POPE FRANCIS – 07/29/23 (Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus)

From the Gospel according to JohnJn 11:19-27 Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Maryto comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died].When Martha heard that Jesus was coming,she went to meet him;but Mary sat at home.Martha said to Jesus,“Lord, if you had been here,my brother would not have died.But even now

GOSPEL REFLECTION OF POPE FRANCIS – 07/28/23 (Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time)

From the Gospel according to MatthewMt 13:18-23 Jesus said to his disciples: “Hear the parable of the sower.The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the Kingdomwithout understanding it,and the Evil One comes and steals awaywhat was sown in his heart.The seed sown on rocky groundis the one who

GOSPEL REFLECTION OF POPE FRANCIS – 07/27/23 (Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time)

From the Gospel according to MatthewMt 13:10-17 The disciples approached Jesus and said,“Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?”He said to them in reply,“Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heavenhas been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.To anyone who has, more will be given and

GOSPEL REFLECTION OF POPE FRANCIS – 07/26/23 (Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

From the Gospel according to MatthewMt 13, 1-9 On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea.Such large crowds gathered around himthat he got into a boat and sat down,and the whole crowd stood along the shore.And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying:“A sower went out

GOSPEL REFLECTION OF POPE FRANCIS – 07/25/23 (Feast of St. James, the Apostle)

From the Gospel according to MatthewMt 20:20-28 The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sonsand did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.He said to her,“What do you wish?”She answered him,“Command that these two sons of mine sit,one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.”Jesus

GOSPEL REFLECTION OF POPE FRANCIS – 07/24/23 (Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time)

From the Gospel according to MatthewMt 12:38-42 Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,“Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”He said to them in reply,“An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign,but no sign will be given itexcept the sign of Jonah the prophet.Just as Jonah was in the belly of

GOSPEL REFLECTION OF POPE FRANCIS – 07/23/23 (Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

From the Gospel according to MatthewMt 13:24-43 Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds, saying:“The kingdom of heaven may be likenedto a man who sowed good seed in his field.While everyone was asleep his enemy cameand sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared

GOSPEL REFLECTION OF POPE FRANCIS – 07/22/23 (Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene)

From the Gospel according to JohnJn 20:1-2.11-18 On the first day of the week,Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning,while it was still dark,and saw the stone removed from the tomb.So she ran and went to Simon Peterand to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,“They have taken the Lord