St. Rita NOLA

Ezekiel 17:22-24 • 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 • Mark 4:26-34

The heart of God aches to "tear off a tender shoot" from a mighty cedar and "plant it on a high and lofty mountain" so that "birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it." That is, the Lord wants to reveal his glory by taking up our insignificance and turning it into something "majestic" by the power of his love. "God's Kingdom," Pope Francis said, "is above all the initiative and gift of the Lord. Our weak effort, seemingly small before the complexity of the problems of the world, when integrated with God's effort, fears no difficulty. The victory of the Lord is certain... This opens us up to trust and hope, despite the tragedies, the injustices, the sufferings that we encounter." When we "walk by faith, not by sight," the hidden depths of things become apparent, and we remain vigorous and sturdy, "bearing fruit even in old age."

Isaiah 61:9-11 • Luke 2:41-51 

The Immaculate Heart of Mary is the most perfect reflection of the love and purity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In fact, the Immaculate Heart of the Mother of God gave the Incarnate Word his whole humanity: the blood that was shed, the hand and feet that were pierced for us, the heart that showed pity to the needy and sick crowds. Mary's Immaculate Heart is a refuge for each of us who seek to follow her divine Son. Whatever we seek - strength to overcome temptation, courage to arise after a fall, patience to endure the cross - can be found by turning to her. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!

Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9 • Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19 • John 19:31-37

The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus reveals the merciful love of our Savior, banishing all fear, shame, and discouragement from our own hearts. The Heart of Jesus continues to beat for us in heaven, pouring out its infinite merits upon us through the sacraments. Devotion to the Sacred Heart remains one of the Church's great treasures, and one of our greatest consolations on our pilgrim way. Our Lord promised Saint Margaret Mary that "sinners shall find in my Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy," and "those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in my Heart, never to be blotted out." Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

2 Corinthians 3:15-4:1, 3-6 • Matthew 5:20-26

Our righteousness will surpass that of the scribes and the Pharisees if we will turn to the Lord who removes the veil from over our hearts. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." The Lord's Spirit moves us to take the initiative in becoming reconciled with others. By that self-surrender, we are transformed from glory to glory and "enter into the Kingdom of heaven."

2 Corinthians 3:4-11 • Matthew 5:17-19

Ephrem the Deacon ministered to the Christian community in Nisibis, a city repeatedly besieged by the Persian army. In 363, he fled Nisibis with the rest of the Christians, to Edessa (present-day Urfa, in Turkey). Heresies were rife in the town. He lived austerely in the hillside outside the city, but frequently came into Edessa to refute the heretics. A deeply sensitive man, Ephrem was said to weep almost constantly. His ardent liturgical hymns are used even today in the liturgies of the Syrian rite. In 373, Ephrem, alone of the Edessans, was trusted to dispense grain to the famine-ravaged city. He died shortly thereafter of illness.

2 Corinthians 1:18-22 • Matthew 5:13-16

Salt must not lose its taste if it does not want to become worthless. A lit lamp is good for nothing unless it is set on a lamp stand where it gives light to all. It is our faithful Amen to Jesus Christ that keeps. us true and radiant before all the world.

2 Corinthians 1:1-7 • Matthew 5:1-12

The poor, the mourning, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed because their lives glorify God, "the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion." Even when our sufferings overflow, our hope is firm. We "share in the encouragement" that comes from the goodness of the Lord.

Exodus 24:3-8 • Hebrews 9:11-15 • Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

The Eucharist, Pope Francis said, "communicates the Lord's love fo run: a love so great that it nourishes us with himself; a freely given love, always available to every person who hungers... To live the experience of faith means to allow oneself to be nourished by the Lord and to build one's own existence not with material goods but with the reality that does not perish: the gifts of God, his Word and his Body." We rejoice on this solemn celebration of our Eucharistic faith in order to show fitting honor to the Lord and deepen our attachment to him. Lord, we are not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and our souls shall be healed!

Tobit 12:1, 5-15, 20 • Mark 12:38-44

Highly educated, Boniface left behind a promising ecclesial career in England to proclaim the Gospel to the northern Germans. His preaching was so successful that he was forced to write to the people of his homeland begging for books, vestments, and money to support "those who are of one blood and bone with you". He drew from the ranks of the monasteries of his homeland the abbots and abbesses of Germany's first abbeys - and its first saints, including Lull and Wigbert, Thecla and Walburga. In 754, he retired as archbishop to pursue a final mission to Friesland. There he perished at the hands of marauding bands, slain over the book he was reading.

Tobit 11:5-17 • Mark 12:35-37

One knows Christ to be both "son of David" and "Lord" only through a relationship with him. When we "offer ourselves to the mercy of God", he fully "restores sight to our eyes" like Tobiah's blind father. And we go forward "rejoicing and praising God with full voice".