July 14
Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intentions
7:45 AM – Arthur J. Jutton / Family
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Readings
First Reading
Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12
Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There an angel of the LORD appeared to him in fire flaming out of a bush. As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. So Moses decided, “I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned.”
When the LORD saw him coming over to look at it more closely, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses! Moses!” He answered, “Here I am.” God said, “Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your father,” he continued, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. The cry of the children of Israel has reached me, and I have truly noted that the Egyptians are oppressing them. Come, now! I will send you to Pharaoh to lead my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?” He answered, “I will be with you; and this shall be your proof that it is I who have sent you: when you bring my people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this very mountain.”
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 103:1b-2, 3-4, 6-7
R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
The LORD secures justice
and the rights of all the oppressed.
He has made known his ways to Moses,
and his deeds to the children of Israel.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Gospel Acclamation
See Matthew 11:25
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Matthew 11:25-27
At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
“The Lord is kind and merciful.”
Reflection
In today’s Gospel of Matthew reading, Christ exclaims, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.”
The wise and the learned seem to be so assured in their knowledge that God the Father realizes that they will not be swayed by anything Christ does. I hope that God the Father does not see us in that same light! We, as believers, need to remain open to the workings and promptings of God in our life. Imagine where we would be without our faith, broken as it may be at times. We would be blind to the good works that God accomplishes around us.
Today the Church celebrates Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. Kateri, known as the Lily of the Mohawks, was born in Ossernon, now known as Auriesville, New York. Her deep faith in God caused her conversion and baptism. She led an exemplary life that caused controversy in her village. Because of her belief in God, she was forced to leave all that she knew behind and went on to lead a heroic life of charity, dedication, and virtue. She died at the young age of twenty-four in Canada. As a local saint, she continues to inspire us to virtue.
May we, like Kateri, remain open to the promptings of God and always be willing to pay any price required to maintain our faith, even if that price is leaving everything we know behind.
Peace,
Fr. John
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