THE MEMORIAL OF ST PETER CLAVER, SJ. MISSIONARY PRIEST.
THE GOODNEWS:
"Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:
"Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.
"Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied.
"Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh.
"Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.
"Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.
For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.
"But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
"But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry.
"Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will grieve and weep.
"Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way." (Luke 6: 20 - 26).
Wednesday September 9th in the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Peter Claver of the Society of Jesus. (1580 - 1654). A Spanish Priest, Religious and Missionary.
St Peter Claver served for over 40 years African slaves dumped at the South American seaport of Cartagena now Colombia. During 40 years, he fed the slaves, cared for the sick and dying. He preached the Good News to them and baptized over 300,000.
It would be humanly impossible for the slaves and Peter Claver to heed these words of Jesus and obey it:
“To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Matthew 5: 43 - 48).
But grace overcame nature and the slaves taught by St Peter Claver loved their persecutors as Jesus did from the Cross.
St Peter Claver is called the "Slave of slaves." God gave him great love and patience for the suffering slaves. Peter took many of them with him to heaven.
St Luke gives his version of the Beatitudes in Luke 6: 20 - 26).
The Beatitude is a faithful portrait of the character of Jesus the Messiah, the Faithful Servant.
It begins with a key attribute: material poverty. Jesus was born of poor parents in a manger. He lived in a poor neighborhood of Nazareth. After he attained the age of puberty, He became an apprentice carpenter in His father's workshop. Jesus died a poor man.
When Jesus began His teaching with "Congratulations to you who are materially poor..." His audience would have been delighted. Let us head to the Catechism to see what the Church teaches us on the Beatitudes.
"The Beatitudes reveal the goal of human existence, the ultimate end of human acts: God calls us to his own beatitude. This vocation is addressed to each individual personally, but also to the Church as a whole, the new people made up of those who have accepted the promise and live from it in faith." (CCC 1719).
Man does not live on bread alone. Man does not live on money alone. There is life for man in every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Cf Matthew 4: 4).
"God put us in the world to know, to love, and to serve him, and so to come to paradise. Beatitude makes us "partakers of the divine nature" and of eternal life. With beatitude, man enters into the glory of Christ and into the joy of the Trinitarian life." (CCC 1721)
The Beatitude is the blueprint of our Journey of Faith. Follow it as faithfully as you follow the GPS and it will lead you to our true Homeland.
In September, the Church honors the Sorrowful Heart of Mary. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows obtain for us mercies from her Son Jesus.
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY O MOST BEAUTIFUL AND GLORIOUS MOTHER.
It is your Son Himself who from the Cross said: "Behold your Mother."
The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Happy Birthday Sweet Mother!
"Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
"Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.
"Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream
and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
"Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.” (Matthew 1: 18 - 23).
Tuesday September 8th, 2026.
Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Universal Church of 1.4 billion souls celebrate the Birthday of her, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Mary was chosen, called, prepared and enabled to be the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of Mankind.(Cf Romans 8: 30).
Mary said Yes immediately to the Archangel Gabriel.
She did not say: "Let me first ask my husband Joseph about this. I will also like to talk to my mother."
It was this openness to grace that made Mary: "Blessed among women." (Cf Luke 1: 45).
And every generation continues to call her blessed every day through the blessed Holy Rosary.
According to Matthew the Evangelist, Jesus Christ descended directly from Abraham:
"The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob........... (Matthew 1: 1 - 2).
After the birth of Jesus, the line of genealogy comes abruptly to an end.
"Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah." (Matthew 1: 15 - 16).
A new genealogy begins from Jesus Son of God and Son of Mary.
This genealogy includes you and me as royal sons and daughters.
"Let us celebrate with joy the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
for from her arose the sun of justice, Christ our God." (Entrance Antiphon, Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary).
In September, the Church honors the Sorrowful Heart of Mary. But today September 8th, the Universal Church celebrates the Birthday of our most sweet and beautiful Mother. The Church hails her Son Jesus Christ as Son of God and Son of Mary.
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND.
JESUS HEALS THE MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND ON THE SABBATH.
THE GOODNEWS:
"On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught,
and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.
"The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the sabbath
so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.
"But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand,
“Come up and stand before us.”
And he rose and stood there.
"Then Jesus said to them,
“I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”
"Looking around at them all, he then said to him,
“Stretch out your hand.”
He did so and his hand was restored.
But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus." (Luke 6: 6 - 11).
Monday September 7th in the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time.
The Gospel of today is another Sabbath controversy which Jesus seems to relish.
For the opponents of Jesus, namely the Scribes and Pharisees almost no work is permitted on the Sabbath.
On this point, Jesus asked them:
“I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”
The scribes and Pharisees refused to answer the question.
Jesus then turned to the man with the withered hand and said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored."
The Scribes and Pharisees distorted God's original plan for the Sabbath.
Jesus came not to abolish the Mosaic Law but to complete it, that is to enrich it.
The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.
While it is true that the primary purpose of the Sabbath is Rest and Worship, it is also a day of Leisure.
What type of Rest? A Rest that restores human body and mind from the wears and tears of labor.
For the Sabbath is a Rehearsal for Eternal life.
One day, there will be no work when Jesus Christ restores All Things in Himself.
Jesus observed the Sabbath during His few years of ministry.
For centuries, the Magisterium of the Catholic Church has stressed the importance of the Sabbath Rest.
In September, the Church honors the Sorrowful Heart of Mary.
May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows obtain for us mercies from her Son Jesus.
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
BROTHERLY UNITY AND CORRECTION.
If your brother sins against you...
"Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
"If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
"If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church.
"If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
"Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
"Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18: 15 - 20).
Sunday 6th September 2026 in the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time.
Jesus Christ founded a Church with broad powers.
"Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
It is especially in the ministry of Prayer and Reconciliation that we see priveleges that Jesus entrusted to His Church.
"Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father."
When brothers and sisters live in unity, there is peace and prosperity and progress.
Let us have confidence in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church because it is the Custodian of the immense graces and privileges Jesus Christ bequeathed to humanity.
In September, the Church honors the Sorrowful Heart of Mary.
May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows obtain for us mercies from her Son Jesus.
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
THE SABBATUM AND THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
THE SACREDNESS OF SUNDAY.
First Saturday in September 2026. Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
THE GOODNEWS:
"While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain,
rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.
"Some Pharisees said,
“Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry?
How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat,
ate of it, and shared it with his companions?”
"Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.” (Luke 6: 1 - 5).
Saturday 5th September 2026, First Saturday in September is the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Why is Saturday dedicated to honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary?
This is an ancient custom dating back to the time of Emperor Charlemagne in the 800s. Some date the custom earlier than Charlemagne.
Most great medieval Doctors of the Church endorsed the practice, viz:
Saints Bernardine of Siena, Thomas Aquinas, Bernard of Clairvaux and Bonaventure.
One interesting reason for this practice:
After the Crucifixion on Friday, everyone had lost faith in Jesus and went home full of regrets.
On Saturday, Mary continued the Vigil alone waiting for the Resurrection of her Son. The disciples of Jesus apparently did not take seriously Christ's three predictions that He would be arrested, tortured and crucified and die on the Cross.
Characteristically and true to character, the Blessed Virgin Mary remembered everything and stored it in her deep memory.
Tradition believed that Jesus appeared to His mother first after the Resurrection. Not surprising!
In the Gospel for today from Luke 6, Jesus reminded the Pharisees God’s purpose for the Sabbath.
"Remember the sabbath day—keep it holy." (Exodus 20: 8).
The command to set apart the Sabbath is very important as seen from the way it is treated in Sacred Scriptures.
It is the exaggerated concern for the obligation and sanctity of the Sabbath Rest that gave rise to hundreds of minutiae rules concerning the basic command to keep holy the Lord's Day.
Throughout the Christian history, the Magisterium of the Church has not only expounded on the sacred character of the Sabbath but has taught that the Sabbath was instituted for the enjoyment of the People of God.
It is a day of worship of God. A day of rest for the whole family from the hustle and bustle involved in making a living.
It is a day to enjoy the parks, watch Christian movies. It is a day to visit the sick in the hospital.
The Sabbath Rest is Rehearsal for Eternal life.
One day, there will be no work.
By obeying the law of the Sabbath, you build up your faith in this promise of God. God plans to redeem man and creation from the present servitude.
It is more enjoyable to keep holy the Lord's Day than to do anything unlawful on the Sabbath Rest.
"With compassion, Christ declares the sabbath for doing good rather than harm, for saving life rather than killing. The sabbath is the day of the Lord of mercies and a day to honor God. "The Son of Man is Lord even of the sabbath." (CCC 2173).
Rejoice in God's generous provision of the Sunday Rest and use it to grow in spiritual and human maturity.
In September, the Church honors the Sorrowful Heart of Mary.
The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
"Yes, my beloved little son, the eighth sorrow of my maternal and Immaculate Heart is that my Son is so offended in the Sacrament of His love. This sorrow of mine will endure until the end of time, when the real presence of my Son in the Most Holy Sacrament will give way to the sight of His divine majesty. Then will faith give way to vision, and hope to possession. Then will love be secure and everlasting for all who will have died in the embrace of His divine friendship." (IN SINU JESU page 183).
May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows obtain for us mercies from her Son Jesus.
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
WHEN AND HOW TO FAST.
THE GOODNEWS: "The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,
“The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.”
Jesus answered them,
“Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” (Luke 5: 33 - 39).
Friday 4th September 2026, in the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time. Today is the First Friday in September.
We honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the First Friday of every month.
The Gospel of today deals with fasting.
Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving are the 3 pillars of the Christian spiritual life.
Do you fast? How often? What do you fast from?
On the three pillars of the spiritual life, the Church teaches:
CCC 1434: "The interior penance of the Christian can be expressed in many and various ways. Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on three forms, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, which express conversion in relation to oneself, to God, and to others. Alongside the radical purification brought about by Baptism or martyrdom they cite as means of obtaining forgiveness of sins: efforts at reconciliation with one’s neighbor, tears of repentance, concern for the salvation of one’s neighbor, the intercession of the saints, and the practice of charity “which covers a multitude of sins.”
Some Christians abstain from meat and alcohol on Friday and Wednesday.
Others abstain also from television, movies and gambling.
"The prayer of adoration at night has the power and efficacy of that prayer made with fasting that I recommended to My apostles as the means of expelling demons from the souls whom they torture and oppress.
For this reason, the demons fear and hate adoration made at night, while the angels rejoice over it, and place themselves at the service of the soul who desires to do it." (IN SINU JESU page 240).
The Church honors the Sorrowful Heart of Mary in September.
The whole month of September invites us to stand spiritually beside Mary and contemplate the love that remained faithful through every trial.
September With the Sorrowful Mother
September does not begin by asking us to look away from pain.
It asks us to bring our pain into the presence of a Mother who understands.
Mary’s life was marked by a great “yes” to God—but that yes did not spare her from suffering.
At the Presentation in the Temple, Simeon foretold that a sword would pierce her soul (Luke 2:35).
From that moment onward, Mary carried the mystery of her Son not only in her arms, but in her heart: the anxiety of fleeing into Egypt, the anguish of losing Jesus in Jerusalem, the agony of seeing Him rejected, condemned, crucified, and laid in the tomb.
Yet Mary did not run from the Cross. The Gospel tells us simply, powerfully: “Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother…” (John 19:25). She stood. She remained. She loved.
This is the message of the Sorrowful Mother for us as September gets underway.
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
FIRST FRIDAY IN SEPTEMBER 2026.
The 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which Jesus made through St Margaret Mary Alacoque to all who honor His Sacred Heart especially on the First Friday of every month by attending Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion.
In the 9th month of the year 2026, we look at Promise #9.
#9. "I will bless the homes in which the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honored."
I have lived in homes with a couple of people with difficult and challenging personalities. The first thing I do when I come into my room for the first time is to sprinkle holy water everywhere. Then I mount the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the location I identified as my home altar or praying spot. The house has always been blessed with the Peace of Christ during my stay.
Jesus Christ is proud of His humanity and human heritage. He wants His brethren to be reminded of this.
Jesus Christ is fully God and fully Man. And a handsome Man too.
So Jesus mandated His image to be rendered by an artist for the image of the Sacred Heart. St Margaret Mary Alacoque was charged with this sacred duty. Just as St Maria Faustina would be given centuries later the commission of producing the Divine Mercy image for the Devotion to the Divine Mercy.
The Church approved these devotions and images.
Do you have an image or statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a prominent place in your home?
The 9th Promise is a very easy condition to fulfill. Buy the Sacred Heart of Jesus picture or statue from a Catholic Bookstore or Amazon and place it in a prominent place in your home.
You can also print an image of the Sacred Heart off the Internet or this website. Ask your pastor to bless it. So it becomes a sacramental.
With this image blessed and placed in a prominent place in your home, you can now tell Jesus:
"Bless my home as You promised, Jesus. I have a blessed image of Your Sacred Heart in my house".
Honor this image by glancing at it from time to time and saying "Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I love You."
Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this Friday by attending Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion.
PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS OF Saint Gertrude the Great:
"O Sacred Heart of Jesus,
fountain of eternal life,
Your Heart is a glowing furnace of Love.
You are my refuge and my sanctuary.
O my adorable and loving Saviour,
consume my heart with the burning fire
with which Yours is aflamed.
Pour down on my soul those graces
which flow from Your love.
Let my heart be united with Yours.
Let my will be conformed to Yours in all things.
May Your Will be the rule of all my desires and actions.
Amen."
For the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sacred Heart devotional prayers and prayer intentions click the link below:
THE MEMORIAL OF ST GREGORY THE GREAT. PONTIFF AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH.
PETER, JAMES AND JOHN WERE SURPRISED BY GRACE.
The Call of Peter, James and John.
THE GOSPEL:
"While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
"He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
"Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
"After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
"Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.”
"When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
"When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon.
" Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”
"When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him." Seek (Luke 5: 1 - 11).
Thursday September 3rd 2026 in the 22nd week in Ordinary Time is the the Memorial of St Gregory the Great. Supreme Pontiff.
We honor today the Servant of the Servants of God, St Gregory the Great. (540 - 604). Pope and Doctor of the Church.
When God chose and anointed David, He exclaimed with delight: "I have chosen David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him. My hand will be with him; my arm will make him strong." (Psalm 89: 21 - 22). This Scripture can be applied to Pope Gregory the Great.
Gregory was the David of his days.
St. Gregory the Great was called from the City Hall where he was the Mayor of Rome to be fisher of men. He left everything and followed Jesus.
He used his wealth to found six monasteries before he was elected Pope. He is noted in history for instituting liturgical reforms and initiating missionary endeavors. It was due to St Gregory that missionaries were first sent to England.
Great Quotes from St Gregory:
"Meditate daily on the words of your Creator. Learn the Heart of God in the words of God, that your soul may be enkindled with greater longing for heavenly joys."
“A spiritual guide should be silent when discretion requires and speak when words are of service. Otherwise he may say what he should not or be silent when he should speak.”
(St. Gregory the Great, Pope & Doctor of the Church.)
Our Scripture today is one of my favorites. Duc in Altum as St John Paul II like to call it. "Put out into the Deep" is the call of Jesus to follow Him into Deeper Waters.
Are you ready to follow Jesus into the deeper waters in your vocation or ministry? I am afraid that I am still wallowing in shallow waters.
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Peter obeyed the command which seemingly did not make sense to an experienced fisherman.
When Mary heard similar words from the Angel Gabriel, she answered: "Be it done to me according to Your Plan." (Cf Luke 1: 38).
Do you remember Mary's counsel to the stewards in the Marriage Feast at Cana? "Do whatever He tells you." (John 2: 5). They did what Jesus told them and water was made into high quality wine.
Note that in today's Gospel, Peter, James and John recognized that a miracle has occurred. "For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon." Recognition of God's intervention in our lives or in history is a sign of supernatural perspective. The Church teaches that Divine Providence is concrete and immediate. (Cf CCC 303). Therefore it is incumbent that we must recognize the operations of Divine Providence in our lives in order to appropriate the results and give thanks to God.
Our faith is expressed in obedience. Peter exercised obedience of faith and a big miracle took place. He fished all night and caught nothing. But at the words of Jesus, Peter was willing to try again. He took a second chance. Peter showed a disposition for obedience of faith. Is this why Jesus tapped him for leadership in the Church?
When God speaks His word to us through the Scriptures, locution, inspiration, prophetic individual, dream, if you do not respond with obedient action, what is wrong? Perhaps you think it is not worth the trouble trying a second chance. Our God is the Father of Second Chances.
When Peter responded in faith, he received his calling.
“Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”
When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him."
Some saints who responded to Jesus and put out in Deep Water:
Maximilian Kolbe, Mother St Teresa of Kolkata, Mother Angelica of EWTN, Father Albert Lauer of Presentation Ministries, Maria Faustina of the Divine Mercy and many others.
Jesus is calling everyone of us to intimate friendship with Him in the great adventure of Evangelization.
"Priests and religious who are tempted to follow a false philosophy of activism, pragmatism, and utilitarianism, or who waste their time on entertainments and distractions, will suffer God’s loving judgments. He will make bitter their false delights, destroy their enterprises, and weaken the efficacy of their work in order to wake them up to their calling of intimate friendship with Him as the source of happiness and the condition for all fruitfulness." (IN SINU JESU page 266).
The Church honors the Most Sorrowful Heart of Mary in September.
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
JESUS HEALS EVERYONE WHO NEEDS HEALING.
"After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her.
He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.
"She got up immediately and waited on them.
"At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him.
He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.
"And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.”
But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.
"At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.
The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them.
"But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.”
And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea." (Luke 4: 38 - 44).
Wednesday 2nd September 2026 in the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time.
Luke, the physician narrates here a tale of illnesses, demonic possessions and healings by Jesus.
Where do disease, ignorance, demonic possession and poverty come from?
Ultimately the answer will be found in Genesis Chapter 3: 16 - 19:
"To the woman he [God] said:
"I will intensify your toil in childbearing;
in pain you shall bring forth children.
Yet your urge shall be for your husband,
and he shall rule over you.
"To the man he said: Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, You shall not eat from it,
"Cursed is the ground because of you!
In toil you shall eat its yield
all the days of your life.
"Thorns and thistles it shall bear for you,
and you shall eat the grass of the field.
"By the sweat of your brow
you shall eat bread,
Until you return to the ground,
from which you were taken;
For you are dust,
and to dust you shall return." (Genesis 3: 16 - 19).
Brethren, Sin is the cause of poverty, ignorance and disease.
Sin causes Suffering. Suffering brings the Savior.
How does dealing with these problems caused by Sin core to the Messianic vocation of Jesus?
Isaiah forecast that the Messiah will do all these things below and more:
"Then the eyes of the blind shall see, and the ears of the deaf be opened; Then the lame shall leap like a stag, and the mute tongue sing for joy." (Isaiah 35: 5 - 6).
The three aspects of the ministry of Jesus are:
Teaching, Healing and Feeding.
Jesus left these tasks to the Church when He ascended into Heaven. (Cf Mark 16: 17 - 18).
Inspired by the Gospel of this Wednesday, cry out to Jesus with me in expectant faith :
"I trust in the healing mercy of God for ever and ever. Jesus Son of David heal me."
Jesus heals everyone who appeals to His merciful love and approaches Him with faith and reverence. Let us say to Jesus: Lord, why should my own case be different. I need Your healing touch as much as the mother- in- law of Simon Peter.
In September, the Church honors the Sorrowful Heart of Mary.
May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Fatima obtain for us the healing mercies of her Son Jesus.
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
JESUS TEACHES WITH AUTHORITY.
Jesus Christ has Absolute Power to Deliver us from Any Evil.
THE GOODNEWS:
"Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.
He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority.
"In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice,
“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
"Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!”
"Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm.
"They were all amazed and said to one another,
“What is there about his word?
For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”
And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region." (Luke 4: 31 - 37).
Tuesday September 1st 2026 in the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time.
In today's Gospel, Jesus came face to face with a demoniac.
Sometime ago, I read a book titled THE SAINTS THAT BATTLED SATAN.
Some of the saints in this study are: Anthony the Abbot, Francis of Assisi, Dominic, Ignatius Loyola, Teresa of Avila, Benedict, John of Vianney, Martin de Poress and others. I was depressed as a result of reading stories after stories of endless struggles with the powers of darkness.
Today I am filled with consolation as I realized that this is a necessary knowledge for every true disciple of Jesus.
Whether you like it or not, you cannot escape your own spiritual combats.
"Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!”
"Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm."
The people were amazed that with a word of authority, Jesus expelled the devil from the man.
What is authority?
Authority means power. Listen to Jesus in the promise of the Gift of the Father in Acts 1: 8. "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes."
Only then can you bear witness to Me and do My work.
The Holy Spirit power is critical to witnessing and evangelization.
Witnessing and evangelization involves spiritual warfare.
The Holy Spirit is therefore the Spirit of power above every other attribute He has.
The miracles of Jesus which are the works of Jesus like in the Gospel of today are works of authority or power.
The words of Jesus in the Gospel are words of authority or power. The words or sayings of Jesus are authoritative.
That means they produce at once what they say.
The miracle itself or works of wonders clarify the words of Jesus.
In Jesus, words and actions form a mysterious unity. "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19: 10). Whatever Jesus says must happen!
We the Baptized do not have the spirit of fear. Many of us act in fear as if possessed by the spirit of fear.
“In Baptism, we receive the Spirit of power. This is the Spirit that marks the children of God the Father and not the spirit of cowardice, which is evil and impure spirit.
Hence the apostle Paul rightly says: "You have been granted the privilege not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for his sake."
He tells us why it is Christ’s gift that his chosen ones should suffer for him:
The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us." (St Bede the Venerable).
How then do we activate the Holy Spirit in our lives?
Faith acting through Prayer is the Activator of the Holy Spirit. Mary says: "I believe what you have told me. Now let it be done to me according to your promise." (Cf Luke 1: 37 - 38).
Following this declaration of Mary, Jesus became instantly incarnate in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Church honors the Sorrowful Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary in September.
A Prayer for September:
O Sorrowful Mother,
you stood faithfully beneath the Cross of your Son.
Teach us to remain close to Jesus
in our trials, our questions, and our tears.
When our hearts are troubled, give us your trust.
When we are tempted to despair, give us your hope.
When suffering comes, help us to unite it
to the loving sacrifice of Christ.
Mary, Mother of Sorrows,
pray for us, and lead us always
from the Cross to the joy of the Resurrection.
Amen.
Below is what Jesus said to a mystic about His Mother.
"Be faithful to her Rosary. It is the shield and sword of spiritual combat. It assures your victory over the powers of darkness. Why? Because it is a humble prayer, a prayer that binds the soul who prays it to the victory of My Mother over the ancient serpent." (IN SINU JESU page 59).
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
TODAY THIS SCRIPTURE IS FULFILLED BEFORE YOU.
"Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
"Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
"He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.
"They also asked,
“Is this not the son of Joseph?”
He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say,
‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”
"And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
"When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury.
They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.
But he passed through the midst of them and went away." (Luke 4: 16 - 30).
Monday August 31st 2026 in the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time.
Our Gospel for today is the rejection of Jesus in His hometown of Nazareth.
Jesus read the passage below from the Prophet Isaiah which previews the ministry of the Messiah.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord."
The congregation was impressed by Jesus' delivery of the message and "all in the synagogue looked intently at him.. ... And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth."
Then they wondered “Is this not the son of Joseph?"
Why did the admiration of Jesus suddenly turn to envy?
Envy is listed as one of the Seven Deadly Sins and is defined as:
"Envy is the desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation."
It is a sin that is surprisingly found in the Church: Bishops, priests, religious, monks, nuns, etc are not exempt from the sin of Envy.
Envy is such a human sin. Wives envy their husbands and vice versa. Sibling envy can be deadly as we see from Cain and Abel, Esau and Jacob.
What makes you feel envious? How do you handle the deadly sin of envy that spares none of us? How will you feel if you are the target of envy at school or in the workplace?
"The redemption is the work of love. I loved in the face of hatred. I loved in the face of death. I loved even in the netherworld, where the just of the ages awaited My coming among them. It is by love that I vanquished hell, by love that I triumphed over death, by love that I undid what Satan, in his envy, had plotted against the creatures whom I so love and whom My Father destined for the praise of His glory." (IN SINU JESU page 135).
The Church honors the Immaculate Heart of Mary in August.
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
Take up your cross & follow Me.
"Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.
"Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”
"He [Jesus] turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
"Then Jesus said to his disciples,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay all according to his conduct.” (Matthew 16: 21 - 27).
Sunday August 30th 2026 in the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time.
Jesus first prediction of His passion, death and resurrection marks a turning point in His ministry.
The disciples did not understand His prediction. Perhaps they did not even want to hear Him speak of bad news at all, certainly not suffering and death.
“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” Peter remonstrated with Jesus.
What is your opinion about the Crucifixion?
What is your opinion about suffering in your life? Suffering in the world?
The Cross is God's will and path for our salvation.
No Cross, No Crown.
“Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!
Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24: 25 - 26).
This is the Full Truth of the Gospel. No More, No Less.
So we are foolish to imagine that there could be salvation without suffering.
Suffering is a divine necessity. Look around you and see the truth in nature. A seed must die in the ground before it sprouts to bring new life.
A woman at childbirth wonders whether her end has come. But soon, she is smiling with the child in her arms.
One of the most powerful truths I learned from the Gospels is this: "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8: 32).
The reverse of this is equally astonishing. You are imprisoned by the falsehood you believe. The Devil is the Father of lies. He sows falsehood and lies everywhere. That is why Jesus rebuked Peter sharply on this occasion.
“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Matthew 16: 23).
How do we protect ourselves from the deadly lies of the Devil? The answer is in the 2nd Reading today:
"Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12: 2).
#1 Read and meditate on the word of God every day.
#2 Pray every day.
"Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later." (Romans 8: 18).
How did the Blessed Virgin Mary comprehend the necessity of the Cross and embrace this mystery fully in her life?
In September, the Church honors the Sorrowful Heart of Mary. May the Blessed Virgin Mary obtain for us the grace to embrace all the crosses in our lives.
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
THE MEMORIAL OF THE MARTYRDOM OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST.
THE GOODNEWS:
"Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
"John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
"Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
"Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him.
"She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.
"Herodias’ own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”
He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.”
"She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”
She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,
“I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
"The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
"He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb." (Mark 6: 17 - 29).
Saturday 29th August 2026 in the 21st Week in Ordinary Time is the Memorial of the Martyrdom of St John the Baptist.
Who is St John the Baptist?
John is the son of Zachary and Elizabeth.
When Mary visited Elizabeth, John leapt in her mother's womb in recognition of Jesus who is in Mary’s womb.
When he came of age, he retired to the desert to prepare for his exacting and extraordinary ministry.
In the fullness of time, John came to the River Jordan and began preaching and baptizing people for repentance in preparation for the ministry of Jesus Christ.
HE MUST INCREASE BUT I MUST DECREASE." (St John the Baptist said.
It was here at the River Jordan that John condemned the adulterous life of King Herod.
Herodias, the concubine of Herod took revenge on the Baptist and demanded his death when a good opportunity presented itself.
John's martyrdom is a cause of joy and hope for Christians.
John died about the age of 32.
Was his life in vain? Of course not. You think of the hundreds of martyrs that the Church honors every year.
We honor them to remind everyone that Heaven is real for the faithful followers of Jesus Christ. Hell is also real for those who reject Jesus completely.
If someone asks you:
How do you know that Heaven is real? Your answer could be among others: Look at the martyrs. Intelligent and beautiful men and women!
Could they have thrown away the only life they had for nothing?
Think of all the Apostles and Saints: Cecilia, Agatha, Thomas More, Lawrence, Edmond Campion, Paul Miki, Miguel Pro, Maximilian Kolbe, Charles Lwanga and companions and others.
"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10: 28)
August is the Month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary says: "In the end. My Immaculate Heart will triumph."
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
