9 September 2018

23^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings at Mass
Isaiah 35:4-7
Ps 145:7-10
James 2:1-5
Gospel of Mark   (7:31-37)

He makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak

Returning from the district of Tyre, Jesus went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, right through the Decapolis region. And they brought him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they asked him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, put his fingers into the man’s ears and touched his tongue with spittle. Then looking up to heaven he sighed; and he said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’ And his ears were opened, and the ligament of his tongue was loosened and he spoke clearly. And Jesus ordered them to tell no one about it, but the more he insisted, the more widely they published it. Their admiration was unbounded. ‘He has done all things well,’ they said ‘he makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.’

He has done all things well

Just as the divine law says that when God created the world “he saw all that he had made and it was very good,” (Gn 1,31) so the gospel speaking of our redemption and re-creation, affirms: “He has done all things well” (Mk 7,37)… As fire can give out nothing but heat and is incapable of giving out cold; and as the sun gives out nothing but light and is incapable of giving out darkness, so God is incapable of doing anything but good. For he is infinite goodness and light, a sun giving out endless light, a fire producing endless warmth. “He has done all things well.”

The law says that all God did was good; the gospel says he has done all things well. Doing a good deed is not quite the same as doing it well. Many do good deeds but fail to do them well. The deeds of hypocrites, for example, are good, but they are done in the wrong spirit, with a perverse and defective intention. Everything God does, however, is not only good but is also done well. “The Lord is just in all his ways and holy in all his deeds. With wisdom you have done them all” Now if God has done all his good works and done them well for our sake, knowing that we take pleasure in goodness, why, I ask, do we not endeavour to make all our works good and to do them well, knowing that such works are pleasing to God?
Saint Lawrence of Brindisi (1559-1619),
Capuchin, Doctor of the Church

THIS WEEK’S FEASTS
Wed 12 The Most Holy Name of Mary  
Thu 13 St. John Chrysostom, Bishop, Doctor 
Fri 14 The Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Feast 
Sat 15 Our Lady of Sorrows   

Psalter Week III

Readings for the 24^th Sunday
Isaiah 50:5-9
Ps 114:1-6,8-9
James 2:14-18
Mark8:27-35

Our Lady of Sorrows

The devotion to the Seven Sorrows of our Lady was passed on by St. Bridget. The Blessed Virgin Mary promised to grant seven graces to those who honour her daily by saying seven Hail Mary’s while meditating on her tears and sorrows.

THE SEVEN SORROWS

1. The prophecy of Holy Simeon.
2. The flight into Egypt.
3. The loss of the Child Jesus in the temple.
4. The meeting of Jesus on the Way of the Cross.
5. The Crucifixion.
6. The taking down of the Body of Jesus from the Cross.
7. The burial of Jesus.                        

  THE SEVEN GRACES                 

1. I will grant peace to their families.
2. I will enlighten them about the divine mysteries.
3. I will console and accompany them.
4. I will grant their petitions according to the will of my divine Son.
5. I will always defend them in their spiritual battles.
6. I will give them motherly help at the moment of death.
7. Those who propagate this devotion will be taken directly from earthly life to eternal happiness, since all their sins will be forgiven.

Money Trail Help us make a trail of €2 coins at the Harbour, Sun 23 Sept, from 9am to 5pm. Win a prize. Sponsored by Fitzgerald Estate.

4 Coffee Mornings! All are welcome to join the Archangel Michael Fundraising Ladies for coffee and cake at four Different locations:
Friday 28 Sept from 10am to 1pm at,
1 Hospice Cafeteria,
2 Akis Restaurant in Achelia,
3 Arches in Polis. 
4 Saturday 29 Sept from 10am to 1pm at Anesi Restaurant, Peyia.

St. Paul’s Apostolates: Oratory 6 Oct, Bible Group 11 Oct.

CARITAS PAPHOS You can help us help the poor in Paphos. Call Wendy 9904 0294. Thank you for your support and prayers.

Mass Times HERE