25 June 2017
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 20: 10-13
Ps 68: 8-10, 14, 17, 33-35
Romans 5: 12-15
The Gospel of Matthew 10: 26-33
Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows:
‘Do not be afraid. For everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.
‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.
‘So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of men, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.’
Two Sparrows for a Penny
That which is sold is our soul and body, and that to which it is sold, is sin. They then who sell two sparrows for a penny, are they who sell themselves for the smallest sin, born for flight, and for reaching heaven with spiritual wings. Caught by the bait of present pleasures, and sold to the enjoyment of the world, they barter away their whole selves in such a market. … For it is an unworthy task to number things that are to perish. Therefore that we should know that nothing of us should perish, we are told that our very hairs are numbered. No accident then that can befall
our bodies is to be feared. Thus He adds, “There is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.” The elect faithful are better than the multitude of the unbelieving, for the latter fall to earth, the former fly to heaven.
St. Hilary Catena Aurea
Saints of the week
Tue 27 Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Doctor
Wed 28 Saint Irenaeus, Bishop, Martyr
Thu 29 Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles Solemnity
Fri 30 The First Martyrs of Rome
Sat 1 Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Psalter Week IV
Next Sunday’s Readings
2 Kgs 4:8-11, 14-16
Psalm 88:2-3, 16-19
Romans 6:3-4, 8-11
Matthew 10:37-42
Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
Both apostles share the same feast day, for these two were one; and even though they suffered on different days, they were as one. Peter went first, and Paul followed. And so we celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles’ blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labors, their sufferings, their preaching, and their confession of faith.
St. Augustine of Hippo , Sermon on Sts. Peter and Paul
Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
In order that, properly speaking, there may be devotion to the Heart of Mary, the attention and the homage of the faithful must be directed to the physical heart itself. However, this in itself is not sufficient; the faithful must read therein all that the human heart of Mary suggests, all of which it is the expressive symbol and the living reminder: Mary’s interior life, her joys and sorrows, her virtues and hidden perfections and above all, her virginal love for her God, her maternal love for her Divine Son, and her motherly and compassionate love for her sinful and mourning children here below.
Cf. Catholic encyclopedia,
Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
CARITAS PAPHOS celebrated with great joy on Friday the feast day of their Patron Saint, the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We give thanks for all the graces received and keep praying that the love of Jesus may show in all our Parish Apostolates.
CARITAS current needs:
- Nοn-perishable food to help about 40 households weekly.
- Computer whiz to manage crowdfunding appeals.
- Teachers for basic Greek.
- Transportation of students (lifts).
- Donations and prayers welcome. Contact Wendy Burdon 99 040294.
Archangel Michael Hospice: Volunteers needed in the areas of reception, nursing assistants and cafeteria. Contact Mona (99 494 140).
Mass Times HERE