Today, September 12
Feast of the Day
No feast of the day
Saint of the Day
This feast honouring the name of Mary was instituted by Pope Innocent XI in the 17th century. God the Father is glorified by the exalted role in salvation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Thus, her name is one of honour, a holy name, a maternal name and a name responsive to the needs of the Church.
©2011 Living with Christ, Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/. Reprinted with permission.
Readings of the Day
First Letter to the Corinthians 10,14-22.
My beloved ones, avoid idolatry. I am speaking as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I am saying. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. Look at Israel according to the flesh; are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? So what am I saying? That meat sacrificed to idols is anything? Or that an idol is anything? No, I mean that what they sacrifice, (they sacrifice) to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to become participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and also the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons. Or are we provoking the Lord to jealous anger? Are we stronger than he?
Psalms 116(115),12-13.17-18.
How shall I make a return to the LORD for all the good he has done for me? The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the LORD. To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the LORD. My vows to the LORD I will pay in the presence of all his people.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 6,43-49.
Jesus said to his disciples : "A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I command? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a person building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed."
Daily Reflection
Through the text of Isaiah: “You will give glory to God by not following your ways” (cf. Is 51:17) Gertrude understood that the one who, thinking beforehand about what he is going to do or say and seeing that it is of no use, curbs his attraction, derives a triple benefit from it. First, (…) it is given to him to find sweeter delights in God. Secondly, evil thoughts will have less hold on him (…). Thirdly, in eternal life the Son of God will grant him a more abundant participation in the fruits of that eminent holiness of life which made him face with imposing nobility every temptation and triumph over it gloriously. (…) Through the text: “Behold, his reward is with him” (cf. Is 40:10), she understood how the Lord, in his love, is himself the reward of his elect, lavishing himself with so much sweetness that the soul who loves him can say in all truth that he has been, through the effect of extreme goodness, rewarded far beyond all merit. “And his work is before him” (ibid.) means that having entrusted himself entirely to divine Providence and having for desire, in all action, only the will of God, God grants him to already be perfect before him. (…) She understood that whoever, sincerely doing penance for everything he had committed or omitted, had a right heart to obey the precepts of God, would in all truth be sanctified before God. (…) Through this text: “Sing to the Lord a new song” (cf. Is 42:10), she understood that she sings to the Lord a new song which puts into her song the impetus of an interior gift; because, by the very fact that this grace came to her from God to turn this impulse towards him, the new act which results from it will be pleasing to God.