Today, June 8
Feast of the Day
No feast of the day
Saint of the Day
Readings of the Day
1st book of Kings 17,1-6.
Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab: "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, during these years there shall be no dew or rain except at my word." The LORD then said to Elijah: "Leave here, go east and hide in the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan. You shall drink of the stream, and I have commanded ravens to feed you there." So he left and did as the LORD had commanded. He went and remained by the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan. Ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the stream.
Psalms 121(120),1-2.3-4.5-6.7-8.
I lift up my eyes toward the mountains; whence shall help come to me? My help is from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. May he not suffer your foot to slip; may he slumber not who guards you: indeed he neither slumbers nor sleeps, the guardian of Israel. The LORD is your guardian; the LORD is your shade; he is beside you at your right hand. The sun shall not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will guard you from all evil; he will guard your life. The LORD will guard your coming and your going, both now and forever.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 5,1-12.
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven."
Daily Reflection
You went up to sit on a high mountain As before You came down to Sinai; In the cloud You had exposed the ancient Law; In your body, O Word, You taught the New. You opened your divine mouth, You have blessed the apostles; In exchange for the Tablets of the Ten Commandments, You gave the Nine Beatitudes of the New Law. You set a ladder from earth to heaven With nine steps Through it You have raised the human race; You placed her among the nine Choirs. But me, I stuck so closely to the earth Because of the vices of sin so heavy to bear, That I didn't even climb a single one Among the nine degrees! (…) Now I beseech Thee, Lord, all in tears; I kiss, Lord, your feet; Lighten me, who am in one body, From the heavy burden of sins, So that it is possible for my soul here below To ascend to You in heaven, Following your Words like a ladder, By climbing one step after the other.