Wednesday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time

18th Anniversary of 9/11

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 2:11-15
Mass: Col 3:1-11; Resp Ps 145; :l 6:20-26

Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord, and let your faithful ones bless you.

Celebrating Holy Mass with around 100,000 people during his recent apostolic visit to Mauritius, Pope Francis preached on the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes, said the Holy Father, are like "a Christian's identity card." He continued, "If anyone asks, 'What must one do to be a good Christian?', the answer is clear. We have to do, each in our own way, what Jesus told us on the Sermon on the Mount." You will find the Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of St Matthew, Ch 5. In today's Gospel, we are presented with St Luke's version of the Beatitudes, the Sermon on the Plain. Why not spend some time with the Beatitudes today. What will you do, in your own way, to live the Beatitudes? In other words, what is stamped on your identity card?

Blessed are the poor ...

Blessed are you who are now hungry ...

Blessed are you who are now weeping ...

Blessed are you when people hate you,

When they exclude and insult you, 

And denounce your name as evil ...

REJOICE AND LEAP FOR JOY ON THAT DAY! BEHOLD YOUR REWARD WILL BE GREAT IN HEAVEN.

(Lk 6:20-26)

It is meekness which gives one a gentle and calm manner towards others; compunction that makes one watchful and faithful; justice that gives one a certain refinement and perfection both within and without, while mercy urges one to do good to many and to wish well to all.
(Isaac of Stella)

We remember those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. 
May they rest in peace.