A prophet is not without honor except in his native place? ? Matthew 13:57

Martin wanted to sell insurance to his cousin Joseph who was a top executive in an oil company. For years he tried to do so with very little success. He in fact was giving him the ?run-around? and was affecting his performance with his other clients.
      In a gathering of financial analysts, Martin met Paul, the top achiever in their industry. Shortly after that they became very good friends.
      Martin asked Paul to help. Paul asked Martin to arrange an appointment in a coffee shop with Joseph. During the meeting, while sipping their hot cappuccino, Martin began telling Joseph how successful Paul was in the financial planning industry and how he was helping a lot of people achieve their goals.
       He did this for about 40 minutes.
      At the end of the chat, Paul looked Joseph in the eye and said ?I have examined Martin?s plan for you and I found it to be an incredible offer. You should get it.? Joseph bought all the plans and he even referred some good people to Martin.
      Ever felt like Martin? Jesus has been there and done that. You?re in good company.
Ariel D.

REFLECTION:
Experiencing rejections lately? God experienced it first. Hearing a lot of negatives from relatives? Jesus tells us: ?Been there, done that?? Don?t fight it. Grow from it and trust God to work out the rest.

Thank You, Lord, that You have been through all that a person can possibly ever undergo in a lifetime, and more.

Jeremiah 26:1-9

Jeremiah prophesies the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem unless the people of Israel seriously repent for their sins and undergo transformation and conversion back to the Word of God and His Law. The people were not impressed by such a prophecy and threatened Jeremiah with death. This does not deter Jeremiah. Similarly, when we take up the battle against sin, let us pray for the grace to be oblivious to its lies and set our hearts on the goal of righteousness and eternal life.

1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah, this message came from the LORD. 2 Thus says the LORD: ?Stand in the court of the house of the LORD and speak to the people of all the cities of Judah who come to worship in the house of the LORD; whatever I command you, tell them, and omit nothing. 3 Perhaps they will listen and turn back, each from his evil way, so that I may repent of the evil I have planned to inflict upon them for their evil deeds. 4 Say to them: Thus says the LORD: ?If you disobey me, not living according to the law I placed before you 5 and not listening to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I send you constantly though you do not obey them, 6 I will treat this house like Shiloh, and make this the city which all the nations of the earth shall refer to when cursing another.? 7 Now the priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the LORD. 8 When Jeremiah finished speaking all that the LORD bade him speak to all the people, the priests and prophets laid hold of him, crying, ?You must be put to death! 9 Why do you prophesy in the name of the LORD? ?This house shall be like Shiloh,? and ?This city shall be desolate and deserted??? And all the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

P S A L M

Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14

R: Lord, in your great love, answer me.

4 [5] Those outnumber the hairs of my head who hate me without cause. Too many for my strength are they who wrongfully are my enemies. Must I restore what I did not steal? (R) 7 [8] Since for your sake I bear insult, and shame covers my face. 8 [9] I have become an outcast to my brothers, a stranger to my mother?s sons, 9 [10] because zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me. (R) 13 [14] But I pray to you, O LORD, for the time of your favor, O God! In your great kindness answer me with your constant help. (R)

G O S P E L

Matthew 13:54-58

We can surely take heart that it seems that even Jesus had difficulty in bringing conversion to the lives of those who thought they knew Him so well. Close friends and relatives can be the most difficult of all people to convince that we have changed our lives. They find it hard to believe that we could change from being the people that they have known so well. Let us pray that the same power of the Gospel that has changed our lives will come to bear on their lives as well.

54 He came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, ?Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? 55 Is he not the carpenter?s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56 Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?? 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, ?A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.? 58 And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

my reflections
think: When we take up the battle against sin, let us pray for the grace to be oblivious to its lies and set our hearts on the goal of righteousness and eternal life.

________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

God?s special verse/thought for me today________________

_________________________________________________________
  
T O D A Y ? S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 64-66

John Marie Vianney was born near Lyons, France in 1786. He was ordained priest in Grenoble, and was assigned to Ars, France, where he spent his life in quiet service for 42 years. He would hear confession of countless penitents for almost the whole day. He also had an outstanding spirit of prayer and mortification. His great love for the Eucharist was the source of his strength. At 76, John Marie Vianney entered eternal bliss. Pope Pius XI declared him Patron of the Universal Clergy.
      There are three things that St. John Marie Vianney teaches me. First, our love for the Eucharist must be great. It is the source of our energy, fervor and personal holiness. Second, we must never neglect the Sacrament of Reconciliation. How will the laity love the Sacrament of Reconciliation when we ourselves, ordained ministers of the sacrament, have little love for it? Spending time in the confessional shows our love for this sacrament. How will the laity frequent the Sacrament of Reconciliation when they do not find us available to hear their confession? St. John did not have to be called from the rectory or the parish office to sit in the confessional. He practically spent most of his life in the confessional. Third, while our overstaying in our parish assignments can be bad for both us and our parishioners, there are virtues in staying where we have been assigned until the bishops so desire. It demands a lot of humility, obedience and love to remain in an assignment for 40 years. In the midst of the politicking that also happens within clergy as regards assignments, this aspect of our patron?s long service in the parish of Ars is often overlooked.
      Today, offer a Mass and a Rosary for us, your priests. As you often ask for our prayers, so do I now beg for yours. May we be the holy priests that God deserves. May we be the good shepherds that you pray for. May we be like St. John Marie Vianney ? lover of the Eucharist, standby in the confessional and persevering in the ministry we so undeservedly received from God. Fr. Bobby T.

REFLECTION QUESTION:
A priest is God?s miracle.

?O Jesus, Eternal Priest, keep Your priests within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart, where none may touch them. Keep unstained their anointed hands which daily touch Your Sacred Body. Keep unsullied their lips daily purpled with Your Precious Blood. Keep pure and unearthly their hearts sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood. Let Your holy love surround them and shield them from the world?s contagion. Bless their labors with abundant fruit, and may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and consolation here, and in heaven their beautiful and everlasting crown. Amen.? (Prayer of St. Therese of the Child Jesus for Priests)

St. John Baptist Mary Vianney, confessor, pray for us.