This Week’s Gospel message for Sunday, June 23rd is from Luke 9:11b-17.
“Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.”
“In the Gospel, before Jesus distributed the loaves and fishes to the multitudes, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. As important as the food was for nourishment and sustenance, it was essential to thank its ultimate source. Through Jesus, God provides us with an abundance of food—more than is necessary to sustain us. Whether physical food as in the Gospel or spiritual food such as Christ’s Body and Blood, an encounter with Jesus leaves us personally satisfied with an excess to share.”
Source: Pastoral Patterns, Summer 2019
DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday Isa 49:1-6; Acts 13:22-26; Luke 1:57-66, 80
The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (Solemnity) – One of the earliest feasts to be celebrated on a particular day, June 24 was chosen to remind us that John was six months older than Jesus. Luke relates the events of the birth of John the Baptist. (Source: Living With Christ, June 2019)
Tuesday Gen 13:2, 5-18; Matt 7:6, 12-14
Wednesday Gen 15:1-12, 17-18; Matt 7:15-20
Thursday Gen 16:1-12, 15-16; Matt 7:21-29
Friday Ezek 34:11-16; Rom 5:5b-11; Luke 15:3-7
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Solemnity) – In the devotion to the Sacred Heart, the heart of Jesus is adored as a symbol of his threefold love: human, spiritual, and divine. The Image of the Sacred Heart in a home is a sign that Jesus’ love rules over the family. (Source: Living With Christ, June 2019)
Saturday Acts 12:1-11; 2 Tim 4:6-8,17-18; Matt 16:13-1
Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles (Solemnity) – Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome and have been honored from the earliest days. Peter, whose name in Greek means “rock,” was originally called Simon. He was married and was a fisherman. Jesus changed his name to Peter and told him that it was on this rock that he would build his Church. Paul, the “apostle of the Gentiles,” was born a Roman citizen and educated as a Pharisee. His experience of the risen Christ resulted in his conversion. (Source: Living With Christ, June 2019)