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18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, 31 July 21022 Note: Homilies & Angelus / Regina Caeli of Pope Saint John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI & Pope Francis I had been compiled for you after the Mass Readings below. Happy Reading! Liturgical Colour: Green.
Mass Readings from ETWN, USCCB, Universalis. See our compilation with Pictures in Encouragements-278. 8-) First Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23, Responsorial: Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17, 2nd Reading: Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11 & Gospel: Luke 12:13-21, Gospel Video, CCTNtv.
Others: See the actual happenings through the eyes of Visionary Maria Valtorta in Encouragements-33 (See bottom of the page). Wasting Your Life - Venerable Fulton J. Sheen (video) Believe the incredible and you will do the impossible. Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
COVID-19 Protection in Singapore. New!
1. Criminal Investigation Department, Singapore Police Force harassed Law-abiding Citizen. Latest! https://twitter.com/Michael65413248/status/1510086218851270658 (2 April 2022) #Singapore Police Force harassing the same law abiding business owner again from 92298844, 97397514, 83487591, 96645914, 63914706, 82825465, 97378102, 90360045, 92981234! They can’t perform to contain COVID, so they bully to appear busy? Shameless? You decide! 2. See another Police case to frame against the Innocent! Please spread the News to help them who commit no crime. Many Thanks. Till this day, the harassment continues and there is no apology from the Rulers and no compensation paid for damages inflicted. 3. See the Bloggers went MISSING before / after the Singapore General Election on 10 July 2020. Please pray for their safety as we search for them actively. Many Thanks.
Homilies, Angelus / Regina Caeli
1. As I recalled in my recent Apostolic Letter Dies Domini, from the dawn of Christianity Sunday has been considered as the day of Christ — dies Christi — since it is linked to the memory of his Resurrection. Indeed, the Lord was raised on “the first day after the Sabbath” (cf. Matthew 16:2, 9: Luke 24:1; John 20:1) and, in the early morning on this same day, the women who had gone there found the tomb empty. The Gospel says that Jesus was recognized by Mary Magdalen; that he accompanied the two disciples on the road to Emmaus; that he revealed himself to the Eleven gathered together and reappeared to them on the following Sunday, overcoming the disbelief and doubts of Thomas. Fifty days later, Pentecost occurred with the powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the new-born Church.
In a certain way Sunday is the continuation of these first Sundays in Christian history: the day of the risen Christ and of the gift of the Spirit.
2. Unlike civil calendars, the liturgy does not consider Sunday the last day of the week but indeed the first. In this way its dignity is underlined and it is stressed that with Christ’s Resurrection time “begins again”, made fruitful by the seed of eternity, and marches on towards its ultimate goal which is the glorious coming of the Son of God, anticipated and prefigured by his victory over death.
Sunday is thus the day of faith par excellence, a day on which believers, contemplating the face of the risen Christ, are called to repeat with Thomas: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28), and to relive in the Eucharist the Apostles’ experience when the Lord entered the Upper Room and made them a gift of his Spirit.
3. Dear Brothers and Sisters, it is not difficult to see that this “holy day” has an extraordinarily rich meaning. Its religious significance is naturally not in opposition to the human values which make Sunday a time of rest, of enjoying nature and of more relaxed social relations. These are values which unfortunately risk being frustrated by a hedonistic and frenzied way of life. Living them in the light of the Gospel, Christians impress their full meaning upon them.
May Mary help us appreciate Sunday as a feast day and a day of faith. May we learn from her to spend it combining praise of God with real family relaxation. Pope Saint John Paul II (Angelus, 26 July 1998)
1. Tomorrow, 6 August, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Transfiguration of the Lord. The Evangelists, Luke, Mark and Matthew, all recount that Jesus led the Apostles Peter, James and John "up a high mountain", identified as Tabor in Galilee. He was transfigured before them. "His face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light" (Matthew 17,1-2). Next to him appeared the venerable figures of Moses and Elijah. The Father himself, in "a bright cloud", made his voice heard at that moment, saying: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him" (Matthew 17,5).
After his Resurrection, this mystery, which the Lord commanded them to keep secret (cf. Matthew 17,9), became an integral part of the Good News: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, whom we contemplate today, radiant with the light of his glory.
2. Two thousand years later, the Church repeats with the same vigour that Christ is the light of the world! Every day his light impresses a new meaning upon our way of life.
The whole life of the Servant of God Paul VI, who died on 6 August 1978, was tempered by this proclamation. For the Angelus on that day, which he was unable to deliver, he had written: "The Transfiguration of the Lord throws a dazzling light on our daily life, and makes us turn our mind to the immortal destiny which that fact foreshadows".
Deeply moved, we hear his words again, after 23 years. Let us remember with gratitude and affection my venerable Predecessor who witnessed faithfully to Christ in complex, difficult years. Let us pray for him, calling upon the Blessed Virgin, the heavenly Mother of God.
3. Mary, Mother of God! This is how Rome venerates her today, celebrating the dedication of the Patriarchal Basilica of St Mary Major, the oldest Church in the West named after the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast, which is so dear to Romans, is an invitation to turn our gaze to her whom the Father chose as the Mother of his Only-begotten Son, hence the Mother of all humanity. Let us ask her to help us remain united to her Son Jesus, always: now, and at the hour of our death. Pope Saint John Paul II (Angelus, 5 August 2001)
See our compilation with pictures in Encojuragements-278. 8-)
See our compilation with pictures in Encojuragements-279. 8-)
See our compilation with pictures in Encojuragements-279. 8-)
See our compilation with pictures in Encouragements-279. 8-)
That is our real “stature”, our spiritual identity: we are God’s beloved children, always. So you can see that not to accept ourselves, to live glumly, to be negative, means not to recognize our deepest identity. It is like walking away when God wants to look at me, trying to spoil his dream for me. God loves us the way we are, and no sin, fault or mistake of ours makes him change his mind. As far as Jesus is concerned – as the Gospel shows – no one is unworthy of, or far from, his thoughts. No one is insignificant. He loves all of us with a special love; for him all of us are important: you are important! God counts on you for what you are, not for what you possess. In his eyes the clothes you wear or the kind of cell phone you use are of absolutely no concern. He doesn’t care whether you are stylish or not; he cares about you, just as you are! In his eyes, you are precious, and your value is inestimable.
At times in our lives, we aim lower rather than higher. At those times, it is good to realize that God remains faithful, even obstinate, in his love for us. The fact is, he loves us even more than we love ourselves. He believes in us even more than we believe in ourselves. He is always “cheering us on”; he is our biggest fan. He is there for us, waiting with patience and hope, even when we turn in on ourselves and brood over our troubles and past injuries. But such brooding is unworthy of our spiritual stature! It is a kind of virus infecting and blocking everything; it closes doors and prevents us from getting up and starting over. God, on the other hand, is hopelessly hopeful! He believes that we can always get up, and he hates to see us glum and gloomy. It is sad to see young people who are glum. Because we are always his beloved sons and daughters. Let us be mindful of this at the dawn of each new day. It will do us good to pray every morning: “Lord, I thank you for loving me; I am sure that you love me; help me to be in love with my own life!” Not with my faults, that need to be corrected, but with life itself, which is a great gift, for it is a time to love and to be loved. Pope Francis I (Homily, 31 July 2016)
In these days, we have experienced the beauty of our universal fraternity in Christ, the centre and hope of our lives. We have heard his voice, the voice of the Good Shepherd who dwells in our midst. He has spoken to each of you in your heart. He has renewed you by his love and he has shown you the light of his forgiveness, the power of his grace. He has made you experience the reality of prayer. These days have given you a spiritual “breath of fresh air” that will help you live lives of mercy once you return to your own countries and communities.
Here, beside the altar, is the image of the Virgin Mary venerated by Saint John Paul II in the shrine of Kalwaria. Mary, our Mother, teaches us how we can make our experience here in Poland be productive. She tells us to do what she did: not to squander the gift you have received, but to treasure it in your heart so it can grow and bear fruit, with the help of the Holy Spirit. In this way, each of you, for all your limitations and failings, can be a witness to Christ wherever you live: at home, in your parishes, in your associations and groups, and your places of study, work, service, entertainment… wherever God’s providence will lead you. God’s providence is always one step ahead of us… Pope Francis I (Angelus, 31 July 2016)
Angelus, 4 August 2019 (video) Extracts: The rich man puts three considerations before his soul, that is, himself: the accumulated goods, the many years that these goods appear to ensure him, and thirdly tranquillity and unrestrained enjoyment (cf. v. 19). But the word that God addresses to him nullifies his plans. Instead of “many years”, God points to the immediacy of “this night; tonight you will die”. Instead of the “enjoyment of life”, He presents him with “surrendering his life; you will render your life to God” with the ensuing judgment. Regarding the reality of the ample goods accumulated on which the rich man had based everything, it becomes shrouded in sarcasm by the question: “and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” (v. 20). Let us think about quarrels over inheritance, many family quarrels…
The end of the parable as recounted by the Evangelist is uniquely effective: “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (v. 21). It is a warning which reveals the horizon towards which we are called to look. Material goods are necessary — they are goods! —, but they are a means to live honestly and in sharing with the neediest. Today, Jesus invites us to consider that wealth can enslave the heart and distract it from the true treasure which is in heaven. Saint Paul also reminds us of this in today’s second reading. It says “seek the things that are above.... Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:1-2).
It is understood that this does not mean estranging oneself from reality, but rather seeking the things that have true value: justice, solidarity, welcome, fraternity, peace, all things that make up the true dignity of mankind. It is a case of leading a life that is fulfilled not according to a worldly manner, but rather according to the style of the Gospel: to love God with all one’s being, and love one’s neighbour as Jesus loved him, that is, in service and in giving oneself. Pope Francis I (Angelus, 4 August 2019)
Angelus, 31 July 2022 Video, Video (American Sign Language). Angelus Text. Extracts: Responding to the man, Jesus does not enter into the particulars, but goes to the root of the divisions caused by the possession of things. He says clearly: “Be on your guard against all covetousness” (Luke 12:15). “Be on your guard against all covetousness”. What is covetousness? It is the unbridled greed for possessions, always desiring to be rich. This is an illness that destroys people, because the hunger for possessions creates an addiction. Above all, those who have a lot are never content, they always want more, and only for themselves. But this way, the person is no longer free: he or she is attached to, a slave, of what paradoxically was meant to serve them so as to live freely and serenely. Rather than being served by money, the person becomes a servant of money. Covetousness is a dangerous illness for society as well – due to covetousness, we have today reached other paradoxes: an injustice never before seen in history, where few have so much and so many have little or nothing. Let’s consider wars and conflicts as well. The lust for resources and wealth are almost always behind them. How many interests are behind war! Certainly, one of these is the arms trade. This trade is a scandal that we must never resign ourselves to.
And so, we might think, so, no one should desire to get rich? Certainly, you can; rather, it is right to want it. It is beautiful to become rich, but rich according to God! God is the richest of anyone. He is rich in compassion, in mercy. His riches do not impoverish anyone, do not create quarrels and divisions. It is a richness that knows how to give, to distribute, to share. Brothers and sisters, accumulating material goods is not enough to live well, for Jesus says also that life does not consist in what one possesses (see Luke 12:15). It depends, instead, on good relationships – with God, with others, and even with those who have less. So, let us ask ourselves: For myself, how do I want to get rich? Do I want to get rich according to God or according to my covetousness? And, returning to the topic of inheritance, what legacy do I want to leave? Money in the bank, material things, or happy people around me, good works that are not forgotten, people that I have helped to grow and mature? Pope Francis I (Angelus, 31 July 2022)
Daily Blessings to You from Emmanuel Goh & Friends
Note: This webpage has many hyperlinks to the Vatican Webpage. The above extracts were compiled for your easy reading. This Publication is aimed to encourage all of Goodwill around the World. It is not for business or profit purposes but it is our way to thank our Creator for His continuous blessings!
Compiled on 28 July 2019 Last updated: 2 August 2022, 13:38 SGT
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