DR Squared: Wednesday Of The Fourteenth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12

Israel a vine full of branches, the fruit is agreeable to it: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath multiplied altars, according to the plenty of his land he hath abounded with idols. Their heart is divided: now they shall perish: he shall break down their idols, he shall destroy their altars. For now they shall say: We have no king: because we fear not the Lord: and what shall a king do to us? Samaria hath made her king to pass as froth upon the face of the water. And the high places of the idol, the sin of Israel shall be destroyed: the bur and the thistle shall grow up over their altars: and they shall say to the mountains: Cover us; and to the hills: Fall upon us. Sow for yourselves in justice, and reap in the mouth of mercy, break up your fallow ground: but the time to seek the Lord is, when he shall come that shall teach you justice.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 105 (104):4b; V. 2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R.  (S)eek his face evermore.

V.  Sing to him, yea sing praises to him:

     relate all his wondrous works.

     Glory ye in his holy name:

     let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.

V.  Seek ye the Lord, and be strengthened:

     seek his face evermore.

     Remember his marvellous works which he hath done;

     his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth.

V.  O ye seed of Abraham his servant;

     ye sons of Jacob his chosen.

     He is the Lord our God:

     his judgments are in all the earth.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 10:1-7

And having called his twelve disciples together, he gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of diseases, and all manner of infirmities. And the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the publican, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent: commanding them, saying: Go ye not into the way of the Gentiles, and into the city of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go ye rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And going, preach, saying: The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

The readings from the USCCB can be found

DR Squared: Tuesday Of The Fourteenth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13

They have reigned, but not by me: they have been princes, and I knew not: of their silver, and their gold they have made idols to themselves, that they might perish. Thy calf, O Samaria, is cast off, my wrath is kindled against them. How long will they be incapable of being cleansed? For itself also is the invention of Israel: a workman made it, and it is no god: for the calf of Samaria shall be turned to spiders' webs. For they shall sow wind, and reap a whirlwind, there is no standing stalk in it, the bud shall yield no meal; and if it should yield, strangers shall eat it. Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin: altars are become to him unto sin. I shall write to him my manifold laws, which have been accounted as foreign. They shall offer victims, they shall sacrifice flesh, and shall eat it, and the Lord will not receive them: now will he remember their iniquity, and will visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 115:9a; V. 3-4, 5-6, 7ab-8  (DR--113:17a; V. 11-12, 13-14, 15ab-16)

R.  The house of Israel hath hoped in the Lord:

V.  But our God is in heaven:

     he hath done all things whatsoever he would.

     The idols of the gentiles are silver and gold,

     the works of the hands of men.

V.  They have mouths and speak not:

     they have eyes and see not.

     They have ears and hear not:

     they have noses and smell not.

V.  They have hands and feel not:

     they have feet and walk not: 

     Let them that make them become like unto them:

     and all such as trust in them.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 9:32-38

And when they were gone out, behold they brought him a dumb man, possessed with a devil. And after the devil was cast out, the dumb man spoke, and the multitudes wondered, saying, Never was the like seen in Israel. But the Pharisees said, By the prince of devils he casteth out devils. And Jesus went about all the cities, and towns, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease, and every infirmity. And seeing the multitudes, he had compassion on them: because they were distressed, and lying like sheep that have no shepherd. Then he saith to his disciples, The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth labourers into his harvest.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Monday Of The Fourteenth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Hosea 2:16, 17c-18, 21-22 (DR  14, 15c-16, 19-20

Therefore, behold I will allure her, and will lead her into the wilderness: and I will speak to her heart.  and she shall sing there according to the days of her youth, and according to the days of her coming up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be in that day, saith the Lord, That she shall call me: My husband, and she shall call me no more Baali. And I will espouse thee to me for ever: and I will espouse thee to me in justice, and judgment, and in mercy, and in commiserations. And I will espouse thee to me in faith: and thou shalt know that I am the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 145 (144):8a; V. 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R.  The Lord is gracious and merciful:

V.  Every day I will bless thee:

     and I will praise thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.

     Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised:

     and of his greatness there is no end.

V.  Generation and generation shall praise thy works:

     and they shall declare thy power.

     They shall speak of the magnificence of the glory of thy holiness:

     and shall tell thy wondrous works.

V.  And they shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts:

     and shall declare thy greatness.

     They shall publish the memory of the abundance of thy sweetness:

     and shall rejoice in thy justice.

V.  The Lord is gracious and merciful:

     patient and plenteous in mercy.

     The Lord is sweet to all:

     and his tender mercies are over all his works.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 9:18-26

As he was speaking these things unto them, behold a certain ruler came up, and adored him, saying: Lord, my daughter is even now dead; but come, lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus rising up followed him, with his disciples. And behold a woman who was troubled with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment. For she said within herself: If I shall touch only his garment, I shall be healed. But Jesus turning and seeing her, said: Be of good heart, daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. And when Jesus was come into the house of the ruler, and saw the minstrels and the multitude making a rout, He said: Give place, for the girl is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. And when the multitude was put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand. And the maid arose. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that country. 

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin And Martyr

First Reading:  1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20

(B)ut the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. Now God hath both raised up the Lord, and will raise us up also by his power. Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ? But he who is joined to the Lord, is one spirit. Fly fornication. Every sin that a man doth, is without the body; but he that committeth fornication, sinneth against his own body. Or know you not, that your members are the temple of the Holy Ghost, who is in you, whom you have from God; and you are not your own? For you are bought with a great price. Glorify and bear God in your body.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 31 (30):6a; V. 3cd-4, 6 and 8a, 16bc and 17

R.  Into thy hands I commend my spirit:

V.  Be thou unto me a God, a protector,

     and a house of refuge, to save me.

     For thou art my strength and my refuge;

     and for thy name's sake thou wilt lead me, and nourish me.

V.  Into thy hands I commend my spirit:

     thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth.

     I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy.

V.  Deliver me out of the hands of my enemies; and from them that persecute me.

     Make thy face to shine upon thy servant;

     save me in thy mercy.

Gospel Reading:  John 12:24-26

Amen, amen I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, Itself remaineth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world, keepeth it unto life eternal. If any man minister to me, let him follow me; and where I am, there also shall my minister be. If any man minister to me, him will my Father honour.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

2^6 Years

Yes, it is that time of the year again. God has allowed me to celebrate another birthday. It's not as significant as the one celebrated yesterday, but it's significant to me.

I have hopefully become more grateful of the gift of life I have been given as I advance in years. I don't know how many I have remaining, but taking into account some of my relatives, I still have some years ahead. My maternal grandparents live into their late 80's and early 90's. I have paternal aunts and uncles who also lived into their 80's; in fact, one of my paternal aunts passed away last April at 95. Here's to genetics.

Despite "all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams," I am still in the process of becoming the version of me God wants me to be. I am working on "Go Forward". I have been the second worst enemy I have; I need to become the second best friend I have. (If you can't determine who has the first spots in those two categories, you don't know me well enough.)

I thank God for the past twelve months. Little by little I am more aware of His grace in my life. A grateful attitude is quietly but continually blooming. More of a willingness to trust, while it waxes and wanes, is the focal point of "Be Bold". Surrender is a hard thing to do, but it is necessary for growth.

So what will the next 365 days bring? I don't know; discernment has always been a challenge. I still want to "Reclaim Me", an authentic version of who I am, one I have never really known, accepted, and appreciated. I am heartened and encourage by the words by the words of Revelation 21:5, "See, I make all things new."

Ecce nova facio omnia.

Last Sunday I assisted at Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. The priest in his homily made a point which resonated with me. He said, "Do not trade your present hope for the promise of the future." God will keep His promises; I just have to do my part.

Believe and receive; doubt and do without.

Quite the challenge. Here's a wish to accept it.

But I have a question for you, dear reader?

"Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm...?

Still here.

Next year.

DR Squared: Fourteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time (Year A)

First Reading:  Zechariah 9:9-10

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion, shout for joy, O daughter of Jerusalem: BEHOLD THY KING will come to thee, the just and saviour: he is poor, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. And I will destroy the chariot out of Ephraim, and the horse out of Jerusalem, and the bow for war shall be broken: and he shall speak peace to the Gentiles, and his power shall be from sea to sea, and from the rivers even to the end of the earth.

Responsorial Psalm:  cf. Psalm 145:1ab; V. 1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14

R.  I will extol thee, O God my king: and I will bless thy name for ever;

V.  I will extol thee, O God my king:

     and I will bless thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.

     Every day I will bless thee:

     and I will praise thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.

V.  The Lord is gracious and merciful:

     patient and plenteous in mercy.

     The Lord is sweet to all:

     and his tender mercies are over all his works.

V.  Let all thy works, O lord, praise thee:

     and let thy saints bless thee.

     They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom:

     and shall tell of thy power:

V.  The Lord is faithful in all his words:

     and holy in all his works.

     The Lord lifteth up all that fall:

     and setteth up all that are cast down.

Second Reading:  Romans 8:9, 11-13

But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, dwell in you; he that raised up Jesus Christ from the dead, shall quicken also your mortal bodies, because of his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die: but if by the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 11:25-30

At that time Jesus answered and said: I confess to thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to the little ones. Yea, Father; for so hath it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me by my Father. And no one knoweth the Son, but the Father: neither doth any one know the Father, but the Son, and he to whom it shall please the Son to reveal him. Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

Happy Birthday To US

God Bless the United States of America!

**********

Originally posted as "Happy 230th. Birthday" 7/4/2006.
Part of post "Independence Day Reprints" 7/4/2007.
Re-posted 7/4/2008.
Re-posted 7/4/2009.

Re-posted 7/4/2010.
Re-posted 7/4/2011.
Re-posted 7/4/2012.
Re-posted 7/4/2013.
Re-posted 7/4/2014.
Re-posted 7/4/2015.
Re-posted 7/4/2016.
Re-posted 7/4/2017.
Re-posted 7/4/2018.

Re-posted 7/4/2019.

Re-posted 7/4/2020.

Re-posted 7/4/2021.

Re-posted 7/4/2022.

Re-posted 7/4/2023.

Re-posted 7/4/2024.

Re-posted 7/4/2025.

Patriotic Serenade

The tune is a German adaptation of the national anthem of the United Kingdom. Samuel Francis Smith created the original lyrics in 1831. True patriot's love expressed (with apologies to Canada).

**********

My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride,
From ev'ry mountainside
Let freedom ring!

My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills,
Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom's song;
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.

Our fathers' God to Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright,
With freedom's holy light,
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God our King.

**********

Originally posted 7/4/2011.
Re-posted 7/4/2012.
Re-posted 7/4/2013.
Re-posted 7/4/2014.
Re-posted 7/4/2015.
Re-posted 7/4/2016.
Re-posted 7/4/2017.
Re-posted 7/4/2018.

Re-posted 7/4/2019.

Re-posted 7/4/2020.

Re-posted 7/4/2021.

Re-posted 7/4/2022.

Re-posted 7/4/2023.

Re-posted 7/4/2024.

Re-posted 7/4/2025.

National Praise And Petition

It was originally a poem by Katharine Lee Bates. The hymn was composed by Samuel A. Ward a decade earlier. The two were combined in 1910.

**********

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!

America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassion'd stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness.

America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for heroes prov'd
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country lov'd,
And mercy more than life.

America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.

America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.

**********

Originally posted 7/4//2011.
Re-posted 7/4/2012.
Re-posted 7/4/2013.
Re-posted 7/4/2014.
Re-posted 7/4/2015.
Re-posted 7/4/2016.
Re-posted 7/4/2017.
Re-posted 7/4/2018.

Re-posted 7/4/2019.

Re-posted 7/4/2020.

Re-posted 7/4/2021.

Re-posted 7/4/2022.

Re-posted 7/4/2023.

Re-posted 7/4/2024.

Re-posted 7/4/2025.

Song For The Day

It is considered the country's "unofficial national anthem" (and sometimes debated that it should be made official).

Whether or not it was Irving Berlin's intention, to me it is more a hymn (and is a hymn nothing more than a prayer set to music) than anything else.

Listen and enjoy.

Then maybe pray these words really come to fruition.

**********

Originally posted 7/4/2008.

Re-posted 7/4/2009.
Re-posted 7/4/2011.
Re-posted 7/4/2012.
Re-posted 7/4/2013.
Re-posted 7/4/2014.
Re-posted 7/4/2015.
Re-posted 7/4/2016
Re-posted 7/4/2017.
Re-posted 7/4/2018.

Re-posted 7/4/2019.

Re-posted 7/4/2020.

Re-posted 7/4/2021.

Re-posted 7/4/2022.

Re-posted 7/4/2023.

Re-posted 7/4/2024.

Re-posted 7/4/2025.