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Daily Gospel For A Busy World, Ajuy (2025)

12/08/2025

August 13, 2025
Wednesday of the 19th Week
In Ordinary Time
St. Pontian, pope and
St. Hippolytus, priest, martyrs

Reading 1
(Deuteronomy 34:1-12)

Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo,
the headland of Pisgah which faces Jericho,
and the LORD showed him all the land—
Gilead, and as far as Dan, all Naphtali,
the land of Ephraim and Manasseh,
all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea,
the Negeb, the circuit of the Jordan
with the lowlands at Jericho, city of palms,
and as far as Zoar.
The LORD then said to him,
"This is the land
which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
that I would give to their descendants.
I have let you feast your eyes upon it, but you shall not cross over."
So there, in the land of Moab, Moses, the servant of the LORD,
died as the LORD had said; and he was buried in the ravine
opposite Beth-peor in the land of Moab,
but to this day no one knows the place of his burial.
Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died,
yet his eyes were undimmed and his vigor unabated.
For thirty days the children of Israel wept for Moses
in the plains of Moab, till they had completed
the period of grief and mourning for Moses.

Now Joshua, son of Nun, was filled with the spirit of wisdom,
since Moses had laid his hands upon him;
and so the children of Israel gave him their obedience,
thus carrying out the LORD's command to Moses.

Since then no prophet has arisen in Israel like Moses,
whom the LORD knew face to face.
He had no equal in all the signs and wonders
the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt
against Pharaoh and all his servants and against all his land,
and for the might and the terrifying power
that Moses exhibited in the sight of all Israel.

Responsorial Psalm
(Psalm 66:1-3a, 5 and 8, 16-17)

R. (see 20a and 10b) Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire!

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God: "How tremendous are your deeds!"

R. Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire!

Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.
Bless our God, you peoples;
loudly sound his praise.

R. Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire!

Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare
what he has done for me.
When I appealed to him in words,
praise was on the tip of my tongue.

R. Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire!

Alleluia
(2 Corinthians 5:19)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
And entreating to us the message of reconciliation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
(Matthew 18:15-20)

Jesus said to his disciples:
"If your brother sins against you,
go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
If he does not listen,
take one or two others along with you,
so that every fact may be established
on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church.
If he refuses to listen even to the Church,
then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
Amen, I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them."

Reflection:

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus assures us that He is with us whenever we gather in His name. This is not only in church during Mass, but also in our homes, workplaces, and moments of reconciliation with one another. The presence of Christ is not limited by place or time—it is real and constant wherever love, forgiveness, and unity are alive.

Story:
A teacher once asked her students, “Where can we find Jesus?” Some answered, “In the church,” others said, “In heaven,” and one boy quietly said, “In my living room.” Surprised, the teacher asked why. The boy replied, “Because every night, our family prays together and talks about our day. Even when my sister and I fight, my parents help us say sorry to each other. That’s when I feel Jesus sitting with us.”

The boy’s answer captures today’s Gospel. Jesus is not far away—He is present whenever people gather in love, prayer, and forgiveness.

Let us remember: when we come together as a family, as friends, or as a community in prayer and reconciliation, Christ is there. His presence turns ordinary gatherings into sacred moments.

Call to Action:
This week, let us be more mindful of Jesus’ presence among us—whether at home, in the parish, or even in a quiet conversation of peace.

11/08/2025

August 12, 2025
Tuesday of the 19th Week
In Ordinary Time
St. Jane Frances de Chantal, religious

Reading 1
(Deuteronomy 31:1-8)

When Moses had finished speaking to all Israel, he said to them,
"I am now one hundred and twenty years old
and am no longer able to move about freely;
besides, the LORD has told me that I shall not cross this Jordan.
It is the LORD, your God, who will cross before you;
he will destroy these nations before you,
that you may supplant them.
It is Joshua who will cross before you, as the LORD promised.
The LORD will deal with them just as he dealt with Sihon and Og,
the kings of the Amorites whom he destroyed,
and with their country.
When, therefore, the LORD delivers them up to you,
you must deal with them exactly as I have ordered you.
Be brave and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them,
for it is the LORD, your God, who marches with you;
he will never fail you or forsake you."

Then Moses summoned Joshua and in the presence of all Israel
said to him, "Be brave and steadfast,
for you must bring this people into the land
which the LORD swore to their fathers he would give them;
you must put them in possession of their heritage.
It is the LORD who marches before you;
he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you.
So do not fear or be dismayed."

Responsorial Psalm
(Deuteronomy 32:3-4ab, 7, 8, 9 and 12)

R.(9a) The portion of the Lord is his people.

For I will sing the LORD's renown.
Oh, proclaim the greatness of our God!
The Rock–how faultless are his deeds,
how right all his ways!

R. The portion of the Lord is his people.

Think back on the days of old,
reflect on the years of age upon age.
Ask your father and he will inform you,
ask your elders and they will tell you.

R. The portion of the Lord is his people.

When the Most High assigned the nations their heritage,
when he parceled out the descendants of Adam,
He set up the boundaries of the peoples
after the number of the sons of Israel.

R. The portion of the Lord is his people.

While the LORD's own portion was Jacob,
his hereditary share was Israel.
The LORD alone was their leader,
no strange god was with him.

R. The portion of the Lord is his people.

Alleluia
(Matthew 11:29ab)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
(Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14)

The disciples approached Jesus and said,
"Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?"
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
"Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever becomes humble like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.
What is your opinion?
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,
will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills
and go in search of the stray?
And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it
than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.
In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father
that one of these little ones be lost."

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel, the disciples ask Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus calls a little child, places the child in their midst, and says: “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

For Jesus, greatness is not measured by power, fame, or riches. It is measured by humility, simplicity, and trust—qualities found in the heart of a child. A child depends entirely on others, trusts without calculation, and loves without pretense. In God’s Kingdom, the greatest are those who lower themselves to serve, rather than raise themselves to be served.

Story:
There was once a famous professor who visited a small village to give a talk. He was welcomed by the villagers with food and gifts. But as they gathered, an old farmer approached him with a small basket of fruits. The professor, in his pride, barely noticed the old man and continued to speak to the crowd.

Later, a child approached and said, “Sir, that old man walked for hours to bring you these fruits because he heard you were coming. He wanted you to feel welcome.” The professor’s heart softened. He realized that while he had been seeking recognition and respect, this simple farmer—unknown, uneducated, and humble—had shown the true greatness of the Kingdom: a heart that gives without expecting anything in return.

Message:
True greatness in God’s Kingdom is not in titles or honors but in humility, kindness, and trust in God—like the heart of a child. May we remember that in the eyes of God, those who serve with love, no matter how small, are the greatest of all.

Closing Line:
Let us strive to be childlike—not childish—so that we may be truly great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

10/08/2025

August 11, 2025
Monday of the 19th Week
In Ordinary Time
St. Clare, virgin

Reading 1
(Deuteronomy 10:12-22)

Moses said to the people:
"And now, Israel, what does the LORD, your God, ask of you
but to fear the LORD, your God, and follow his ways exactly,
to love and serve the LORD, your God,
with all your heart and all your soul,
to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD
which I enjoin on you today for your own good?
Think! The heavens, even the highest heavens,
belong to the LORD, your God,
as well as the earth and everything on it.
Yet in his love for your fathers the LORD was so attached to them
as to choose you, their descendants,
in preference to all other peoples, as indeed he has now done.
Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and be no longer stiff-necked.
For the LORD, your God, is the God of gods,
the LORD of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome,
who has no favorites, accepts no bribes;
who executes justice for the orphan and the widow,
and befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him.
So you too must befriend the alien,
for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.
The LORD, your God, shall you fear, and him shall you serve;
hold fast to him and swear by his name.
He is your glory, he, your God,
who has done for you those great and terrible things
which your own eyes have seen.
Your ancestors went down to Egypt seventy strong,
and now the LORD, your God,
has made you as numerous as the stars of the sky."

Responsorial Psalm
(Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20)

R. (12a) Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.

R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!

R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.

R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Alleluia
(See 2 Thessalonians 2:14)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God has called you through the Gospel
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
(Matthew 17:22-27)

As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee,
Jesus said to them,
"The Son of Man is to be handed over to men,
and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day."
And they were overwhelmed with grief.

When they came to Capernaum,
the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said,
"Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?"
"Yes," he said.
When he came into the house, before he had time to speak,
Jesus asked him, "What is your opinion, Simon?
From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax?
From their subjects or from foreigners?"
When he said, "From foreigners," Jesus said to him,
"Then the subjects are exempt.
But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook,
and take the first fish that comes up.
Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax.
Give that to them for me and for you."

Reflection:

Theme: Doing Our Part for God and Country

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is asked if He pays the temple tax. He tells Peter to catch a fish, and in its mouth is the exact amount for both of them. This shows two important truths: first, Jesus respects the laws of the land; second, He never forgets the higher duty to God.

Story:
A farmer once said, “I love my country, so I pay my taxes. But I love my God even more, so I give my tithes.” One day, a neighbor complained that paying both was too much. The farmer replied, “The government builds the roads I travel on. God gives me the strength to walk those roads. I can’t neglect either.”

Like the farmer, Jesus teaches us to “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God” (Mt. 22:21). As good Christians, we must be honest citizens—paying our dues, following laws—while also being faithful to our spiritual duties: prayer, worship, charity.

Reflection Question:
Am I doing my part in supporting my government while staying faithful to my duties to God?

Challenge:
This week, let us show our love for country through honesty and responsibility, and our love for God through prayer and service.

09/08/2025

August 10, 2025
19th Sunday
In Ordinary Time

Reading 1
(Wisdom 18:6-9)

The night of the passover was known beforehand to our fathers,
that, with sure knowledge of the oaths in which they put their faith,
they might have courage.
Your people awaited the salvation of the just
and the destruction of their foes.
For when you punished our adversaries,
in this you glorified us whom you had summoned.
For in secret the holy children of the good were offering sacrifice
and putting into effect with one accord the divine institution.

Responsorial Psalm
(Psalm 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22)

R. (12b) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Reading 2
(Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19)

Brothers and sisters:
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen.
Because of it the ancients were well attested.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place
that he was to receive as an inheritance;
he went out, not knowing where he was to go.
By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise;
for he was looking forward to the city with foundations,
whose architect and maker is God.
By faith he received power to generate,
even though he was past the normal age
—and Sarah herself was sterile—
for he thought that the one who had made the promise was
trustworthy.
So it was that there came forth from one man,
himself as good as dead,
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky
and as countless as the sands on the seashore.

All these died in faith.
They did not receive what had been promised
but saw it and greeted it from afar
and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth,
for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland.
If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come,
they would have had opportunity to return.
But now they desire a better homeland, a heavenly one.
Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God,
for he has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac,
and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son,
of whom it was said,
“Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.”
He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead,
and he received Isaac back as a symbol.

Or
(Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-12)

Brothers and sisters:
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen.
Because of it the ancients were well attested.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place
that he was to receive as an inheritance;
he went out, not knowing where he was to go.
By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise;
for he was looking forward to the city with foundations,
whose architect and maker is God.
By faith he received power to generate,
even though he was past the normal age
—and Sarah herself was sterile—
for he thought that the one who had made the promise was
trustworthy.
So it was that there came forth from one man,
himself as good as dead,
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky
and as countless as the sands on the seashore.

Alleluia
(Matthew 24;42a, 44)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stay awake and be ready!
For you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
(Luke 12:32-48)

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not be afraid any longer, little flock,
for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
Sell your belongings and give alms.
Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out,
an inexhaustible treasure in heaven
that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.
Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,
the Son of Man will come.”

Then Peter said,
“Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”
And the Lord replied,
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward
whom the master will put in charge of his servants
to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.
Truly, I say to you, the master will put the servant
in charge of all his property.
But if that servant says to himself,
‘My master is delayed in coming,’
and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants,
to eat and drink and get drunk,
then that servant’s master will come
on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour
and will punish the servant severely
and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
That servant who knew his master’s will
but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will
shall be beaten severely;
and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will
but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating
shall be beaten only lightly.
Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,
and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

Or
(Luke 12:35-40)

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have the servants recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.
Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,
the Son of Man will come.”

Reflection:

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Homily:
Jesus reminds us in today’s Gospel that our hearts follow what we truly value. If our treasure is only money, comfort, or recognition, our hearts will be chained to those things. But if our treasure is God and His mission, our hearts will be free, joyful, and always ready for His coming.

In our parish, the Christian Stewardship Spirituality Program is one way we live out this call. Stewardship is not just about giving money—it’s about giving our time, talents, and treasure for the building of God’s kingdom. It’s a way of saying: “Lord, all I have is yours, and I will use it for Your glory.”

Story:
A farmer once had a large, fertile field. He received abundant harvests every year. One day, he told God, “I will keep this year’s harvest for myself, and next year I will give You something.” But year after year, he kept saying the same thing. One day, a storm destroyed his crops. In tears, he prayed, “Lord, I wish I had given when I had the chance.” And God whispered in his heart, “You never lost the chance to give—you lost the heart to give.”

My dear brothers and sisters, stewardship is not about waiting until we have more; it’s about being faithful with what God has entrusted to us now.

Reflection Question:
Am I a good steward?
If the Lord came today and asked how I used my time, my talents, and my treasure for His kingdom, what would I say?

08/08/2025

August 9, 2025
Saturday of the 18th Week
In Ordinary Time
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, virgin and martyr

Reading 1
(Deuteronomy 6:4-13)

Moses said to the people:
"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!
Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength.
Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.
Drill them into your children.
Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest.
Bind them at your wrist as a sign
and let them be as a pendant on your forehead.
Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.

"When the LORD, your God, brings you into the land which he swore
to your fathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
that he would give you,
a land with fine, large cities that you did not build,
with houses full of goods of all sorts that you did not garner,
with cisterns that you did not dig,
with vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant;
and when, therefore, you eat your fill,
take care not to forget the LORD,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.
The LORD, your God, shall you fear;
him shall you serve, and by his name shall you swear."

Responsorial Psalm
(Psalm 18:2-3a, 3bc-4, 47 and 51)

R. (2) I love you, Lord, my strength.

I love you, O LORD, my strength,
O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim!
And I am safe from my enemies.

R. I love you, Lord, my strength.

The LORD live! And blessed be my Rock!
Extolled be God my savior!
You who gave great victories to your king,
and showed kindness to your anointed,
to David and his posterity forever.

R. I love you, Lord, my strength.

Alleluia
(See 2 Timothy 1:10)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
(Matthew 17:14-20)

A man came up to Jesus, knelt down before him, and said,
"Lord, have pity on my son, who is a lunatic and suffers severely;
often he falls into fire, and often into water.
I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him."
Jesus said in reply,
"O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you?
How long will I endure you?
Bring the boy here to me."
Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him,
and from that hour the boy was cured.
Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said,
"Why could we not drive it out?"
He said to them, "Because of your little faith.
Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you will say to this mountain,
'Move from here to there,' and it will move.
Nothing will be impossible for you."

Reflection:

“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed… nothing will be impossible for you.”

In today’s Gospel, a father brings his suffering son to Jesus after the disciples failed to heal him. Jesus responds with a strong call to faith, saying that even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains.

This passage reminds us that it is not the size of our faith, but the depth of our trust in Jesus that truly matters.

Let me share a simple story:

A famous tightrope walker once stretched a rope across Niagara Falls. A crowd gathered as he walked across—calm and confident. Then, he pushed a wheelbarrow across. The crowd cheered.

Then he asked, “Do you believe I can carry a person in this wheelbarrow across the rope?”

“Yes!” they shouted.

“Who will volunteer?”

Silence.

Everyone believed he could do it—but no one was willing to trust him with their life.

That’s often how we are with Jesus. We say we believe. But when life becomes hard, when things don’t go as planned, we hesitate. We doubt. We try to handle things on our own.

But Jesus is asking us today, not just to believe from a distance—but to get in the wheelbarrow, to entrust everything to Him—our burdens, our fears, our future.

Faith doesn’t mean having all the answers. It means knowing who to trust. Even a small, sincere faith—rooted in Jesus—can overcome what seems impossible.

Reflection Question:
What part of your life are you still holding back from Jesus? Can you entrust it to Him completely today?

Closing Prayer:
Lord, help us to trust You more—not just with our words, but with our whole heart. Strengthen our faith, even if it’s just the size of a mustard seed. We believe—help our unbelief.

Amen.

07/08/2025

August 8, 2025
Friday of the 18th Week
In Ordinary Time
St. Dominic, priest

Reading 1
(Deuteronomy 4:32-40)

Moses said to the people:
"Ask now of the days of old, before your time,
ever since God created man upon the earth;
ask from one end of the sky to the other:
Did anything so great ever happen before?
Was it ever heard of?
Did a people ever hear the voice of God
speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live?
Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself
from the midst of another nation,
by testings, by signs and wonders, by war,
with his strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors,
all of which the LORD, your God,
did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
All this you were allowed to see
that you might know the LORD is God and there is no other.
Out of the heavens he let you hear his voice to discipline you;
on earth he let you see his great fire,
and you heard him speaking out of the fire.
For love of your fathers he chose their descendants
and personally led you out of Egypt by his great power,
driving out of your way nations greater and mightier than you,
so as to bring you in
and to make their land your heritage, as it is today.
This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart,
that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below,
and that there is no other.
You must keep his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you today,
that you and your children after you may prosper,
and that you may have long life on the land
which the LORD, your God, is giving you forever."

Responsorial Psalm
(Psalm 77:12-13, 14-15, 16 and 21)

R. (12a) I remember the deeds of the Lord.

I remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I remember your wonders of old.
And I meditate on your works;
your exploits I ponder.

R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.

O God, your way is holy;
what great god is there like our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
among the peoples you have made known your power.

R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.

With your strong arm you redeemed your people,
the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
You led your people like a flock
under the care of Moses and Aaron.

R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.

Alleluia
(Matthew 5:10)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness;
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
(Matthew 16:24-28)

Jesus said to his disciples,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory,
and then he will repay each according to his conduct.
Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here
who will not taste death
until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom."

Reflection:

“Let Go to Follow”

Gospel: Matthew 16:24-28

“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (v. 24)

A boy once visited his grandfather in the countryside. One morning, the grandfather gave him a chore: to carry a small bag of grain up a hill to feed the chickens. The boy groaned, saying, “It’s too far, and it’s heavy.”

But the grandfather just smiled and said, “If you want to feed the chickens, you must climb the hill.”

The boy reluctantly picked up the bag, complained along the way, stopped many times, and almost gave up. But when he finally reached the top and scattered the grain, he saw the chickens rushing toward him, full of life and joy. He smiled—because despite the struggle, he had done something good and meaningful.

Later, the grandfather told him, “Life with Jesus is like that hill. You must choose to climb it, even when it’s hard. But when you do, you find purpose, joy, and life.”

Jesus tells us today: “If you want to follow Me, deny yourself.” That doesn’t mean we reject who we are—it means we let go of selfishness, comfort, and pride, and choose a life of love, sacrifice, and faithfulness.

It may be uphill. It may cost us comfort or popularity. But in doing so, we find true life—not only later in eternity—but even now, in the joy of living for something greater than ourselves.

So let us ask:
What cross must I pick up today?
What comfort must I deny so I can walk more closely with Jesus?

Let’s not be afraid. Because He doesn’t say, “Go!”—He says, “Follow Me.”
That means He walks with us—every step of the way.

Daily Gospel For A Busy World

12/08/2025

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