Knights of Columbus Elder Council 1195

2 Corinthians 8:1-9 | Psalm 146:2, 5-9 | Matthew 5:43-48

"I am...simply testing your generous love against the concern which others show." —2 Corinthians 8:8

St. Paul organized a collection among the churches of Asia Minor for the starving Christians of Jerusalem. When visiting these churches, Paul publicized the generosity of the poor Macedonian church to spur his hearers to also give generously ... More

Have you told yourself a thousand times you were going to read the Bible? Do you fall asleep when you try? Are your bewildered by the Bible, feel lost, and confused? Have you stuffed yourself with the things of the world and become spiritually anorexic so as to have little appetite for the Bible? Then this is the pamphlet for you.

2 Corinthians 6:1-10 | Psalm 98:1-4 | Matthew 5:38-42

Jesus said: "You have heard the commandment, 'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.' But what I say to you is: offer no resistance to injury." —Matthew 5:38-39

In one of his talks, Pope John Paul II remarked that there seemed to have been fewer healings at Lourdes, the major healing center of the world. He thought that this might have indicated fewer healings in general throughout the world. The pope ... More

Are you aware of unusual patterns in your family for generations? Very pronounced patterns of evil may indicate the need for healing the family tree.

11th Sunday Ordinary Time
2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13 | Galatians 2:16, 19-21 | Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11 | Luke 7:36—8:3

"Little is forgiven the one whose love is small." —Luke 7:47

All great saints seem to have so many sins, not because they're great sinners, but because they're great lovers. We all commit many sins, but some are aware of it, while others are not. Love makes a person sin-sensitive. The more we love God, ... More

2 Corinthians 5:14-21 | Psalm 103:1-4, 9-12 | Matthew 5:33-37

"The love of Christ impels us who have reached the conviction that since one died for all, all died." —2 Corinthians 5:14

We Christians have reached the conviction that, because of Jesus' death and our appropriation of His death by Baptism and faith, we have died. We "have been crucified with Christ" (Gal 2:19). "After all," we "have died!" (Col 3:3) Because we are ... More

2 Corinthians 4:7-15 | Psalm 116:10-11, 15-18 | Matthew 5:27-32

"If your right eye is your trouble, gouge it out and throw it away! Better to lose part of your body than to have it all cast into Gehenna." —Matthew 5:29

Here we are at the beginning of summer. Men and women are walking around half-clothed, hoping to get a tan, adoring the sun-god rather than the Son of God. It's almost impossible to find a movie or even a TV program without nudity displayed. On ... More

St. Anthony of Padua
2 Corinthians 3:15—4:1, 3-6 | Psalm 85:9-14 | Matthew 5:20-26

"All of us, gazing on the Lord's glory with unveiled faces, are being transformed from glory to glory into His very image by the Lord Who is the Spirit." —2 Corinthians 3:18

The biblical word "glory" can be translated as "weight," for example, a covering heavy enough to be felt. The Israelites sang of the Lord: "He has covered Himself in glory" (Ex 15:1, JB).

As we bask in the Lord's glory and worship Him "with ... More

2 Corinthians 3:4-11 | Psalm 99:5-9 | Matthew 5:17-19

"This great confidence in God is ours, through Christ." —2 Corinthians 3:4

The Corinthian church, which Paul had founded, questioned Paul's qualifications for ministry (see 2 Cor 2:16, 3:6). Yet Paul had "great" (2 Cor 3:4), "full" (2 Cor 3:12; 5:8), and continuous confidence (see 2 Cor 5:6). He did not maintain he had ... More

St. Barnabas
Acts 11:21-26; 13:1-3 | Psalm 98:1-6 | Matthew 10:7-13

"On his arrival he rejoiced to see the evidence of God's favor. He encouraged them all to remain firm in their commitment to the Lord." —Acts 11:23

We have all received "constructive criticism" at some point in our lives. This is valuable when the recipient has an open heart and doesn't react defensively. Yet what is more powerful, criticism or encouragement? The Word of God exhorts us to ... More

2 Corinthians 1:1-7 | Psalm 34:2-9 | Matthew 5:1-12

"He began to teach them." —Matthew 5:2

In Matthew's Gospel, today's reading of the Beatitudes is the first time Jesus teaches His disciples and us. Jesus, the great Teacher, knows a strong first impression and solid introduction are critical. So Jesus' initial teaching is something ... More

10th Sunday Ordinary Time
1 Kings 17:17-24 | Galatians 1:11-19 | Psalm 30:2, 4-6, 11-13 | Luke 7:11-17

"The Lord heard the prayer of Elijah; the life breath returned to the child's body and he revived." —1 Kings 17:22

Jesus interrupted a funeral procession, touched the litter, and said: " 'Young man, I bid you get up.' The dead man sat up" (Lk 7:14-15). He also raised Lazarus from the dead (Jn 11:43ff). Moreover, He promised we would do greater by far than He ... More

Immaculate Heart of Mary
Tobit 12:1, 5-15, 20 | Tobit 13:2, 6-8 | Mark 12:38-44 | or Luke 2:41-51

"They gave from their surplus wealth, but she gave from her want, all that she had to live on." —Mark 12:44

When we give alms from our surplus wealth, we are obeying the Lord and pleasing Him. "Prayer and fasting are good, but better than either is almsgiving" (Tb 12:8). "Those who regularly give alms shall enjoy a full life" (Tb 12:9).

Alms-giving ... More

World Youth Meet In Brazil
Fortnight For Freedom Planned
Human Trafficking Is Growing Problem
In Defense Of Life: Trial Of The Century
Saintly Army Chaplain Receives Medal Of Honor
Prison To Praise: One of These Nights

Sacred Heart of Jesus
Ezekiel 34:11-16 | Romans 5:5-11 | Psalm 23:1-6 | Luke 15:3-7

"The love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us." —Romans 5:5

On this feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Lord wants to pour out His love in our hearts. He wants to give us such love that we will lay down our lives (see 1 Jn 3:16) even for those who have sinned against us and are continuing to hurt us ... More

"GOD'S SURPRISES"
Let us ask ourselves today: Are we open to "God's surprises"? Or are we closed and fearful before the newness of the Holy Spirit? Do we have the courage to strike out along the new paths which God's newness sets before us, or do we resist, barricaded in transient structures which have lost their capacity for openness to what is new? We would do well to ask ourselves these questions all through the day. More

St. Norbert
Tobit 6:10-11; 7:1, 9-17; 8:4-9 | Psalm 128:1-5 | Mark 12:28-34

"Your marriage to her has been decided in heaven!" —Tobit 7:11

In our Western culture, there are secular matchmaking services, ads for singles, and "reality" TV shows for bachelors and bachelorettes battling for a mate. God's Word teaches differently. Ponder these words: "Are you free of a wife [or ... More

St. Boniface
Tobit 3:1-11, 16-17 | Psalm 25:2-9 | Mark 12:18-27

"You are badly misled, because you fail to understand the Scriptures or the power of God." —Mark 12:24

How many people in our society, even in our churches, understand the Scriptures? How many are even trying to understand them? Never in history has the Bible been more available to the average person than today, but Biblical illiteracy ... More

Tobit 2:9-14 | Psalm 112:1-2, 7-9 | Mark 12:13-17

"Whose head is this and whose inscription is it?" —Mark 12:16

The Pharisees and Herodians were able to identify the owner of the Roman coin because of "the stamp" on it. The seal on the coin marked it as belonging to Caesar.

When we were baptized into Christ, we too were stamped with an image, "sealed" ... More