Wednesday, February 21, 2024
SAINT PETER DAMIAN, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Office- Psalter Week 1
Vestment: Violet
Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mystery
AUCHI: Tomorrow is the 21th Anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Most Revd. G. Dunia, 22st February 2003
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
SAINT PETER DAMIAN, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Peter Damian was born in Ravenna (Italy) in 1007. He became a monk and a theologian, later he as called to Rome to work closely with several Popes thanks to his marvelous skills in writing. He was named cardinal and bishop of Ostia, just outside Rome. He died in the year 1072.
FIRST READING
The Ninevites turned from their evil way.
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Jonah 3:1-10
The word of the Lord came to Jonah, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he cried, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. Then tidings reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, and covered himself with sack cloth, and sat in ashes. And he made proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sack cloth, and let them cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence which is in his hands. Who knows, God may yet repent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we perish not?” When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God repented of the evil which he had said he would do to them; and he did not do it.
The Word of the Lord.
Also Read: Daily Reading for Tuesday, February 20th, 2024
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm51:3-4.12-13.18-19 (R.19b)
R/. A broken and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn.
Have mercy on me, O God,
According to your merciful love;
According to your great compassion,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me completely from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin. R/.
Create a pure heart for me, O God;
renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence;
take not your holy spirit from me. R/.
R/. A broken and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn.
For in sacrifice you take no delight;
Burnt offering from me would not please you.
My sacrifice to God, a broken spirit:
A broken and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn. R/.
VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL Joel 2:12-13
Glory and praise to you, O Christ. Even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, for I am gracious and merciful. Glory and praise to you, O Christ.
GOSPEL
“No sign shall be given to this generation except the sign of Jonah.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 11:29-32)
At that time: When the crowds were increasing, Jesus began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nineveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation. The queen of the South will arise at the judgement with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will arise at the judgement with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
The entire book of Jonah is for me a story of God’s unending faith in humanity; the fact that God does not give up on the creature he made; the fact that God is ever ready to give us a second chance again and again. God could have simply destroyed the Ninevites but he gave them a second chance by sending Jonah to them. Jonah himself tried to escape from God but God caught him, brought him back and gave him another chance. Jonah wasn’t even qualified as a messenger of God yet this irresponsible-runaway- preacher became instrumental to the salvation of an entire city. Jonah didn’t even ask them to repent. He didn’t say “change your evil ways. Be good children of God. Stop sinning, etc.” Jonah just went about the city announcing doom and destruction. It was a hopeless situation for the people but they refused to resign themselves to FATE. They instinctively knew that despite whatever their past had been, what matters to God is “right now.” They heard the message of doom but believed in their hearts that there was still hope.
Do not conclude about yourself based on what you see now, develop a new vision for yourself, call yourself a Saint and start working on yourself, begin to make efforts, do something about that which you do not like about you, ask for help, open the roof of houses like the four men who brought their paralytic to Jesus, talk to someone today as to how to come out of your spiritual captivity. You see, the point is: God wants to see the efforts you are making. At times, like these people, we judge ourselves based on appearances; we consider ourselves good for nothing because of what our physical eyes can see. We lack faith to realize that we have God inside us; that we are capable of much more than we think. We see the son-of-a-carpenter in ourselves but we don’t believe in the Saint we could be. Never judge a book by its cover. Never conclude about yourself based on your past; don’t give up on yourself, keep believing, keep being positive; keep making efforts.
TODAY’S SAINT AND QUOTE: St Peter Damian – February 21st
Peter Damian was born in Ravenna (Italy) in 1007. He became a monk and a theologian, later he was called to Rome to work closely with several Popes thanks to his marvelous skills in writing. He was named cardinal and bishop of Ostia, just outside Rome. He died in the year 1072.
-It is not sinners, but the wicked who should despair; it is not the magnitude of one’s crime, but contempt of God that dashes one’s hopes.
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL FOR LENT
That you are a boss to someone at home, office or in the shop is not a guarantee to talk to them as if they are not human beings like yourself. Do not belittle, denigrate or use derogative words on them. Be empathic even when you discipline or correct others.
Today, try to speak words of encouragement to those that are your subordinates or anyone who comes in contact with you. It will help their self-esteem and you must have done a good job that will merit you a smile and thumbs up from the Lord.
Let us pray,
Lord Jesus, renovate my prayer life; deepen my faith in you that I may realize the need to use less but meaningful words in prayer. Amen.
PRAYERS BEFORE COMMUNION
– O my God, help me to make a good Communion.
Mary, my dearest mother, pray to Jesus for me.
My dear Angel Guardian, lead me to the altar of God.
-Act of Sorrow
O my God,
I am sorry for all my sins
because they offend you who are so good.
With your help I will not sin again.
– Jesus I love you,
all I have is thine,
do with me whatever you will.
– I believe, O Lord, and I
confess that Thou art truly the Christ,
the Son of the Living God, Who comest
into the world to save sinners, of whom
I am first. I believe also that this is truly
Thine own pure Body, and that this is
truly Thine own precious Blood
-ACT OF FAITH
O God,
because you said it,
I believe that I shall receive the Body of Jesus to eat,
and the Blood of Jesus to drink.
I believe this with all my heart.
PRAYERS AFTER COMMUNION
O Sacrament most holy!
O Sacrament divine!
all praise and all thanksgiving
be every moment thine (3x)
Jesus I love you all I have is yours
yours I am and Yours I want to be
do with me whatever you wish (3x)
ANIMA CHRISTI
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, fill me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Hide me within your wounds.
Do not allow me to be separated from you.
From the malicious enemy defend me.
In the hour of death call me
and bid me come to you that
I may praise you for ever and ever.
Amen.
ACT OF FAITH
O Jesus,
I believe that you have come to me
in Holy Communion
because you have said it and your word is true.
Daily Reading for Wednesday February 21, 2024
Reading 1, Jonah 3:1-10
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19
Gospel, Luke 11:29-32
Reading 1, Jonah 3:1-10
1 The word of Yahweh was addressed to Jonah a second time.
2 ‘Up!’ he said, ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to it as I shall tell you.’
3 Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of Yahweh. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare; to cross it took three days.
4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city and then proclaimed, ‘Only forty days more and Nineveh will be overthrown.’
5 And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least.
6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes.
7 He then had it proclaimed throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his nobles, as follows: ‘No person or animal, herd or flock, may eat anything; they may not graze, they may not drink any water.
8 All must put on sackcloth and call on God with all their might; and let everyone renounce his evil ways and violent behaviour.
9 Who knows? Perhaps God will change his mind and relent and renounce his burning wrath, so that we shall not perish.’
10 God saw their efforts to renounce their evil ways. And God relented about the disaster which he had threatened to bring on them, and did not bring it.
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19
3 For I am well aware of my offences, my sin is constantly in mind.
4 Against you, you alone, I have sinned, I have done what you see to be wrong, that you may show your saving justice when you pass sentence, and your victory may appear when you give judgement,
12 Give me back the joy of your salvation, sustain in me a generous spirit.
13 I shall teach the wicked your paths, and sinners will return to you.
18 In your graciousness do good to Zion, rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in upright sacrifices,-burnt offerings and whole oblations — and young bulls will be offered on your altar.
Gospel, Luke 11:29-32
29 The crowds got even bigger and he addressed them, ‘This is an evil generation; it is asking for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah.
30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of man be a sign to this generation.
31 On Judgement Day the Queen of the South will stand up against the people of this generation and be their condemnation, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, look, there is something greater than Solomon here.
32 On Judgement Day the men of Nineveh will appear against this generation and be its condemnation, because when Jonah preached they repented; and, look, there is something greater than Jonah here.
