The queen takes her place at your right hand in gold of Ophir. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, says, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” She cries out in a loud voice before Mary and before God as a prophet might cry out or as one so full of conviction that it was impossible not to cry out. Elizabeth is divinely inspired to express what has become contained in the Hail Mary, prayed countless billions of times generation after generation. And what did she say that resounds over the millennia? “Blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Because Elizabeth was divinely inspired to say these words as was Mary in proclaiming the Magnificat, the depth and breadth of what they express continue to invite us into the beauty and mystery of the incarnation, the resurrection of Jesus, and Mary's assumption, body and soul, into heaven.

God, thank you for what the Gospel reveals about Mary and Elizabeth’s greeting to each other. They each express a depth of faith that goes beyond what is knowable in the natural world. Elizabeth proclaimed Mary as the Mother of God before Jesus’ birth, and Mary praised God for remembering his promise of mercy. God, help me recognize Mary’s role as an instrument of mercy, both in life and after her assumption. She proclaimed the greatness of the Lord and his holy name: “for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers.” Mary, Queen of Heaven, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

"So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart."

"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."

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."

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

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 12:32-48, today's readings).

"Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

These words of Jesus spoken to the disciples follow his teaching on discipleship. Jesus tells the parable of the servant awaiting the master's return from a wedding. "Blessed are those servants," Jesus says, "whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. . . . for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” Peter asks if the parable is meant only for them or for everyone, and Jesus answers by sharing another parable. This one focuses on a master who goes away and puts a steward in charge of the distribution of food at the proper time. Jesus speaks to the "little flock"—that's all of us—when he tells his stewards to store up an inexhaustible treasure in heaven. "For where your treasure is," he says, "there also will your heart be."

God, help me hear the reassuring voice of Jesus today and throughout the days ahead. “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom." What are the belongings Jesus asks me to sell? The material things I possess are more than I need—more clothing, food, money. Even more, Lord, what belongings am I attached to that in some way prevent me from storing up treasures in heaven? Give me the grace, Lord, to conform my will to yours more and more, with a heart that treasures what you treasure, so that when the unexpected knock comes at the door, I am ready to open immediately at your arrival.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

I love you, O LORD, my strength, O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. I love you, Lord, my strength.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 17:14-20, today's readings).

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.

The father who brings his son to Jesus has watched the son suffer terribly, falling into fire and often into water. In his anguish, he brings him to the disciples, who try to cure the boy but fail. When the boy is brought to Jesus, he rebukes the demon, who comes out of him immediately, and the disciples ask, "Why could we not drive it out?" Along with chastising them, Jesus encourages the disciples. Faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. "Nothing," Jesus says, "will be impossible for you." What kind of faith the father must have had to bring his son first to the disciples and then to Jesus. Through his perseverance, the father received his son back, restored and whole, from the arms of the Good Shepherd.

God, help me have faith at all times, whether I succeed or fail to see its effects. Just as the father put all of his trust in Jesus, give me the grace to do the same even during trials and suffering. In the first reading, Moses says to the people: "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." With the little faith I have, Lord, help deepen my understanding of the words of Jesus: "Nothing will be impossible for you."

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 16:24-28, today's readings).

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."

Jesus makes clear what is at stake in following him: losing one's life in trying to save it and saving one's life in losing it for his sake. Yet, the challenge to take up one's cross is resisted and denied. Jesus goes on to describe it in terms of material gain. What purpose is there in gaining the whole world at the cost of forfeiting life? We will be repaid, as Jesus says, according to our conduct. Whatever our response, the call is unmistakable: "Follow me."

God, there are moments when it is difficult to accept your will or to believe that what is made quite clear is your will. In these instances, help me learn to trust in your will even when I can't see where it leads. Lord, give me the understanding to know your will and, with courage, pick up my cross and follow you. Give me perseverance when I am tempted to turn away, and strengthen my faith in the goodness and mercy of your plan for me. Saint Dominic, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

"My people heard not my voice, and Israel obeyed me not; So I gave them up to the hardness of their hearts; they walked according to their own counsels." Sing with joy to God our help.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 14:13-21, today's readings).

Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over–twelve wicker baskets full.

Jesus has just heard of the death of John the Baptist. From the same chapter of Matthew's Gospel, we see Jesus respond to the new's that John's disciples shared with him. Matthew tells us that Jesus withdraws to a deserted place by himself by boat but the crowds soon find out about this and go by foot to meet him as he disembarks. Jesus' response to this is not at all what one might imagine. On hearing devastating news about his cousin John, withdrawing and insisting on time alone would be understood, even expected. Yet, Jesus sees the crowd and Matthew says that "his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick." When the disciples tell Jesus there is not enough food for the crowds and that they should go buy some, Jesus tells them: "There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves." By saying this, Jesus teaches them to provide for others as life-giving bearers of the word and also to give them a greater opportunity to trust completely in him, the true food of the Word made flesh.

Father in heaven, give me the true food I need today to sustain me in your compassion even as I look to the needs of others, as Jesus said, to give them some food myself. For the times today when I am unaware that you are present, orient me to you again so that I walk in your ways. Just as the crowds went on foot to meet Jesus at the other shore, I want to move with confidence throughout the day to know firsthand your ever-present healing and compassion. And give me the grace to be a means of that to others. Saint John Vianney, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:S%C3%A3o_Jo%C3%A3o_Maria_Vianney.png