Beads of Joy Blog II (2025 - 2026)

  September 13   Saint John Chrysostom Today's Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35 Today’s Gospel: Matthew 18:21-19:1 (The Unforgiving Servant) “ Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So, the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, `Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundre...

  The Most Holy Name of Mary A Reflection for the Feast of September 12 Written by: James Dacey, Jr. OFS Say the name Mary, and something happens. It’s soft, familiar, almost like a prayer all by itself, the kind of name that has been whispered by mothers, sung by choirs, and called out in the middle of the night by people who needed help and didn’t know where else to turn. Every year on September 12, the Catholic Church sets aside a whole day just to honor her name. Not a title, not an event in her life, just her name. It might seem like a small thing to build a feast day around, but as we’ll see, there’s nothing small about it at all. That day on the calendar didn’t come from nowhere. Long before it belonged to the whole Church, it belonged to Spain, where the faithful first celebrated it locally back in 1513. 1 It grew from there, quietly, the way real devotion usually does, one town, one parish, one grateful heart at a time, long before Rome ever made it official. And...

  September 11   Stop Judging Others Today's Gospel: Luke 6:39-42 Today's Gospel: Luke 6:39-42 (Stop Judging Others) "He also told them a parable: 'Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully taught will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, "Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye," when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.'" Reflection: I am not going to lecture you about anything when it comes to judging others. Instead, let me tell you a true story about a priest and a confessor. A woman came to confession. She'd been judging people le...

  September 10   Love Your Enemies Today's Gospel: Luke 6:27-38 Today’s Gospel: Luke 6:27-38 (Love Your Enemies) “But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again. And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will ...

  September 9   Blessed Are The Poor Today's Gospel: Luke 6:20-26 Today’s Gospel: Luke 6:20-26 (Blessed Are The Poor) “Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.” Reflection: I was going to open with something else entirely, but this line kept pulling ...

  The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary A Birthday Love Letter to Our Lady - September 8 Written by: James Dacey, Jr. OFS Somewhere in Jerusalem, on a day nobody wrote down, and no one could have known mattered, yet a little girl was born. There was no fanfare. No star in the sky, no shepherds, no angels singing over the rooftops, that would come later, for her Son. Just an older couple who had prayed for years for a child they'd nearly given up hoping for, and a baby girl in her mother's arms at last. And yet, of every birth in the history of the world except One, this is the birth the whole Church still stops to celebrate. Because the moment Mary drew her first breath, everything that was coming- the angel, the yes, the manger, the cross, all of it, quietly began. Her parents were Joachim and Anne, and by the time she came, they had already spent a lifetime waiting.¹ They were an older couple, married many years, and childless, the kind of quiet sorrow that never full...

September 8   Genealogy of Jesus Christ The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Saint Adrian of Nicomedia Today's Gospel: Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23 Today’s Gospel: Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23 (Genealogy of Jesus Christ) The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king. David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asa...