Beads of Joy Blog II (2025 - 2026)

October 16   Nothing is Covered Up Today’s Gospel: Luke 12:1-7 (Nothing Is Covered Up) “In the meantime, when so many thousands of the multitude had gathered together that they trod upon one another, he began to say to his disciples first, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed or hidden that will not be known. Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Reflec...

  October 15   Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus Virgin and Doctor of the Church Image created using Google AI Image Creator. Today’s Gospel: Luke 11:47-54 (The Key of Knowledge) “Woe to you! for you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. So, you are witnesses and consent to the deeds of your fathers; for they killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore, also the Wisdom of God said, `I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,' that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it shall be required of this generation. Woe to you lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering." As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press hi...

  October 14 Saint Callistus I Pope and Martyr Created using Google AI Image Creator. Today’s Gospel: Luke 11:42-46 (Justice and the Love of God) “But woe to you Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! for you love the best seat in the synagogues and salutations in the market places. Woe to you! for you are like graves which are not seen, and men walk over them without knowing it." One of the lawyers answered him, "Teacher, in saying this you reproach us also." And he said, "Woe to you lawyers also! for you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.” Reflection: My friends, look at this list from Paul: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control! That’s the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and there is no law agai...

  October 13 Clean & Pure On The Inside Image created using Google AI Image Creator. Today’s Gospel: Luke 11:37-41 (Clean on the Inside) “While he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him; so, he went in and sat at table. The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of extortion and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you.”   Reflection: Which matters more: clean hands or a clean heart? Both matter. But the inside matters most. Inside each of us is a mind, a heart, and a soul. If those are dirty, that offends more than unwashed hands ever could. Jesus knew what He was doing with the Pharisees. His lesson was well taught, and it’s meant for anyone who reads it. Greed, pride, bitte...

October 12 The Sign of Jonah Original Image created by Google AI Image Creator. Today’s Gospel: Luke 11:29-32 (The Sign of Jonah) When the crowds were increasing, he 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 judgment 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 judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. Reflection: Why do we keep asking for a sign? Jesus has given us sign after sign after sign. The prophets foretold Him. Gabriel announced Him to Mary. The wise men followed a star to...

  October 12 Lectio Divina: Listening to God's Heart   Image created by Google AI Image Creator. Today I want to share a way to pray for you. I've prayed this way since 1983. It's called Lectio Divina. That's Latin for "divine reading." Think of it as holy listening. You read a few lines of scripture. Slowly, several times, then you stop talking and let God speak. That's it; it's that simple, and it is also life-changing. Where It Comes From This prayer is ancient. Christians were praying this way around 300 A.D. The goal was never to cram in more information. The goal was to let the Word sink in. To get close to God. Saint Gregory put it this way: "…to know the heart of God through the Word of God." And he asked: "Would you enter into the very heart of God? Listen to His words." Read that again. The door to God's heart is His Word. And it's open. You've Already Seen It Look at any day of my older bl...

October 11     The Parable of the Wedding Feast Image created by Google AI Image Creator. Today’s Gospel: Matthew 22:1-10 (The Parable of the Wedding Feast) Jesus again in reply spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, “The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main r...

October 10 Blessed Are Those Who Hear Today’s Gospel: Luke 11:27-28 (Blessed Are Those Who Hear) While he was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” Reflection: Paul says something very important to the Galatians: all of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a new set of clothes! There is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free; you are all one in Christ, and heirs of the promise. That’s a family portrait with room for everyone. And the whole reason we evangelize is to invite one more person to come and stand in the picture. Now picture the scene in the Gospel. Jesus is teaching, and a woman in the crowd can’t contain herself. She cries out that the womb that carried Him is blessed. She’s praising His Mother, and she’s right! And Jesus answers that blessed are those who hea...

October 9   Saint Denis, Bishop, and Companions, Martyrs &  Saint John Leonardi, Priest The Kingdom Has Come Image created using Google AI Image Creator. Today’s Gospel: Luke 11:15-26 (The Kingdom Has Come) Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcom...