God wants us for His own – we have only to want Him in return 

Reflections on the readings for the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (August 26, 2018): JOS 24:1-2,15-17,18; PS 34: 2-3,16-17,18-19,20-21; EPH 5:21-32 or 5:2,25-32; JN 6:60-69 

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

Today’s first reading from the Old Testament recalls how Joshua, the successor to Moses as leader of the tribes of Israel, brought them into the Promised Land. 

“Hail, Holy Queen” – our Mother, the Mother of our Lord will always care for and intercede for us 

Reflections on the readings for the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary     (August 22, 2018): EZ 34:1-11; PS 23: 1-3,3-4,5,6; MT 20:1-16 

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

In the 1954 papal encyclical Ad caeli reginam (To the Queen of Heaven), St. John Damascene, a 7th-century priest and doctor of the Church, is quoted: “When she became Mother of the Creator, she truly became Queen of every creature.” 

Jesus is truly food for the life of the world 

Reflections on the readings for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (August 19, 2018): PRV 9:1-6; PS 34:2-3,4-5,6-7; EPH 5:15-20; JN 6:51-58 

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus, who is the Word of Life, again speaks of Himself as the Bread of Life. He wants us to accept His message of hope as the truth that will lead us to eternity. 

Christ’s love knows no bounds and, through Him, neither does His Mother’s

Reflections on the readings for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary [Mass During the Day] (August 15, 2018): RV 11:19, 12:1-6,10; PS 45 19,11,16; 1 COR 15:20-27; LK 1:39-56    

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

The beautiful Gospel reading for this feast of the Assumption reveals her complete belief in God and her humble dependence on Him.

His love for the Blessed Mother gave St. Maximilian Kolbe two holy crowns 

Reflections on the readings for the Memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe (August 14, 2018): EZ 2:8–3:4; PS 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131; MT 18:1-5,10,12-14    

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

On this day honoring St. Maximilian Kolbe, consider a vision he had of the Blessed Virgin while he was still a child. 

Our Lord wants to nurture us and draw us ever closer to Himself 

Reflections on the readings for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary time (August 12, 2018): 1 KGS 19:4-8; PS 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; EPH 4:30 – 5:2; JN 6:41-51    

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

So many of those who listened to Jesus preach kept putting obstacles in the way of their potential faith. 

The Transfiguration shows Christ to be truly both human and divine

Reflections on the readings for the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 6, 2018): DN 7:9-10,13-14; PS 97:1-2,5-6,9; 2 PT 1:16-19; MK 9:2-10   

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

Peter wanted the early Christians to understand that he and the other Apostles were proclaiming the absolute truth about Jesus and His message.

To follow Christ, we have to turn from our past sins and let Him show us the way to go

Reflections on the readings for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time  (August 5, 2018): EX 16:2-4,12-15; PS 78:3-4,23-24,25,54; EPH 4:17,20-24; JN 6:24-35  

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

Any one of us who is baptized in Christ will never be the same.

The patron of priests used his vocation to care for the souls and bodies of those entrusted to his care

Reflections on the readings for the Memorial of St. John Vianney (August 4, 2018): JER 26:11-16,24; PS 69:15-16,30-31,33-34; MT 14:1-12  

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

St. John Vianney led an extraordinary ordinary life. 

Let us open ourselves to true conversion through God’s mercy and generosity

Reflections on the readings for the Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola (July 31, 2018): JER 14:7-22; PS 79:8,9,11,13; MT 13:36-43  

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

St. Ignatius of Loyola was a 16th-century Spanish nobleman and a soldier known for enjoying worldly pleasures until he suffered a serious leg injury.