27 July 2016

by

Wednesday, 27 July 2016 : 17th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day the readings from the Scripture tell us about turning away from our evil and wicked ways, and then seek the Lord with all of our hearts. From the first reading taken from the Book of the prophet Jeremiah, we heard about the Lord Who promised His people that He would forgive them and welcome them back if they had a change of heart and were willing to leave behind their sinful ways and regret their past mistakes.

In this, we see God in His merciful love, which He is offering to all of us mankind. To the people of the kingdom of Judah, He had also offered the same mercy and forgiveness. Yet, as they refused to repent and continued in their sins, worshipping pagan gods and idols and brought profanation upon the holy altar of God. They refused to bend their knees and to obey the Lord, and for that, they suffered the consequences of their disobedience.

They have placed their bet in the world and in their own power, and they got what they had dealt with. But the Lord is always trying to give us a chance, and trying all the time to bring as many of us as possible back to His loving embrace. And that was why He gave us His own Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to bring to us the full revelation of truth about Him, His love and what we all should do to be saved.

And all of this is revealed in the Gospel today, as Jesus spoke of the parable of the treasure and the kingdom of God. In that parable, Jesus likened the kingdom of God with the treasure, which all of us should aspire for and should look for. The kingdom of God is likened to a pearl of great and unsurpassable quality, a pearl of such excellence and price that all who see it should hearken to it and get it.

And this is the problem which many of us have, brothers and sisters in Christ. It is often that we do not know what is the true treasure of our life. Instead, we end up looking for the wrong treasures in this life, either because of ignorance, or because of the temptations and persuasions we faced, from the community, from the norms of our world and all the other things that pushed us to seek all the worldly things instead of finding our way to the Lord.

Let us ask ourselves, what is the worth of all the money and possessions that we gathered? What is the worth of all the fame and the praise we heaped upon ourselves? All of these will not be of good use to us at the time when we leave this world behind to our judgment. Yes, we should know that we are not going to carry our wealth or all the human fame and praises with us. It is only our deeds and actions that will be our sole proof to be shown to God.

Thus, we should heed what our Lord Jesus said on another occasion, asking us not to put our trust or gather treasures for ourselves that can be destroyed by fire, or by water, or by rust or by moth and other worldly forces. Rather, build for ourselves the true treasures of the kingdom of heaven, the incomparable pearl of great quality, by doing what God has asked us to do, by obeying His laws and commandments, loving Him and our fellow brethren.

May God help us on our journey, and may He strengthen our faith that we may not stumble along the way and be tempted into sin again. But let us renew our commitment to live faithfully with our God, and strive to be ever faithful and be ever righteous in His presence. God bless us all. Amen.

by

Wednesday, 27 July 2016 : 17th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Matthew 13 : 44-46

At that time, Jesus spoke to His disciples and to the people, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. The one who finds it buries it again; and so happy is he, that he goes and sells everything he has, in order to buy that field.”

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a trader who is looking for fine pearls. Once he has found a pearl of exceptional quality, he goes away, sells everything he has and buys it.”

by

Wednesday, 27 July 2016 : 17th Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 58 : 2-3, 4-5a, 10-11, 17, 18

Deliver me from my enemies, o God, from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from evildoers; rescue me from the bloodthirsty.

Look, they lie in wait for my life; the mighty conspiring against me, for no fault of mine, o Lord. I have done them no wrong, yet they prepare to attack me.

O my Strength, I look up to You, for You, o God, are my Fortress. My loving God will come to help me and let me see my enemies fall.

But I will sing of Your might; in the morning I will sing of Your love. For You have been a fortress to me, a refuge in time of distress.

O my Strength, I will sing praises to You, for You, o God, are my stronghold; You are a loving God.

by

Wednesday, 27 July 2016 : 17th Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Jeremiah 15 : 10, 16-21

Woe is me, Mother, why did you bring me to the light? A man of dissension throughout the land! I owe them nothing, neither do they owe me, yet they all curse me!

I devoured Your words when they came. They were my happiness and I felt full of joy when You made Your Name rest on me. Never did I associate with worldly people, amusing myself with scoffers! When Your hand was upon me I stood apart and You filled me with Your anger.

Why is there no end to my sorrow or healing for my wound? Why do You deceive me, and why does my spring suddenly dry up? Then YHVH spoke to me, “If you return I will take you back and you will serve Me again. Draw the gold from the dross and you will be as My own mouth. You must draw them to you and not go over to them.”

“I will make you a fortress and a wall of bronze facing them; if they fight against you they will not overcome you; I am with you to free you and save you. I will redeem you from the wicked and free you from the hands of tyrants.”

by

Schedule of World Youth Day 2016 (27-31 July 2016) – Krakow, Poland

Wednesday, 27 July

4:00pm Arrival at John Paul II International Airport Krakow–Balice WELCOMING CEREMONY
5:00pm Arrival at Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow MEETING WITH AUTHORITIES AND DIPLOMATIC CORPS
5:40pm COURTESY VISIT WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND
6:30pm WAWEL CATHEDRAL – MEETING WITH POLISH BISHOPS Silent prayer at the Tomb of St. Stanislaus, where the relics of Pope St. John Paul II are also displayed, veneration of the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel behind the altar.
Address by the Holy Father
IN THE EVENING: BISHOP’S RESIDENCE IN KRAKOW After dinner, the Holy Father will appear in the Papal Window to greet the faithful gathered in the square in front of the Bishop’s Residence in Krakow.

Thursday, 28 July

7:40am Transfer to Balice, along with a stop at the CONVENT OF THE SISTERS OF THE PRESENTATION Sisters from this community, along with some students from the schools they run, will be gathered at the entrance to the Chapel of Saints John the Baptist and John the Apostle. Silent common prayer.
9:45am Arrival at JASNA GÓRA MONASTERY in Częstochowa Prayer in the Chapel of the Miraculous Image
10:30am MASS on the occasion of the 1050th anniversary of the baptism of Poland This Mass is an event of national importance, in the framework of the Jubilee Year of the 1050th anniversary of the baptism of Poland.
The Sanctuary area can accommodate about 300,000 faithful. Bishops and many Polish priests will concelebrate, in the presence of the President of the Republic of Poland and the highest authorities of the country.
5:00pm Consignment of the keys to Krakow and tram ride to Błonia Park
On the square in front of the Bishop’s Residence, the President of Krakow will consign the keys to the city to the Holy Father. Disabled youth will accompany Pope Francis in the tram to Błonia Park.
5:15pm Arrival at Błonia Park. Popemobile ride among the faithful. Approx. 600,000 young people are expected.
5:30pm WELCOMING CEREMONY (approx. 1.5 hrs.) After dinner, the Holy Father will appear in the Papal Window, greeting the faithful gathered in the square.

Friday, 29 July

7:00am PRIVATE MASS in the chapel of the Bishop’s Residence in Krakow
9:30am VISIT TO AUSCHWITZ This year marks the 75th anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint Maximilian Kolbe.
The Holy Father will walk into the concentration camp, passing through the entrance gate on his own. At the entrance to the courtyard of Block 11, the Holy Father will meet individually with 15 camp survivors. Private prayer in the cell of the martyrdom of Father Kolbe.
10:30am VISIT TO BIRKENAU CAMP The Holy Father will travel by car from the main gate of the camp, along the railway line, up to the square in front of the International Monument to the Victims of the Camp, where about 1,000 visitors will be gathered. He will stop for a silent prayer in front of the monument. Individual meeting with 25 “Righteous Among the Nations.”
Address by the Holy Father.
4:30pm Transfer to Kraków-Prokocim.
VISIT TO UNIVERSITY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL This hospital, one of the most important in Poland, treats approximately 30,000 hospitalized and 200,000 outpatient children each year.
About 50 sick children will be gathered in the lobby with their parents.
Address by the Holy Father.
Private visit to some areas of the hospital’s emergency ward on the ground floor, accompanied by the Director and parents. Prayer in the hospital chapel.
6:00pm WAY OF THE CROSS with youth in Krakow’s Błonia Park At the end of the Way of the Cross, the Holy Father will deliver a short address.
After dinner, the Holy Father will appear in the Papal Window, greeting the faithful gathered in the square.

Saturday, 30 July

8:30am VISIT TO DIVINE MERCY SANCTUARY IN ŁAGIEWNIKI
Chapel of St. Faustina Kowalska. Sisters of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy will be present, along with the girls in their care. Prayer in the chapel before the tomb of St. Faustina.
8:45am Transfer by Popemobile to the DIVINE MERCY SANCTUARY.
9:00am Passage through the Holy Door of Mercy The Holy Father will enter the Sanctuary through the Holy Door of Mercy.
9:15am Liturgy of RECONCILIATION with the participation of youth The Holy Father will confess five young people in the following languages: Italian, Spanish, and French. Pope Francis is the third pope – after St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI – to visit the Divine Mercy Sanctuary, but the first to confess.
10:30am HOLY MASS in the JOHN PAULL II SANCTUARY with priests, consecrated persons, and seminarians from Poland.
Around 2 thousand people will be in the Sanctuary: priests, religious, consecrated persons, and seminarians from Poland. 5 thousand will be able to participate in the Mass on the vast square in front of the shrine.
1:00pm LUNCH WITH YOUTH The Holy Father will eat lunch with the Archbishop of Krakow, a translator, and 12 youth representatives from different countries: one boy and one girl from each continent, as well as a boy and a girl from Poland.
7:00pm Arrival at CAMPUS MISERICORDIAE Passing through the Door of Mercy with five youth representatives
7:30pm PRAYER VIGIL WITH YOUTH

Sunday, 31 July

8:45am Arrival at CAMPUS MISERICORDIAE Blessing of two Caritas buildings: House of Mercy for the poor and elderly, and Bread House – a food pantry for the needy
Passage among the faithful
10:00am FINAL MASS to mark the end of World Youth Day The sending out of youth as witnesses of Divine Mercy. Announcement of the location and year of the next World Youth Day.
5:00pm Arrival at Tauron Arena for a MEETING WITH WYD VOLUNTEERS and the Local Organizing Committee and benefactors
6:15pm Arrival in Airport Krakow–Balice (military part).
FAREWELL CEREMONY OF THE HOLY FATHER
(Information and schedule courtesy of World Youth Day 2016)