Bible Readings for this day (23 Sep, Tue - 25th Week)

Proverbs 21: 1-6, 10-13
The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord like channels of water;
he turns it wherever he wants.
All of a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion,
but the Lord evaluates the motives.
To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart –
the agricultural product of the wicked is sin.
The plans of the diligent lead only to plenty,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.
Making a fortune by a lying tongue is like a vapor driven back and forth;
they seek death.
The appetite of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor is shown no favor in his eyes.
When a scorner is punished, the naive becomes wise;
when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.
The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked;
he overthrows the wicked to their ruin.
The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,
he too will cry out and will not be answered.

Luke 8: 19-21
Now Jesus’ mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not get near him because of the crowd. So he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” But he replied to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

Memorial of Saint Thomas of Villanueva

This saint (according to Wikipedia):

- was born in 1488 in Ciudad Real, Spain
- though was from a rich family, as a young boy often went about naked as had given his clothing to the poor
- entered the Augustinian order in Salamanca in 1516, and ordained a priest in 1518
- became prior of the friary, General Visitor, and Provincial Prior for Andalusia and Castile
- was known for his great personal austerity and for his continual and untiring charitable efforts - sought to obtain definitive and structural solutions to the problem of poverty
- in 1533 sent out the first Augustinian friars to arrive in Mexico
- in 1544 was nominated as Archbishop of Valencia - there he organized a special college for Moorish converts, and in particular an effective plan for social assistance, welfare, and charity
- had a great devotion to the Virgin Mary, whose heart he compared to the burning bush that is never consumed
- died in 1555 in Valencia - was canonized on November 1 1658

Bible Readings for this day (22 Sep, Mon - 25th Week)

Proverbs 3: 27-34
Do not withhold good from those who need it,
when you have the ability to help.
Do not say to your neighbor, “Go! Return tomorrow
and I will give it,” when you have it with you at the time.
Do not plot evil against your neighbor
when he dwells by you unsuspectingly.
Do not accuse anyone without legitimate cause,
if he has not treated you wrongly.
Do not envy a violent man,
and do not choose to imitate any of his ways;
for one who goes astray is an abomination to the Lord,
but he reveals his intimate counsel to the upright.
The Lord’s curse is on the household of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
Although he is scornful to arrogant scoffers,
yet he shows favor to the humble.

Luke 8: 16-18
Jesus said to the crowd: “No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lamp stand so that those who come in can see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light. So listen carefully, for whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.”