Thursday July 1 Bl. Junípero Serra People brought to [Jesus] a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Courage, child, your sins are forgiven. Matthew 9:2 A paralytic [pair-uh- LIH-tick] is someone who cannot walk, and so would need help to get to Jesus. Jesus saw the faith of those who were carrying the stretcher. It was their faith that Jesus could help their friend. When we pray for our friends and family, we bring them to the Lord, believing that Jesus can help them. Even if they aren t Catholic or don t believe in Jesus, we can take them to the Lord in prayer. Jesus, I know someone who does not love you, but I ask you to forgive and heal them. 4 Amos 7:10-17 Psalm 19:8-11 Matthew 9:1-8
Friday July 2 Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? Matthew 9:11 Tax collectors were not popular because they took money for the Romans and a little extra for themselves. Sinners? Well, we all know people who do bad things. Why would Jesus want to hang out with people like that? Jesus made two things very clear: First, he came to bring sinners back to God. Second, we are all sinners who need Jesus very much. The good news is not that we are sinners, but that Jesus loves us enough to reach out to us. Jesus, help me to love others as you love them, even if they are sinners. Amos 8:4-6, 9-12 Psalm 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 131 Matthew 9:9-13 5
Saturday July 3 St. Thomas Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed. John 20:29 Some people say they can never believe in God because they have never seen him. Faith in God is a blessing because it allows us to believe in something greater than what we can see. Why do some people have faith while others do not? That s hard to answer. God offers faith to everyone; if we accept that gift, we will be blessed. Let us never take the gift of faith for granted, but pray that it be strengthened and deepened as we grow in our friendship with Jesus. Lord, give me the gift of a lasting faith in you. 8 Ephesians 2:19-22 Psalm 117:1-2 John 20:24-29
Sunday July 4 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time As a mother comforts her son, so will I comfort you. Isaiah 66:13 Imagine the arms of God wrapping around you when you are sad or sick or afraid. Draw a picture below of a mother holding and comforting her child. As you draw, thank God for giving you that kind of comfort. Isaiah 66:10-14 Psalm 66:1-7, 16, 20 Galatians 6:14-18 Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 9
Monday July 5 St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria [Jesus] came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. Matthew 9:25 This little girl Jesus came to see was so sick that she died. Jesus gave her life, though he took her hand, and she was alive again! How happy everyone was! How grateful. Jesus can take your hand too. He can take your hand when you re worried about a math test. He can take your hand when you re mad about your chores. He can take your hand when you re jealous of your friend s new video game. He can take your hand when you really want to do something nice for someone, but feel scared or embarrassed about it. Jesus, take my hand. 10 Hosea 2:16-18, 21-22 Psalm 145:2-9 Matthew 9:18-26
Tuesday July 6 St. Maria Goretti At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned Matthew 9:36 How do you feel when someone s having a hard time? Maybe someone is tired and cranky from a bad day. Maybe a kid in your class doesn t have any friends. Maybe everyone ignores and makes fun of this kid. When Jesus saw people in need, he was moved with pity, and he wanted to help them. When Jesus lives in us, we would rather help people in need than make fun of them or gossip about them. Our hearts are warmed by the same love Jesus feels. Dear Jesus, help me love as you love. Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13 Psalm 115:3-8 Matthew 9:32-38 11
Wednesday July 7 Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. Psalm 105:2 When I think of happy times, I think of a song. Birthdays: Happy Birthday. Christmas: Carols, of course! Easter: Alleluia rings in my head. Music helps us celebrate, doesn t it? Sometimes, even when I m happy about nothing in particular, I hum a little tune. It just seems to fit! I don t hum or whistle when I m sad; does anyone else? God does so many wonderful things for us. He gives us life. He gives us gifts and talents to share. He gives us his love now and forever. It makes me want to sing! How about you? Lord, I m so happy you gave me life. I sing your praises! 12 Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12 Psalm 105:2-7 Matthew 10:1-7
Thursday July 8 Though I stooped to feed my child, they did not know that I was their healer. Hosea 11:4 Babies need lots of help. They need help to eat, drink, dress and stay clean. Even though babies can tell their mom or dad apart from other people at a very early age, they can t tell you much more than that. They know someone helps them feel better or warm or dry and they re happy someone helped! Sometimes we re like babies. We re taken care of in lots of ways, but we forget about the people who help us parents, friends, teachers and most of all, God! We take their care for granted, and we should know better. Who helped you today? How can you show them you are thankful? Dear God, thank you for your loving help. Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9 Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16 Matthew 10:7-15 13
Friday July 9 St. Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions We shall say no more, Our god, to the work of our hands. Hosea 14:4 Did you ever stand in a store, see a toy or game or T-shirt and say, I have to have that now! Did you ever get mad because you couldn t have it? When a thing has the power to make us happy or sad, we ve done something weird: We ve made a little god, an idol, out of that thing. Who is God, anyway? God is the truth. God is the one who made us and gives us what we need, including peace now and forever. When we give anything else the power to make us mad or sad or upset, we ve made that thing an idol. I don t want anything to have that kind of power over me. Do you? Lord, please give me your peace, no matter what is happening in my life. 14 Hosea 14:2-10 Psalm 51:3-4, 8-9, 12-14, 17 Matthew 10:16-23
Saturday July 10 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts! they cried one to the other. All the earth is filled with his glory! Isaiah 6:3 These words come from a vision the prophet Isaiah had in which he saw angels singing their praise of God. But these words are also sung or spoken in the Mass just before the consecration. As the priest says, we join the angels and saints in proclaiming your glory. In Jesus, heaven and earth come together. Next time you sing or recite the Holy, Holy, Holy at Mass, think about the angels and saints who join you in praising God. Lord God, I praise you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Isaiah 6:1-8 Psalm 93:1-2, 5 Matthew 10:24-33 15
Summer Checklist Here are some ways to grow closer to God over the summer. Check them off as they happen. If you enjoy one, do it again! Pray the Rosary. Donate a few personal items (clothes, toys) to someone in need. Light a candle for grace before dinner. Sing the songs and pray the responses during Mass. Read a Bible passage out loud. Listen to some good Christian music. Spend time in Eucharistic Adoration. Put a part of your allowance in the collection basket on Sunday. 16
Sunday July 11 Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Colossians 1:15 If we want to know what God is like, we can look at Jesus, especially Jesus hanging on the cross. Looking at Jesus on the cross gives us a lot to think about: Why did God have to die? Why didn t Jesus use his power to save himself? Why does God love us so much? Maybe you have your own questions. Take those questions to God in prayer. Deuteronomy 30:10-14 Psalm 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36-37 Colossians 1:15-20 Luke 10:25-37 17
Monday July 12 Wash yourselves clean! cease doing evil; learn to do good. Isaiah 1:16-17 Sometimes Isaiah sounds so angry. God s people were making a big show of bringing their offerings to God. God wanted more than their religious festivals. God wanted them to stop neglecting the widows and orphans. Isaiah said, Just stop it! Clean up your act! Remember how to do good things! When you scrub the summertime dirt from your feet tonight, scrub the pride and anger from your heart. When you wash behind your ears, remember that your little sister needs someone to listen to her. With your help, Jesus, I will try to stop doing evil and remember to do good. 18 Isaiah 1:10-17 Psalm 50:8-9, 16-17, 21, 23 Matthew 10:34 11:1
Tuesday July 13 St. Henry Take care you remain tranquil and do not fear; let not your courage fail Isaiah 7:4 Tranquil means peaceful, in control of your emotions. God wants his children to be courageous, not fearful. Oh sure, you re thinking. Maybe if I was covered in a coat of armor from my hair to my toes I could be brave. When that bully next door picks on me, I ll just tell him, Don t bother me! Can t you see I am tranquil? Knowing God loves us and walks beside us every day, we try not to be fearful in the face of evil. With God s courage Who knows? you might even help the bully change! Is it worth a try? Jesus, walk with me and give me words of peace in the face of evil. Isaiah 7:1-9 Psalm 48:2-8 Matthew 11:20-24 19
Wednesday July 14 Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha [The wicked] say, The Lord sees not; [Shall] he who formed the eye not see? Psalm 94:7, 9 You re in the grocery store with your mom. She s picking out apples, and you re looking at some candy. You slip a piece into your pocket. For a second you freeze, waiting for the police to show up. You start to sweat. You ve never stolen anything before. Here comes a store clerk. You can hardly breathe, but he just says hi and walks on. Finally your mom catches up with you and asks if you would like some candy! The wicked say, God doesn t see. Confess, apologize, and Jesus says, Go and sin no more! Jesus, thank you for forgiving me when I think you might not notice my sin. 20 Isaiah 10:5-7, 13-16 Psalm 94:5-10, 14-15 Matthew 11:25-27