Celestine Designs and Media

Parables are mirrors of life. When we hear, we can identify with some of the characters. Tax collectors cheated the government and the people. They were very wealthy but were great sinners and were hated by people. The pharisee praised himself . He was arrogant and proud. His prayer was self centered and selfish. He was commanding God instead of pleading in a humble way. In our life today, some christians give up on God when they don't get what they want when they want. The pharisee looked down on another. He thought he was better than the tax collector. As christians we are called to be humble because we do not merit anything. May God give us grace to be humble for without God, we are nothing.

FIRST READING The mystery of Christ has now been revealed, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs of the promise. Ephesians 3: 2 - 12 Brethren: I assume that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.  When you read this you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ; which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that is, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.  Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for a...

FIRST READING “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with it’s passions" Galatians 5: 18 - 25 Brethren: If you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are plain: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. The Word of the Lord . RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 1: 1 - 2, 3, 4, 6 (R.)   R/. He who follows you, Lord , will have the light of life. Blessed indeed is the man who follows not the co...

Everyone has a right to express themselves, be it agreeing or disagreeing with others. We can air our views through protest, social media, tv, radio, books and newspapers. In some parts of the world, this freedom is infringed on unnecessarily. Authoritarian regimes that are keen on clinging to power always control the public narrative by manipulating the media. Restrictive legal reforms. One good example is the fake news law in Russia. The invasion of Ukraine is called a "military operation" by the Russian government and anyone referring to it as a war could land in jail for 15 years.  Smear campaigns toward journalists and whistleblowers. Powerful and unscrupulous individuals turn to smear campaigns in order to discredit and silence them. Some resort to making up stories, kidnapping and threatening their close friends and family. Online hate. Being trolled discourages many from sharing their opinions on different subjects online. Hostile individuals limit free speech among t...

MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN XXIII, Pope FIRST READING Circumcision is of no avail, but faith working through love. GALATIANS 5: 1 - 6 Brethren: For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Now I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who receives circumcision that he is bound to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love. The Word of the Lord. RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 119: 41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48 (R.) 41a R/. Lord, let your mercy come upon me. Lord, let your mercy come upon me,  the salvation you have promised. R/. Never take the word of truth from my mouth,  for I hope in your decrees. R/. ...

You’ve probably heard a lot about emotional intelligence (EI) lately. It’s one of those buzzwords that gets thrown around in conversations about success, relationships, and leadership. But is it really that big of a deal? Or is it just another trendy concept? Let’s break it down and see why EI might actually be worth paying attention to. What is Emotional Intelligence? Emotional intelligence, made popular by psychologist Daniel Goleman, is basically your ability to understand and manage your emotions while also picking up on the emotions of others. It’s usually broken down into five key areas: Self-awareness – Knowing what you’re feeling and why. Self-regulation – Keeping your emotions in check instead of letting them control you. Motivation – Using your emotions to drive you toward goals. Empathy – Understanding what others are feeling and why it matters. Social skills – Communicating, connecting, and handling relationships smoothly. Why Emotional Intelligence Matters in Everyday...

FIRST READING We are not children of the slave but of the free woman. GALATIANS 4: 22 - 24, 26 - 27, 31 - 5: 1 Brethren: It is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman.  But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not with labour pains; for the desolate has more children than she who has a husband.” So, brethren, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. The Word of the Lord. RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 113: 1b - 2, 3 - 4, 5a, 6 - 7 (R.)  2 R/. May the name of the Lord be blest forevermore. Or:  All...

The disciples were inspired by Jesus' prayer life and that's why they asked him how to pray. As christians this can be our inspiration to be open to learn from God. Sometimes we forget that the way we live can empower others more than what we speak. Give as this day our daily bread .We should recognize that what we receive is from God and therefore we should share with others. Forgive. God is a merciful God so we should be merciful to others.

MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARIA FAUSTINA KOWALSKA, Apostle of Divine Mercy FIRST READING “They perceived the grace that was given to me.” GALATIANS 2: 1 - 2, 7 - 14 Brethren: After fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up by revelation; and I laid before them (but privately before those who were of repute) the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, lest somehow I should be running or had run in vain.  But on the  contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just  as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel  to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for the mission to the circumcised worked through me also for the Gentiles), and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised; only they wou...

TWENTY-SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C MEMORIAL OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI , Religious FIRST READING “He revealed his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles.” Galatians   1: 13 - 24 Brethren: You have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.  But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus.  Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lor...