2nd Week after Holy Cross

Revelation 3:7-13 To Philadelphia
A Reading from the Book of Revelation. Father, give your blessing.
Pause for the blessing, then read:
“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words
of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and
no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens: “I know your works.
Look, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.
I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word
and have not denied my name. I will make those of the synagogue of
Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but are lying — I will make
them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I
have loved you. Because you have kept my word of patient endurance,
I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world
to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon; hold fast to what
you have, so that no one may seize your crown. If you conquer, I will
make you a pillar in the temple of my God; you will never go out of it.
I will write on you the name of my God, and the name of the city of my
God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from my God out of heaven,
and my own new name. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the
Spirit is saying to the churches.
Praise be to God always!

Matthew 11:20-24
The Apostle Matthew writes:
Then Jesus began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds
of power had been done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you,
Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you
had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago
in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be
more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum,
will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades.
For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would
have remained until this day. But I tell you that on the day of judgment
it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.”
This is the truth. Peace be with you.

Jesus is telling us that people witnessed miracles, but did not come to believe. We today so often think that if we had a miracle it would change us. Yet, we have knowledge of the resurrection. This is the miracle that should inspire our belief. This is the miracle that should change us.

O Incense of sweet aroma and pleasing fragrance,
that filled the whole earth with the aroma of your divine gifts, accept the fragrance of this incense (our prayer)
which we offer you.
Grant that it may bring joy to our souls,
pardon of our faults, the forgiveness of our sins,
and rest to all the faithful departed.
To you be glory forever.
Amen.