Mass Readings and Reflection for Tuesday June 23rd 2026.

First Reading: (2 Kings 19:9b–11, 14–21, 31–35a, 36)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 48)

Response: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God.

Gospel Acclamation:

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.

Alleluia.

Gospel: (Matthew 7:6, 12–14)

Reflection

Today's readings present a striking contrast between human pride and trust in God.

King Sennacherib was one of the most powerful rulers of the ancient world. He commanded mighty armies, conquered nations, and appeared unstoppable. Yet his greatest mistake was not military ambition but spiritual arrogance. He believed that no power could stand against him, not even the God of Israel.

When faced with this threat, King Hezekiah did not rely solely on military strength or political strategy. Instead, he brought the problem before the Lord in prayer. He acknowledged God's sovereignty and entrusted the future to Him.

The outcome reminds us that human power is always limited, while God's power is eternal. Empires rise and fall, achievements fade, and earthly success can disappear in an instant. What endures is faith in the Lord.

This message is deeply relevant today. Most of us do not command armies or govern nations, but we can easily place our trust entirely in our own abilities, plans, achievements, and resources. We may begin to believe that we alone are responsible for securing our future.

Life eventually teaches us otherwise. Moments of failure, uncertainty, illness, disappointment, or loss reveal our limitations. These experiences are not meant to crush us but to draw us back to God.

The Gospel continues this theme. Jesus speaks of the narrow gate, the path that leads to life. The narrow way is the way of humility, trust, obedience, and faith. It is often more difficult than the broad road of self-sufficiency and pride, but it leads to true peace and eternal life.

Today we might ask ourselves:

• Where do I place my trust?

• Am I building my life primarily on my own strength or on God?

• Am I willing to walk through the narrow gate of faith, even when it is difficult?

May we choose humility over pride, trust over fear, and faith over self-reliance. In doing so, we discover the peace that comes from knowing that our lives rest securely in God's hands.

Amen 🙏 

Starmer Resigns As Trump Said He Would Over the Weekend

 

“Who’s Next at No. 10? Britain’s Fast‑Changing Prime Minister Club”

Just this past weekend, President Donald J. Trump posted on Truth Social that U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer would resign. Less than 72 hours later, Starmer did, in fact, announce he was stepping down. The timing raised eyebrows and left many wondering how such a prediction could play out so quickly.

But in reality, the British prime ministership has recently been marked by extraordinary instability. The office, once associated with long‑serving figures, has seen a rapid turnover in the last decade. Leaders have come and gone at a dizzying pace, often amid political crises, party rebellions, and national upheavals such as Brexit and the COVID‑19 pandemic.

In fact, the frequency of these departures is unprecedented in modern British political history. Since 2016 alone, there have been multiple leadership changes, with several prime ministers resigning before completing a full term. This revolving door at 10 Downing Street has made it increasingly difficult to predict who will remain in power-or for how long.

Now, as another resignation shakes the political landscape, the question once again arises: who will be next?

U.K. Prime Ministers Since 2010

Since 2010, the United Kingdom has had six prime ministers:

• David Cameron (2010–2016)
• Theresa May (2016–2019)
• Boris Johnson (2019–2022)
• Liz Truss (2022)
• Rishi Sunak (2022–2024)
• Keir Starmer (2024–2026)

Liz Truss, of course, made history as the shortest‑serving prime minister in the nation’s history. But that, in many ways, is the point: leadership in the United Kingdom has become increasingly unstable.

United Kingdom, fix your leadership issues.

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection On Monday June 22, 2026

First Reading: (2 Kings 17:5–8, 13–15, 18)

Responsorial Psalm:
"With your right hand, Lord, grant salvation and give answer."

Gospel: (Matthew 7:1–5)

Reflection

Today's Gospel confronts one of humanity's oldest and most common sins: judging others.

Most of us are quick to notice the faults, failures, and weaknesses of those around us. We see their mistakes clearly, yet remain blind to our own. Jesus uses a striking image: a man trying to remove a tiny speck from his brother's eye while carrying a massive log in his own. The image is almost humorous, but the lesson is serious.

Why does Jesus warn us against judging others?

First, because our judgments are often based on appearances. We see actions, but we do not see motives. We hear words, but we do not know the struggles hidden in another person's heart. What appears obvious to us may be far from the truth. Human beings see the outside; God alone sees the whole person.

Second, our judgments are often influenced by bias. Personal dislikes, jealousy, old wounds, rumors, and prejudices can distort our view of others. Sometimes we form opinions based on half-truths or one-sided stories. We hear an accusation and immediately reach a conclusion without seeking the full truth.

History is filled with examples of innocent people condemned because others judged them unfairly. Even our Lord Jesus Christ was falsely accused, misunderstood, and condemned by those whose hearts were already closed against Him.

Third, judging others can become a way of hiding our own sins. It is easier to talk about another person's failures than to confront our own weaknesses. Criticizing others can create the illusion that we are morally superior. Yet before God, we all stand as sinners in need of mercy.

This does not mean we should ignore wrongdoing or refuse to help others grow. Christian charity sometimes requires correction. However, true correction is very different from judgment.

Correction is motivated by love. It seeks the good of the other person. It is done with humility, gentleness, and respect. It listens before speaking. It seeks healing rather than humiliation.

Judgment, on the other hand, often seeks to condemn. It gossips behind a person's back, exaggerates faults, and delights in criticism. It builds walls instead of bridges.

Jesus reminds us that the standard we use for others will one day be used for us. If we desire mercy from God, we must learn to show mercy to others.

The saints understood this well. When they saw the sins of others, they did not respond with condemnation but with compassion. They recognized that, apart from God's grace, they were capable of the same failures.

As Philip Neri famously said, "There goes Philip, but for the grace of God."

That attitude should guide us as well.

Before speaking about another person's faults, let us first examine our own hearts. Before condemning, let us pray. Before criticizing, let us seek understanding. And before judging, let us remember how much mercy we ourselves have received from God.

May we leave judgement to the ultimate Judge, God.

Amen

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection for Sunday June 21st 2026: Happy Father's Day

First Reading: Jeremiah 20:10–13

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 69

Response: Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Second Reading: (Romans 5:12–15)

Gospel: (Matthew 10:26–33)

Reflection

Mass at St. Martha's Parish was magnificent. The homily was wonderful. The priest started with Jesus saying "do not be afraid" and on the same reading down, He said "Be afraid"- of course to the one you can destroy both the body and soul. Then he went back to one of the most repeated messages in Scripture: "Do not be afraid."

Today's readings remind us that faith does not remove life's difficulties; rather, it gives us the courage to face them. Jeremiah knew fear. He was mocked, opposed, and abandoned by those closest to him. Yet he did not allow fear to have the final word. Instead, he proclaimed, "The Lord is with me like a mighty champion."

In the Gospel, Jesus speaks directly to the fears that often dominate our hearts. Fear of failure. Fear of rejection. Fear of suffering. Fear of the future. He reminds us that we are never abandoned. The Father knows every sparrow that falls and has counted every hair on our heads. If God cares so intimately for His creation, how much more does He care for us?

Trust does not mean having all the answers. Trust means believing that God is present even when we cannot see Him.

Imagine a child trapped in a burning house. Looking through the smoke, he hears his father's voice below saying, "Jump." The child cannot see his father, but the father can see him. The child jumps because he trusts the one who is calling him. That is what Jesus meant by, "fear not". If God is the rock on which we stand in this life, then there is nothing that can derail us. 

That father and son image captures the Christian life. There are moments when we cannot see clearly. Circumstances are confusing, painful, and frightening. Yet God says, "Trust me." We may not see Him, but He sees us. We may not understand His plan, but He is guiding us with perfect love.

St. Paul reminds us that while sin entered the world through Adam, grace comes through Jesus Christ. Sin does not have the last word. Fear does not have the last word. Death does not have the last word. God's grace is greater than all of them.

So today, Jesus asks us:

• What fears are we carrying?

• Do we trust God only when life is easy?

• Can we place our future into His hands, even when we cannot see the way forward?

The Lord's message is clear: Do not be afraid. You are loved. You are known. You are precious in God's sight.

God bless you,

Happy Father's Day 

Pal Ronnie from St. Martha's, Uniondale, NY.

The Power of a Father's Love: Happy Father's Day to All the Homeboys

 

What Do You Think: This NSUH For You

 

End of EPIC EMR Rollout At Plainview Hospital

 

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection on June 20th 2026

First Reading: (2 Chronicles 24:17–25)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 89)

Response: For ever I will maintain my love for my servant.

Gospel: (Matthew 6:24–34)

Reflection:

Today's readings present a powerful contrast between misplaced trust and complete trust in God.

King Joash began well. Under the guidance of the faithful priest Jehoiada, he walked in God's ways and led the people faithfully. Yet after Jehoiada's death, he allowed other voices to influence him. He drifted from God, ignored the prophets, and ultimately participated in the murder of Zechariah, the son of the very man who had helped shape his life. His downfall reminds us that a good beginning is not enough. Faithfulness requires perseverance.

In the Gospel, Jesus addresses another danger: divided loyalties. He tells us that we cannot serve both God and wealth. Whenever we place our security in possessions, status, or worldly success, anxiety inevitably follows. We begin to worry because we are trying to control what only God can truly provide.

Jesus invites us to look at the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. They do not live in fear of tomorrow. They depend on the providence of God. This does not mean they do nothing; rather, they live according to their purpose, trusting the Creator who sustains them.

Many of us carry worries about our finances, health, families, careers, or future plans. Jesus does not deny these concerns. Instead, He teaches us where to place them. When God becomes our first priority, peace begins to replace anxiety. We may not know what tomorrow holds, but we know Who holds tomorrow.

The question for us today is simple: Where is my focus? Am I seeking God's Kingdom first, or am I allowing worry, wealth, and worldly concerns to dominate my heart?

Like King Joash, we can drift away when we stop listening to God. Like the disciples, we are called to trust that our Heavenly Father knows our needs. A heart fixed on God finds clarity, direction, and peace even in uncertain times.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, keep our hearts focused on You. Free us from divided loyalties and from the worries that steal our peace. Help us to seek first Your Kingdom and trust in Your loving providence. When we are tempted to drift away, call us back with Your mercy and strengthen us to remain faithful throughout our lives. Through Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection for Friday June 19th, 2026

First Reading: (2 Kings 11:1–4, 9–18, 20)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 132)

Response: The Lord has chosen Zion for His dwelling.

Gospel: Matthew: (6:19–23)

Reflection

Today's mass readings present two very different kinds of kingship.

In the First Reading, we encounter a world driven by ambition, fear, power struggles, and violence. Athaliah is willing to destroy even her own family to secure her position. Her story reveals what happens when power becomes an idol. When self-interest reigns, people become obstacles to be removed rather than persons to be loved.

Yet God quietly works through faithful servants. While Athaliah believes she controls the future, God preserves His promise through the hidden child Joash. For six years, the rightful king remains concealed in the Temple until the proper time arrives. The lesson is clear: God's plans cannot be destroyed by human schemes. Evil may appear powerful for a season, but it never has the final word.

The Gospel shifts our attention from earthly kingdoms to the Kingdom of God. Jesus warns against storing up treasures that can be lost, stolen, or destroyed. Wealth, status, power, and possessions can provide temporary security, but they cannot satisfy the deepest desires of the human heart.

"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

This is a question each of us must answer honestly. What occupies our thoughts and hearts? What do we pursue most eagerly? What causes us the greatest anxiety when threatened? The answers reveal where our treasure truly lies.

Jesus is not condemning work, savings, or responsible planning. Rather, He warns against greed and misplaced priorities. When money, power, success, or possessions become our ultimate goal, they darken our vision and slowly take possession of our hearts. We begin to measure life by what we own rather than by who we are in God's eyes.

The contrast between Athaliah and Jesus is striking. Athaliah grasped for power and lost everything. Jesus emptied Himself in service and gained an eternal Kingdom. One built her life on earthly treasures; the other revealed the treasures of Heaven.

Today, Christ invites us to examine our hearts. Are we investing primarily in things that will pass away, or in things that will last forever? Faith, charity, mercy, forgiveness, prayer, and love are treasures that neither moth nor rust can destroy.

May we seek first the Kingdom of God, trusting that the treasures of Heaven are worth far more than anything this world can offer.

Lord Jesus, help us to place our hearts where true treasure is found. Fill us with Your light, free us from greed and selfish ambition, and teach us to seek the riches that lead to eternal life. Amen.

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Pal Ronnie 

Oil Prices Still Dropping

 

Oil prices today. Home boy is excited about the price drop.