Today is the Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, bishop and doctor of the Church.

So, reading #1: Isaiah 7:1-9

I read this 3 times. I think I have it now. It's more political intrigue, right? Actually, I was tempted to just cut and past this thing, and put a link on every word that I didn't understand. So, Rezin, king of Aram, and Pekah, king of Israel, go and lay siege to the king of Judah, Ahaz. God asks Isaiah to go and meet with Ahaz and his son and give him a message. The New Living Bible translates the message as this: "Tell him to stop worrying. Tell him he doesn't need to fear the fierce anger of those two burned-out embers". Then God promises to crush the embers within 65 years. The message ends with an admonition to stand strong in the face of adversity. "Unless your faith is firm you shall not be firm!"

Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:20-24

I love it when Jesus gets irate. He's just drawing from his roots as the angry old testament God. It's understandable, too. He goes out of his way, gets born as a human, performs miracles in front of these people, and they still can't find the time to repent and start following God's laws. So, he gets mad and starts yelling, and telling them where they can go. Or where they are gonna go. Whichever. I think today's readings tell us, in the words of my father: "Straighten up and fly right!"

Well today is the opening day for World Youth day in Australia. Read all about it: Cardinal Pell celebrates World Youth Day Opening Mass with over 140, 000 people