Today in 10 Seconds
Gospel: Actions speak louder than pious words Rosary: Luminous Mysteries Pope: Real friendship trumps digital connection NPR: Monsanto dodges billions in Roundup lawsuits CBS News: Soccer unites three nations in 2026 Saint: Chains couldn't bind his holy wandering
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Matthew 7:21-29
"Jesus said to his disciples: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. When the day comes many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name. ” Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me, you evil men."
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Test Your Faith IQ |
Scripture |
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In today's Gospel, Jesus contrasts those who say 'Lord, Lord' with those who act. Which Old Testament prophet staged a dramatic contest on Mount Carmel to expose prophets who called on a god who never answered?
- A) Isaiah
- B) Elijah
- C) Jeremiah
- D) Ezekiel
Answer at the bottom of this newsletter.
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 Photo: Vatican News
VATICAN NEWS
Pope Leo XIV addresses the pressing modern challenge of technology's role in human relationships, urging children to use it responsibly as a tool that strengthens rather than substitutes for genuine connection. His message cuts to the heart of a cultural crisis affecting families worldwide.
 Photo: NPR
NPR
The Supreme Court ruled that federal pesticide labeling law preempts state-level failure-to-warn claims, shielding Monsanto from liability for Roundup's alleged cancer risks.
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FAITH & THE WORLD |
Ezekiel 34:2-4 |
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"Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves! Should not shepherds pasture the flock? You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured."
CCC 2415, Laudato Si' 136
Pope Francis warned in Laudato Si' that when economic interests capture regulatory systems, the poor and the sick pay the price (LS 136). The Church teaches that civil authority exists to protect the common good, not to shield the powerful from accountability for harm done to human health (CCC 2415, 2434).
Reflect → When you benefit from a system that harms others, do you feel responsible to speak up or stay comfortable?
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 Photo: CBS News
CBS News
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico with 104 games over five weeks, drawing the world's attention to shared competition and celebration.
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FAITH & THE WORLD |
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 |
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"Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way."
Gaudium et Spes 61, CCC 2289
The Church sees sport as a genuine human good: it builds solidarity across borders, disciplines the body, and reflects the joy of creation (GS 61). Forty-eight nations competing together on three countries' soil is a living image of the unity Paul describes, where many members form one body (1 Cor 12:12).
Reflect → Can you cheer for your team without demonizing the other side, in sports and in life?
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 Photo: Good News Network
Good News Network
The SunZia renewable energy project, now fully operational, is the largest in U.S. history and generates more power than the Hoover Dam.
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FAITH & GOOD NEWS |
Genesis 1:31 |
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"God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed,the sixth day."
Laudato Si' 67, CCC 2415
God handed us a garden, not a mine. Laudato Si' calls us to develop energy sources that serve the common good without plundering the earth we hold in trust for future generations (LS 67).
Reflect → What's one concrete step you could take this week to be a better steward of creation?
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| Rosary Mystery of the Day | |
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Today's Mysteries |
Thursday: Luminous Mysteries |
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Luminous Mysteries
- 1. The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan
- 2. The Wedding Feast at Cana
- 3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
- 4. The Transfiguration
- 5. The Institution of the Eucharist
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Apologetics |
Papal Authority |
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The Objection
"Why do Catholics need a Pope? The Bible never says one man should lead all Christians. That's a power grab, not a biblical teaching."
The Catholic Response
Jesus singled out Peter by name and gave him unique authority: "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). He gave Peter alone the "keys of the kingdom," a direct reference to Isaiah 22:22, where the king's prime minister receives keys as a sign of delegated ruling authority. The early Church Fathers recognized this. St. Irenaeus, writing around 180 AD, listed the bishops of Rome in unbroken succession from Peter and called Rome the church with which all others must agree (Against Heresies 3.3.2). The Pope isn't a power grab; he's the fulfillment of Christ's promise that his Church would have a visible shepherd to preserve unity (CCC 880-882).
Matthew 16:18-19 | Isaiah 22:22 | CCC 880-882 | Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.3.2
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DAILY WORD GAME
Test your Catholic vocabulary
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Saint of the Day |
June 25 |
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St. William of Vercelli
William made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela as a teenager, wearing iron chains on his body the entire journey. He later founded a monastery on Monte Vergine, and when King Roger II of Sicily sent a prostitute to test his chastity, William reportedly rolled in hot coals to quench temptation. The king, stunned, became one of his biggest patrons.
His feast is June 25, and his life of radical action over mere words mirrors today's Gospel: he didn't just say 'Lord, Lord,' he built his house on rock.
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Trivia Answer
B . Elijah challenged 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18). After their god failed to answer all day, Elijah's single prayer brought fire from heaven, proving that authentic faith requires a God who acts, not just worshippers who shout.
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