Shadowing Practice: Today's Catholic Mass Readings – Thursday, September 10, 2026 - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
305 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
You are welcome to the Catholic Faith Family.
2
Today is Thursday, September 10, 2026.
3
Thursday of the 23rd week in Ordinary Time.
4
Theme.
5
Loving Your Enemies.
6
Have you ever found it difficult to forgive someone who deeply hurt you?
7
Have you ever felt that a person did not deserve your kindness because of what they did to you?
8
Today's readings present us with one of the most challenging teachings of Jesus.
9
To love our enemies.
10
Christ calls us not to allow hatred, bitterness, or revenge to take control of our hearts, but to overcome evil with love, mercy, and forgiveness.
11
In today's Holy Mass, we pray for all our subscribers, benefactors, channel members, and their families.
12
May the Lord strengthen their faith, provide for their needs, and bless their work.
13
We pray for the Benedict family and all their intentions.
14
May the Lord bless and protect them.
15
We pray for Florence Nacowund, Sammy Amalo, Sr. Sunilashak, and Gorthai Afonso's intentions.
16
May God answer their prayers according to His will.
17
We pray for Amanda's healing and Veronica's financial breakthrough.
18
May the Lord bring them healing and provide for their needs.
19
We pray for Samuel Karunjah's job opportunities and financial success upon Dominic.
20
May the Lord open doors of favor and breakthrough.
21
We pray for healing from cancer upon Gorda and good health upon Mary Banco, Emmanuel, and Mrs. Polina.
22
May the Lord strengthen and restore them.
23
We pray for the happy repose of the soul of the King of Turo.
24
May the Lord grant him eternal rest.
25
As we begin this new day, let us place every painful relationship before God.
26
May we find the courage to forgive, the wisdom to set healthy boundaries, and the grace to refuse hatred and revenge.
27
Help us to overcome evil with good and never allow the wrong others have done to control our hearts.
28
Amen.
29
First reading.
30
A reading from the first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
31
Now about food sacrifice to idols.
32
We all have knowledge, yes, that is so, but knowledge gives self-importance.
33
It is love that makes the building grow.
34
A man may imagine he understands something, but still not understand anything in the way that he ought to.
35
But any man who loves God is known by him.
36
Well then, about eating food sacrifice to idols.
37
We know that idols do not really exist in the world and that there is no God but the One.
38
And even if there were things called gods, either in the sky or on earth, where there certainly seemed to be gods and lords in plenty,
39
still for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things come and for whom we exist, and there is one Lord,
40
Jesus Christ, through whom all things come and through whom we exist.
41
Some people, however, do not have this knowledge.
42
There are some who have been so long used to idols
43
that they eat this food as though it really had been sacrificed to the idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled by it.
44
In this way your knowledge could become the ruin of someone weak, of a brother for whom Christ died.
45
By sinning in this way against your brothers and injuring their weak consciences, it would be Christ against whom you sinned.
46
That is why, since food can be the occasion of my brother's downfall, I shall never eat meat again in case I am the cause of a brother's downfall.
47
The Word of the Lord.
48
Responsorial Psalm Our response is Led me, O Lord, in the path of life eternal.
49
O Lord, you search me and you know me, you know my resting and my rising, you discern my purpose from afar.
50
You mark when I walk or lie down, all my ways lie open to you.
51
Led me, O Lord, in the path of life eternal.
52
For it was you who created my being, knit me together in my mother's womb.
53
I thank you for the wonder of my being, for the wonders of all your creation.
54
Response Led me, O Lord, in the path of life eternal.
55
Already you knew my soul, O search me, God, and know my heart.
56
O test me and know my thoughts.
57
See that I follow not the wrong path and lead me in the path of life eternal.
58
Response Led me, O Lord, in the path of life eternal.
59
Gospel acclamation.
60
Alleluia, alleluia.
61
Accept and submit to the word which has been planted in you and can save your souls.
62
Alleluia.
63
Gospel.
64
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.
65
Jesus said to his disciples, I say this to you who are listening.
66
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly.
67
To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too.
68
To the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic.
69
Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you.
70
Treat others as you would like them to treat you.
71
If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect?
72
Even sinners love those who love them.
73
And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect?
74
For even sinners do that much.
75
And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect?
76
Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount.
77
Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return.
78
You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He Himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
79
Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate.
80
Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves.
81
Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves.
82
Grant pardon, and you will be pardoned.
83
Give, and there will be gifts for you.
84
A full measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.
85
Because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.
86
The Gospel of the Lord.
87
Commentary.
88
First reading.
89
This is a classic case where Paul gives his own view but leaves the audience free not to follow it, insisting on the primacy of each individual conscience.
90
Food dedicated to idols was a common and difficult issue, especially attractive to lower-income Christians when cheaper.
91
Paul's solution is that since these deities don't exist, such dedications make no real difference to the food yet he insists that,
92
the weak, who cannot grasp this reasoning, should not be scandalized by, the strong.
93
This doesn't make every conscientious decision acceptable, only that both stances may sometimes be valid.
94
Gospel.
95
Luke's Beatitudes emphasize blessing on those in real, dire need, and he continues here with our duty to respond to those in need,
96
even the hostile, with no calculation of return on what we lend or give.
97
Luke is especially concerned with the danger of wealth, addressing a more affluent society than Mark or Matthew.
98
Beyond money, Luke moves to other acts of generosity not judging, but forgiving in order to be forgiven.
99
Where Matthew ends with, be perfect as your father is perfect, Luke instead says, be compassionate as your father is compassionate.
100
An affair of the heart, calling us to be emotionally involved with those in need.
101
May we now listen to the reflection.
102
Theme.
103
Loving your enemies.
104
There is an old folktale about a lion and a small monkey who lived in the same forest.
105
The lion was powerful and feared by every animal, while the monkey was known for his cleverness and quick tongue.
106
One day, the monkey made fun of the lion before the other animals, mocking his appearance and questioning his strength.
107
The lion became furious and chased the monkey through the forest.
108
From that day they became enemies.
109
Whenever the lion saw the monkey, he growled.
110
Whenever the monkey saw the lion, he climbed higher into the trees and shouted insults from above.
111
One afternoon, hunters entered the forest and set a trap near the river.
112
The lion stepped into it and became trapped beneath a heavy net.
113
The other animals heard his roar but were too afraid to go near him.
114
The monkey arrived and saw his enemy struggling.
115
He stood on a branch for a long time, remembering the anger between them.
116
He could have walked away and allowed the lion to suffer.
117
Instead, he climbed down and began biting through the ropes.
118
It took many hours, but the lion was finally free.
119
Exhausted and ashamed, the lion looked at the monkey and asked, Why did you help me after all I wanted to do to you?
120
The monkey replied, If I had left you to die, your hatred would have changed you, but my hatred would have changed me too.
121
From that day, the two animals were no longer enemies.
122
The monkey discovered something greater than revenge.
123
He had refused to allow another person's wrongdoing to determine the kind of person he would become.
124
This story brings us directly into one of the most difficult teachings of Jesus.
125
Loving your enemies.
126
Most of us find it easy to love those who love us.
127
We can be kind to people who are kind to us, greet those who greet us, and help those who are willing to help us in return.
128
But Jesus asks for something deeper.
129
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.
130
These words challenge the natural human desire for revenge.
131
When someone hurts us, We want them to feel what we felt.
132
When someone insults us, we want to respond with something stronger.
133
When someone treats us unfairly, we want justice immediately.
134
Yet Jesus shows us another way.
135
He does not tell us to pretend that evil is good.
136
He does not ask us to deny that we have been hurt.
137
He teaches us not to allow another person's evil to produce evil within us.
138
You may not be able to control what your enemy does to you, but you can decide what their actions will produce within you.
139
Now let us examine our own hearts.
140
Who is your enemy?
141
For some people, the word enemy immediately brings to mind someone who has caused serious harm.
142
But an enemy can also be the family member you no longer speak to, the friend who betrayed you, the colleague who damaged your reputation, the neighbor who constantly causes trouble,
143
or the person whose name immediately changes your mood.
144
Some enemies do not live far away.
145
They may live in the same house.
146
Some sit beside us in church.
147
Some are people we once loved deeply.
148
We must ask ourselves difficult questions.
149
Is there someone whose suffering secretly gives me satisfaction?
150
Is there someone I refuse to forgive?
151
Do I constantly replay what a person did to me?
152
Have I allowed one painful experience to fill my heart with bitterness?
153
Holding onto hatred can feel like strength, but it often becomes a prison.
154
The person who hurt you may continue living peacefully while you carry the pain every day.
155
Jesus calls us to freedom.
156
Loving your enemy does not mean saying, what you did was acceptable.
157
It means saying, what you did will not destroy my soul or turn me into someone filled with hatred.
158
This teaching becomes very practical in our homes, workplaces, communities, and social media.
159
A husband and wife may remain in the same house while carrying years of resentment against each other.
160
Brothers and sisters may stop speaking because of inheritance, money, or an old misunderstanding.
161
Friends may become enemies over words spoken in anger.
162
At work, jealousy can create enemies where there should have been cooperation.
163
Someone may insult you on social media, and before long you are spending hours planning how to embarrass the person publicly.
164
We must be careful because hatred often presents itself as justice.
165
We tell ourselves, I am only defending myself, while deep inside we are seeking revenge.
166
We say, I will never forgive that person, as though refusing forgiveness will punish them.
167
But hatred first destroys the heart that carries it.
168
Jesus invites us to break this cycle.
169
If someone speaks evil about you, you do not have to return evil.
170
If someone hates you, you do not have to become hateful.
171
If someone curses you, you can refuse to allow their words to become the language of your own heart.
172
In today's gospel, Jesus goes beyond simply telling us not to take revenge.
173
He gives practical instructions.
174
Love, do good, bless, pray, forgive, and show mercy.
175
Notice that Jesus does not say we must feel affection for our enemies before we can love them.
176
Christian love is often a decision before it becomes a feeling.
177
You may not feel warm toward someone who hurt you, but you can choose not to wish evil upon them.
178
You can pray for them even while healing from the pain they caused.
179
You can refuse to spread lies about them.
180
You can stop planning revenge.
181
This is what makes Christian love different from ordinary human affection.
182
Jesus himself lived what he taught.
183
On the cross, surrounded by people who mocked, rejected, and crucified him, he prayed, Father, forgive them.
184
This does not mean he approved of what they did.
185
It reveals the power of a heart that refuses to be conquered by hatred.
186
When Jesus tells us to love our enemies, he is not giving us an impossible command without an example.
187
He first lived it himself.
188
St. Paul helps us understand why love must guide every Christian action.
189
In the first reading, he says that knowledge can make us proud, but love builds up.
190
A person may know many things and still lack love.
191
We may know church teachings, scripture, and religious rules, yet still carry bitterness in our hearts.
192
What is the value of winning every argument if hatred controls us afterward.
193
What is the value of being correct if our words destroy another person?
194
Paul reminds us that love must be greater than the desire to prove ourselves right.
195
This is especially important when dealing with enemies.
196
We may know that we have been wronged.
197
We may have evidence.
198
Other people may even agree with us.
199
But the Christian question goes beyond, am I right?
200
We must also ask, what does love require from me now?
201
Sometimes love requires speaking the truth.
202
Sometimes it requires setting boundaries.
203
Sometimes it requires walking away from a dangerous relationship.
204
Loving your enemy does not mean remaining where you are being abused or repeatedly harmed.
205
You can forgive and still protect yourself.
206
You can pray for someone and still say, I cannot allow this behavior to continue.
207
Love is not weakness.
208
Love guided by wisdom is strength.
209
The psalm gives us another important reminder.
210
God knows us completely.
211
We may smile at someone publicly while secretly wishing them harm.
212
We may say, I have forgiven, while continuing to feed anger in our hearts.
213
But God searches us.
214
He knows the wounds we hide, the names we struggle to forgive, and the memories that still make us angry.
215
Today's message invites us to bring those hidden places before God.
216
Do not pretend that you are not hurt.
217
Tell God honestly what happened.
218
Cry if you need to cry.
219
Seek justice through proper and peaceful means when necessary.
220
Talk to someone who can help you heal.
221
But do not allow pain to become hatred.
222
Ask God to remove the poison without pretending that the wound never existed.
223
Healing takes time, but hatred should not become our permanent home.
224
When Jesus tells us to pray for those who mistreat us, prayer becomes a way of placing the situation in God's hands.
225
You stop trying to become judge, jury, and executioner.
226
You allow God to deal with what you cannot control.
227
Let us take a practical challenge from today's reflection.
228
Think of one person with whom your relationship is broken or difficult.
229
You do not need to force yourself into an unsafe situation or immediately restore a relationship that requires time and healing.
230
But take one step toward freedom.
231
Stop speaking negatively about the person.
232
Refuse to repeat the story of what happened every day.
233
Pray for the grace to release the bitterness.
234
If it is safe and wise, begin a conversation.
235
If reconciliation is not yet possible, at least remove revenge from your heart.
236
On social media, stop responding to every insult.
237
Not every attack deserves an answer.
238
In your family, stop waiting for the other person to make the first move when you know peace is possible.
239
At work, refuse to participate in gossip against someone you dislike.
240
Loving your enemy begins with small decisions.
241
It begins when you choose not to insult.
242
It grows when you choose not to revenge.
243
It becomes visible when you choose mercy over bitterness.
244
The greatest victory is not always defeating your enemy.
245
Sometimes it is refusing to become like them.
246
Let us return to the monkey and the lion.
247
The monkey had every reason to leave his enemy trapped.
248
He could have justified his decision by remembering every insult, threat, and painful experience.
249
But he understood something important.
250
If he allowed hatred to decide his actions, then his enemy would still control him.
251
That is the freedom Jesus offers us today.
252
Loving your enemy does not mean your enemy was right.
253
Forgiving does not mean what happened was unimportant.
254
Showing mercy does not mean abandoning wisdom or justice.
255
It means refusing to allow another person's darkness to become your darkness.
256
Jesus calls us to be different because we belong to a different kingdom.
257
Anyone can love a friend.
258
Christ calls us to love beyond what is easy.
259
Anyone can return kindness for kindness.
260
Christ calls us to respond to hatred without becoming hateful.
261
As we leave this reflection, let us ask ourselves.
262
Who am I allowing to control my heart through anger?
263
Whose name still fills me with bitterness?
264
What would happen if I placed that person completely in God's hands?
265
May God give us the courage to forgive, the wisdom to set healthy boundaries, the grace to pray for those who hurt us, and the strength to overcome evil with good.
266
May our enemies never have the power to turn our hearts into places of hatred.
267
May God bless His word in our hearts through Christ our Lord.
268
Amen.
269
Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us.
270
We come before you today with open hearts, knowing that this teaching is difficult to live.
271
Lord, you know the people who have hurt us.
272
You know the words we have not forgotten, the betrayals that still cause pain, and the wounds we carry silently.
273
We place them before you today.
274
Heal every bitterness, resentment, anger, and desire for revenge that has found a place in our hearts.
275
Give us the grace to forgive those who have wronged us.
276
Forgive us also for the times we have hurt others through our words, actions, attitudes, and decisions.
277
Where we have become enemies to others, give us the humility to seek forgiveness and make peace.
278
Lord, teach us that loving our enemies does not mean accepting evil or remaining in situations that destroy us.
279
Give us wisdom to set healthy boundaries, courage to speak the truth when necessary, and grace to walk away from what is harmful without carrying hatred in our hearts.
280
When we are tempted to return evil for evil, remind us of your cross.
281
When anger rises within us.
282
Give us self-control.
283
When painful memories return, give us healing.
284
When forgiveness feels difficult, give us the strength to take one step at a time.
285
We pray for those who have become enemies to us.
286
Touch their hearts and guide them toward what is good.
287
Where there is misunderstanding, bring clarity.
288
Where there is hatred, bring peace.
289
Where reconciliation is possible, Open the way.
290
Where distance is necessary.
291
Grant us freedom from bitterness.
292
Lord, search our hearts, as the psalmist prayed.
293
Remove every hidden hatred and every desire to see others suffer.
294
Do not allow the wrong others have done to change us into people we do not want to become.
295
We pray also for everyone who follows us daily on this journey of faith through the Catholic Faith Family.
296
Bless our subscribers, viewers, benefactors, channel members, and their families.
297
Strengthen those who are struggling, heal the sick, comfort the sorrowful, provide for those in need, and bless the work of their hands.
298
Give us hearts that are filled with mercy.
299
May we never allow another person's hatred to produce hatred within us.
300
Help us to overcome evil with good and to reveal your love even in difficult relationships.
301
Holy Mary, Mother of God, who stood faithfully beneath the cross of your Son, intercede for us.
302
Teach us to remain faithful to God in moments of pain
303
and to respond to hatred with the strength that comes from faith.
304
Through Christ our Lord.
305
Amen.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Same Channel
FOR YOU
Recommend Video
C11
64 sentences
The Good Samaritan - Monday, October 5, 2026
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C11
24 sentences
Psalms 5 - New Living Translation (NLT) Audio Bible
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
13 sentences
Forgiveness isn't going to set you free
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C11
316 sentences
Aliens in 2027? One World Religion in Daniel 12
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C14
179 sentences
A Living Sacrifice – Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C13
148 sentences
Today's Catholic Mass Readings and Gospel Reflection - Thursday, May 28, 2026
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C11
64 sentences
Killing the Sin in Your Life (Colossians 3:5-9) | John MacArthur
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C11
291 sentences
The Meaning of the Mass - Blessed Fulton Sheen
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C12
329 sentences
Video
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C11
225 sentences
WE LEARN THIS TOO LATE | Billy Graham’s Greatest Life Advice
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C11
199 sentences
Become Someone for Others - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 305 sentences and 3582 words to shadow. The speech runs for 23:13. The speaker talks at a natural 154 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 83% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
- hatred /ˈheɪtɹɪd/ (noun) — A strong aversion; an intense dislike.
- pray /pɹeɪ/ (verb) — To direct words, thoughts, or one's attention to a deity or any higher being, for the sake of adoration, thanks, petition for help, etc.
- forgive /fɚˈɡɪv/ (verb) — To pardon (someone); to waive any negative feeling towards or desire for punishment or retribution against.
- monkey /ˈmʌŋki/ (noun) — A member of the clade Simiiformes other than those in the clade Hominoidea containing apes, generally (but not universally) distinguished by small size, tails…
- refuse /ɹɪˈfjuːz/ (verb) — To decline (a request or demand).
- lion /ˈlaɪən/ (noun) — A big cat, Panthera leo, native to Africa, India and formerly much of Europe.
- revenge /ɹəˈvɛnd͡ʒ/ (noun) — Any form of personal, retaliatory action against an individual, institution, or group for some alleged or perceived harm or injustice.
- heal /ˈhiːl/ (verb) — To make better from a disease, wound, etc.; to revive or cure.
- bless /blɛs/ (verb) — To make something holy by religious rite, sanctify.
- anger /ˈæŋɡə/ (noun) — A strong and unpleasant feeling of displeasure, hostility, or antagonism, usually combined with an urge to yell, curse, damage or destroy things, or harm…
- gospel /ˈɡɑspəl/ (noun) — The first section of the Christian New Testament scripture, comprising the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, concerned with the birth, ministry, passion…
- eternal /ɪˈtɝ.nl̩/ (adjective) — Lasting forever; unending.
- insult /ɪnˈsʌlt/ (noun) — Action or form of speech deliberately intended to be rude; (countable) a particular act or statement having this effect.
- wisdom /ˈwɪzdəm/ (noun) — An element of personal character that enables one to distinguish the wise from the unwise.
- mercy /ˈmɝsi/ (noun) — Relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another.
Phrasal verbs you will hear
- ask for (verb) — To request; to order.
- deal with (verb) — To handle verbally or in some form of artistic expression; to address or discuss as a subject.
- live in (verb) — To reside on the premises of one's employer (used especially of domestic staff such as nannies, cooks, maids, etc.)
- walk away from (verb) — To abandon or leave; to shun; to refuse.
- build up (verb) — To erect; to construct.
- come from (verb) — To have as one's origin, birthplace or nationality.
- get back (verb) — Return to where one came from.
- give back (verb) — To return, restore (a thing to its original owner or location etc.).
Pronunciation to watch
- The “th” sounds: strengthen /ˈstɹɛŋ(k)θən/, beneath /bɪˈniːθ/, breakthrough /ˈbɹeɪk.θɹuː/, faithful /ˈfeɪθ.fl̩/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: compassionate /kəmˈpæʃənət/, reflection /ɹɪˈflɛkʃən/, intentions /ɪnˈtɛnʃənz/, conscience /ˈkɑn.ʃəns/, affection /əˈfɛk.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: compassionate /kəmˈpæʃənət/, ordinary /ˈɔɹdɪnɛɹi/, acceptable /əkˈsɛp.tə.bəl/, reconciliation /ˌɹɛkənˌsɪliˈeɪʃ(ə)n/, reputation /ˌɹɛpjʊˈteɪʃən/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like hatred, pray, forgive.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | Have you ever found · Have you ever felt · have done |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is known · had been sacrificed · is Led |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | someone who deeply · man who loves · word which has |
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.