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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Bury My Father

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Minute Meditations

Our Family Journey
In the family, everything that enables us to grow, to mature and to live is given to each of us. We cannot grow up by ourselves, we cannot journey on our own, in isolation; rather, we journey and grow in a community, in a family.
— from The Blessing of Family


St. Jerome
(345-420)

Most of the saints are remembered for some outstanding virtue or devotion which they practiced, but Jerome is frequently remembered for his bad temper! It is true that he had a very bad temper and could use a vitriolic pen, but his love for God and his Son Jesus Christ was extraordinarily intense; anyone who taught error was an enemy of God and truth, and St. Jerome went after him or her with his mighty and sometimes sarcastic pen.

He was above all a Scripture scholar, translating most of the Old Testament from the Hebrew. He also wrote commentaries which are a great source of scriptural inspiration for us today. He was an avid student, a thorough scholar, a prodigious letter-writer and a consultant to monk, bishop and pope. St. Augustine (August 28) said of him, "What Jerome is ignorant of, no mortal has ever known."

St. Jerome is particularly important for having made a translation of the Bible which came to be called the Vulgate. It is not the most critical edition of the Bible, but its acceptance by the Church was fortunate. As a modern scholar says, "No man before Jerome or among his contemporaries and very few men for many centuries afterwards were so well qualified to do the work." The Council of Trent called for a new and corrected edition of the Vulgate, and declared it the authentic text to be used in the Church.

In order to be able to do such work, Jerome prepared himself well. He was a master of Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Chaldaic. He began his studies at his birthplace, Stridon in Dalmatia (in the former Yugoslavia). After his preliminary education he went to Rome, the center of learning at that time, and thence to Trier, Germany, where the scholar was very much in evidence. He spent several years in each place, always trying to find the very best teachers. He once served as private secretary of Pope Damasus (December 11).

After these preparatory studies he traveled extensively in Palestine, marking each spot of Christ's life with an outpouring of devotion. Mystic that he was, he spent five years in the desert of Chalcis so that he might give himself up to prayer, penance and study. Finally he settled in Bethlehem, where he lived in the cave believed to have been the birthplace of Christ. On September 30 in the year 420, Jerome died in Bethlehem. The remains of his body now lie buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.



Comment:

Jerome was a strong, outspoken man. He had the virtues and the unpleasant fruits of being a fearless critic and all the usual moral problems of a man. He was, as someone has said, no admirer of moderation whether in virtue or against evil. He was swift to anger, but also swift to feel remorse, even more severe on his own shortcomings than on those of others. A pope is said to have remarked, on seeing a picture of Jerome striking his breast with a stone, "You do well to carry that stone, for without it the Church would never have canonized you" (Butler's Lives of the Saints).

Quote:

"In the remotest part of a wild and stony desert, burnt up with the heat of the scorching sun so that it frightens even the monks that inhabit it, I seemed to myself to be in the midst of the delights and crowds of Rome. In this exile and prison to which for the fear of hell I had voluntarily condemned myself, I many times imagined myself witnessing the dancing of the Roman maidens as if I had been in the midst of them: In my cold body and in my parched-up flesh, which seemed dead before its death, passion was able to live. Alone with this enemy, I threw myself in spirit at the feet of Jesus, watering them with my tears, and I tamed my flesh by fasting whole weeks. I am not ashamed to disclose my temptations, but I grieve that I am not now what I then was" ("Letter to St. Eustochium").

Patron Saint of:

Librarians


Daily Prayer - 2015-09-30

Presence

Lord, you are always there
waiting for me. 
May I never be too busy to
find time to spend in your presence.

Freedom

Lord grant me the grace
to have freedom of the spirit.
Cleanse my heart and soul
so I may live joyously in your love.

Consciousness

There is a time and place for everything, as the saying goes.
Lord, grant that I may always desire
to spend time in your presence.
To hear your call.

The Word of God

Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Reading 1 Neh 2:1-8

In the month Nisan of the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,
when the wine was in my charge,
I took some and offered it to the king.
As I had never before been sad in his presence,
the king asked me, "Why do you look sad?
If you are not sick, you must be sad at heart."
Though I was seized with great fear, I answered the king:
"May the king live forever!
How could I not look sad
when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins,
and its gates have been eaten out by fire?"
The king asked me, "What is it, then, that you wish?"
I prayed to the God of heaven and then answered the king:
"If it please the king,
and if your servant is deserving of your favor,
send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors' graves,
to rebuild it."
Then the king, and the queen seated beside him,
asked me how long my journey would take
and when I would return.
I set a date that was acceptable to him,
and the king agreed that I might go.

I asked the king further: "If it please the king,
let letters be given to me for the governors
of West-of-Euphrates,
that they may afford me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah;
also a letter for Asaph, the keeper of the royal park,
that he may give me wood for timbering the gates
of the temple-citadel and for the city wall
and the house that I shall occupy."
The king granted my requests,
for the favoring hand of my God was upon me.

Responsorial Psalm PS 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6

R. (6ab) Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
By the streams of Babylon
we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.
On the aspens of that land
we hung up our harps.
R.
Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
Though there our captors asked of us
the lyrics of our songs,
And our despoilers urged us to be joyous:
"Sing for us the songs of Zion!"
R.
Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
How could we sing a song of the LORD
in a foreign land?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
may my right hand be forgotten!
R.
Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
May my tongue cleave to my palate
if I remember you not,
If I place not Jerusalem
ahead of my joy.
R.
Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!

Alleluia Phil 3:8-9

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I consider all things so much rubbish
that I may gain Christ and be found in him.
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 9:57-62

As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding
on their journey, someone said to him,
"I will follow you wherever you go."
Jesus answered him,
"Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head."
And to another he said, "Follow me."
But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father."
But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead.
But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God."
And another said, "I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home."
Jesus answered him, "No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God."

- - -

Some thoughts on today's scripture

  • Enthusiasm and good desires are important, but not enough. Decision and implementation must follow. Am I someone who starts well, but if the going gets rough do I drop off? Is my following of Jesus conditional on things going smoothly? Jesus says that this will not do.
  • I rightly say, 'Lord, I will follow you wherever you go'. This is a beautiful and loving promise. But left to myself I do not have the inner strength to keep it. I must ask Jesus for his strength day by day, and I start now.

Conversation

Dear Jesus, I can open up my heart to you.
I can tell you everything that troubles me.
I know you care about all the concerns in my life.
Teach me to live in the knowledge
that you who care for me today,
will care for me tomorrow and all the days of my life.

Conclusion

I thank God for these few moments we have spent alone together and for any insights I may have been given concerning the text.


Catholic Meditations

Meditation: Nehemiah 2:1-8

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Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

Why do you look sad? (Nehemiah 2:2)


What makes you sad?

Someone hurt me long ago. I don't have a spouse, a child, a satisfying job, robust health, financial security, or a nest egg. I long for answers to challenges that seem insurmountable, dilemmas that seem insoluble.

I may be sad because someone else is hurting. My child or friend is suffering because of an incurable illness or an ill-advised choice. So many people in our world are hungry or homeless, their very lives at risk because of warfare, genocide, or natural disaster. I feel helpless.

Although he lives in exile, Nehemiah has a secure position in the pagan court. So when he hears about the sorry state of affairs back in his homeland, he could easily have dismissed the news as irrelevant. "It's a good thing I'm doing well here. Too bad for everyone back home." Instead, he identifies so strongly with his God and his countrymen that he can't help feeling sad. He pays attention to how he feels.

But Nehemiah doesn't stop there. He asks God, "What shall I do about this? How can I turn my strong emotion into action?"

When the king notices his sadness and asks why, Nehemiah pauses to pray before he answers. God shows him what he is in a position to do, so Nehemiah boldly petitions the king for the resources to help his countrymen.

Sadness is a God-given emotion. In fact, there are many things that sadden our Lord. It's fine to linger with that sadness, but the direction of our prayer should always be, "Holy Spirit, thank you for this strong emotional reaction. What are you calling and equipping me to do about it?"

One person can set a chain of events in motion that makes a huge difference. Think about St. Monica praying tirelessly for her son, Augustine. Think about St. Catherine of Siena admonishing the pope. Think about Mother Teresa picking up a dying man on the streets of Calcutta. Each of these individuals was saddened by a situation, and turned to the Lord for guidance. Then each took one small step that set the whole world on a different path.

"Holy Spirit, what makes me sad or angry today? What are you inviting me to do about it?"



Psalm 137:1-6
Luke 9:57-62




my2cents:
The first Holy Scripture brings us to attention, Nehemia wants to go back home, to work, to rebuild, to care, to devote himself, to not live for self but for others...the Kingdom of God.  This is a reading that was left in the books of the Bible on purpose.  God wants it to be remembered forever.  For the day you find the Church in shambles, or is lacking in something, and you know what would be good, then it is a call for you to step in, fill in what is missing.  Because there are way more critics than servants.  There are far too many pharisees than actual followers of God's will.  There are far too many audience members and not enough players in the field.  Too many spectators with their own commentaries that sound like the commentaries they hear.  That's what bores me about sports.  The chatter about the players and their dramas and performances.  I'd rather be a doer than a talker.  Nehemiah could've been a chatter about how bad things went down back home, but instead, he dove into with Love to do as the Lord was calling Him to do.  I sort of like the stories of these undercover warriors that have gone to fight terrorists on their own, not that it is the best way, but it is so admirable that they are laying down their lives to save one, a few, or thousands of future lives.  This though, is said so that you might consider giving your life...to JESUS.
The Psalms pray the TRUTH "Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget You!" Lord.  In the years I have devoted myself to the Lord, I've noticed something.  When life turns more sinful than holy, silence begins.  And the charity and love of work for the Lord begins to slide.  I've noticed people put conditions on the Lord "oh, I'll serve until I start to not enjoy it anymore".  Sounds selfish right?  What's worse? It is a temptation of the devil, and it is kind of rubbing onto others.  Yet we have some serving mad instead of madly in love with God.  Can you see the difference?  What's the difference?  Perseverance in Love and the pursuit of holiness.  Those that can enjoy joy of the Lord are those that continuously pursue holiness.  The Lord wants you back for good.  Does that mean forever?  Does that mean for goodness?  Yes, all of the above.
The Lord speaks "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,  but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head."  The Son of Man has nothing when He comes to the earth and leaves with nothing.  He comes and leaves His family by leading His family that follows Him.  LOL.  In other words, This total surrender to God's will called Him everywhere, and His Mother followed, and His disciples followed, not asking any questions or having doubts about what was sacrificed.  Who loves like that?  Who follows like that?  If you're a priest reading this, and you've ever doubted what could've been, think about what can be.  Because I've just lost a brother seminarian to the priesthood, he looked back and became a pillar of salt.  He fell into temptation, moved in with a girl, fell into his old ways, and got arrested and is now in prison.  No girl, no seminary, no freedom.  Notice two propositions then. Look back to temptation, or look back to the homeland...the Kingdom of God.  And if you are a lay person reading this (non-clergy), the story applies the same.  Are you serving the Lord?  Are you building the Kingdom?  Or are you merely focused on work and family and not so much God?  Am I saying family is not important, nor work?  No.  Of course not, the Holy Catholic Church teaches that the families are the building blocks of the Church.  Am I saying work is not important?  No.  We all have to work, the Holy Church teaches us so.  What the Lord is saying is that if you love work and family more than Him...then there is questioning of your true discipleship.  If your family is not holy, it's not all the world's fault.  You were given this family, it is on you to bring them to Him.  Who else will do it? The CCD teachers?  They are in the same boat as you!  The 8 minute talk on Sunday going to do it?  Let me stop right there.  I've been noticing the Lord speaking here for years.  I've noticed very frequently the bringing up of the Holy Sacraments and the Commandments.  This is critical...for your own good.  I saw a show that said last night that canned food drives don't really help the food pantries so much, but they are allowed because it brings the community into action and awareness.  It's not like God needs all of us, but the Sacraments and Commandments bring us together and He makes it Good.  What I'm trying to say is to persevere in holiness and eat Holiness...Jesus in the Eucharist, with a clean heart, because it is a promise and what promise are you bringing to the altar?  A promise with sacrifice?  Or an empty promise.  A promise with work, or a promise with laziness?  A promise to love more?  Or a promise to continue until you get tired of it.  Because those that couldn't follow Jesus closely were those that were focused on their loves more than the love of Christ.  I'm a family man.  We got six kids and one on the way.  We got a family business. And we're very active in the Church.  I am backwards.  I'll tell my wife, "we'll let the kids play sports...until sports gets in the way of Church".  Nowadays, if there is something going on, Church has to take a back seat...not important enough.  You see how easy it is to not fit the Kingdom?  Am I saying eradicate sports now and family and work?  NO!  I AM saying God is at the forefront of everything.  Consider dying to pride and the pursuit of false happiness and pursue a life with Jesus.  How hard can that be?  Foxes have houses, birds have nest and they rest...but we followers rest not our head but into His.  This is remaining in the Body of Christ with Him as our Head.  He decides everything, where we are going, what we are doing.  I'm not going to decide.  This is living life in the Spirit.  We say "it's His will" but how much of it did you have to do?  Like a pastor that took the wife of one in his church and they told the poor guy "this was God's will", YEAH RIGHT!  Liars and cheaters.  Stop lying about God to God.  Living life in the Spirit gives up more and more to God and to others.  Today's saint wound up dying in a cave, and he was a brilliant and zealous man for the Lord.  One other thing that aggrevates me to hear "I've served the Lord for THIS MANY YEARS" or "I used to do this and that for the Lord".  It sounds like someone is keeping count, and it's true, because I've heard old people say "I've done so much for the church and where are they now? Nobody is ever looking out for me".  As if to be charging what is owed.  What is owed is gratitude.  Because you GET TO serve God.  That's why The Psalms pray on about being silenced if we forget God.  You don't get to sing to God or read aloud about God if you are silenced in sin.  I visited a cousin in jail last week and he stopped our conversation and asked if he could read the bible to us, Psalm 37.  He GOT TO read the bible, whereas before he was lost in drugs and sin and darkness.  It is an honor to serve God.  The more, if you can, the better.  I'm limited as a married man as to how much I can do but the real limits are self imposed.  How often do I get to pray with my wife and kids?  How often do I get to read the bible with them?  How often do I get to be in Church with them?  That's the real honor.  Why?  Because we are not of this world.   We are a people of limits.  We limit God in our daily lives.  He can only go so far.  Jesus wants you to love/follow Him without limits.  Can you begin to understand what we are being asked for here?

As we will pray in Holy Hour for First Friday Adoration of The Most Blessed Sacrament (Exposition of the Eucharist)

LORD HELP US LOVE THEE MORE AND MORE!

adrian
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Going4th,

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

You Will See Greater

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Minute Meditations

Innocent Children
Being children is the basic condition for knowing the love of God, which is the ultimate source of this real miracle. In the soul of every vulnerable child, God puts the seal of this love, which is the basis of human dignity, a dignity that nothing and no one can ever destroy.
— from The Blessing of Family

Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael
 


Angels—messengers from God—appear frequently in Scripture, but only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are named.

Michael appears in Daniel's vision as "the great prince" who defends Israel against its enemies; in the Book of Revelation, he leads God's armies to final victory over the forces of evil. Devotion to Michael is the oldest angelic devotion, rising in the East in the fourth century. The Church in the West began to observe a feast honoring Michael and the angels in the fifth century.

Gabriel also makes an appearance in Daniel's visions, announcing Michael's role in God's plan. His best-known appearance is an encounter with a young Jewish girl named Mary, who consents to bear the Messiah.

Raphael's activity is confined to the Old Testament story of Tobit. There he appears to guide Tobit's son Tobiah through a series of fantastic adventures which lead to a threefold happy ending: Tobiah's marriage to Sarah, the healing of Tobit's blindness and the restoration of the family fortune.

The memorials of Gabriel (March 24) and Raphael (October 24) were added to the Roman calendar in 1921. The 1970 revision of the calendar joined their feasts to Michael's.



Comment:

Each of these archangels performs a different mission in Scripture: Michael protects; Gabriel announces; Raphael guides. Earlier belief that inexplicable events were due to the actions of spiritual beings has given way to a scientific world-view and a different sense of cause and effect. Yet believers still experience God's protection, communication and guidance in ways which defy description. We cannot dismiss angels too lightly.

Quote:

"For the honor we pay the angelic creatures in whom you delight redounds to your own surpassing glory, and by their great dignity and splendor you show how infinitely great you are, to be exalted above all things, through Christ our Lord" (Roman Missal, Preface for this feast).



Patron Saint of:

Death
Germany
Grocers
Police officers
Radiologists

Daily Prayer - 2015-09-29

Presence

To be present is to arrive as one is and open up to the other.
At this instant, as I arrive here, God is present waiting for me.
God always arrives before me, desiring to connect with me
even more than my most intimate friend.
I take a moment and greet my loving God.

Freedom

Dear Lord, instil in my heart
the desire to know and love you more.
May I respond to your will for my life.

Consciousness

I remind myself that I am in the presence of the Lord.
I will take refuge in His loving heart.
He is my strength in times of weakness.
He is my comforter in times of sorrow.

The Word of God

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels

Reading 1 Dn 7:9-10, 13-14

As I watched:

Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
His throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.

The court was convened, and the books were opened.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw

One like a son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
He received dominion, glory, and kingship;
nations and peoples of every language serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Or Rv 12:7-12ab

War broke out in heaven;
Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.
The dragon and its angels fought back,
but they did not prevail
and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
The huge dragon, the ancient serpent,
who is called the Devil and Satan,
who deceived the whole world,
was thrown down to earth,
and its angels were thrown down with it.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed.
For the accuser of our brothers is cast out,
who accuses them before our God day and night.
They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
love for life did not deter them from death.
Therefore, rejoice, you heavens,
and you who dwell in them."

Responsorial Psalm PS 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 4-5

R. (1) In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
R.
In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R.
In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O LORD
when they hear the words of your mouth;
And they shall sing of the ways of the LORD
"Great is the glory of the LORD."
R.
In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

Alleluia Ps 103:21

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Bless the LORD, all you angels,
you ministers, who do his will.
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 1:47-51

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
"Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him."
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."
Nathanael answered him,
"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this."
And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened
and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

- - -

Some thoughts on today's scripture

  • Jesus, when you see me coming towards you, what do you say? Help me to be like Nathanael, whose heart was without deceit. He is genuine: he asks Jesus a straight question and follows up with a dramatic statement of his belief, which must have pleased Jesus.
  • Jesus, you reward Nathanael by hinting at a new level of disclosure and intimacy between yourself and him. Please be patient with me and 'grant that I may see you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly', as the old prayer has it.

Conversation

Jesus you speak to me through the words of the gospels.
May I respond to your call today.
Teach me to recognise your hand at work in my daily living.

Conclusion

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.


Catholic Meditations

Meditation: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

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Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels (Feast)

Myriads upon myriads attended him. (Daniel 7:10)


Who says angels aren't real? Consider the following true story. While on pilgrimage in Europe, a young man feeling called to the priesthood has a mysterious encounter. He's in Barcelona with no money when a tall, heavyset stranger offers to buy him a meal. They eat and say goodbye. He never gets the man's name. Later, on another street, he's cornered by five thugs—and the same man rescues him. Two weeks later, he is shopping in Madrid, more than 300 miles from Barcelona, and spots the very same man! He runs to get his mother so that she can meet him, but when he gets back, there's only a note, saying, "God bless, Michael."

Could this have been the archangel Michael, whose feast we celebrate today? There's no way to know for sure. But this true story does fit Michael's job description. He is known as the protector of the Church and the angel who cast Satan out of heaven (Revelation 12:7). Many others have seen Michael down through the centuries, and Pope Leo XIII was so devoted to him that he composed the St. Michael Prayer that we still say today.

Clearly, we have some very powerful allies in the spiritual realm! While few of us will encounter Michael or Raphael or Gabriel, we've all encountered some of their fellow soldiers. They are the "thousands upon thousands" mentioned in today's first reading (Daniel 7:10). Who knows how many times we've been rescued by angels? And how many times angels have led us to something we needed—or away from something we didn't. Perhaps we were guided to a particular Scripture passage that encouraged us. Or we felt a strong push away from watching a certain television program or movie.

Today is a good day to remember that we are not alone. We have, not only Jesus and the saints with us, but the angels too! We can be grateful because all of their efforts on our behalf are made for one reason—so that we can one day behold the Lord. So every day, trust that angels are at your side. They are there to help you in both ordinary and extraordinary situations. They are here to "light and guard, to rule and guide"—and that applies to you!

"Father, thank you for our angelic guardians. May they lead us to your kingdom."



Psalm 138:1-5
John 1:47-51




my2cents:

Today we recall the great Archangels in Heaven.  They have helped changed the course of history, the history of our faith throughout the thousands of years and they still live today.  As a matter of fact, I have been relying on one for most of this year when I felt a prompting to begin a charismatic gathering monthly, praying for healing, and mostly spiritual learning and healing.  Because learning leads to healing.  You would rather have spiritual healing than physical wouldn't you?  That's the aim of the faith, the Holy Catholic faith.  Even yesterday, before a little girl was wheeled out of our office in her little wheel chair, I asked if I could pray for her with a prayer and oil blessed across the country for her.  I prayed so the surgeries would go well, I think she is used to them because throughout her life she's been having surgeries due to her cystic fibrosis.  I pray that you pray with me for her, but realize, I too prayed for her soul, prayed with Archangel Rafael.  This is where it's at...leaving things in the hands of God and His angels and Archangels, Arch meaning primary, those that are at the front and face God in Heaven can come so close to help with great help and great messages.  And the blessings are enough to last for centuries.  And so we hope that what we do last for centuries, and so rightly we work amongside angels and Archangels, especially in Holy Mass where they serve the Lord, transforming worldly hands into hands and voices that praise God.  I can say this because, I've been singing for many years and lately been covering for a missing choirmaster in our church in the English Mass, as mostly I've served in Spanish.  The strangest thing I've noticed, sometimes something takes over, not just me but everyone in our choir, I know it is the Holy Spirit, but now, I'm wondering if the angels are kicking in, singing alongside, because no matter where I've been, I hear a voice singing that I'm pretty sure is not a human voice singing along with us, whether at cursillo closings, or Holy Mass, and what does it do for me?  It gives all the fuel for the fire to let it rip and be not afraid nor timid, nor anxious, and is what angels do, by leading, and helping.
The Psalms pray on "In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord. I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; I will worship at your holy temple and give thanks to your name."  This should open the eyes of a person that doesn't want to go to church or to Holy Mass.  The Lord wants you in the flock.  The Lord wants you singing with His angels, especially because your angel is being called.  So do not be dismayed if you are afraid.  Talk to God about this, and He will send angels.  My advice..listen to the angels leading you closer to Him.  And to listen means to do, to adhere, to apply this to your life. 
Our Lord and our King that angels tend to day by day speaks today "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man".  Do you think you've ever seen this for yourself?  Perhaps one day you will.  Nathaniel surely did.  Was it when He saw Jesus Ascending?  Or when was it?  When He got to Heaven?  What about you?  When will you be able to see?  Nathaniel was caught in prayer, he was noticed.  Did an angel report this to Jesus?  How did he know what Nathaniel was thinking.  Perhaps he was saying "if this is truly the Son of God He will notice me here under this fig tree".  At another time, Jesus finds a fig tree not giving fruit, and he curses the tree and it dies.  Jesus wants you living for Him.  Jesus wants His angels serving Him.  Whether at church or for one another serving in the name of the Lord, that's what Jesus wants.  Forget about how much it is costing you, give without fear!  Yeah, it takes you some time away from work or family, but we have to serve.  The times I've felt angels helping me is people just doing their jobs, airline people, police, emergency medical services, doctors, don't you just feel like an angel helped?  Even in the Jamaica, this family festival I help coordinate, suddenly someone calls with the exact thing needed.  Nathaniel becomes an angel of God, because He heard the call after making the call.  You see, the best way a shepherd can find the sheep is when they are calling.  This is life in prayer.  This is life in the Spirit.  You should be showing your children you gave up work and family to serve the Lord and then you should take them with you.  After choir practice I told a little girl there "you should always be found at the church".  You should always be found with God.  Where else would you be rather found when the angel of death comes on that call...?

adrian
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Going4th,

Monday, September 28, 2015

Is For You

Untitled document

Minute Meditations

Let Jesus In
Let the risen Jesus enter your life. Welcome him as a friend, with trust: he is life! If up untill now you have kept him at a distance, step forward. He will receive you with open arms. If you have been indifferent, take a risk: you won't be disappointed.
— from The Blessing of Family

St. Wenceslaus
(907?-929)


If saints have been falsely characterized as "other worldly," the life of Wenceslaus stands as an example to the contrary: He stood for Christian values in the midst of the political intrigues which characterized 10th-century Bohemia.

He was born in 907 near Prague, son of the Duke of Bohemia. His saintly grandmother, Ludmilla, raised him and sought to promote him as ruler of Bohemia in place of his mother, who favored the anti-Christian factions. Ludmilla was eventually murdered, but rival Christian forces enabled Wenceslaus to assume leadership of the government.

His rule was marked by efforts toward unification within Bohemia, support of the Church and peace-making negotiations with Germany, a policy which caused him trouble with the anti-Christian opposition. His brother Boleslav joined in the plotting, and in September of 929 invited Wenceslaus to Alt Bunglou for the celebration of the feast of Sts. Cosmas and Damian (September 26). On the way to Mass, Boleslav attacked his brother, and in the struggle, Wenceslaus was killed by supporters of Boleslav.

Although his death resulted primarily from political upheaval, Wenceslaus was hailed as a martyr for the faith, and his tomb became a pilgrimage shrine. He is hailed as the patron of the Bohemian people and of former Czechoslovakia.



Comment:

"Good King Wenceslaus" was able to incarnate his Christianity in a world filled with political unrest. While we are often victims of violence of a different sort, we can easily identify with his struggle to bring harmony to society. The call to become involved in social change and in political activity is addressed to Christians; the values of the gospel are sorely needed today.

Quote:

"While recognizing the autonomy of the reality of politics, Christians who are invited to take up political activity should try to make their choices consistent with the gospel and, in the framework of a legitimate plurality, to give both personal and collective witness to the seriousness of their faith by effective and disinterested service of men" (Pope Paul VI, A Call to Action, 46).

Patron Saint of:

Bohemia

Daily Prayer - 2015-09-28

Presence

Dear Lord, help me to be open to you
for this time as I put aside the cares of this world.
Fill my mind with your peace, Your Love.

Freedom

Lord you gave me life and the gift of freedom.
Through Your love I exist in this world.
May I never take the gift of life for granted.
May I always respect the right to life of others.

Consciousness

I ask how I am within myself today?
Am I particularly tired, stressed, or off-form?
If any of these characteristics apply,
can I try to let go of the concerns that disturb me?

The Word of God

Reading 1 Zec 8:1-8

This word of the LORD of hosts came:

Thus says the LORD of hosts:

I am intensely jealous for Zion,
stirred to jealous wrath for her.
Thus says the LORD:
I will return to Zion,
and I will dwell within Jerusalem;
Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city,
and the mountain of the LORD of hosts,
the holy mountain.

Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women,
each with staff in hand because of old age,
shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem.
The city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Even if this should seem impossible
in the eyes of the remnant of this people,
shall it in those days be impossible in my eyes also,
says the LORD of hosts?
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Lo, I will rescue my people from the land of the rising sun,
and from the land of the setting sun.
I will bring them back to dwell within Jerusalem.
They shall be my people, and I will be their God,
with faithfulness and justice.

Responsorial Psalm PS 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23

R. (17) The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
R.
The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
"The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die."
R.
The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
The children of your servants shall abide,
and their posterity shall continue in your presence.
That the name of the LORD may be declared in Zion;
and his praise, in Jerusalem,
When the peoples gather together,
and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
R.
The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

Alleluia Mk 10:45

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 9:46-50

An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
"Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest."

Then John said in reply,
"Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company."
Jesus said to him,
"Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you."

- - -


Some thoughts on today's scripture


  • Over and over Jesus tries to get his disciples to see that they are called to serve, not to dominate. In the kingdom of God everyone is equal: there are no positions of power, no hierarchy. Everyone is a daughter or son of God, all are fully loved by God.
  • In prayer we must grapple with these extraordinary truths and try to let them sink in, so that we emerge from our time with God with a more inclusive and respectful attitude to others. Prayer stretches our imagination: prayer is real only when we begin to see and love the world as God does.

Conversation

Conversation requires talking and listening.
As I talk to Jesus may I also learn to be still and listen.
I picture the gentleness in His eyes
and the smile full of love as he gazes on me.
I can be totally honest with Jesus as I tell Him of my worries and my cares.
I will open up my heart to Him as I tell Him of my fears and my doubts.
I will ask Him to help me to place myself fully in His care,
to abandon myself to Him,
knowing that He always wants what is best for me.

Conclusion

I thank God for these few moments we have spent alone together and for any insights I may have been given concerning the text.


Catholic Meditations

Meditation: Zechariah 8:1-8

View NAB Reading at USCCB.org

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Saint Wenceslaus, Martyr (Optional Memorial)

I will return to Zion, and I will dwell within Jerusalem. (Zechariah 8:3)


Does it ever feel as if all hope has left you? Maybe you have a relationship that just doesn't seem to get any better. Or maybe the violence and chaos on the news get you down. It might even be something inside yourself, a weakness or problem that you can't seem to get a handle on. Whatever it is, when it comes up, you find it hard to imagine that anything will change.

The Jews returning to Jerusalem probably felt hopeless as well. Their people had been shipped away from the land God had given them, and their Temple had been destroyed. Now, forty years later, they were returning to a pile of rubble and political uncertainty. How could they possibly rebuild their lives? Yet here was Zechariah, bringing a message of hope from the Lord: he will restore Jerusalem, and all the people will live in peace! Zechariah's words energized the people, and they banded together to rebuild their city and the Temple.

Wonderfully, these promises are so large in scope that they stretch into our own era as well. God promises to rescue us, to dwell among us, and to bring his peace into our midst. As we try to take this in, we can be tempted to think about the problems we would like to see solved. But if there's one thing we should know, it's that we don't know exactly how God is going to make all things right. But we do know that he will do it. And so we place our hope in him, trusting in his kindness and love.

Before the time of Zechariah, God instructed the prophet Jeremiah to buy a piece of land as a physical sign of hope for the future. If you're struggling with hope today, consider doing something similar. Maybe buy a small house plant, or plant a sapling outside. As you care for this plant and watch it grow, keep reminding yourself to place your trust and hope in the Lord. Keep telling yourself that God is faithful to his promises. And keep telling the Lord that you will follow him wherever he leads. Because he is the one true source of your hope and peace.

"Lord, I put my hope in you. Bring your kingdom!"



Luke 9:46-50
Psalm 102:16-21, 29, 22-23




my2cents:
The first Holy Scripture said today "The city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets." And it ends with, "They shall be my people, and I will be their God, with faithfulness and justice."  It is a call to return isn't it?  Always the promise of the promised land?  The return to where He wants you to be?  But what of our promises?  Are we good at keeping our word?  Our promise?  In the Holy Catholic Church, the Sacraments are basically promises, an outward sign of what is going on within, beginning with Holy Baptism, the washing away of sin.  In confession, the priests ask us to make a promise after we are being forgiven.  The promise is called an act of contrition.  The words are staggering and sounding like "I promise never more to offend thee" at one point.  He forgives, sins wiped away.  Days later, weeks even, we fall again.  This time if you don't confess for that, the broken promise accumulates.  Does Jesus forgive a liar?  The answer you may find in the question "Does Jesus love humility?"  Yes.  So long as we humble ourselves and return to our Lord, that's where it's at, the beginning of healing, once and for all.  The return to the promised land will not relocate you around the world...but change you completely into Him, His Holiness.
The Psalms pray on "The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory."  This is the beauty of the Psalms.  It ties so beautifully the old with the new.  The Lord is calling for a return, from all of us.  He will not just "rebuild" but keep building.  The Lord appears in all His Glory.  And the blind can not see this Glory.  I'm in a constant struggle against sin so that I can keep seeing the light, lest I fall into darkness.  The blind man I visit at the nursing home is concerned about his hearing lately.  He is about 70 years old now, and I can tell he has some trouble understanding me.  He is right to be concerned because his ears are his eyes as they have been nearly all his life.  And so we have to realize right now, that our ears are our eyes.  If I was ever out of this world, I did not have human eyes.  The Spirit is an amazing being.  So we can say...it is a state of being.  And this return, it all encompasses the state of being.  This return in Glory, let's just say, we can start making the way now.   And here's how...
Jesus speaks to us today ""Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest."  Today's 1st reading was mentioning boys and girls once again playing in the streets.  After a cursillo closing last night, we took our kids to Burger King to eat and play.  We have a girl named Bella, big eyes, really curly hair, and before we knew it she had two friends, and what was funny is that they too had big eyes and curly hair, they were twins so with our girl, they looked like triplets!  They were holding hands, running everywhere, and we were all amazed, their parents, some white people, some half spanish maybe, and us.  In this world it did not matter.  These children are in the state of not knowing a difference, for in their eyes is holiness until taught otherwise.  This is the state of grace we should all strive for.  What good would a cursillo (a course in Christianity) be without grace?  A worker asked me for prayer for he is considering marrying the mother of his child.  Let us pray for the families.  I told him that it is good to seek peace rather than the alternative.  They say the pope said we have the right to refuse a marriage license.  Perhaps disobedience at work can cost you your job, but why should you be persecuted to the point of being imprisoned?  Where is the return to the promised land now?  Surely it is not in the violence of imprisoning criminals standing for the right to life.  Because that is what we are after now.  The return to the promised land is as God created.  Always available.  Always abandoned.  Very small lines to the confessional.  Very little sacrifice for the Lord.  Sunday mornings are turned into something else than Glory to God.  And every day can be a Sunday. 
Yesterday before leaving for a 2 hour drive to the closing, my dad saw me, it was bright out, and surely the sun was glaring off my balding head LOL, he said "you are shining" and I said yup, it's Jesus.  He shook his head and I said "what?  Did He not create the light that is now gleaming my head?"  It is not good to have the last word though.  Sometimes we get into a battle until one stops talking.  Let this be a lesson.  Stop talking so much TO God.  He has already said enough for us to live for ever...returning to Him in Glory!

adrian
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