†Saint Quote
"Work hard every day at increasing your purity of heart, which consists in appraising things and weighing them in the balance of God's will."
–St. Francis de Sales †Today's Meditation
"Many people seem to worry themselves a great deal more over the things they cannot help than over the things that they can. … This want of proportion is doubtless observable in myself. Do I think more of the accidents of birth, fortune, and personal appearance than of the self that I have created? For I myself am responsible for myself. 'To be born a gentleman is an accident; to die one is an achievement.' Other things, then, I may not be able to help; but myself, I can. As I am at this very moment, as my character is—truthful or untruthful, pure or impure, patient or impatient, slow to wrath or quick-tempered, eager, enthusiastic, energetic, or lazy and dull and wasteful of time—I have no one to thank but myself … the fact remains that I myself alone am responsible for my own character; for character is an artificial thing that is not born, but made."
—Fr. Bede Jarrett, p. 371-372 An Excerpt From
Classic Catholic Meditations †Daily Verse
"[I pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of [your] hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might."
–Ephesians 1:17-19 |  click to read more | | St. Fergus of Scotland St. Fergus of Scotland (d. 730 A.D.), also known as St. Fergustian or Fergus the Pict, Bishop of the Gaels, was a bishop serving in the north of Scotland. Little is known of his life. He is believed to have been trained as a bishop in Ireland, ministering there for many years before traveling as a missionary to Scotland. He went throughout the Scottish countryside preaching the Gospel, setting up churches dedicated to St. Patrick of Ireland, and working to convert the pagan people to Christianity. He also traveled to St. Peter's Basilica to participate in the Council of Rome in 721 A.D. He died around the year 730 A.D. and is buried in Glamis, Angus, in Scotland. Nearby is St. Fergus' Well. The site is believed to be where St. Fergus presided over religious services before the first church of Glamis was built. His feast day is March 30th. | Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent Reading 1 Gn 17:3-9 When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him:
"My covenant with you is this:
you are to become the father of a host of nations.
No longer shall you be called Abram;
your name shall be Abraham,
for I am making you the father of a host of nations.
I will render you exceedingly fertile;
I will make nations of you;
kings shall stem from you.
I will maintain my covenant with you
and your descendants after you
throughout the ages as an everlasting pact,
to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
I will give to you
and to your descendants after you
the land in which you are now staying,
the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession;
and I will be their God." God also said to Abraham:
"On your part, you and your descendants after you
must keep my covenant throughout the ages." Responsorial Psalm Ps 105:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 R. (8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations –
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever. Verse Before the Gospel Ps 95:8 If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts. Gospel Jn 8:51-59 Jesus said to the Jews:
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever keeps my word will never see death."
So the Jews said to him,
"Now we are sure that you are possessed.
Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say,
'Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.'
Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died?
Or the prophets, who died?
Who do you make yourself out to be?"
Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing;
but it is my Father who glorifies me,
of whom you say, 'He is our God.'
You do not know him, but I know him.
And if I should say that I do not know him,
I would be like you a liar.
But I do know him and I keep his word.
Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day;
he saw it and was glad."
So the Jews said to him,
"You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?"
Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
before Abraham came to be, I AM."
So they picked up stones to throw at him;
but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.
| Daily Meditation: John 8:51-59 Whoever keeps my word will never see death. (John 8:51) "Never see death"? How can that be? We know that our bodies can't last forever. We've experienced the death of friends and loved ones. And unless the Lord returns soon, each of us will experience death as well. St. Paul gives us a hint. He says we have already died. "We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead . . . , we too might live in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). On the day of our baptism, we were brought to share in Christ's dying and all he accomplished through his death. We died in those waters, and we rose possessing God's own life, a life that can never die. United to Christ, we are given the grace to "keep his word" (John 8:51) and carry that word with us into heaven. Death is not our final destiny! How can an understanding of this priceless gift of everlasting life affect the way we look at death? It can drive away fear. Although we may naturally feel fear, nothing—not even death—can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38). Whenever we step over that final precipice, we are caught in the arms of his everlasting love. With that perspective, we can deal with any lesser fears. It can put loneliness to flight. We are not alone! Jesus remains close to us in our triumphs and exhilarations as well as in our sickness, suffering, rejection, frustration, and confusion. And he calls us into a community of faith with all who have also died to sin and selfishness and awakened to life in the kingdom of love. It can provide clear direction, helping us let go of lesser concerns and prioritize what matters most in the long run: love of God and love of neighbor. Take a look at what worries you, where you invest your energy. Will you be taking that with you into the heavenly kingdom? How richly our generous God blessed us on the day of our baptism! He has placed his own everlasting life with us! Stay close to him, treasure his love and his word, and let them give you hope beyond the grave. "Jesus, thank you for uniting me with you on the day of my baptism. I look forward to living with you forever." Genesis 17:3-9
Psalm 105:4-9 |  click to hear 2cents | Listen to my2cents audio. Share the link if you like: Click to hear it | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
""God also said to Abraham:
"On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages." end quote.
And guess what? This is our Father in Faith! Abraham is amazing.
"No longer shall you be called Abram;
your name shall be Abraham,
for I am making you the father of a host of nations.
I will render you exceedingly fertile"_ end quote.
Did you know that all 3 of the world's major religions are taking root in Abraham? To the tune of billions and billions for thousands of years. Our Lord proves He is true, speaking the truth, there is no denying His truth now. | We pray today:
"He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations –
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever."
end quote.
So, how long is a generation? If my findings are correct, it is about 40 years. If this is so, then the promise is for at least 40,000 years. We are in it for about 4,000 years I'd say right now. I pray for a productive generation for His Kingdom. | In the Gospel today we heard: _"So the Jews said to him,
"You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?"
Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
before Abraham came to be, I AM."
So they picked up stones to throw at him;" end quote. I believe it was C.S. Lewis who said people can make out our Lord as one of 3 things, either He is a lunatic, a liar, or He is actually Lord.
The things he was saying just didn't jive with the Jews.
Do they jive with jew (you)? LOL , ha ha!
Look, this is going to get thick, but, I'm about to relay to you mind blowing things but not far fetched from Scripture. In the book of revelation, there are extremely strange creatures depicted. There are scenes that one can only try to imagine, a glass sea, an animal with wings or many eyes all around the head. Sure they speak of our Lord and omnipotence, but phenomenal things await in the next and very real world that never ceases to exist.
I'm looking forward to it, the hard part? Leaving every love and loved one behind.
But can you fathom? We are pilgrims through this world and on a journey.
Are we prepared? Are we properly preparing our children? I think and look at all the ones that have passed on before us, what have they actually passed on to us? The most extremely important thing?
Look to Father Abraham. Faith. Abraham would be told he'd be the most fertile, but couldn't have any kids! Until one came along, and that one would fill the world...with his faith.
Think Jesus our Lord, and our Father God.
Did you know their is a movie coming out this weekend in theatres called His Only Son?
Me and my family just watched this week in theatres "Santiago, The Camino within". It was mostly in spanish but my kids loved the movie anyway! How strange? It's like a Mass here, I see other people, chinese or white, going to a Spanish Mass? Can you still love it? Yes! Beauty has no language barrier...This is God, alive and among us. | ...†...
Lord, How can we be on fire with Your Love? Forever! Help us! |  Hear it click | WOW Random Bible Verse 1
Galatians 5:24 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
