†Quote of the Day
"In this life our lot is not to enjoy God, but to do his holy will."
–St. Teresa of Avila †Today's Meditation
"Most persons have temptations to anger. There is hardly anyone who does not at times become peevish, irritable, or impatient; and these are the beginning of more serious faults. Now we all know the harm and very serious results of anger. There is no example that makes clearer its ruinous effects than the Crucifixion of Our Lord…We have also seen how anger has brought families into discord and even permanent separation. We have read how nations have been led to war. The surprising fact is that though each and every one has had brought to his attention the fruits of anger—the sufferings, the discord, the unhappiness—sill there is much that could be sought by most persons in regard to meekness and something of meekness that could be sought by everybody."
—Matt Fradd, p.75-76 An Excerpt From
Rooting Out Hidden Faults - How the Particular Examen Conquers Sin †Daily Verse
"So Pilate said to him, 'Then you are a king?' Jesus answered, 'You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.'"
–John 18:37 |  click to read more | | Blessed Caroline Gerhardinger Bl. Caroline Gerhardinger (1797-1879), also known as Mother Maria Theresa of Jesus, was born into a working class family in Bavaria. Her giftedness as an educator was apparent early in her life, and she became a certified teacher at the age of 15. Although she was drawn to a quiet, contemplative life, her desire was to teach young girls to aspire to their full potential. For this she was greatly loved by her students. Responding to the needs of the time, and with the guidance of her bishop, she began a new religious order dedicated to education called the Poor School Sisters of Notre Dame. This was during a period when all religious orders were closed by decree of the Bavarian government. She sent her Sisters in groups of twos and threes into the local villages to teach the poor young girls who would otherwise have no opportunity for education, a novelty in her day which grew into a new form of apostolic religious life. In this way she sought to remedy social ills through education, which she believed was just as necessary for a child as love, food, and shelter. When the Vatican negotiated the reopening of Bavaria's religious communities in 1828, the Sisters moved into a convent. Caroline took the religious name Mary Theresa of Jesus for her devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. At the time of her death her order had grown to 2,500 sisters. She was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II in 1985. Her feast day is May 9th. | Acts 14:19-28 In those days, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and entered the city. On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and made a considerable number of disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch. They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, "It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God." They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith. Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now accomplished. And when they arrived, they called the Church together and reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Then they spent no little time with the disciples. Psalm 145:10-13, 21 R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
or R. Alleluia.
Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might. R. Making known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations. R. May my mouth speak the praise of the Lord,
and may all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. R. Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead,
and so enter into his glory. Cf. Lk 24:46, 26
Alleluia, alleluia. John 14:27-31a Jesus said to his disciples: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, 'I am going away and I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me." | Daily Meditation: John 14:27-31 My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. (John 14:27) In the ancient world, strict traditions governed inheritance law and the continuation of a father's estate. Normally, the eldest son received two shares of the estate, while the others received one share each (Deuteronomy 21:17). This resulted in many regulations, as well as many feuds within families, with some lasting for generations. In today's Gospel, Jesus stands in stark contrast to these customs. He is God's firstborn Son, yet rather than clinging to his inheritance, Jesus shares all of it with us! He could have followed the customs of his people, but Jesus doesn't give and receive as the world does. In his generosity, he invites us to become full and equal heirs of the riches of his Father's grace. He asks only for our love and heartfelt effort to obey him. In exchange, he promises us our very own place in his Father's house, he empowers us to do greater works than he did, and he guarantees that his Spirit will dwell in us (John 14:2, 12, 17). As if these gifts aren't enough, he promises his followers a final blessing: his peace. This is not just any peace; Jesus says, "My peace I give" (John 14:27, emphasis added). The peace of Jesus—the peace that surpasses understanding, the peace that remains constant even in suffering, the peace that cannot be stolen or shaken—this is the peace he freely gives to us! In a world full of uncertainty and conflict, there is no greater gift than the peace of Christ. Jesus doesn't just give us this peace; he also shows us how to keep it. Throughout the Gospels, we see him retreating from the commotion of life to pray. And he calls us to do the same. It's a simple step, but it's not always easy to do. In prayer we can dip back into the treasure chest of our inheritance and find even more riches. We can hold onto the peace of Jesus as we take the time to be still and rest in the arms of our Father. We can strengthen our peace as we listen for his voice telling us, "You are my beloved child in whom I am well pleased." Always remember that in Christ, all the blessings of heaven have been secured for you, now and forever. "Jesus, thank you for the gift of your peace." | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
""It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God." They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith. " Things sure seemed pressing didn't they? The apostles made haste. They knew it was important! They knew it was pressing. They risked their lives! They got stoned! They wasted no time.
And today? Do we waste time? Are we pressed to do God's will? For as many ministries as I am in, I don't believe I am as pressed as I should be, I still find time to "waste". | We pray today:
"Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord, and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might." | In the Gospel today we heard: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid." Are you afraid now? I know I am. I'm in a predicament it seems always in business, nothing is sure, everything seems unsure. I am not guaranteed any work, I am not gauranteed any payment for the hard work, and I am not guaranteed no harm shall come our way. Everything is a great big risk. Ultimately, what I find myself doing is analyzing risk. I am working now on reducing risk. The less risk, the better the outcome, but, there is still that risk no matter what!
And it is the same for the faith, or your health even.
Nothing is guaranteed. You may be faithful today, but can that be guaranteed tomorrow? Can you be guaranteed of your salvation? If you go to protestants they say "once saved always saved". But this is not true. We cannot live however we want! God's will shall be done! And His Holy will is calling out to us! His living blood is calling out to us! As if to say "Help Me!"
Help Me help you!
This is a co-mission. He works through us.
We've let evil work through us, now let us repent and let our FATHER and our Lord, and the HOLY SPIRIT work through us!
Then we will experience peace, as a whole, as a community.
You matter more than you will ever know! | ...†....
Let's pray:
Lord, Father, I'm sorry for allowing wasted time in my life, wasted on other loves. Please help me focus all my energy and love on YOU! FOREVER! | Random Bible Verse
Wow! Commands from Heaven! Random Bible Verse
Matthew 28:18–20 "And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in1 the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
