† Quote of the Day "I urge you with all the strength of my soul to approach the Eucharistic Table as often as possible. Feed on this Bread of the Angels from which you will draw the strength to fight inner struggles." — Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Today's Meditation "Holy Scripture will be your bedside book. It is in this that you will be illuminated by the Word. It is the nourishment of choice. Read this with a humble heart—as when you receive Communion—with the same end: to find God. Taste Him, savor Him, verse by verse, as He finds Himself in your atmosphere of prayer. Every word dictated by God is full of Himself. Adore Him beneath the words. You will taste the inebriation of this communion with the Light, to the Word that God uttered in time, by words of eternal resonance. It is there that you will acquire the knowledge of the saints, with other knowledge accumulating to very little." — An Anonymous Carthusian Monk
An excerpt from The Doors of Silence Daily Verse "Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." — John 14:6 | Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925) was born in Turin, Italy, to a wealthy and prominent family. He was a vibrant, joyful, and athletic youth with an adventurous spirit and a strong zest for life. He loved mountain climbing, the theater, opera, and literature. He also had a deep spiritual life and a strong devotion to the Holy Eucharist and the Virgin Mary, even while his piety provoked criticism from his parents. He challenged his friends to a life of virtue, leading them in spiritual exercises such as daily Mass and the rosary. He joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society in 1918 and became a Lay Dominican in 1922. He was also politically active in resisting fascism and communism; he took part in public demonstrations and joined religious-political organizations such as the Catholic Students Federation and Catholic Action. He also spent much time caring for the sick and poor to a heroic degree, yet his parents punished him when they caught him giving away his money and possessions. While ministering to the sick he contracted polio and died just six days later at the age of 24. His family, thinking he suffered from a mild sickness, did not realize the seriousness of his condition until it was too late. At his funeral his parents were shocked to find thousands of the city's poor, whom their son had helped in some way, arrive to pay their respects. Pope St. John Paul II called Pier Giorgio Frassati a "man of the beatitudes" at his beatification in 1990. His feast day is July 4th. | Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 380
Reading 1 Am 7:10-17 Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to Jeroboam,
king of Israel:
"Amos has conspired against you here within Israel;
the country cannot endure all his words.
For this is what Amos says:
Jeroboam shall die by the sword,
and Israel shall surely be exiled from its land." To Amos, Amaziah said:
"Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah!
There earn your bread by prophesying,
but never again prophesy in Bethel;
for it is the king's sanctuary and a royal temple."
Amos answered Amaziah, "I was no prophet,
nor have I belonged to a company of prophets;
I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores.
The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me,
'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'
Now hear the word of the LORD!" You say: prophesy not against Israel,
preach not against the house of Isaac.
Now thus says the LORD:
Your wife shall be made a harlot in the city,
and your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword;
Your land shall be divided by measuring line,
and you yourself shall die in an unclean land;
Israel shall be exiled far from its land. Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 R. (10cd) The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. Alleluia 2 Cor 5:19 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 9:1-8 After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town.
And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
"Courage, child, your sins are forgiven."
At that, some of the scribes said to themselves,
"This man is blaspheming."
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said,
"Why do you harbor evil thoughts?
Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, 'Rise and walk'?
But that you may know that the Son of Man
has authority on earth to forgive sins"–
he then said to the paralytic,
"Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home."
He rose and went home.
When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe
and glorified God who had given such authority to men. | Daily Meditation: Matthew 9:1-8 When Jesus saw their faith . . . (Matthew 9:2) We know that Jesus healed people. But the way he went about healing varied. Sometimes someone approached Jesus directly, voiced their need, and he healed them. But other times, as in today's Gospel, Jesus heals someone because someone else interceded on that person's behalf. The paralyzed man in today's story is curiously silent. We don't know how he felt about Jesus. Did he really believe, or was he just going along with his friends' plans? And what did he think when Jesus first proclaimed that his sins had been forgiven? We simply don't know. What we do know is that the people who brought this man to Jesus certainly had faith. In fact, Mark's Gospel notes that in order to get past the crowds surrounding Jesus, these friends climbed onto the roof of the house and made a hole in it to lower the man down to the Lord (2:4). Their persistence obviously impressed Jesus. Matthew tells us that it was "their faith" that moved Jesus to heal the man (9:2, emphasis added). The circumstances of Jesus' healing miracles may vary, but they all had one thing in common: faith. People believed Jesus could help, and he did. In fact, faith was so important that he was not able to perform many miracles in his hometown of Nazareth "because of their lack of faith" (Matthew 13:58). Do you have someone in your life who needs physical or spiritual healing? You may feel helpless as you watch them suffer. But you always have a way to help: let your faith move you to bring them to Jesus, just as the paralyzed man's friends did. Believe that Jesus sees your faith as you intercede for them, encourage them, and even offer to pray with them. He values your persistence and won't turn a deaf ear. Jesus delights in every way that you try to bring people to him for help or healing. Especially when the person you are interceding for has little or no faith, he sees your faith. So don't give up! Even if you can't detect any change in that person's life, you can still trust that your faith is making a difference. "Lord, I believe that you can work wonders, even for those who don't believe!" Amos 7:10-17
Psalm 19:8-11 |  HEAR it read by AI | Reflections with Brother Adrian: | In the Holy Scripture we hear today:
"Why do you harbor evil thoughts?
Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, 'Rise and walk'?
But that you may know that the Son of Man
has authority on earth to forgive sins"–
he then said to the paralytic,
"Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home."
He rose and went home.
When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men......" end quote. | From Bishop Barron Today:
"The story affirms that Jesus offers us forgiveness and healing. Even though we are sinners, even though we are hopeless in our hatred and stupidity, even though we had gone (and would still go today) to the limits of killing God's own son, God still loves us; God still forgives us. We know that nothing can possibly separate us from the love of God because we hear in the greeting of the risen Jesus that any and every sin can be forgiven." End Quote Bishop Barron.
From that day forward, two things would happen: first, the scribes would harbor evil thoughts to have the Lord crucified, and secondly, we would realize that now, we too can forgive, and heal others.
Forgiveness is equated to healing. Ask any modern psychologists with the best understanding, on the power of forgiveness.
In my daily struggles as a boss, and in faith, in family, and in church, I've learned the importance of forgiving. I desire forgiveness, yes, always, but I live by giving forgiveness.
I remember one time, before my dad passed, I heard this working cussing up a storm, and also cursing the boss, my dad. Like the scribes, I was insulted myself. I didn't appreciate the worker not appreciating the boss, or at least showing respect.
I told the boss, my father, that I had heard this man cussing up a storm and cussing about him too. My dad acknowledged it, but didn't say anything, as if it hadn't affected him one way or the other. He never reprimanded the man. He never fired him. My dad passed away, and the worker continued to work for us, as a matter of fact, a power house of a worker one could really depend on, very hard working, but he had his crass ugly ways of dealing with people. That man is retired now, but if I call him, he will still come to work and beat out most if not all of our younger crews.
I don't think I was as forgiving as my dad, my father. I did hear he was very crude and perverted and was showing pornographic videos to another worker in jokes and sitting on his lap. It was harassment to a new level. I wished in my heart not to work him anymore. The foul mouth is one thing, but things were getting out of hand. I never fired him, he soon retired himself after that. And to be honest, my dad had fired him years ago for harassing a secretary now that I remember but he was allowed to come back a year later. That was the only true firing I seen my dad do in the 30 years of business and dealing with hundreds of people. So forgiveness continued, and I follow the morals of my father.
If I got mad and held grudges i would get stuck! I would not be able to move forward! People get hung up on one event, and that's it! Like a stubborn mule, or a donkey, they will not budge. And this hurts two people, and more. It hurts the two involved in not forgiving, and then it spreads to the community. I see it on all aspects, at work, family, and church.
So what is easier to do? Heal someone inside, or physically on the outside? Forgive and give. If you forgive you give. What do you give? Mercy? Yes. Grace? Yes. Healing? Yes! Who heals? Both you and the transgressor because some live oppressed by an unforgiving person.
And then, we can walk into the confessional, to appear before the Lord as the transgressor, with no more stones in your hand, and look up to the Lord and say "Lord, forgive me as I forgive those who trespass against me".
And He will. Because He does that Himself. He has no stones in His hands. He will forgive as He desires to forgive wholeheartedly.
Do I let much slide? How can I? When people insult me, I just keep going? When people accuse me falsely, I just ignore it? Our Lord defended Himself, like today, to show others His side and His view. He explained Himself. He didn't excuse Himself.
When I'm falsely accused, I will simply say my explanation, and if I am hung because of it, it would be like Christ hung too, on a cross.
The truth will live on. To have faith in this means everything.
Therefore, righteousness, grace, and holiness are ultimate ideal for one choosing to live the life of Christ, and this is attained with this wisdom that comes from a true love of God and neighbor.
Forgiveness is everything, because it is tied with our salvation. Wouldn't you like to save others with Christ inside of your heart? Sacred, Most Precious Blood of Jesus, let Your healing drops transform our souls! |  Click for Audio | Amazing. AMAZING! WoW!
Random Bible Verse 1
James 1:19–20 [James 1]
Hearing and Doing the Word 19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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