† Quote of the Day "He who wishes for anything but Christ, does not know what he wishes; he who asks for anything but Christ, does not know what he is asking; he who works, and not for Christ, does not know what he is doing." — St. Philip Neri Today's Meditation "Do not suppose that after advancing the soul to such a state God abandons it so easily that it is light work for the devil to regain it. When His Majesty sees it leaving Him, He feels the loss so keenly that He gives it in many a way a thousand secret warnings which reveal to it the hidden danger. In conclusion, let us strive to make constant progress: we ought to feel great alarm if we do not find ourselves advancing, for without doubt the evil one must be planning to injure us in some way; it is impossible for a soul that has come to this state not to go still farther, for love is never idle. Therefore it is a very bad sign when one comes to a standstill in virtue." —St. Teresa of Avila, p.99 An excerpt from Interior Castle Daily Verse "In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ [Jesus] have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit. Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envious of one another." — Galatians 5:22-26 | St. Filippo Smaldone St. Filippo Smaldone (1848–1923) was born in Naples, Italy, during a time of upheaval and unrest both in Italy and in the Church. He decided to become a priest, and while in seminary he took on a personal apostolate of assisting the deaf and mute community in Naples. He dedicated so much time to this work that he barely passed his exams. After his ordination he continued to assist the marginalized of his community, especially the sick. When the plague hit his city he contracted it, however, he was healed after praying to Our Lady of Pompeii, to whom he had a special devotion. He continued his pioneer work in the education of the deaf and mute, though he became discouraged at the difficulty of the task and considered going into the foreign missions instead. Dissuaded from the abandonment of his work by his confessor, St. Filippo committed his life's mission to the needs of the deaf and mute, training a group of nuns in the work which grew into a new religious foundation. He later expanded his work to include children that were blind, orphaned, and abandoned. His feast day is June 4th. | Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 2 Pt 3:12-15a, 17-18 Beloved:
Wait for and hasten the coming of the day of God,
because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames
and the elements melted by fire.
But according to his promise
we await new heavens and a new earth
in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, since you await these things,
be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.
And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation.
Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned,
be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled
and to fall from your own stability.
But grow in grace
and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. Amen. Responsorial 90:2, 3-4, 10, 14 and 16 R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Before the mountains were begotten
and the earth and the world were brought forth,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, "Return, O children of men."
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Seventy is the sum of our years,
or eighty, if we are strong,
And most of them are fruitless toil,
for they pass quickly and we drift away.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Let your work be seen by your servants
and your glory by their children.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Alleluia Ephesians 1:17-18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
that we may know what is the hope
that belongs to his call.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 12:13-17 Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent
to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech.
They came and said to him,
"Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man
and that you are not concerned with anyone's opinion.
You do not regard a person's status
but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?
Should we pay or should we not pay?"
Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them,
"Why are you testing me?
Bring me a denarius to look at."
They brought one to him and he said to them,
"Whose image and inscription is this?"
They replied to him, "Caesar's."
So Jesus said to them,
"Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God."
They were utterly amazed at him.
| Daily Meditation: Mark 12:13-17 Whose image and inscription is this? (Mark 12:16) A coin collector today would pay hundreds of dollars for a first-century denarius like the one Jesus held up in today's Gospel reading. But that collector couldn't buy even a loaf of bread with his coin. That's because the image of the Emperor Tiberius is stamped on the coin. His empire is history, and his currency is now obsolete. Clearly, you are worth far more than that denarius! That's because, from the moment of your conception, you were stamped with the image of the one Ruler whose kingdom will never end. You bear the mark of a King whose dominion is "vast and forever peaceful" (Isaiah 9:6). What's more, you were created with the unique capacity to receive that King's life and love into your heart and to let that love change you so that you can come to reflect his glory to the world around you. The world tends to measure a person's worth by his or her usefulness or by his or her social standing. So a president would be viewed as more valuable than a janitor, and a CEO would be given a higher standing than a prison inmate. But that's not how God sees us—and it's not how he wants us to see each other! Every one of us has infinite value because of the way he made us, regardless of our achievements. He loves you, not for what you can offer, but for who you are. So when Jesus says, "Repay . . . to God what belongs to God" (Mark 12:17), he is not only telling us to repay God by our good deeds. He is also telling us to live in the dignity of people stamped in his image—and to treat each other with that same dignity. This is the one thing that the Pharisees and Herodians in today's Gospel couldn't understand. They tried to trip Jesus simply because he didn't fit with their image of what a "valuable" religious leader should look like. Never doubt your worth. You are immensely significant to the Lord. Never doubt your significance to the people around you, either. Simply by becoming the person God created you to be, you play a central role in revealing his love to everyone you meet. "Thank you, Father, for stamping me with your image. Lord, help me to live in the dignity of a beloved child of you, my King!" 2 Peter 3:12-15, 17-18
Psalm 90:2-4, 10, 14, 16 |  HEAR it read by AI | Reflections with Brother Adrian: | In the Holy Scripture we hear today:
"Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?
Should we pay or should we not pay?"
Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them,
"Why are you testing me?
Bring me a denarius to look at."
They brought one to him and he said to them,
"Whose image and inscription is this?"
They replied to him, "Caesar's."
So Jesus said to them,
"Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God."
They were utterly amazed at him. ......" end quote. | So you mean we have to pay taxes?
It's not really a funny question. Nowadays people complain about taxes and being over taxed and the abuse of taxation.
This is nothing different than the Roman times and the Jews facing off with the Romans who felt oppressed by the government. Not all Jews felt this way, but most hated tax people who abused taxation, taking the people's money unjustly. And many felt they were their own nation, not needing to pay any taxes. And so, the question set before the "Messiah" or "Savior to be" in their eyes was a "just and righteous" question.
And our Lord answers their question by first calling them out on their hypocrisy. Why did they want to know who's money belongs to who? Why were they so interested in taxes?
Because, they wanted it for themselves...all the power, all the money....all the pride. It wasn't an honest question.
It was a trap, if He answered one way it would benefit the Romans, if He answered another way, it would benefit their Jewish concerns.
But our Lord didn't answer to the benefit of either, but actually for both. But since they didn't get the answer they wanted to their own benefit 100%, they were left confounded and left with another reason to have Him "put away".
Isn't that how things are today? Our Lord is saying things we rather not hear, like "Divorce is not allowed" or "the last shall be first", Or "impurity and sex outside of Holy Matrimony in church is wrong", or today He says "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's".
As a citizen, we are to obey laws, yes, until they infringe on God's laws. There are states who allow multiples in marriages, or some states allow prostitution, and many states still allow killing of unborn children. These laws infringe on our beliefs that God has instituted. I'll pay my taxes, but I will not throw our children into the caldron of the gods that are hungry for human sacrifice because of our selfish interests. Those old gods still exist, but they wish to remain "anonymous" hidden, lurking in the dark. I could name several by name but for the vast majority that do not know the bible it wouldn't make a difference because they don't directly worship them, but indirectly.
Our Lord said "Repay to God what belongs to God".
This is a rhetorical statement because everything belongs to God. The only thing you can say you probably own is your free will.
The air, your body, the whole world belongs to God. Today the other gods worshipers chant in violence "my body, my choice", as they kill another body in the womb who is not given a choice.
Now, let's take it a step deeper.
How in the world can you repay to God what is God's?
How can you pay Him back for instance, for every breath you've taken on this earth since before you were born and were breathing through your mother's body? And how can you repay Him for any little sin you have ever committed or are still committing? How can you repay Him for creating a world to get to know Him a little bit? How can you possibly repay anything at all?
The answer: Jesus, in the Holy Eucharist.
Our Lord becomes the payment.
We are asked to become with Him in thanksgiving.
The Eucharist, Jesus alive in the offering, becomes one in our offering of ourselves to God.
This is an acceptable offering. Receive Him, receive the proper payment to God. We become a sacrificial will, a holy will, the volition, the holy total directing of self in order, from Heaven to earth and a return to Heaven. Love is ultimately created in this union and the fruit is phenomenal in Heaven, and it starts in the Holy Church, the Body of Christ. Sacred Heart of Jesus, Be My Love. |  Click for Audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Acts 20:32 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
