† Quote of the Day "Behold Jesus Christ crucified, Who is the only foundation of our hope; He is our Mediator and Advocate; the victim and sacrifice for our sins. He is goodness and patience itself; His mercy is moved by the tears of sinners, and He never refuses pardon and grace to those who ask it with a truly contrite and humbled heart." St. Charles Borromeo Today's Meditation "As St. Paul points out, Christ never meant that we were to remain children in intelligence: on the contrary. He told us to be not only 'as harmless as doves', but also 'as wise as serpents'. He wants a child's heart, but a grown-up's head. He wants us to be simple, single-minded, affectionate, and teachable, as good children are; but He also wants every bit of intelligence we have to be alert at its job, and in first-class fighting trim."
—C.S. Lewis, p. 77
Cover image from the book, Mere Christianity
An Excerpt From Mere Christianity Daily Verse "So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:14-17 | St. Charles Borromeo (1538–1584) was born into an ancient and wealthy family in Lombardy, Italy. When his uncle became Pope Pius IV, Charles was brought to Rome to take over several important assignments connected with the Vatican. He was ordained to Holy Orders at the age of 25 and was later made Archbishop of Milan, a position of high influence in the Church, and Cardinal. He initiated large-scale reform of his enormous and dilapidated diocese, which had not seen a resident bishop in 80 years. Clergy were ignorant and disobedient, religious were negligent and scandalous, and the laity had drifted from Church teaching. He rectified abuses and maintained the integrity of the Church's internal structure, all for which he encountered strong opposition and threats against his life. He also established hospitals, seminaries, orphanages, and the first Sunday School classes. He was a key player in the Council of Trent and kept it going when it was in danger of breaking up. He was a prominent defender of Church teaching in the Counter-Reformation and helped produce an official catechism. His counsel was widely sought, especially by the Catholic kings and queens of Europe and the popes under whom he served, and his virtue was evident to all. Throughout his life he held his rank and authority with humility, living austerely and constantly striving for sanctity. When plague and famine hit Milan in 1576, Charles stayed in the city to care for those in need and borrowed large sums of money to feed tens of thousands of people each day. Exhausted from his reforming labors, he died at the age of 46. St. Charles Borromeo is the patron of catechists, catechumens, seminarians, spiritual directors, and bishops. His feast day is November 4th. | Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop • Readings for the Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop Reading 1 Phil 2:1-4 Brothers and sisters:
If there is any encouragement in Christ,
any solace in love,
any participation in the Spirit,
any compassion and mercy,
complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love,
united in heart, thinking one thing.
Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;
rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,
each looking out not for his own interests,
but also everyone for those of others. Responsorial Psalm Ps 131:1bcde, 2, 3 R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor are my eyes haughty;
I busy not myself with great things,
nor with things too sublime for me.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted
my soul like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child on its mother's lap,
so is my soul within me.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O Israel, hope in the LORD,
both now and forever.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace. Alleluia Jn 8:31b-32 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
and you will know the truth, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 14:12-14 On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.
He said to the host who invited him,
"When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters
or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,
in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.
For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
| Daily Meditation: Philippians 2:1-4 . . . each looking out not for his own interests, but also everyone for those of others. (Philippians 2:4) Does St. Paul's exhortation in today's first reading mean that we should let other people walk all over us, like a doormat? Of course not! The story of a little girl and a gift she gave her parents might shed some light on what Paul was talking about. On her twelfth birthday, Olivia had received a coloring book with detailed images from nature accompanied by various Scripture verses. As Christmas approached, she decided to carefully color one for her parents. So she pored over the pages until she found the perfect verse: "Humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also everyone for those of others" (Philippians 2:3-4). On Christmas morning, when her parents opened their gift, Olivia explained why she had chosen that picture. She told them that when she read this verse, she thought of the way they loved her and one another and the people they met. Her parents were amazed to learn how closely she had been watching them—and how much she had picked up on the way they had tried to love! Olivia said she thought about the times when her mom was up all night taking care of her when she was sick and when her dad gave up his Saturdays to coach her soccer team. She remembered when Mom made Dad's favorite dinner at the end of a hard week at work, and when Dad washed Mom's car, just so it would look nice. And she recalled when they all made a meal and promised to pray for their next-door neighbor who was recovering from surgery. It's those small choices that build the humility and deference that St. Paul is talking about. Regarding others as more important, or looking out for their interests, is not about putting yourself down or saying yes to every demand. And it's not limited to just the "heroic" acts we might imagine. It's asking, How can I love the person in front of me right now? How can I meet their needs? It's being willing to put aside our own preferences so we can lift up someone else. And that's something we can ask the Lord to help us do today. "Jesus, help me choose to think of others first. Make me like you!" Psalm 131:1-3
Luke 14:12-14 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Click to hear Audio | In the Holy Scripture we hear today:
"He said to the host who invited him,
"When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters
or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,
in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.
For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous...." end quote. | From Bishop Barron:
"Friends, in today's Gospel, Jesus gives us an extraordinary command to consider the weakest and most vulnerable in our society: "When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind." This is one of his central concerns throughout the Gospels. Foreigners, strangers, widows, orphans, the poor—if these weak people are ignored, God will become angry.
God's passion not only runs right through the biblical tradition, but it comes roaring up into the social teaching of the Catholic Church: "If you have two coats in your closet, one belongs to you; the other belongs to the man who has no coat."
Let us not forget the poor and marginalized today....." end quote Bishop Barron.
Wow! So, who am I to invite to lunch? Don't invite my friends or relatives?
And what about my kids' birthday dinners? Don't invite my friends or relatives either?
I have friends and relatives that could never pay us back. As a matter of fact, I always invite those that don't always invite us back.
For instance, and here is a good one, how about inviting the priest? Could he ever pay you back for inviting him to eat a dinner?
Priests make the salary that is at the poverty level and from there they give 10% at least and pay their food and bills, car if any, etc.
So there is you an easy one to invite.
Who else? Jesus is in the priest. But who else? At the next dinner or feast, like thanksgiving, invite someone over that is no very well received. Invite someone that is poor, or is never invited to eat. They may say no, but at least the gesture would warm their heart.
And here is what our Lord is aiming at always...the heart of the matter.
I don't just make these suggestions if I'm not already doing them. I invite our priests over the years on family trips, and lunches, constantly. Some go, some won't. But all appreciate the act of love.
And for poor and lonely? I've invited people that are rough around the edges, at church, or at work, workers that are here alone without family. Yes, there are those that need that warmth of a home, the warmth of a meal made with sacrifice and love, shared, and this too changes the world.
Prayer of Saint Charles Borromeo Almighty God, you have generously
made known to human beings
the mysteries of your life through
Jesus Christ Your Son in the Holy Spirit.
Enlighten my mind to know these mysteries
which your Church treasures and teaches. Move my heart to love them
and my will to live in accord with them.
Give me the ability to teach this Faith to others
without pride, without ostentation, and without personal gain. Let me realize that I am simply your instrument
for bringing others to the knowledge
of the wonderful things you have done
for all your creatures.
Help me to be faithful to this task
that you have entrusted to me. Amen. |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 139:7–10 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
