Quote: "If the heart wanders or is distracted, bring it back to the point quite gently and replace it tenderly in its Master's presence. And even if you did nothing during the whole of your hour but bring your heart back and place it again in Our Lord's presence, though it went away every time you brought it back, your hour would be very well employed." St. Francis de Sales Today's Meditation "Why? Why do you need more? Sometimes this is the result of not trusting in God to meet our needs. But just as food can't bring enduring peace to our bodies, money can't bring a similar kind of peace to our souls."
—Matt Fradd, p.44 Daily Verse "Though the fig tree do not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."
-Habakkuk 3:17-18 | St Felix Of Nola St. Felix of Nola (d. 250 A.D.) was born in Italy near Naples, the son of a Syrian soldier. After his father's death, Felix gave his goods to the poor and entered the priesthood. He was ordained by his bishop, St. Maximus of Nola, and served as his assistant. When persecution against Christians increased under Roman Emperor Decius, St. Maximus hid in the desert while St. Felix was captured, tortured, and thrown into prison. While in prison an angel appeared to Felix and freed him from his chains, bidding him to go to the aid of his bishop, St. Maximus, who was at the point of starving to death. After assisting the bishop, Felix fled from his captors by hiding in a hole. Miraculously, a spider quickly spun a web over the hole and prevented St. Felix from being caught by his pursuers. Felix continued hiding in a dry well for six months until the persecution abated. Afterwards he declined an offer to become the bishop of Nola following the death of St. Maximus. Felix's property was confiscated in the persecutions, so he lived his remaining years farming a few acres of rented land for his own sustenance as well as alms for the poor. His feast day is January 14. | | Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time | | --- | During the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli,
a revelation of the LORD was uncommon and vision infrequent.
One day Eli was asleep in his usual place.
His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see.
The lamp of God was not yet extinguished,
and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD
where the ark of God was.
The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, "Here I am." Samuel ran to Eli and said, "Here I am. You called me."
"I did not call you," Eli said. "Go back to sleep."
So he went back to sleep.
Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli.
"Here I am," he said. "You called me."
But Eli answered, "I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep."
At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD,
because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.
The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time.
Getting up and going to Eli, he said, "Here I am.
You called me."
Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.
So Eli said to Samuel, "Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply,
'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'"
When Samuel went to sleep in his place,
the LORD came and revealed his presence,
calling out as before, "Samuel, Samuel!"
Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening." Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him,
not permitting any word of his to be without effect.
Thus all Israel from Dan to Beersheba
came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the LORD. R. (8a and 9a) Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust; who turns not to idolatry or to those who stray after falsehood.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not; then said I, "Behold I come."
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me.
To do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!"
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will. R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord.
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn,
he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you."
He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come."
So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons
throughout the whole of Galilee. | Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: 1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20 Eli understood that the Lord was calling the youth. 1 Samuel 3:8) It's heartwarming to hear that young Samuel had to wake Eli three times in the middle of the night before the elderly priest realized that Samuel was hearing the voice of God. It shows that even revered elders can get it wrong sometimes and are humble enough to change course. It's also encouraging to see that Eli, despite all the interrupted sleep, was still clear enough to guide Samuel and help him encounter the Lord for himself. We might read this story and think, "It would be great to have someone in my life who has that kind of confidence in God's work and encourages me on my spiritual journey!" And of course, it would be great. But our imaginings can go the other way as well. It would be just as great if we could offer that kind of encouragement to other people! God wants us to live in community with one another. He wants us to be open to each other's words of encouragement, even as he wants us to be free to encourage them. In other words, he wants us all to be willing to share about our spiritual lives with one another. Often, we worry that we need to have it all together before we open our hearts to one another in this way. But all we have to do is remember Eli! He didn't always get it right, either. The most important step is to echo the prayer that Eli gave to Samuel: "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:9). Lord, help me look at my friends, family, and others as brothers and sisters in you. Teach me how to share with them in a way that brings us closer together and closer to you. Then look for opportunities to begin a conversation. God didn't create us to live as anonymous, isolated believers. He wants us to develop relationships that mirror the love that exists between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. He wants us to treat each other with the same openness and care that the apostles learned as they grew closer to Jesus. May we all grow together in love so that we can all grow together in Christ! "Jesus, teach me how to share spiritual companionship with the people you have put in my life." Psalm 40:2, 5, 7-10
Mark 1:29-39 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Audio of 2 Cents | From today's Holy Gospel: "... He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn,
he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you."
He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come."
So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons
throughout the whole of Galilee. ...." Word of the Lord. | From Roberto Juarez: "This Gospel offers us a very timely and necessary balance: closeness to those who suffer, concrete service, but also silence, prayer and discernment. Without prayer, the service is emptied; Without service, prayer becomes sterile. We too are called to allow ourselves to be "lifted up" by Jesus. Sometimes our fevers are not physical, but internal: tiredness, discouragement, routine, lack of hope. Jesus reaches out, takes us by the hand and gives us back the dignity and strength to move forward. And, like Peter's mother-in-law, we are raised up to serve. Faith does not isolate us, it commits us. In the family, in the parish, in society, we are called to be servants, not spectators. Let us ask the Lord to teach us to live like Him: entering into the lives of others, healing with closeness, serving generously and always seeking in prayer the strength for mission. May we know how to get up every day from his hand and follow him faithfully." end quote.
From Bishop Barron:
" Jesus was referred to in the early Church as the Savior (Salvator in Latin). The term speaks of the one who brings healing—indeed, our word salve is closely related to salvus, meaning health. When the soul is healthy, it is in a living relationship with God. When the soul is sick, the entire person becomes ill, because all flows from and depends upon the dynamic encounter with the source of being and life who is God. We heal the soul by bringing to bear the salvator, the healer, the one who in his person reconciled us with God and opened the soul to the divine power." end quote.
"Rising very early before dawn,
he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed."
Our Lord walked this earth, got up before dawn in the mornings, and prayed.
Was this unusual? Probably not. But for many of us, it could be.
For me, it is hard. Even if there is time, to make time, to make the effort to pray, can still become awkward, cumbersome, and if really busy, it could feel bothersome!
Why? The flesh is weak. Yes, we all would like to do holy stuff, but, to actually do it?
Yes, I'd like to be physically fit, but to actually do the work? I'd rather have my squishy jelly filled donuts! And then cry about it later when looking in the mirror, LOL. Right?
Do what's hard. Do what is not natural. Get up. Before dawn, before the sun comes out, start your prayer life, start the day right with the SUN of God, the light of God.
There is a quote from the child Jesus that said
"Have mercy on Me, and I will have mercy on you. Give Me hands, and I will give you peace. The more you honor Me, the more I will bless you." - Infant Jesus of Prague
Can we do that? How do we have mercy on Him? Being with Him is one way. Caring for Him with our hands is another as well. How? Helping the innocent, and the ignorant. Not hitting them. Not yelling at them. Right? Our Lord was stern a couple of times, but He is the gentle and Good Shepherd. And He still desires to be that, in you.
Make the effort then, to pray, yes alone is where it starts, but then, with others. If you only knew the power of praying with others. And the lasting impact it would have on your family, if you pray together.
Then, living in Jesus our Lord, we will live in peace, not as the world sees it, but as He sees it.
You see the image of the infant Jesus they say in ChurchPop today: "Jesus has a crown saying He is the King of the Universe. His free hand says, "I (the Holy Trinity) am speaking." His other hand holds the world. What an awesome artistic depiction. The King of the Universe is speaking. He has the whole world in his hands. Consider not what you want. Consider what God wants. As a child of God, do your best to honor God, and he will bless you!" Here is where you come in now. Here is where faith comes in. Here is where our will, our conscious is formed. Here is where the desires begin and decisions begin...the heart of every matter.
May our Heart be on with the precious child of Jesus. |  Click for Audio | Random Bible Verse 1
2 Timothy 3:16–17 "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God1 may be complete, equipped for every good work." . . . . . . . . Word of the Lord! | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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