 From: MorningOffering Website | † Quote of the Day "We should take as a maxim never to be surprised at current difficulties, no more than at a passing breeze, because with a little patience we shall see them disappear. Time changes everything." -St. Vincent de Paul Today's Meditation "It is necessary to have an absolutely sure intention in all our actions, so that the generous fulfillment of our daily duties may be directed toward the highest supernatural ideal. Thus, our life, apart from moments of prayer, will be a prayerful life. It is clear that the habit of giving an upward glance to God at the moment of action is a great assistance in aiding us to behave always with a pure intention and in freeing us from our natural impulses and fancies, so, that, retaining our self-mastery, or rather, God becoming the sole Master, all our movements become dependent upon the Holy Spirit. We see in the Gospel that whenever our Lord was about to undertake some important step, He always paused for a moment to raise His eyes to Heaven, and only after this moment of recollection did He take up the work He had to do. 'He lifted up His eyes to Heaven' is a phrase that recurs with significant frequency. And doubtless, when there was no outward sign of this prayer, there was the inward offering. The ideal is the same for us. The constant subjection of self to the guidance of the Holy Spirit is made easier from the fact of His presence in the soul, where He is asked explicitly to preside over all our doings . . . We shall not submit wholeheartedly to the invisible Guest unless He is kept in close proximity to us." —Raoul Plus, S.J., p. 37-38
An excerpt from How to Pray Always Daily Verse "For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I will help you."" -Isaiah 41:13 |  EWTN Daily Saint | | St Cuthbert Of Lindisfarne St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne (634-687 A.D.) was born in present-day Scotland to a lowly family, and worked as a shepherd near the Melrose Abbey monastery. A child playmate prophesied that he would one day become a bishop. And one day, while tending to his sheep, St. Cuthbert saw in a vision the soul of St. Aidan, the Bishop of Lindisfarne, carried to heaven by angels. This mystical experience inspired in him a desire to become a monk. After spending time as a soldier defending his home region of Northumbria against attack, he arrived on horseback, armed with a spear, seeking entrance at the monastery. He was received and became a monk in the Celtic Christian tradition. He grew in holiness and learning, and after serving as prior he withdrew from the community into the lifestyle of a solitary hermit. After several years of a quiet life of prayer and penance, he was persuaded to return to active life as the Bishop of Lindisfarne. A year later he became sick and died. Miracles were reported at his grave; in fact, so numerous were the reported miracles that Cuthbert was called the "Wonder-worker of England." Throughout the Middle Ages the shrine of Cuthbert remained one of the most popular places of pilgrimage in northern England. His feast day is March 20th. | Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent Lectionary: 248 Reading 1 Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22 The wicked said among themselves,
thinking not aright:
"Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us;
he sets himself against our doings,
Reproaches us for transgressions of the law
and charges us with violations of our training.
He professes to have knowledge of God
and styles himself a child of the LORD.
To us he is the censure of our thoughts;
merely to see him is a hardship for us,
Because his life is not like that of others,
and different are his ways.
He judges us debased;
he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure.
He calls blest the destiny of the just
and boasts that God is his Father.
Let us see whether his words be true;
let us find out what will happen to him.
For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him
and deliver him from the hand of his foes.
With revilement and torture let us put him to the test
that we may have proof of his gentleness
and try his patience.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death;
for according to his own words, God will take care of him."
These were their thoughts, but they erred;
for their wickedness blinded them,
and they knew not the hidden counsels of God;
neither did they count on a recompense of holiness
nor discern the innocent souls' reward. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23 R. (19a) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
He watches over all his bones;
not one of them shall be broken.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. Verse Before the Gospel Matthew 4:4b One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. Gospel John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 Jesus moved about within Galilee;
he did not wish to travel in Judea,
because the Jews were trying to kill him.
But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. But when his brothers had gone up to the feast,
he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret. Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said,
"Is he not the one they are trying to kill?
And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him.
Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ?
But we know where he is from.
When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from."
So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said,
"You know me and also know where I am from.
Yet I did not come on my own,
but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true.
I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me."
So they tried to arrest him,
but no one laid a hand upon him,
because his hour had not yet come. | Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! |  From Word Among Us WAU.org | Daily Meditation: Wisdom 2:1, 12-22 They knew not the hidden counsels of God. (Wisdom 2:22) So far as we know, animals never ask the question "Why?" They don't seek deeper meaning in their circumstances or wonder about the purpose of life. Human beings, however, wrestle with these questions all the time. But without the help of a loving God, we risk coming to the conclusion that "nothing really matters, anyone can see," as Freddie Mercury lamented in the song "Bohemian Rhapsody." We may wonder, "Why bother pursuing goodness? What is to be gained by suffering or sacrifice?" We see a similar way of thinking among the "wicked" in today's first reading (Wisdom 2:1). They decide to "beset the just one" because they cannot imagine that there would be any "recompense of holiness" or the "innocent souls' reward" (2:12, 22).So why not attack someone whose upright life "is obnoxious" to them (2:12)? What an amazingly prophetic depiction of Jesus and those who conspired to put him to death! Throughout his ministry, Jesus revealed himself as "the just one" (Wisdom 2:12). He lived a life of humility and self-sacrifice. He spent his time with the sick, the poor, and the sinful. He proclaimed a God of mercy who treats everyone equally. And he performed countless miracles that revealed the truth of his teachings. Because he did so much good and won the favor of so many in Israel, Jesus aroused the envy and anger of those who focused too much on themselves or were too narrow in their thinking about God. Ultimately, they attacked him and put him to death. But the Father vindicated everything Jesus said and did when he raised his Son from the dead. Jesus, the innocent victim, has revealed to the world "the hidden counsels of God" (Wisdom 2:22). He has shown that our highest calling is to imitate him by setting aside glory, by washing each other's feet, and by enduring even betrayal and death for the sake of the gospel. Jesus has revealed the true answer to the question "Why bother?" And that answer is as simple as it is profound, as comforting as it is challenging: because Jesus has loved us, even to the point of his own death, and all who want to live in him must love as he did. "Jesus, thank you for revealing to us the wisdom of God!" Psalm 34:17-21, 23
John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Audio of 2 Cents | From today's Holy Gospel: ".. But we know where he is from.
When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from."
So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said,
"You know me and also know where I am from.
Yet I did not come on my own,
but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true.
I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me."
So they tried to arrest him,
but no one laid a hand upon him,
because his hour had not yet come...." | From Roberto Juarez end of his reflection: "Why do they find it so hard to believe? Because they expect a Messiah in their own way. They have a preconceived idea of how God should act. And when God manifests Himself in a different way, they do not recognize Him. This can also happen to us. Sometimes we want a God who will act according to our plans, who will work things out the way we expect. But God has his ways, his times, his way of acting. And many times it does not match our expectations.
...Today's Gospel invites us to take a step further in our relationship with Christ. Not to remain in superficial ideas or habits. To seek a real encounter with Him. Let us ask the Lord to grant us an open heart to recognize him, even when he does not meet our expectations. May we learn to trust in their times, even if we do not always understand them. And that, like him, we may know how to live in fidelity to the mission that God has entrusted to us. For only those who recognize Christ as the one sent by the Father discover the true meaning of their lives." end quote.
I once met a former high school friend, owns a local business. I know he went to our church every once in a while as we grew up. Once, I remember going to his shop go buy parts and I saw something unusual, a Holy Bible on the counter. This was a stark difference than all the Dallas Cowboys memorabilia hanging everywhere. I probed him about the bible and I remembered the time there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace that our Lord had told Philip to meet on the way, and in the encounter, we heard (Philip): "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 And he (the Ethiopian) said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him."
And so I tried to do the same with my friend, because when I probed him about the bible all I heard was "yeah I read the whole bible". And so I invited him to study it more for greater detail.
Unlike Philip, I was not successful. My friend was not that Ethiopian open to know more fully what it means...to have a savior.
You see, many people claim to know the bible...and thus...to know God. But the Holy bible is a compilation of various styles of books that is God's writing through time, and various people, and events that shape an inkling into who He is. In the end...everything will hinge on one thing...your faith.
The same happens today. The people see our Lord in Judea, all headed to the feast of tabernacles. A quick search says about the feast: "The Catholic understanding of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) views it as a prefigurement of Christ's incarnation, where God "tabernacled" (dwelt) among men. Rather than keeping the Jewish harvest festival, Catholics see it fulfilled in the Eucharist and Christ as the true Light and Living Water."
How could our Lord not be present? He IS THE PRESENCE of the Living Bread turned into HIS living Body!
But the people...knew the bible.
The people...wanted Him arrested. The people there...wanted Him killed. And they supposedly knew the Torah, the bible, and the traditions.
But our Lord comes and reveals...how little we really know..or care about learning.
Bishop Barron in his reflection today opened with:"Friends, the Gospel for today centers around a theme that we can never speak of enough: the divinity of Jesus." and then goes on explaining how so many people have written books about Jesus which simplify him as a teacher, nothing more. The same dumb spirits that our Lord found Himself in....ignorance. Yet, we say "Ignorance of the bible, is ignorance of Christ". We can say that now, in hindsight, yes, but just like back then...how open are you to the God that can change everything in an instant?
Because He can. He does. And He will.
And not for worse...but for the greater good.
And as we find ourselves as pilgrims on our journey, in the season of lent, it is good to reflect...how open am I to His will?
Can I say like Saint Thomas at the end of this lent "Let us also go, that we may die with him"" as the Lord said He would travel to Judea.
We are following...but are we following what He desires? Or are we fighting it the whole entire way?
And this is the problem with witchcraft and the occult with chants, spells, and wizardry, all dealing with darkness. The problem here is faithlessness in God. To cast spells is about power. Power for pride. Ultimately...it is about having control. And to want control...means you do not want to rely on faith. And faithlessness is born, a weed in the field. And it gets worse...because there is a hefty price for faithlessness...it costs one their soul.
Back to the sacrifice. Love costs. At some point...it may cost you everything. What do I dislike about the wars we are constantly hearing about? I see my children fight and I tell them... that I will not pick a side...everyone is wrong in the fight. Love thy enemies we hear. Sure we can defend ourselves they say. But he who lives by the sword, will die by the sword. An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind. Why does this apply? Power struggles equals pride fights equals faithlessness. And how many times have I equated the word faith...with the word...love? They say in hell, it is terrible, because there is absolutely not a single sign of God or life. They say purgatory is like a hell for many, because they yearn so much for God. And they say in Heaven, they long so much for us to sacrifice for them...if we only knew the power of our prayers and sacrifices....and our love. God help us love Thee more and more.... |  Click for Audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 68:19 "Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah" . . . Word of the Lord! | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
