†Build an oratory within yourself, and there have Jesus on the altar of your heart. Speak to Him often while you are doing your work. Speak to Him of His holy love, of His holy sufferings and of the sorrows of most holy Mary. St Paul of the Cross
We all need to rest and relax sometimes, and enjoying a good movie, game, novel, show, or trip downtown can often help that happen. Unfortunately, however, this area of human endeavor has also been affected by post-Christian cultural pollution. Pastimes we engage in for necessay rest and relaxation should be both enjoyable and edifying. They should refresh us, but they should also encourage our Christian values — or at least not discourage them. This doesn’t mean that we should hide away in a Christian bunker somewhere and avoid looking at or listening to anything not explicitly biblical — the Puritan experiment failed in the end, after all, and generations of saints have nourished their minds and hearts on all the great artistic achievements of the human famimly, including pagan ones. But it does mean that we need to be smart and intentional about the food we give our imagination and the stimulation we give our emotions. We need to avoid input that could be an occasion of sin for us or for others, and we need to find out what truly helps us get the rest and relaxation necessary to maintain a healthy emotional and physiological profile. Proper rest and entertainment are in the service of our life mission; they are not our goal. Christians don’t live for the weekend; we live for loving Christ and building up his kingdom. — Fr. John Bartunek, P. 15
Daily Verse †Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of any one, says the Lord God; so turn, and live. ▪ Ezekiel 18:31-32
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EWTN Daily Saint
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St. Paul of the CrossPatron Saint of: Passionists, missionaries, and retreat ministries
Feast Day: October 20 St. Paul of the Cross (1694–1775) was born near Turin, Italy, the second of sixteen children—only six of whom survived infancy. His devout parents ensured his strong religious upbringing. In his childhood Paul went to daily Mass, spent much time before the Blessed Sacrament, and attended to his studies. He taught catechism in the local churches before experiencing a deep religious conversion at the age of 19 through the writings of St. Francis de Sales. After a brief stint as a soldier and declining an offer for a good marriage, at the age of 26 he learned through prayer that God was calling him to found a new religious order which came to be known as the Congregation of the Passion, or the Passionists. He was instructed in a vision as to what the new habit of his order should look like: a black tunic bearing a heart surmounted by a white cross, with the words “Passion of Jesus Christ” written inside the heart. To the religious vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience he added a fourth: to spread devotion to Christ’s Passion among the faithful. His mission was to ignite a love for Jesus in the hearts of the faithful at a time when many saw Him only as a great moral teacher. St. Paul of the Cross was one of the most powerful preachers of his day, as well as a mystic, and he was known to bring even the most hardened sinners to tears. He also took special care of the sick, poor, and suffering. His feast day is October 20th.
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Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary TimeLectionary: 474 Reading 1Ephesians 2:12-22 Brothers and sisters:
You were at that time without Christ,
alienated from the community of Israel
and strangers to the covenants of promise,
without hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have become near by the Blood of Christ. For he is our peace, he made both one
and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh,
abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,
that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,
thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile both with God,
in one Body, through the cross,
putting that enmity to death by it.
He came and preached peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near,
for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Responsorial PsalmPsalm 85:9ab-10, 11-12, 13-14 R. (see 9) The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people. AlleluiaLuke 21:36 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray
that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. GospelLuke 12:35-38 Jesus said to his disciples:
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.”
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Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ!
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From Word Among Us WAU.org
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Daily Meditation: Ephesians 2:12-22In Christ Jesus you who were once far off have become near. (Ephesians 2:13) What must it have been like for the Gentiles to be brought near to the one, true, living God? What must it have been like for those who had been alienated and separated from God’s covenant with Israel to enter into an intimate relationship with him through Jesus? That’s what our first reading is all about. Addressing gentile converts to Christianity, St. Paul is describing the magnitude of what Jesus has done for them. This is more than just a historical observation. Paul’s words are for us today as well. The power of Jesus’ cross and resurrection to bring people back to God is still present today in the Church. So let’s praise him for his marvelous work! Jesus, you are our peace (Ephesians 2:14). I praise you, Lord, because you have broken down the dividing walls that sin builds between people. You have put enmity to death. Reconciled to my heavenly Father, I can now see all believers as members of his—and my—family. Jesus, you have given us access in one Spirit to the Father (2:18). I rejoice that the same Spirit who dwells in me has dwelt in your people throughout the ages. This is the Spirit who leads me to the Father, who reveals to me my identity as a member of the family of God, the body of Christ. Jesus, you have made me a fellow citizen with the holy ones and a member of God’s household (2:19). I stand amazed, Lord, that you count me as a member of your heavenly household. United to you, I am also united to the holy ones in heaven as well as those still on earth. I am no longer a stranger; I belong to your people. Jesus, you are building us into one, and you are the capstone (2:20). Thank you, Lord, that we who have been brought near are being built together. You are the capstone, the One who keeps us from falling apart. You give us the grace to grow into a sacred dwelling place of God, a community where God resides always—both within each of us and among us. “Thank you, Lord, that you are not finished with us yet! Keep building us into one body, one Church!” Psalm 85:9-14
Luke 12:35-38
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Reflections with Brother Adrian:
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“Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.””
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From Roberto Juarez end of his reflection: "At the center of the Gospel is a surprising promise. Jesus says, "Blessed are those servants whom the Lord finds watching when he comes." The happiness that Jesus proclaims does not depend on everything going well for us, on having a smooth life, or on being able to control the future. It is born of living in relationship with the Lord, knowing that our existence has meaning and that we are called to meet Him. There is a deep joy in knowing that we are living faithfully, even if our efforts are not recognized by others. There is peace in making sure that our decisions are in accordance with the Gospel, even when doing so is costly. And there is hope in knowing that no work of love done in the name of Christ is lost. Jesus does not promise that waiting will always be easy.
Sometimes we get tired, discouraged, or wonder if it is worth continuing to do good. We may feel that our prayers are not answered or that injustice seems to prevail. Precisely then we need to remember that the Lord has called us to remain faithful. The night may be long, but it is not eternal. The lighted lamp expresses our confidence that Christ does not abandon those who hope in Him. That is why this Gospel does not want to fill us with fear of the Lord's coming. It wants to awaken our hope. The question is not only when Christ will arrive, but how we are living while we wait for Him.
The passage concludes with one of the most moving images in the Gospel. Jesus says that the master, finding his servants watchful, "will gird himself and make them sit down at table, and come and serve them."
The scene is striking. It would have been customary for servants to attend to their master. However, Jesus reverses the roles: the master becomes a servant and ministers to those who have remained faithful. In this image we can recognize the heart of Christ. He does not come to humiliate his disciples or to take advantage of them. He comes to offer them his love. The Lord we await is the same one who knelt before his disciples to wash their feet and who gave his life for our salvation.
Christian vigilance, therefore, does not consist in fulfilling a series of tasks to get God to accept us. It consists in remaining in the love of the One who first loved us. Our faithfulness is a grateful response to his grace. Moreover, this promise teaches us how we should treat one another. If our Lord becomes a servant, we cannot always live looking for others to care for us, recognize us or put themselves at our service. Waiting for Christ means learning from Him how to serve. A Christian community keeps its lamp lit when it welcomes, accompanies, listens and helps; when it leaves no one behind; when its members are concerned for those who are in difficulty and when love is translated into concrete gestures.
Let us ask ourselves today what we can do to keep our lamp burning. Perhaps we need to recover a moment of prayer, reconcile with someone, dedicate more time to our family or pay attention to a person who needs our help. Let us not leave for tomorrow the good we can do today. May the Lord, when he comes into our lives, find us with our hearts awake, our hands full of goodness and the lamp of faith lit." end quote.
- - - From Bishop Barron: "Though Jesus came and fulfilled the expectations of his people, nevertheless we still wait. The liturgy states it clearly: "As we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ." And in Eucharistic Prayer IV, we find, "As we await his coming in glory…" The creed says, "He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead." In the Acts of the Apostles, the angel addresses the disciples as they stare into the heavens after the ascended Jesus: "Why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven." Paul's letters are filled with a lively expectation that Jesus would soon return. Toward the very end of the New Testament and hence of the entire biblical revelation-we read, "Come, Lord Jesus!" And the Lord draws a forceful conclusion from the parable: "You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." end quote.
Your Brother Adrian. I know there is much to read or listen to here. I try to proof all these reflections before sharing, but sometimes, it is too good to hide. What if you knew something that was life saving…why would you hide it?
I think of the atrocity of abortion. We know if we speak up, it can save a life, but to secure a false peace, we remain silent, and an innocent life is lost. That human, paid the price. And humanity pays along with it. You see, the importance of doing God's will?
Silence kills. This is then, a disservice. And our Lord in Heaven calls us to a body of service. Every baptized soul is incorporated into the Body of Christ. And the body shall do His Holy will. A service.
Our Lord today asks us to be those "vigilant servants". What is a vigilant soul to do? To remain alert. To be found doing God's service.
There is a perplexing issue for many here, "how do we serve God?". There are different services, one is called "Liturgy" in the Mass. "Liturgy" comes from the Greek word leitourgia, which means a "public work" or a "service in the name of or on behalf of the people". In Christian tradition, it is understood as the participation of the People of God in the "work of God" (the work of salvation through Christ).
This is a culmination, our gathering means something to our Father. An offering…of thanksgiving. This gets super deep, super quick. Let me continue with service.
Then, we have the service to God, making the Liturgy a living reality. You see, at the end of Mass, the Father gives a final blessing. I see people dash out of Mass sometimes before His dismissal and blessing. We should wait. Wait to hear the words as our Lord did before ascending into Heaven. A command and a blessing.
Then, we serve God in the people. In ALL His people. He even hides in those souls, many of which we care little about. But He cares. And He wants to care through you, who have received His word. To give the word life. To give Christ life on earth. And we save a soul. And in doing so, we could even save our soul.
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Random Bible Verse 1
Proverbs 3:5–6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Word of the Lord!
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