| Minute Meditations
Little is known about the life of Januarius. He is believed to have been martyred in the Emperor Diocletian's persecution of 305. Legend has it that after Januarius was thrown to the bears in the amphitheater of Pozzuoli, he was beheaded, and his blood ultimately brought to Naples. Comment: It is defined Catholic doctrine that miracles can happen and can be recognized—hardly a mind-boggling statement to anyone who believes in God. Problems arise, however, when we must decide whether an occurrence is unexplainable in natural terms, or only unexplained. We do well to avoid an excessive credulity, which may be a sign of insecurity. On the other hand, when even scientists speak about "probabilities" rather than "laws" of nature, it is something less than imaginative for Christians to think that God is too "scientific" to work extraordinary miracles to wake us up to the everyday miracles of sparrows and dandelions, raindrops and snowflakes. Quote: "A dark mass that half fills a hermetically sealed four-inch glass container, and is preserved in a double reliquary in the Naples cathedral as the blood of St. January, liquefies 18 times during the year.... This phenomenon goes back to the 14th century.... Tradition connects it with a certain Eusebia, who had allegedly collected the blood after the martyrdom.... The ceremony accompanying the liquefaction is performed by holding the reliquary close to the altar on which is located what is believed to be the martyr's head. While the people pray, often tumultuously, the priest turns the reliquary up and down in the full sight of the onlookers until the liquefaction takes place.... Various experiments have been applied, but the phenomenon eludes natural explanation. There are, however, similar miraculous claims made for the blood of John the Baptist, Stephen, Pantaleon, Patricia, Nicholas of Tolentino and Aloysius Gonzaga—nearly all in the neighborhood of Naples" (Catholic Encyclopedia).
Presence I pause for a moment Freedom Lord, may I never take the gift Consciousness I ask how I am within myself today? Am I particularly tired, stressed, or off-form? If any of these characteristics apply, can I try to let go of the concerns that disturb me? The Word of God Sometimes I wonder what I might say if I were to meet you in person Lord. I think I might say "Thank You Lord" for always being there for me. I know with certainty there were times when you carried me, Lord, when it was through your strength I got through the dark times in my life. Conclusion Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
Saint Januarius, Bishop and Martyr Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20)
A well-known pastor once delivered a sermon on death. He began with a story about Edgar Bergen, a famous ventriloquist. Bergen was at a train station one day when he spotted a coffin that some porters had laid down near the platform. He went over to the coffin, leaned over it, and asked, "Is everything all right in there?" As the porters watched, a voice seemed to come from inside, saying, "Let me out of here!" The porters ran off, scared stiff. The pastor finished the story by asking his congregation, "How will you escape from your coffin?" At least some of the Corinthians that Paul was speaking to were not sure how to answer that question. Although they acknowledged that Christ had risen, they didn't believe in bodily resurrection for everyone else. They may have believed that because of sin, their bodies couldn't make it to heaven. Only their souls would rise. That idea didn't bother them, but Paul couldn't let this mistake go unanswered. Why was it so important? Because the teaching about a bodily resurrection gets down to our identity in Christ. If the only part of us that matters is spiritual, then Jesus' incarnation was meaningless, and his resurrection in a glorified body was unnecessary. A human person is both flesh and spirit. We are whole only when we are made whole in Christ, body and soul. We are not ghosts in boxes. Our laughter, our sight, our hearing, our sense of touch, our movements are all meant to be taken up into Christ, who came "to reconcile all things" to himself (Colossians 1:20). As you reflect on this truth, think of the totality of God's love for you. He didn't come just to forgive your sins, incredibly generous though this gift is. He came to bring you to a new life with him. All of you! He wants to glorify you, spirit, soul, and body. He wants to transform you from the inside out. So glorify the Lord for this awesome truth. Spend some time praising the God who loves you more than you could ever conceive—the One who has defeated death itself! "Lord, thank you for the gift of my body. May I always treat it with the respect and dignity it deserves."
Psalm 17:1, 6-8, 15; Luke 8:1-3
my2cents: Allow me to translate today's 5minutos: "This is the new community!" The new witnesses and messengers of God in the world: The Twelve, some women, some that would serve Him. A group of sinners that were forgiven that can no longer live without Him; the forgiven become witnesses, in apostles, announce their joy of gaving been forgiven and saved. There is the presences of these freed women in all sense of the word, now that His presence in the disciples of Jesus tears open the customs of the Jews, that did not consider them "worthy" of some position of social responsibility, nor were they accepted by the rabbi. To Jesus these "customs" didn't matter to Him, but for the disciples to listen, meditate and practice His Word; by deed, some women were the first witnesses of the Resurrection. Jesus, considers as his necessity, his "hunger", to announce this liberation, this Good News to all without distinction, in so much as all would encounter in Him, not only what they sought, but Something more; not only his health and dignity, physical and earthly, but his Eternal health. Jesus lives of the "almsgiving" that all these saved and forgiven by Him give to him. Grateful they accompany Him, that is to say, they turn into His disciples: they walk together, eat together and the same, feel the same worries, like a family, where the personal daily treatment is originating this "home warming". We call ourselves "disciples" of Jesus but, can it be that we dont give Him a ridiculous and insignificant "almsgiving" offering in exchange for all the abundance He gives?" It is boiling down to our gratefulness. But it's not about everybody elses' gratefulness, it's about me! Stop deflecting the whole point of this writing to you- off to someone else you think needs it, it's YOU and JESUS right now. I heard last week someone say "I've been helping the cursillo back home for 30 years and this is how they treat me?" and last I heard he dropped out from a leading position. I said after walking into the conversation "do you know what we can expect after serving? A kick in the rear and a stab in the back" , that's all I'm looking forward to. I've heard too many stories of older folks complaining of how much they've served the church and "they" (the church people) don't appreciate them after all they've done. So did you do it for Jesus, or them?So who really is appreciative? Just now an employee quit, probably thinks after all the years worked for nothing, but he quit, I didn't want him to leave! Why do you quit and point the finger? It's the church's fault not mine? I've seen too many people leave and the guilt lies on them. Some come back, some are still in limbo, on the verge of hell...or coming to Heaven. The hardest part about hating is not being able to pray for them. Bust loose, open your heart to mercy and love...open your heart to Jesus! The reason Jesus had followers is because they appreciated, they believed, some experienced miracles but it was all them. If one day something I said here affected you for the good, it was Jesus, never was it me. The only reason I even put my first name on my2cents is for if you disagree and think this is complete nonsense is so that you will blame me, not the Lord. I can take a hit for Him...can you? Why would I stand in the line of fire as I often do? Well, why did all these women stand in the line of fire, to the point of being at the feet of the crucified Christ? Because they loved God, they loved Jesus, and not in a stupid romance as the world will try to twist, "oh Mary Magdalene was his girlfriend that's why". This is the slob of the devil, always twisting the truth, yet the truth is far from the slob. Jesus came to have leaders, but leaders that truly follow. Yes there are priests, then there are Holy priests in their daily lives. Yes there are devout Catholics, but, then there are Holy Catholics. Yes there are many servants of the Lord, but only a handful truly love the Lord. I always joke with my wife about how she can prove her love for me..."in the end I will know...rocking chairs". The truth is revealed. All your sins will be put out in the open. All your good deeds will be spread. I have nothing to worry about, but the family affair of Christ. And this is where the world needs to know...the family should be based on Christ. Christ centered. Only then will we live the Psalm "Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full". Full of Christ. Full of the Christ offering. There is an extreme danger for those of us who take the Eucharist in a Holy Mass...to take it with remorse, revenge, anger, animosity towards another member of the family of God. It would've been better that you not been born than to lift a finger against God's children. We don't live in a hunky dory time in the world. Sin is running rampant. China is destroying churches. The middle east is hunting Christians. And in our country? The same. {Don't you dare come near me} says the devil. {Don't you dare try to get rid of me}. {Don't you dare go to Church}. {Don't you dare believe you have a prayer}. {Don't you dare speak about God}. {Don't you dare try to appreciate Him}. {I'm going to come after you}. And so the terrorist lives at home, Satan. I love the story of a terrorist group, mob or mafia, that tried to take over a village in Mexico. The people stood up and fought back...and won. COURAGE my brother and sister. All this negative talk does not make room for positive, and the cross is positive. I am positive that God will take care of you. Will you lay down your life? Why? Why should I lay down all my whole life? For Jesus? So He can raise it up forever. And this is how I Love  adrian | |||||||||||||
Listen to audio of this reading
Watch a video reflection
Going4th,
