They Kept Silent

Minute Meditations A Preparation Place If I am a true Christian, I don't view things the same way a non-Christian does. Someone who doesn't know Jesus views this world as an ending place; Christians see it as a preparation place. — from Ask The Bible Geek St. Alphonsus Rodriguez (c. 1533-1617) Tragedy and challenge beset today's saint early in life, but Alphonsus Rodriguez found happiness and contentment through simple service and prayer. Born in Spain in 1533, Alphonsus inherited the family textile business at 23. Within the space of three years, his wife, daughter and mother died; meanwhile, business was poor. Alphonsus stepped back and reassessed his life. He sold the business and, with his young son, moved into his sisters' home. There he learned the discipline of prayer and meditation. Years later, at the death of his son, Alphonsus, almost 40 by then, sought to join the Jesuits. He was not helped by his poor education. He applied twice before being admitted. For 45 years he served as doorkeeper at the Jesuits' college in Majorca. When not at his post, he was almost always at prayer, though he often encountered difficulties and temptations. His holiness and prayerfulness attracted many to him, including St. Peter Claver, then a Jesuit seminarian. Alphonsus's life as doorkeeper may have been humdrum, but he caught the attention of poet and fellow-Jesuit Gerard Manley Hopkins, who made him the subject of one of his poems. Alphonsus died in 1617. He is the patron saint of Majorca. Comment: We like to think that God rewards the good even in this life. But Alphonsus knew business losses, painful bereavement and periods when God seemed very distant. None of his suffering made him withdraw into a shell of self-pity or bitterness. Rather, he reached out to others who lived with pain, including enslaved blacks. Among the many notables at his funeral were the sick and poor people whose lives he had touched. May they find such a friend in us! Daily Prayer - 2015-10-30 Presence Dear Jesus, I come to you today longing for your presence. I desire to love you as You love me. May nothing ever separate me from You. Freedom Many countries are at this moment suffering the agonies of war. I bow my head in thanksgiving for my freedom. I pray for all prisoners and captives. Consciousness To be conscious about something is to be aware of it. Dear Lord help me to remember that You gave me life. Thank you for the gift of life. Teach me to slow down, to be still and enjoy the pleasures created for me. To be aware of the beauty that surrounds me. The marvel of mountains, the calmness of lakes, the fragility of a flower petal. I need to remember that all these things come from you. The Word of God Reading 1 Rom 9:1-5 Brothers and sisters: I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. They are children of Israel; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. Responsorial Psalm PS 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion. For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; he has blessed your children within you. R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. He has granted peace in your borders; with the best of wheat he fills you. He sends forth his command to the earth; swiftly runs his word! R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. He has proclaimed his word to Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances to Israel. He has not done thus for any other nation; his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia. R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. Alleluia Jn 10:27 R. Alleluia, alleluia. My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 14:1-6 On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking, "Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?" But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he said to them "Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?" But they were unable to answer his question. - - - Some thoughts on today's scripture One can often judge others based on appearances only and not take the trouble to realise what is truly going on. This can be very hurtful when it happens to me personally. It is a grace to be able to treat others the way we would like to be treated ourselves. Conversation 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 I thank God for these few moments we have spent alone together and for any insights I may have been given concerning the text. Meditation: Luke 14:1-6 View NAB Reading at USCCB.org Subscriber? Login to view archives. 30th Week in Ordinary Time People there were observing him carefully. (Luke 14:1) If you're a parent of a small child, you know that one of the biggest things about them is their eyes. They're always watching you. They seem to take everything in—often a lot more than you realize. They learn from what you do just as much from what you say, if not more so. Every minute you spend with them is an educational opportunity, with you being the teacher! Jesus had a teaching opportunity in today's reading. He was in the house of a Pharisee, where he was being heavily scrutinized. He didn't worry about his host's expectations, however. He just did what he knew he should do: he healed a sick man. But then, realizing he had a "captive audience," he decided to use that healing to bring home a lesson. The Sabbath, he said, was made for healing and salvation, not just for observing rules and traditions. As believers, we all have opportunities to witness to our faith. Like Jesus, we are on display. Of course, that is true anytime we interact with other people. But it's especially true if they know we are Christians. Whether we realize it or not, they will pick up some kind of message from us. And whether they realize it or not, they will associate Christianity—and maybe even God—with what they see in us. So we really are "ambassadors for Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:20)! It can feel like a lot of responsibility, this call to be Christ to the world. But all we can really be is ourselves, just as Jesus was in the Pharisee's home. And that's a good thing! For no one else has your sense of humor. No one else has your way of relating to people. So if you stay close to Jesus and just try to be the best version of yourself, you'll make an impact. God will use you to reach people in ways that no one else can. You just need to lean back into the Lord's arms, and you'll find yourself doing a lot more than you think. For Christ is in you, and he wants to touch everyone with his love. "Lord, may what I do and say reflect the faith I profess. Strengthen me to be the salt and light that people are looking for." Romans 9:1-5 Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20 Podcast Page: http://hipcast.com/podcast/HtwMzMwx my2cents: Listen to the Word of the Lord, not just hear the Word, "I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie;".  It's funny how we can manipulate the truth, just like the devil.  You have a truth, we have a truth, and be at each others' throats!?  What's that all about?  Think about the Gospel, the Lord had the truth (ultimate truth) and the Pharisees were bible scholars with the supposed truth left by God, so what happened?  Why were they on the attack?  It's like people in a parish that yell at the priest, seeking to "put him in his place" and tell him how to do his job.  I say this because it is happening more frequently, with parishioners, and within families that are divorcing lately.  Ultimately, someone is manipulating the truth and the utlimate end of the manipulator is death...separation, death to love.  I want you to realize then, the consequences of not remaining faithful.  When I went to "escuela de la cruz", they taught us to love the priest, be there for him because many are not there for him. Hundreds of people surround him and not one dares to be on his side when he is sick, or invite him to a family dinner.  This is the life Jesus lived on earth.  In spanish, the scripture said that the Pharisees were "spying" on the Lord, whereas the english translation said "observing Him carefully".  They were watching the Lord to see what he'd do, not to be converted but to show them they were right.  Our priest shows the way to the Lord, and people are watching what he says and does, mostly to gossip...not to be converted and made more Holy.  Jesus our Lord and Savior is alive.  The spirit the Pharisees carried is alive.  I feel most are not fully open to the Holy Spirit.  They are curious, they invite the Lord to dine with them, (like in the Mass), they do things out of obligation, but what is going on inside your soul?  It is a bashing of your truth against the real Truth.  Notice, the Truth of the Lord aims to heal, and the truth of the Pharisee aimed to close and diminish the light.  He sends forth his command to the earth; swiftly runs his word! Praise the Lord Jerusalem.  The message is for the world.  The message of salvation.  The message of obedience.  What is our Lord ultimately asking us to obey?  Obey the will of God, not your own.  What is the will of the Lord?  It is being able to listen, when it comes to humility, it means not to lash out, when it comes to humility, it means to obey, when it comes to humility, it means to save no matter if it costs your neck, because when it comes to humility, Jesus our Savior shows the way to eternal life.  It is hard to be humble when you are attacked, but it is not people attacking but the evil one.  This then should bring you to your knees.  Maybe then we will listen.  I told a sibling yesterday "what was our dad asking you over and over almost in tears the previous day?" she couldn't answer.  He was pleading "listen!"  And she couldn't remember his plea.  I say this for you to realize that every day we read the bible, the Lord is speaking "listen", I want you to be mine, and let me be totally yours I'm begging...for Love, in the name of Love adrian Subscribe to the Going4th mailing list.

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Under Her Wings

Minute Meditations From Pain to Purpose Never waste your pain. Pray to God, offer it up to him as a prayer for someone else who is in pain, and turn that sorrow into something worthwhile. — from Ask The Bible Geek St. Narcissus of Jerusalem (d. 215) Life in second- and third-century Jerusalem couldn't have been easy, but St. Narcissus managed to live well beyond 100. Some even speculate he lived to 160. Details of his life are sketchy, but there are many reports of his miracles. The miracle for which he is most remembered was turning water into oil for use in the church lamps on Holy Saturday when the deacons had forgotten to provide any. We do know that Narcissus became bishop of Jerusalem in the late second century. He was known for his holiness, but there are hints that many people found him harsh and rigid in his efforts to impose church discipline. One of his many detractors accused Narcissus of a serious crime at one point. Though the charges against him did not hold up, he used the occasion to retire from his role as bishop and live in solitude. His disappearance was so sudden and convincing that many people assumed he had actually died. Several successors were appointed during his years in isolation. Finally, Narcissus reappeared in Jerusalem and was persuaded to resume his duties. By then, he had reached an advanced age, so a younger bishop was brought in to assist him until his death. Daily Prayer - 2015-10-29 Presence I pause for a moment and think of the love and the grace that God showers on me: I am created in the image and likeness of God; I am God's dwelling-place. Freedom Lord, you created me to live in freedom. May your Holy Spirit guide me to follow you freely. Instil in my heart a desire To know and love you more each day. Consciousness How am I really feeling? Lighthearted? Heavy-hearted? I may be very much at peace, happy to be here. Equally, I may be frustrated, worried or angry. I acknowledge how I really am. It is the real me that the Lord loves. The Word of God Reading 1 Rom 8:31b-39 Brothers and sisters: If God is for us, who can be against us? He did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? As it is written: For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Responsorial Psalm PS 109:21-22, 26-27, 30-31 R. (26b) Save me, O Lord, in your mercy. Do you, O GOD, my Lord, deal kindly with me for your name's sake; in your generous mercy rescue me; For I am wretched and poor, and my heart is pierced within me. R. Save me, O Lord, in your mercy. Help me, O LORD, my God; save me, in your mercy, And let them know that this is your hand; that you, O LORD, have done this. R. Save me, O Lord, in your mercy. I will speak my thanks earnestly to the LORD, and in the midst of the throng I will praise him, For he stood at the right hand of the poor man, to save him from those who would condemn his soul. R. Save me, O Lord, in your mercy. Alleluia See Lk 19:38; 2:14 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 13:31-35 Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you." He replied, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.' "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." - - - Some thoughts on today's scripture Despite the fact that his death was imminent, Jesus, because of his great love, continued to care for people who were suffering. To continue to persevere in doing good in the face of great difficulties is a great grace. Conversation Begin to talk to Jesus about the piece of scripture you have just read. What part of it strikes a chord in you? Perhaps the words of a friend - or some story you have heard recently - will slowly rise to the surface of your consciousness. If so, does the story throw light on what the scripture passage may be trying to say to you? Conclusion I thank God for these few moments we have spent alone together and for any insights I may have been given concerning the text. Meditation: Luke 13:31-35 View NAB Reading at USCCB.org Subscriber? Login to view archives. 30th Week in Ordinary Time I accomplish my purpose. (Luke 13:32) Before a building is erected, plans are drawn up. Construction proceeds in an established order so that a sturdy, safe edifice takes form. Similarly, God has plans. He has a plan for your life, your neighbor's life, and for the life of every human being. In its most general form, that plan involves our cooperating with him in accomplishing his desires, purposes, and goals. He delights in it, actually, for he knows that his plan will proceed according to his intentions—even if we can't see how at this point. Jesus trusted in God's plan. He was secure in what he was about, where he was to go, and what he was to do. It's possible he didn't know every detail. He may not have known every step, obstacle, or word in advance, but he knew what God wanted of him, and he stuck to that plan resolutely. He was confident that his Father would protect him—that he would not die outside Jerusalem—and he was unwilling to turn from this plan simply because Herod (or anyone else) tried to scare him away. Few of us live in that kind of long-range certainty, but we can have some assurance of what God wants for us today. Ask him first thing in the morning, "How do you want me to live today?" Pause for a few moments and give him time to answer. He may give you one word, such as "peace" or "hope." Or he may bring to mind a relationship that needs a little bit of work. Or he may guide you to think about how you can show compassion to a particular co-worker. Most of the time, the answer will revolve around your daily duties and responsibilities. And so you do them, confident in what you're about. Ask the Spirit to make you resolute and unwilling to turn aside from his established plan for your life. But sometimes, God has a surprise agenda. He may send you in a different direction, like calling you to finally talk with that co-worker about your faith. Trust him! Let the Spirit guide and direct you. Whatever it is, write it down and carry it with you so that you can remind yourself as the day moves on. Let God be your strength and protection. Let him be with you in all you say and do today. "Father, what do you have for me today? Come, Lord, and direct my steps." Romans 8:31-39 Psalm 109:21-22, 26-27, 30-31 Podcast Page: http://hipcast.com/podcast/HLZBZPBx my2cents: Allow me to translate the latter part of today's 5minutos: "...the same luck awaits all of us who follow Jesus.  There is no other way!!! And so...... People are irrational, illogical, and self centered, LOVE THEM ANYWAYS if you do good, they will accuse you of having alterior motives, DO GOOD ANYWAYS if you are successful you will win false and true enemies, BE SUCCESSFUL ANYWAYS The good that you do today will be forgotten tommorrow, DO GOOD ANWYWAYS The honesty and frankness makes you vulnerable, BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAYS what took years to construct can be destroyed in one night, BUILD ANYWAYS people really need help but can attack you if you do it, HELP THEM ANYWAYS Give to the world the best you have and they will kick you in your teeth, GIVE TO THE WORLD THE BEST YOU HAVE ANYWAYS" I love reading today's 1st Holy Scripture, I've written it into songs I write and sing, I read it at funerals, and I bring it up many times when people lose hope.  NOTHING can separate us from the Love of God.  How much more can be said?  Then, the answer should come, love God!  I do what I do and am who I am, to the degree I love God.  And we are speaking about holiness and purity, in regards to my proximity to Him.  Those next to Him are washed in the blood of the lamb, made clothes white and pure.  That is why we baptize and bury with white clothes in the rememberance of these scriptures....we are born with Him and we die with Him.  The Lord speaks in the Psalms too about the life of Christ and Christ within us "I will speak my thanks earnestly to the LORD, and in the midst of the throng I will praise him, For he stood at the right hand of the poor man, to save him from those who would condemn his soul."  The Lord stood up for His people "I will heal today, and tomorrow", which the Spirit says "now and forever".  The Lord is alive and well within His faithful.  Question is, when you are being tempted to be scared to quitting the faith, or to quit a ministry by the devil, what will you say?  What will be your answer?  If you've seen the movie War Room, you'll notice how they pray, standing their ground, claiming in the name of our Lord for the evil one to leave.  This is how you should stand up to the one who is trying to take over your house, your family, your soul, and all souls within.  This is the importance of having faith.  Be prepared for rejection but be prepared to go forth.  Be prepared to be killed, but be prepared to give life.  Be prepared then, means to be on your way to sacrifice.  This is my attitude when receiving the body and blood, soul and divinity of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist.  As you go forth, people will look at you, sneering, or wondering why they can't receive the blood.  It is your job to lead the way of servitude, and what we serve is important, because it is life saving.  You have the capablility to bring life into the world, and we do this when we bring our Lord into the world.  You have the power of a prophet, because you have the power of the Holy Spirit.  Use it.  The truth will never be silenced, not even if you try to hide it.  Let the love of God shine. Onward Christian Servers adrian Subscribe to the Going4th mailing list.

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Spent the Night

Minute Meditations Perfect Love Triangle Someone who doesn't believe in Christ will probably never understand the purpose of suffering, but a Christian knows the end of the story. Suffering is nothing less than participating in the perfect "love triangle" of the Blessed Trinity. — from Ask The Bible Geek St. Jude (Simon and Jude) Jude is so named by Luke and Acts. Matthew and Mark call him Thaddeus. He is not mentioned elsewhere in the Gospels, except, of course, where all the apostles are referred to. Scholars hold that he is not the author of the Letter of Jude. Actually, Jude had the same name as Judas Iscariot. Evidently because of the disgrace of that name, it was shortened to "Jude" in English. Simon is mentioned on all four lists of the apostles. On two of them he is called "the Zealot." The Zealots were a Jewish sect that represented an extreme of Jewish nationalism. For them, the messianic promise of the Old Testament meant that the Jews were to be a free and independent nation. God alone was their king, and any payment of taxes to the Romans—the very domination of the Romans—was a blasphemy against God. No doubt some of the Zealots were the spiritual heirs of the Maccabees, carrying on their ideals of religion and independence. But many were the counterparts of modern terrorists. They raided and killed, attacking both foreigners and "collaborating" Jews. They were chiefly responsible for the rebellion against Rome which ended in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Comment: As in the case of all the apostles except for Peter, James and John, we are faced with men who are really unknown, and we are struck by the fact that their holiness is simply taken to be a gift of Christ. He chose some unlikely people: a former Zealot, a former (crooked) tax collector, an impetuous fisherman, two "sons of thunder" and a man named Judas Iscariot. It is a reminder that we cannot receive too often. Holiness does not depend on human merit, culture, personality, effort or achievement. It is entirely God's creation and gift. God needs no Zealots to bring about the kingdom by force. Jude, like all the saints, is the saint of the impossible: only God can create his divine life in human beings. And God wills to do so, for all of us. Quote: "Just as Christ was sent by the Father, so also he sent the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit. This he did so that, by preaching the gospel to every creature (cf. Mark 16:15), they might proclaim that the Son of God, by his death and resurrection, had freed us from the power of Satan (cf. Acts 26:18) and from death, and brought us into the kingdom of his Father" (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy). Patron Saint of: Desperate causes Daily Prayer - 2015-10-28 Presence At any time of the day or night we can call on Jesus. He is always waiting, listening for our call. What a wonderful blessing. No phone needed, no e-mails, just a whisper. Freedom By God's grace I was born to live in freedom. Free to enjoy the pleasures He created for me. Dear Lord, grant that I may live as You intended, with complete confidence in Your Loving care. Consciousness How do I find myself today? Where am I with God? With others? Do I have something to be grateful for? Then I give thanks. Is there something I am sorry for? Then I ask forgiveness. The Word of God Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles Reading 1 Eph 2:19-22 Brothers and sisters: 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 Psalm PS 19:2-3, 4-5 R. (5a) Their message goes out through all the earth. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day pours out the word to day, and night to night imparts knowledge. R. Their message goes out through all the earth. Not a word nor a discourse whose voice is not heard; Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message. R. Their message goes out through all the earth. Alleluia See Te Deum R. Alleluia, alleluia. We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; the glorious company of Apostles praise you. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 6:12-16 Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. - - - Some thoughts on today's scripture It seems that Jesus and his father spent the whole night in conversation about the choosing of the twelve apostles. Can I imagine how the conversation went? Do I ever consult God about the decisions that I have to make in life, especially those that would have a long-term effect? It is worth the trouble to look for his advice -- even if it takes all night. Conversation Jesus you speak to me through the words of the gospels. May I respond to your call today. Teach me to recognise your hand at work in my daily living. Conclusion I thank God for these few moments we have spent alone together and for any insights I may have been given concerning the text. Meditation: Ephesians 2:19-22 View NAB Reading at USCCB.org Subscriber? Login to view archives. Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostles (Feast) You are fellow citizens with the holy ones. (Ephesians 2:19)   Okay, class. It's time for a quiz. Take out your pens, and write down everything you know about St. Simon. Then do the same for St. Jude. You can use as many sheets of paper as you need. This is one quiz you would pass if you were to turn in a nearly blank sheet of paper! All we know for sure is that Simon and Jude were among the Twelve Jesus chose. It's possible that they brought the gospel to Mesopotamia and Persia, but we don't know for sure. They might have been martyred while on their missionary journeys, but we really don't know. What we do know is that they loved the Lord and were willing to lay down their lives for him. Simon is sometimes called "the Zealot" or "the Cananean" to distinguish him from Simon Peter, but we're not sure whether this title designates a geographical region or a group of political activists. On lists in the other Gospels, Jude seems to be called Thaddeus. It was once thought that he was the same person who wrote a short letter that's now part of the New Testament, but some scholars now doubt that. For reasons unknown to us, Jude has long been venerated as the patron of hopeless or impossible causes. Perhaps that's because he shares a name with Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. According to tradition, many people were reluctant to ask his intercession; they would turn to him only as a last resort, when all other prayers seemed to go unanswered. However he got the title, Jude's special designation speaks to all of us. Like the first apostles—a motley crew of tax collectors and zealots and tradesmen—we could never hope to become saints if Jesus didn't call and empower us. We would just be ordinary, everyday people. But thanks to Jesus, we can become so much more! Most of us can think of a desire close to our hearts that currently seems impossible. Get a firm grip on that desire. Then invite St. Simon and St. Jude to help you lay it at the feet of Jesus. Let them show you that he can do anything. "Simon and Jude, you were close friends with Jesus. Please intercede with him for this special favor that seems impossible to me."     Psalm 19:2-5 Luke 6:12-16 my2cents: A while back, a man gave a sermon on Laminin, a protein that holds cells together.  When drawn as a diagram in its molecular structure, its shape is like a cross.  The excitement in the sermon was a personal revelation, but it is beautiful, because in its end, it compares and shows that Christ holds us together, love holds us together.  What else can hold us together?  What's more important?  Substitutes will fail, eventually.  I say this because lately, I've been hearing alot about divorces.  People want to hear the Church change, to "get with the times" and to stop hating on people.  Point the finger.  The Church is made of people and is held together by God, Love.  What separates us is these lies from the devil that are saying "the Church needs to change", that way, we don't have to change, we don't convert, we don't have to be that Holy, we don't have to obey, we don't have to be humble. Somehow, we are held together. If things seem impossible, it is not so for our Lord.  It may be impossible to escape suffering, but no person gets out alive, we must all die, because we are held together through Him, and He died too.  The next phase is what should phase us now. "Their message goes out through all the earth", we pray today.  Who's message?  Today our Lord chooses who will take the message, and set the foundation on 12 pillars. Regular people, through whom which we are tied through Christ who transcends time.  These pillars set up Heaven on Earth with our Lord.  Did the Lord make a mistake with one of them?  Did He pray all night for nothing?  Does the Lord make mistakes?  No.  We do.  We want things to go our way, and that's when we get in His way.  That's when we want the Church to be a democracy, and it is NOT.  If you let the people decide then evil will decide because of concupiscence, our tendency to sin.  Let this be a lesson because we belong in His Kingdom.  I asked the RCIA class last night about the Lord's prayer, "what do you think it means when we pray 'Thy Kingdom Come' ".  As the Holy Spirit spoke, I said, it is making HIM our King.  It means we are subjects, servants.  It means, like I told the workers this morning "we are helpers, I'm your helper, you're my helper, we are all helpers".  These are the people God chooses.  These are the ones He prays for.  These are the ones He asks to do His will.  If we change His plan, we do it to doom ourselves.  When we give Glory to God we don't give Him anything more but help ourselves.  When we sin we don't do anything more than hurt ourselves.  The beauty then, is the opportunity to remain.  The glue, the protein is there, in the shape of the cross, it is Christ.  Whether we make Him our King or not, doesn't take away that He is the King of Heaven and earth.  The King of the Kingdom is almighty, and this love is said by saints that if we knew His love for us, we would go crazy in thanksgiving.  The message is then important as ever...pray before saying anything.  Pray before doing anything.  Pray because that is more important, because it means you are bringing God into the world.  The message goes forth this way throughout all the earth..through you and me.  Silence is deadly unless it is used to listen to the Lord our God speak to the heart. Onward. St. Jude, of impossible cases, let us break our silence so we can speak out about what is breaking us apart.  Lord be with us, we need your strength, your protein, your body, your love, your everything to make it through... adrian Subscribe to the Going4th mailing list.

Going4th,