Come After Me

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Minute Meditations Looking Ahead We look ahead to the coming of the Son of Man, standing erect and with heads held high. We live in hope, not in fear. Our experience of God is no longer limited by human weakness or even human sinfulness. God has always been one step ahead of us, with a plan that exceeds our greatest desires. — from The Little Way of Advent November 30 St. Andrew Andrew was St. Peter's brother, and was called with him. "As was walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is now called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, 'Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.' At once they left their nets and followed him" (Matthew 4:18-20). John the Evangelist presents Andrew as a disciple of John the Baptist. When Jesus walked by one day, John said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." Andrew and another disciple followed Jesus. "Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, 'What are you looking for?' They said to him, 'Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are you staying?' He said to them, 'Come, and you will see.' So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day" (John 1:38-39a). Little else is said about Andrew in the Gospels. Before the multiplication of the loaves, it was Andrew who spoke up about the boy who had the barley loaves and fishes (see John 6:8-9). When the Gentiles went to see Jesus, they came to Philip, but Philip then had recourse to Andrew (see John 12:20-22). Legend has it that Andrew preached the Good News in what is now modern Greece and Turkey and was crucified at Patras. Story: "...he Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, 'It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word'" (Acts of the Apostles 6:2--4). Comment: As in the case of all the apostles except Peter and John, the Gospels give us little about the holiness of Andrew. He was an apostle. That is enough. He was called personally by Jesus to proclaim the Good News, to heal with Jesus' power and to share his life and death. Holiness today is no different. It is a gift that includes a call to be concerned about the Kingdom, an outgoing attitude that wants nothing more than to share the riches of Christ with all people. Quote: Patron Saint of: Fishermen Greece Russia Scotland Daily Prayer - 2015-12-01 Presence "I stand at the door and knock," says the Lord. What a wonderful privilege that the Lord of all creation desires to come to me. I welcome His presence. Freedom Lord you gave me life and the gift of freedom. Through Your love I exist in this world. May I never take the gift of life for granted. May I always respect the right to life of others. Consciousness Where do I sense hope, encouragement, and growth areas in my life? By looking back over the last few months, I may be able to see which activities and occasions have produced rich fruit. If I do notice such areas, I will determine to give those areas both time and space in the future. The Word of God Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle Reading 1 Rom 10:9-18 Brothers and sisters: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The Scripture says, No one who believes in him will be put to shame. There is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news! But not everyone has heeded the good news; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us? Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. But I ask, did they not hear? Certainly they did; for Their voice has gone forth to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. Responsorial Psalm PS 19:8, 9, 10, 11 R. (10) The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. or: R. (John 6:63) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul; The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. or: R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye. R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. or: R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; The ordinances of the LORD are true, all of them just. R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. or: R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold; Sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb. R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. or: R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. Alleluia Mt 4:19 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Come after me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of men. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 4:18-22 As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. - - - Some thoughts on today's scripture Lord, joy is the hallmark of the relationship between you and your Father. This joy filled you with energy for mission. Jesus, you are the icon of the Father. You come among us not in greatness but as a 'little one' in lowliness and humility. As you reveal yourself to us each day, help me to play my part in sharing the joy of the Gospel. Conversation Do I notice myself reacting as I pray with the Word of God? Do I feel challenged, comforted, angry? Imagining Jesus sitting or standing by me, I speak out my feelings, as one trusted friend to another. 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: Matthew 4:18-22 View NAB Reading at USCCB.org Subscriber? Login to view archives. Saint Andrew, Apostle (Feast) Peter, and his brother Andrew ... (Matthew 4:18) When we first meet Andrew in Matthew's Gospel, he is fishing with his brother Peter. In fact, all four Gospels regularly identify Andrew with Peter. Does this mean he is just a sidekick to the lead apostle, kind of like Robin was to Batman? No, their relationship is much more equal, more like Paul and Barnabas. Neither brother would have been the man they were without the other. Neither of them would have developed their unique gifts without the relationship and solidarity they had together. They needed each other! As a disciple of John the Baptist, Andrew was one of the first to follow Jesus. He's the one who evangelized his brother Peter, in fact! So clearly, Peter would have been a very different man had it not been for Andrew. His simple, steady faith must have made a deep impact on the impulsive fisherman. And for his part, Andrew most likely thrived under Peter's leadership as the infant Church began to spread out from Jerusalem in the days after Pentecost. Even though Andrew was not often in the limelight, people knew him as someone to depend on, whether it was the boy who gave him his loaves and fishes (John 6:8-9) or Philip, who asked him what to do with the Greeks who wanted to meet Jesus (12:20-22). Andrew was happy to work behind the scenes, and his steady faith produced a lot of fruit! This is what makes Andrew a perfect model for us. Perhaps you see yourself as a simple, everyday Catholic. You may not have a big platform to evangelize. You may not have an important role in your parish. You may not have much influence over other people. But you are not just a sidekick. Like Andrew, you are a pillar of the Church. It just wouldn't be the same without you. We don't often see the impact that we have on the Church. We don't often know how much of a difference our intercessions make in the grand scheme of things. But God knows. He treasures every one of our prayers, and he rejoices every time we turn from temptation and trust in him. So keep on following the Lord; we need you! "Lord, thank you for calling me into your service! Thank you for giving me an essential role to play in your Church!" Romans 10:9-18 Psalm 19:8-11 Podcast Page: http://hipcast.com/podcast/HjrMXFsk my2cents: In today's 1st Holy Scripture it began with "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."  Some protestants believe simply by this affirmation that that's it, nothing else is needed for salvation, just say it...but what about the second part?  The part that says believe!  Because the rest of the scripture describes the second half of the condition, the part about believing, and this is the faith, this is where we are at.  Over and over St. Paul talks about the belief and towards the end says today "...faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ."  This is why in the Catholic Church we've had since the time of Jesus has sacred Tradition, with a big captial "T" because we carry what was there from the beginning, even before the bible, we carry on what was heard, and then it was written, and then it was used to describe the Holy Faith.  And the tradition is of belief.  It is all about believing in what Jesus said and doing what He said, in rememberance of Him and remaining with Him until He comes again.  Because I can say so many things and not really believe.  I can pray a whole lot, without any meaning.  I can do alot of things for Him, but out of obligation, or seeking to be good with others, but what about the real belief?  And we are speaking about a real, Holy, authentic, and lived faith! The Psalms pray on "Your Words, Lord, Are Spirit and Life".  What our Lord says goes.  Because Love is a never ending act of self giving.  Last night an old friend called, tore up about his situation with his son not respecting him, calling him a drunkard and worse, accusing him of many things and not helping.  I see the disaster of divorce still hounding that family, and it tears me up to see them suffer.  He asked me for advice.  I knew from the onset I would need God's help to answer his questions.  Jesus' words were called to mind "forgive 70 times 7".  Forgive your son.  Forgive your father.  Fathers, respect your children.  Children, respect your father.  It is a reciprocating act of love, because God is eternal love.  I said "you are the father, now act like one" because so many times we make out what others say to be more than what it is.  Take a step into grace, and react with the Father's love from Heaven.  And if the child does not appreciate, then let it be a lesson of love "this father loved even those that didn't love Him back!"  Remember, self sacrifice, remember, because healing is being called for and the evil loves attention to make things worse.  Now focus on the Lord, and focus when He calls. In today's Holy Gospel, our Lord calls out two men, "follow Me" (come after Me) is all He says to them as they were going on their daily lives.  Jesus is calling you right now in what is your daily life.  Follow Me.  Follow Me and just trust Me.  He is taking their lives and they are giving their lives to Him.  Follow Me.  And they leave everything, a few steps further as Andrews and Simon followed Jesus, our Lord says to two more men "follow Me" and they left their work and their family, their earthly father to follow their Heavenly Father walking on earth...Jesus.  The honor of giving our life to God is unknown until now.  It is a revelation of giving glory to God. Because as I have said before, the saddest lamentations in hell or even purgatory could be heard "I should've known!" and the crying and beating of chests ensues.  I should've known that God was there!  I should've known I could have followed!  I could have, but I didn't.  During thanksgiving out of town, a brother in law gave a puppy to my son who was looking forward to it for weeks.  The dog was brought the next day by relatives and the boy, Cristian, fed him every day, cleaned his poop from the garage, and was looking online how to train dogs for a while.  Yesterday we jumped in my truck to go to Mass and the puppy was jumping on our legs and we hopped on fast because it was cold and time to go.  I backed up super-slow, because I couldn't see the puppy so I was being careful.  I didn't see him and assumed he followed our old dog "Blue" (blue heeler) back into the garage.  After Mass as we ate out, we got the news that the puppy was found dead, ran over.  It could've been us on our rush out.  The news was tragedy to my son.  He was teary eyed as we were eating. I asked him to not cry, and said things to comfort him.  Later when we were home I asked him to go outside in the cold to help me bury the puppy.  It was a black puppy with white paws and a white tipped tail.  It was a mut, but it didn't matter.  We prayed and I asked for comfort for Cris and our ability to give back to God what was His, and I said "we are all His, and we will all be called by Him".  Perhaps they were too deep of words for him, but I hope he remembers.  I thought he was ok for the rest of the day, but as we said "good night" I said "I'm sorry about your puppy bud, it'll be ok".  I think it sprang emotions as I heard him sniffling later, crying himself to sleep.  What in the world does all this sad puppy dog have to do with anything Mr. Adrian!?  I should've known.  I should've got off, been more careful, tied up the dog, I should've...cared more.  And right now, what you should be knowing is that God is calling you to a faith like no other.  I liked when I heard one time "you can love God more than anybody".  The saints are only known by their love, their response to the call of the Lord.  And when He calls, you know it, you feel it tugging at you, and you just get up and follow.  Sin will block the call.  That is why holiness is being called for in this faith.  Believing is faith, and faith is equated with love.  Being in love with God is believing in our Lord Jesus.  I want you to take a deep breath and say it "Lord, I know you are calling me right now, I'm ready to go". I'm ready to let go of all these earthly things. I'm ready to let go of all my earthly fears. I'm ready to let go of all my doubts in you. I'm ready, and I've been waiting Lord. My life is ready, and the great part is, You're ready. Let's go...daddy adrian Subscribe to the visit Going4th.com mailing list.

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Everywhere I Look Even in the innocence and devotion of my dog, I see a reminder from heaven to stay simple and devout! I call our funny little canine "a smile from heaven" because God uses him to make us laugh every single day, no matter what else is going on in our lives. Everywhere I look, it seems that God is sending me coded messages. St. Francesco Antonio Fasani (1681-1742) 00:00/00:00 Born in Lucera (southeast Italy), Francesco entered the Conventual Franciscans in 1695. After his ordination 10 years later, he taught philosophy to younger friars, served as guardian of his friary and later became provincial. When his term of office ended, Francesco became master of novices and finally pastor in his hometown. In his various ministries, he was loving, devout and penitential. He was a sought-after confessor and preacher. One witness at the canonical hearings regarding Francesco's holiness testified, "In his preaching he spoke in a familiar way, filled as he was with the love of God and neighbor; fired by the Spirit, he made use of the words and deed of Holy Scripture, stirring his listeners and moving them to do penance." Francesco showed himself a loyal friend of the poor, never hesitating to seek from benefactors what was needed. At his death in Lucera, children ran through the streets and cried out, "The saint is dead! The saint is dead!" Francesco was canonized in 1986. Comment: Eventually we become what we choose. If we choose stinginess, we become stingy. If we choose compassion, we become compassionate. The holiness of Francesco Antonio Fasani resulted from his many small decisions to cooperate with God's grace. Quote: During his homily at the canonization of Francesco, Pope John Paul II reflected on John 21:15 in which Jesus asks Peter if he loves Jesus more than the other apostles and then tells Peter, "Feed my lambs." The pope observed that in the final analysis human holiness is decided by love. "He made the love taught us by Christ the fundamental characteristic of his existence, the basic criterion of his thought and activity, the supreme summit of his aspirations" (L'Osservatore Romano, vol. 16, number 3, 1986). Daily Prayer - 2015-11-27 Presence The more we call on God the more we can feel God's presence. Day by day we are drawn closer to the loving heart of God. 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 Where do I sense hope, encouragement, and growth areas in my life? By looking back over the last few months, I may be able to see which activities and occasions have produced rich fruit.  If I do notice such areas, I will determine to give those areas both time and space in the future. The Word of God Reading 1DN 7:2-14 In a vision I, Daniel, saw during the night, the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea, from which emerged four immense beasts, each different from the others. The first was like a lion, but with eagle's wings. While I watched, the wings were plucked; it was raised from the ground to stand on two feet like a man, and given a human mind.  The second was like a bear; it was raised up on one side, and among the teeth in its mouth were three tusks. It was given the order, "Up, devour much flesh."  After this I looked and saw another beast, like a leopard; on its back were four wings like those of a bird, and it had four heads. To this beast dominion was given. After this, in the visions of the night I saw the fourth beast, different from all the others, terrifying, horrible, and of extraordinary strength; it had great iron teeth with which it devoured and crushed, and what was left it trampled with its feet. I was considering the ten horns it had, when suddenly another, a little horn, sprang out of their midst, and three of the previous horns were torn away to make room for it. This horn had eyes like a man, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly. As I watched, Thrones were set up  and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was snow bright, and the hair on his head as white as wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. I watched, then, from the first of the arrogant words which the horn spoke, until the beast was slain and its body thrown into the fire to be burnt up. The other beasts, which also lost their dominion, were granted a prolongation of life for a time and a season. As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed. Responsorial PsalmDANIEL 3:75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! "Mountains and hills, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! "Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! "You springs, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! "Seas and rivers, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! "You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! "All you birds of the air, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! "All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! AlleluiaLK 21:28 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand. R. Alleluia, alleluia. GospelLK 21:29-33 Jesus told his disciples a parable. "Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away,  but my words will not pass away." --- Some thoughts on today's scripture This parable could be used to illustrate part of what we mean today by "discernment". The word is applied to a process of searching for God's will and deciding how to respond to it. Through gospel contemplation we allow ourselves to absorb the attitudes and values of Jesus. These then become the criteria by which we evaluate the situation in which we find ourselves and the particular issue calling for a decision. In a way we are looking for "signs". These will not be cosmic disturbances in the heavens but inner movements of spiritual consolation or desolation. As the liturgical year ends is there anything in my life that I need to discern? If so, I pray that I may recognise the signs and interpret them correctly. Conversation I begin to talk to Jesus about the piece of scripture I have just read. What part of it strikes a chord in me? Perhaps the words of a friend - or some story I have heard recently - will slowly rise to the surface in my consciousness. If so, does the story throw light on what the scripture passage may be trying to say to me? 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. Daniel 7:2-14 November 27, 2015 34th Week in Ordinary Time I saw One like a son of man. (Daniel 7:13) If you've studied history, you know that the authority held by a monarch is meant to be passed down from one ruler to the next, not taken by force. This transfer of power typically happens in a coronation ceremony. In many cultures, the coronation ceremony reflects the belief that the power to rule comes from God—or at least from a source higher than the people themselves. Here in Daniel, we see the ultimate coronation. The figure of "the son of man" receives "dominion, glory, and kingship" from none other than his heavenly Father (Daniel 7:13, 14). Daniel's author saw this "son of man" as an apocalyptic ruler who would bring justice to the earth. With Spirit-inspired hindsight, we know him as Jesus, who has power over all creation (Ephesians 1:21-22). Contrast Jesus' power with that of the four beasts that preceded him in Daniel's vision. These four animals signified the empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. In spite of their great might, these dynasties eventually crumbled. Like many governments, they fell because their rulers became greedy and tyrannical, caring more about their influence than about their subjects. Clearly, that's not how Jesus rules his people! What about us? We are "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17). That means we share in Jesus' authority; we can build his kingdom here on earth! It's a high calling, and with it comes a high dignity. Filled with the power of the Spirit, we can do even greater things than Jesus himself did (John 14:12)! Today and every day, remember who you are in Christ. United with him, you can be an agent of change in your family, workplace, and community. You have the mind of Christ, so you can bring wisdom where there is confusion and comfort where there is anxiety. You have the anointing of Christ, so you can bring healing, love, and mercy where there is hatred and division. Put yourself in his hands today, and call on his power to help you live a life pleasing to him. Then you will become a sign that "the Kingdom of God is near" (Luke 21:31). "Lord, thank you that you have made me a little lower than the angels! May I never forget that I carry your name. Help me to shine your light into every situation." (Psalm) Daniel 3:75-81 Luke 21:29-33 My2cents: Everyone and everything will pass away but not our Lord our Father in Heaven. As I sit here out of town with family I listen to the children speak and at one point one child said to another that the Tooth Fairy is real earlier I heard them speaking about other things that are real question is what do you believe is real? In today's first Holy Scripture we read about fantastical creatures symbolism of creations of our Lord weather Kingdoms or individuals we are speaking about the kingdom of the individuals and the King thereof. As the children spoke the truth in my mind was reeling; the tooth fairy is the mom, Santa Claus is the mom, the Easter bunny is the mom, all 3 in one.  At work, I am the safety man, I am a sales man, and I am the computer tech, i am the costs estimator I am the general manager, and I am also my father is the boss.  I am many things in one, but most importantly the son of the Father.  No one has ever seen the face of God, but many have seen the face of the Son.  And even easier it is to see the Holy Spirit.  His Kingdom has been established and evil destroyed upon the coming of the son.  He is many in one, we are many in one.  His disguise is good, because He appears as many in one. Give glory and eternal praise to Him all creations. If mountains and animals listen to God, then who am I to pretend He is not reaching to me, all those made in His image? Our Lord speaks "... know that the kingdom of God is near".  Nearer than your friends. Nearer than your family. Nearer than yourself. His kingdom is not far.  We put distance between ourselves...and still He is near...in all creation.  I ask you to consider the brevity of time, because the time is near, and He is in time and in eternity. Eternity can not be measured.  We can not measure our Lord.  Stop trying. Stop trying to figure Him out. Start allowing HIM to be who He is...yours. Your Father. YOUR KING. Your life. Your everything. Because He can be all things in one. He can be yesterday and tomorrow  but is still in the present with you. He can be though so much more. More than you can imagine and more than you care.  That is a truth. Because we claimed to love and not really care.  Salvation we should desire for one another yet it often takes second place to so called life.  I'm very thankful that God is like us but not one of us because He is much more. He does care. And that's all I need to know. Now I can allow myself, we can allow ourselves to love Him as He is...an awesome lover and savior we call Our Father...forever. Adrian Subscribe to the visit Going4th.com mailing list.

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Minute Meditations The Meaning of Life We exist because God is infinitely beautiful, infinitely good, and overflowing with a love that seeks to share itself. When he made us and placed us in this glittering created world, it was an act of pure generosity. — from True Radiance St. Catherine of Alexandria (c. 310) According to the Legend of St. Catherine, this young woman converted to Christianity after receiving a vision. At the age of 18, she debated 50 pagan philosophers. Amazed at her wisdom and debating skills, they became Christians—as did about 200 soldiers and members of the emperor's family. All of them were martyred. Sentenced to be executed on a spiked wheel, Catherine touched the wheel and it shattered. She was beheaded. Centuries later, angels are said to have carried the body of St. Catherine to a monastery at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Devotion to her spread as a result of the Crusades. She was invoked as the patroness of students, teachers, librarians and lawyers. Catherine is one of the 14 Holy Helpers, venerated especially in Germany and Hungary. Comment: The pursuit of God's wisdom may not lead to riches or earthly honors. In Catherine's case, this pursuit contributed to her martyrdom. She was not, however, foolish in preferring to die for Jesus rather than live only by denying him. All the rewards that her tormenters offered her would rust, lose their beauty or in some other way become a poor exchange for Catherine's honesty and integrity in following Jesus Christ. Quote: "Therefore I [King Solomon] prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepter and throne, and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, nor did I liken any priceless gem to her; Because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire. Beyond health and comeliness I loved her, and I chose to have her rather than the light, because the splendor of her never yields to sleep. Yet all good things together came to me in her company, and countless riches at her hands; and I rejoiced in them all, because Wisdom is their leader, though I had not known that she is the mother of these" (Wisdom 7:7-12). Patron Saint of: Philosophers Students Daily Prayer - 2015-11-25 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 Saint Ignatius thought that a thick and shapeless tree-trunk would never believe that it could become a statue, admired as a miracle of sculpture, and would never submit itself to the chisel of the sculptor, who sees by her genius what she can make of it. I ask for the grace to let myself be shaped by my loving Creator. Consciousness In the presence of my loving Creator, I look honestly at my feelings over the last day, the highs, the lows and the level ground. Can I see where the Lord has been present? The Word of God Reading 1 Dn 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28 King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his lords, with whom he drank. Under the influence of the wine, he ordered the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar, his father, had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, to be brought in so that the king, his lords, his wives and his entertainers might drink from them. When the gold and silver vessels taken from the house of God in Jerusalem had been brought in, and while the king, his lords, his wives and his entertainers were drinking wine from them, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. Suddenly, opposite the lampstand, the fingers of a human hand appeared, writing on the plaster of the wall in the king's palace. When the king saw the wrist and hand that wrote, his face blanched; his thoughts terrified him, his hip joints shook, and his knees knocked. Then Daniel was brought into the presence of the king. The king asked him, "Are you the Daniel, the Jewish exile, whom my father, the king, brought from Judah? I have heard that the Spirit of God is in you, that you possess brilliant knowledge and extraordinary wisdom. I have heard that you can interpret dreams and solve difficulties; if you are able to read the writing and tell me what it means, you shall be clothed in purple, wear a gold collar about your neck, and be third in the government of the kingdom." Daniel answered the king: "You may keep your gifts, or give your presents to someone else; but the writing I will read for you, O king, and tell you what it means. You have rebelled against the Lord of heaven. You had the vessels of his temple brought before you, so that you and your nobles, your wives and your entertainers, might drink wine from them; and you praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, that neither see nor hear nor have intelligence. But the God in whose hand is your life breath and the whole course of your life, you did not glorify. By him were the wrist and hand sent, and the writing set down. "This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, TEKEL, and PERES. These words mean: MENE, God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it; TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting; PERES, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians." Responsorial Psalm Daniel 3:62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67 R. (59b) Give glory and eternal praise to him. "Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. "Stars of heaven, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. "Every shower and dew, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. "All you winds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. "Fire and heat, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. "Cold and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever." R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. Alleluia Rv 2:10c R. Alleluia, alleluia. Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 21:12-19 Jesus said to the crowd: "They will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives." - - - Some thoughts on today's scripture Sporadic persecution of Christians had already begun when Luke was writing his gospel. This contemporary situation may well be reflected in this passage. Similar persecution is also happening in many parts of the world today. Are those of us living in more tolerant countries sensitive to the sufferings of our fellow-Christians who find themselves "hated by all because of my name"? Are we in effective solidarity with them? Do we pray for them? Engage in advocacy on their behalf? Jesus not only describes what his followers will have to endure, but offers assurance that he will support them and make them strong. To adapt Julian of Norwich: "All will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well". 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: Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28 View NAB Reading at USCCB.org Subscriber? Login to view archives. Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr (Optional Memorial) The Spirit of God is in you. (Daniel 5:14) The legacy of two of the four Elliot siblings is quite astounding. First, there's Jim, who died a martyr's death while preaching the gospel in Ecuador. Books have been written and movies produced about him. Then there's his older brother, Bert, who, in his twenties, moved to Peru as a missionary and stayed there for decades. Less has been written about Bert. One writer, reflecting on the brothers, has called Jim a "meteor" because many know about his missionary endeavors and Bert a "faint star" because his contributions have made fewer headlines. The prophet Daniel's story is more like Jim's than Bert's—it's meteoric. Daniel's adventures are told in Scripture with vivid detail: wondrous signs, a lion's den, and heroic stands against the Babylonian kings. In today's first reading, knowing that Daniel can interpret prophecy and that the "Spirit" is "in" him, the Babylonian king consults him after he has seen a mysterious hand writing on a wall (Daniel 5:14). And as he has done numerous times before, Daniel interprets the sign and shows inspiring courage. Daniel might seem like a "meteor," but if you called him that to his face, you might be met with a quizzical look. The same could be true for Jim Elliot—and even for Bert if you compared him to a star. None of these men said yes to God so that they could be meteors, stars, or anything in between. All they did was say yes to the only One who really matters, and they tried their best to stay faithful to him. The Spirit that was with Daniel and with Jim and Bert Elliot is in each of us. What will happen if we say yes to his promptings? We probably won't end up in a jungle or standing before a powerful king, but we will end up doing great and beautiful things for God. Right where we are, as we are, we will light up the world. Whether as blazing meteors or steady stars, we will shine with the love and grace of the Lord. "Father, thank you for calling me to serve you. Help me to say yes to your Spirit's promptings today." (Psalm) Daniel 3:62-67 Luke 21:12-19 Podcast Page: http://hipcast.com/podcast/HdVBqXQk my2cents: Suddenly "...the fingers of a human hand appeared".  And it was God sending His message.  Was it a threat?  Or was it a warning?  Or was it, think about it, a plea for mercy?  And how did it come to be that only a person of God could interpret the message, and not just any person, but a person chosen from His people, and I say this because it is still the case today, those chosen are still of the flock of light, the Holy Catholic Church, the people of God from the time of the cross of our Lord, and this brings an affliction, to the ones not in the flock, and a beutiful affliction to the faithful, because what is offered can be then received as good news to the faithful, or bad news to the unfaithful if you remain obstinate, that is to be stubborn and unmoved by the daily bombardment of messages from Heaven. The Psalms pray today "Give Glory and Eternal praise to Him" and ""Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever."  Exalt Him above what?  Exalt Him Above ALL.  Above all what?  Above all created things, seen and unseen, above all angels and principalities, above all what is manifested and yet to be manifested in your life.  Above all joys and fears.  Above all doubts and faith.  Above all our knowledge, He reigns. Our Lord speaks, and what a glorious day to Hear Him speak to us today!  "By your perseverance you will secure your lives."  And this is what this 2cents is all about, an aid, so long as you are persistent, persistently seeking Him daily, persistently praying, persistant in your determination, you will find your reward.  But if you remain persistent in your doubts, if you remain persistent in worshipping all things of past, all the past hurts, all the past loves, all the past gods, those that take over your life, then, that's when God will come in to divide and conquer in an attempt to conquer your heart, your faith.  Because it happened to the King that was using and abusing God's temple's holy vessels.  This can happen to any believer or nonbeliever.  We use God, and then when He wants something you deny Him.  This is a deviance, and this is the symbolism in the Scriptures today, which symoblizes our faith.  The times that Our Lord in Heaven intervenes is when we need a spanking, or a warning, or a time-out, and His timing for a time out can last for centuries, just ask the people of Israel in Egypt in slavery!  Why the time out?  Because they had doubted, because they took on other gods, the fashions, the fads, the trends, and were still trying to use God as they pleased.  Sound familiar?  Hope not.  I hope the case for you and your family and your church is one of extreme faithfulness.  I hope that in your workplace all the talk is about faith and not about one another.  I hope that when you gather for thanksgiving, if you do, that you gather to give thanks to God, to be thankful to God, to pray together to God our Father in Heaven, because He wants to be invited to your place, He wants to go with you, He wants to BE THANKSGIVING, and that is the ultimate meaning of the Holy Eucharist served in the Holy Vessels in a Holy Mass...the body of Christ, the blood of Christ, the soul and divinity of our Lord.  This isn't served in any church, it is only served in the HOlY CATHOLIC CHURCH.  And so how will you be found when our Lord appears?  Will you be found wanting?  Lacking?  What is this lacking He speaks of ?  Perhaps lacking a giving of thanks, a being grateful, a striving for holiness like no other.  Or, perhaps not, as in the case of the faithful that are called out to interpret what God wants and what He wants is all of your heart, all of your soul, all of your body, blood and the divinity He shines through us.  I don't know about you, but when I hear about a person that is being unfaithful as in the case of many divorces, it hurts because the children hurt and who cares?  If it hurts me, imagine the pain of the child?  This is what God sees.  When His people are unfaithful and they are teaching children what faithfulness is, He comes in to bridge the gap.  Our only recourse then, is to Him.   Rejoice then when you are no longer yourself because of Jesus. Rejoice when people seek to ruin you, because of Jesus. Rejoice because it is a sign of a light discovered. Rejoice because it means He is with you. Rejoice because it means more is at hand. Rejoice because He has found what was wanting. And the world wants/lacks Jesus, Peace, Jesus Love, Jesus, Mercy! ANd here comes the fingers of God reaching out, through you and me........ adrian Subscribe to the visit Going4th.com mailing list.

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