| Weapon Against Evil Some people are so foolish that they think they can go through life without the help of the Blessed Mother. Love the Madonna and | | Weapon Against Evil Some people are so foolish that they think they can go through life without the help of the Blessed Mother. Love the Madonna and pray the Rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today. All graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother. —Saint Padre Pio –from the book: The Rosary: Your Weapon for Spiritual Warfare |
✞ "Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them, every day begin the task anew."
— St. Francis de Sales ✞ MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Let us not fancy that if we cry a great deal we have done all that is needed—rather we must work hard and practice the virtues: that is the essential—leaving tears to fall when God sends them, without trying to force ourselves to shed them. Then, if we do not take too much notice of them, they will leave the parched soil of our souls well watered, making it fertile in good fruit; for this is the water which falls from Heaven."
— St. Teresa of Avila, p.147
AN EXCERPT FROM
Interior Castle ✞ VERSE OF THE DAY
"For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God."
Job 19:25-26 |
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Saint Isidore the Farmer Saint of the Day for May 15 (1070 – May 15, 1130) Isidore has become the patron of farmers and rural communities. In particular, he is the patron of Madrid, Spain, and of the United States National Rural Life Conference. When he was barely old enough to wield a hoe, Isidore entered the service of John de Vergas, a wealthy landowner from Madrid, and worked faithfully on his estate outside the city for the rest of his life. He married a young woman as simple and upright as himself who also became a saint—Maria de la Cabeza. They had one son, who died as a child. Isidore had deep religious instincts. He rose early in the morning to go to church and spent many a holiday devoutly visiting the churches of Madrid and surrounding areas. All day long, as he walked behind the plow, he communed with God. His devotion, one might say, became a problem, for his fellow workers sometimes complained that he often showed up late because of lingering in church too long. He was known for his love of the poor, and there are accounts of Isidore's supplying them miraculously with food. He had a great concern for the proper treatment of animals. He died May 15, 1130, and was declared a saint in 1622, with Saints Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Avila, and Philip Neri. Together, the group is known in Spain as "the five saints." Reflection Many implications can be found in a simple laborer achieving sainthood: Physical labor has dignity; sainthood does not stem from status; contemplation does not depend on learning; the simple life is conducive to holiness and happiness. Legends about angel helpers and mysterious oxen indicate that his work was not neglected and his duties did not go unfulfilled. Perhaps the truth which emerges is this: If you have your spiritual self in order, your earthly commitments will fall into order also. "[S]eek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness," said the carpenter from Nazareth, "and all these things will be given you besides" (Matthew 6:33). Saint Isidore the Farmer is the Patron Saint of: Farmers Laborers |
Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter Reading 1 Acts 14:5-18 There was an attempt in Iconium
by both the Gentiles and the Jews,
together with their leaders,
to attack and stone Paul and Barnabas.
They realized it,
and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe
and to the surrounding countryside,
where they continued to proclaim the Good News. At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth,
who had never walked.
He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him,
saw that he had the faith to be healed,
and called out in a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet."
He jumped up and began to walk about.
When the crowds saw what Paul had done,
they cried out in Lycaonian,
"The gods have come down to us in human form."
They called Barnabas "Zeus" and Paul "Hermes,"
because he was the chief speaker.
And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city,
brought oxen and garlands to the gates,
for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice. The Apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments
when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting,
"Men, why are you doing this?
We are of the same nature as you, human beings.
We proclaim to you good news
that you should turn from these idols to the living God,
who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.
In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways;
yet, in bestowing his goodness,
he did not leave himself without witness,
for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons,
and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts."
Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds
from offering sacrifice to them. Responsorial Psalm Ps 115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16
R. (1ab) Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name give glory
because of your mercy, because of your truth.
Why should the pagans say,
"Where is their God?"
R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Our God is in heaven;
whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the handiwork of men.
R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
May you be blessed by the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Heaven is the heaven of the LORD,
but the earth he has given to the children of men.
R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 14:26
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Holy Spirit will teach you everything
and remind you of all I told you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 14:21-26 Jesus said to his disciples:
"Whoever has my commandments and observes them
is the one who loves me.
Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and reveal myself to him."
Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him,
"Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us
and not to the world?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me. "I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit
whom the Father will send in my name—
he will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you."
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Meditation: John 14:21-26 Saint Isidore (Optional Memorial) What happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world? (John 14:22) Why did Jesus spend so much time focusing on his closest disciples? Wouldn't it have been more efficient for him to reveal himself to "the world" in a big way? He could have summoned political and religious leaders to witness his resurrection in a blaze of cosmic glory that would leave no room for doubt. Was he possibly missing his chance to reach the whole world in one grand spectacle? There's no doubt that Jesus loves every single person and wants everyone to come to know him. But just as it was when he walked the earth, he has chosen to reveal himself on a small, personal scale. No grand, once-and-for-all gesture will accomplish what he wants to do; only many daily small ones will make him known. Think about it. When God came to us as a helpless baby, he showed that he wanted to be one of us and one with us. Rather than overpowering humanity as a mighty, cosmic Lord, he quietly connected himself to a family and spent years building relationships with Mary and Joseph and his fellow Nazarenes. Then when he called his disciples, he did the same thing. He forged a relationship with them—a relationship that taught them to love as he loved, a relationship that turned them into living examples of his mercy. Jesus is still using the same strategy today. He is revealing himself "to the world" through relationships—our relationships with the people around us. Every time we reach out to someone, he is reaching out through us. Every time we offer someone words of encouragement or understanding, he is speaking through us. It's in our simple, everyday acts of love that Jesus can shine through the brightest. Now, we know that we aren't perfect. We know that we don't always act as Jesus would have us act. But Jesus has taken care of even this wrinkle in his plan. He has chosen to reveal himself in an especially powerful way every time we forgive each other and make amends. So yes, Jesus is revealing himself to the world—through you! "Jesus, reveal yourself more fully to me so that other people can come to see you more clearly." Acts 14:5-18
Psalm 115:1-4, 15-16 |
my2cents: Saint Paul exclaimed to the people making him a god "...he did not leave himself without witness, or he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts." They couldn't hear what was being said because they were too worked up in a feeding frenzy, an offering, a sacrifice to gods they were used to offering to. My question then is, can you hear God speaking these days? Or are we too worked up about something? Idols. That what we can't let go of, and don't want to let go of. LOL. There that app thing for phones called "LetGo", I tried it out to sell some wheels off my family van and couple other items like a washer machine. I noticed I didn't get any replies, even though I only wanted $40. So I decided to put it out for free. The people started hitting me up left and right. It seemed the right price was "free". I had decided I needed it out of my garage, taking up space, so the first people that wanted it, I let them come and get it this weekend. They seemed so grateful and happy with it, even though I said it leaked and needed work. I had to let go...of a blessing. We pray today "Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name give glory because of your mercy, because of your truth.
Why should the pagans say, "Where is their God?" and "Their idols are silver and gold, the handiwork of men." This bothers me, because that idol is still alive and well. I know of some very good men that would be great to serve God, if they applied all their business knowledge for His Kingdom. But, it seems silver, dollars, are more important. It's not obvious, but when, I ask them to go to a Cursillo, they "can't". Even though it be months away, they "can't". I am relentless in my pursuit for them. And if I, a mere mortal am like this, how much more is God relentless in His pursuit for our souls? Let's see what the Lord says today "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words"...suddenly, it sounds like our Lord is saying "You shall love ME with ALL YOUR HEART, MIND, BODY, AND SOUL". This is why I sang an unplanned song at the children's first Holy Communion yesterday "THIS IS MY DESIRE" because in it, it says "Lord I give you my heart, and I give you my soul" because this is what is happening in the Holy Eucharist, this Holy Communion, this interchange and mingling of divinity with our souls. It is the nourishment we heard about today. The Lord says "This is My desire", and so to accomplish and fulfill His desire He sends His Holy Spirit. He desires for us to know Him and love Him. He says today "Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and reveal myself to him." And this is the greatest revelation in the world "Jesus". He is revealed after the resurrection to those He loves. So today I say to you "Happy Easter" for we are in full swing of the celebration of the resurrection. And so a revealing thought occurred during Mass yesterday "one is called to be one with the Father. To attend Mass every Sunday (at least). And when you attend, you are called to receive the Eucharist (in the state of Grace). And when you receive the Eucharist, this Christ, then you are called to a deeper love than ever thought imaginable. These are the steps to Love". His desire, His will, it makes for an eye opening experience. And how can you live this experience if other loves take His place? Other thoughts. Other times. Every day is a whole new life. You have risen from your bed to give glory to God. I am pleased to be awake with you. Let us proclaim the good news, and meet the Lord on our way..... |
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