 from Franciscanmedia.org | | Why Do Catholics Genuflect? Catholics genuflect because we are often in the presence of the Supreme Revelation, who is not a piece of data but a glorious Person. "Jesus Christ is the redeemer of the human race and is the center of human history and the cosmos," as Pope John Paul II writes in the beginning of his first encyclical. Socrates asked, What is truth? Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths. Mohammed claimed to bear witness to the truth. But only Jesus of Nazareth dared to say, "I am…the truth" (John 14:6). —from Al Kresta, Why Do Catholics Genuflect? | ✞ "Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee."
— St. Augustine ✞ MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"The invitation to lift up our hearts at the most important part of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is an invitation by Jesus through the voice of the priest to give our hearts to the Father, as He gave His life for us. We prepare to make our hearts and lives a total self-gift to the Father as Jesus made Himself a total gift to the Father for us on the Cross."
— Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila
AN EXCERPT FROM
Meditations Before Mass ✞ VERSE OF THE DAY
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Hebrews 11:1 |  click to read more | | Blessed Claudio Granzotto (August 23, 1900 – August 15, 1947) Born in Santa Lucia del Piave near Venice, Claudio was the youngest of nine children and was accustomed to hard work in the fields. At the age of 9, he lost his father. Six years later, he was drafted into the Italian army, where he served more than three years. His artistic abilities, especially in sculpture, led to studies at Venice's Academy of Fine Arts, which awarded him a diploma with the highest marks in 1929. Even then he was especially interested in religious art. When Claudio entered the Friars Minor four years later, his parish priest wrote, "The Order is receiving not only an artist but a saint." Prayer, charity to the poor, and artistic work characterized his life which was cut short by a brain tumor. He died on the feast of the Assumption, August 15, 1947, and was beatified in 1994. Reflection Claudio developed into such an excellent sculptor that his work still turns people toward God. No stranger to adversity, he met every obstacle courageously, reflecting the generosity, faith, and joy that he learned from Francis of Assisi. |  Claudio Art | | Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Col1:1-8 Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Timothy our brother,
to the holy ones and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae:
grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
when we pray for you,
for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus
and the love that you have for all the holy ones
because of the hope reserved for you in heaven.
Of this you have already heard
through the word of truth, the Gospel, that has come to you.
Just as in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing,
so also among you,
from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth,
as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow slave,
who is a trustworthy minister of Christ on your behalf
and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. Responsorial Psalm Ps 52:10, 11
R. (10) I trust in the mercy of God for ever.
I, like a green olive tree
in the house of God,
Trust in the mercy of God
forever and ever.
R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever.
I will thank you always for what you have done,
and proclaim the goodness of your name
before your faithful ones.
R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever. Alleluia Lk 4:18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 4:38-44 After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.
Simon's mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever,
and they interceded with him about her.
He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.
She got up immediately and waited on them. At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him.
He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.
And demons also came out from many, shouting, "You are the Son of God."
But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak
because they knew that he was the Christ. At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.
The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him,
they tried to prevent him from leaving them.
But he said to them, "To the other towns also
I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,
because for this purpose I have been sent."
And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
| Meditation: Colossians 1:1-8 We always give thanks to God . . . when we pray for you. (Colossians 1:3) Huddled in a cramped, filthy concentration-camp barracks, Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsie tried to thank God for their circumstances. It was the height of World War II, and they had been sent to Ravensbrück for sheltering Jews. Life in the camp was miserable, but the sisters thanked God they were together. It was overcrowded, but they thanked God that more women could hear them read their treasured Bible. But the fleas! It was hard to be grateful for them.That is, until Betsie realized the flea infestation kept the guards from coming into their barracks and discovering their Bible! Corrie and Betsie's attitude of thankfulness changed their perspective. They realized that God was with them; he was at work even in the most awful situations. This is what St. Paul is talking about when he tells the Colossians he always gives thanks to God for them. The church in Colossae was in confusion. Some believers emphasized ceremonies and penances. Others focused on angels and heavenly powers. Paul knew the Colossians risked forgetting the freedom they had received in Christ. But he was in prison and couldn't visit them to help them sort things out. So he decided to pray for them and write to them. Instead of fretting over the dangers of false doctrine or misleading rituals, Paul reminded the Colossians of all the great things God had done in them so far. He gave thanks that God was already working. He rejoiced that God was already present in their challenging situation, and he invited them to rejoice with him. This attitude can help you when you're interceding too. Like Paul, you can give thanks and look for the ways that God is present in the people you are praying for. Like Corrie and Betsie, you can lift your eyes off their suffering and see the ways the Holy Spirit is already working things out for them. As you thank God, you won't be so caught up in their problems; instead, you'll find your hope and trust growing. You'll be confident that he can bring good out of even the most difficult situation, even something as unpleasant as an infestation of fleas! "Thank you, Lord, for your presence in the situations I'm praying for. Show me your positive action in each circumstance." Psalm 52:10-11
Luke 4:38-44 | my2cents:
" I trust in the mercy of God for ever. I will thank you always for what you have done, and proclaim the goodness of your name before your faithful ones."
Some of us have a hard time trusting. Why? Why are we afraid to trust? Some don't trust government, some don't trust Church, and many can't even trust their own family! All we got then is God, and some, well many don't even trust HIM! And that my friend, that is a great sin. This is why Jesus tells Peter "get behind me Satan". Stop standing in the way. Stop getting in the way, let ME BE ME, I AM WHO AM. This was the fall of Lucifer, to say "I know better". That is the greatest distrust in Heaven. We don't know why, and we don't know better. Trust in Him, and His mercy. How come I don't feel forgiven after confession? Because, I can't trust. Trust in Him. The walk of faith is taking a plunge and trusting in His wings. Just because I can''t fly, doesn't mean He can not! In the Holy Gospel, Mercy enters the room. People plead for mercy, for Peter's mom, (Simon at the time). She is so sick, and she was supposed to serve them, serve the Lord. And the Lord heard their cry, He hears the cry of the poor, of the ones in need and answers accordingly. She gets up and starts serving immediately. "I will thank you always for what you have done" says the Psalm today. Serving is giving thanks. Serving love is giving thanks. That's what she got up to do. That's why Jesus saved her.
In our world, there is pains, there is suffering, and there is death to deal with, mostly because of sin. When Lucifer distrusted, a world of hurt began, when the temptation of Eve bit what the devil fed. It opened, not only a can of worms, but a world of hurt. And here we are. So lucky we are. So lucky we have a life. Therefore, we have a life to give. How lucky having been born after Jesus, the savior entered the world. Because we were born with Him and are to die with Him. Lucky to suffer. The greatest crowns in Heaven are those who suffered greatest on earth for Jesus. Of which our Blessed Mother Mary, a crowned queen for having suffered an entire life for Jesus, all her life was all about God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit. She lived a life of offering and for that, lives a life of offering in Heaven and on earth. Always interceding for the poor, the suffering, the sick, the dying, all things spiritually and turned physical. Jesus is the healer. Demons spoke out, because without a human body, you can't hear their voices. And in just the same manner, we must let Jesus in the Holy Spirit speak through us, just like I am speaking to you by allowing Him to speak.
Our world needs the light of Christ. I see it poured out in love of people for one another, but we need a brighter light....
like that of faith, like that of trusting, like that of believing, especially when our Lord is asking not just for our time, our service, our treasures, no, He is asking for more....our heart, our love,
"Don't you love Me?" | |
