Stunned into Love God resists our evil and conquers it with good. Think about that. God shocks and stuns us into love. God does not love us if we change, God loves us so that we can change. Only love effects true inner transformation, not duress, guilt, shunning, or social pressure. Love is not love unless it is totally free. Grace is not grace unless it is totally free. —from the book Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps by Richard Rohr
franciscan media | ✞Quote
"I see clearly with the interior eye, that the sweet God loves with a pure love the creature that He has created, and has a hatred for nothing but sin, which is more opposed to Him than can be thought or imagined."
— St. Catherine of Genoa ✞ MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Love is a strong force — a great good in every way; it alone can make our burdens light, and alone it bears in equal balance what is pleasing and displeasing. It carries a burden and does not feel it; it makes all that is bitter taste sweet. ... Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing higher, nothing stronger, nothing larger, nothing more joyful, nothing fuller, nothing better in heaven or on earth; for love is born of God and can find its rest only in God above all He has created. Such lovers fly high, run swiftly and rejoice. Their souls are free; they give all for all and have all in all. For they rest in One supreme Goodness above all things, from Whom all other good flows and proceeds. They look not only at the gifts, but at the Giver, Who is above all gifts."
— Thomas à Kempis, p. 108
AN EXCERPT FROM
The Imitation of Christ ✞ VERSE OF THE DAY
"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world."
1 John 2:1-2 |  click to read more | | Martyrs Saint Paul Miki and Companions Saint of the Day for February 6
(d. 1597) Saint Paul Miki and Companions' Story
Nagasaki, Japan, is familiar to Americans as the city on which the second atomic bomb was dropped, immediately killing over 37,000 people. Three and a half centuries before, 26 martyrs of Japan were crucified on a hill, now known as the Holy Mountain, overlooking Nagasaki. Among them were priests, brothers, and laymen, Franciscans, Jesuits, and members of the Secular Franciscan Order; there were catechists, doctors, simple artisans, and servants, old men and innocent children—all united in a common faith and love for Jesus and his Church. Brother Paul Miki, a Jesuit and a native of Japan, has become the best known among the martyrs of Japan. While hanging upon a cross, Paul Miki preached to the people gathered for the execution: "The sentence of judgment says these men came to Japan from the Philippines, but I did not come from any other country. I am a true Japanese. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I certainly did teach the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason I die. I believe that I am telling only the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ's example I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain." When missionaries returned to Japan in the 1860s, at first they found no trace of Christianity. But after establishing themselves they found that thousands of Christians lived around Nagasaki and that they had secretly preserved the faith. Beatified in 1627, the martyrs of Japan were finally canonized in 1862. Reflection
Today, a new era has come for the Church in Japan. Although the number of Catholics is not large, the Church is respected and has total religious freedom. The spread of Christianity in the Far East is slow and difficult. Faith such as that of the 26 martyrs is needed today as much as in 1597. | Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs Reading 1 1 Kgs 8:22-23, 27-30 Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD
in the presence of the whole community of Israel,
and stretching forth his hands toward heaven,
he said, "LORD, God of Israel,
there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below;
you keep your covenant of mercy with your servants
who are faithful to you with their whole heart. "Can it indeed be that God dwells on earth?
If the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain you,
how much less this temple which I have built!
Look kindly on the prayer and petition of your servant, O LORD, my God,
and listen to the cry of supplication which I, your servant,
utter before you this day.
May your eyes watch night and day over this temple,
the place where you have decreed you shall be honored;
may you heed the prayer which I, your servant, offer in this place.
Listen to the petitions of your servant and of your people Israel
which they offer in this place.
Listen from your heavenly dwelling and grant pardon." Responsorial psalm PS 84:3, 4, 5 and 10, 11
R. (2) How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young—
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
O God, behold our shield,
and look upon the face of your anointed.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
I had rather one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God! Alleluia Ps 119:36, 29b
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees;
and favor me with your law.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 7:1-13 When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem
gathered around Jesus,
they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals
with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.
(For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews,
do not eat without carefully washing their hands,
keeping the tradition of the elders.
And on coming from the marketplace
they do not eat without purifying themselves.
And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed,
the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.)
So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,
"Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders
but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?"
He responded,
"Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites,
as it is written: This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
In vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition."
He went on to say,
"How well you have set aside the commandment of God
in order to uphold your tradition!
For Moses said,
Honor your father and your mother,
and Whoever curses father or mother shall die.
Yet you say,
'If someone says to father or mother,
"Any support you might have had from me is qorban"'
(meaning, dedicated to God),
you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother.
You nullify the word of God
in favor of your tradition that you have handed on.
And you do many such things."
| Meditation: Mark 7:1-13 Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs (Memorial) You have set aside the commandment of God. (Mark 7:9) It was an easy trap to fall into. In their zeal for the faith, many of the scribes and Pharisees created layers and layers of traditions and practices that would set them apart from "the world." Over time, these layers began to complicate and eclipse the true nature of the Law of Moses—to the point that some people were able to turn the Law on its head. In contrast to the complexities these scribes and Pharisees introduced, Jesus focused on two simple, fundamental commandments: love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. Every law and commandment of the Lord can be summed up by these two verses from the Torah. But no matter how simple these commands are, they certainly aren't easy. How can we love everyone all the time? There are times when we can barely tolerate members of our family, let alone the stranger next door or the co-worker who gets on our nerves. How can we avoid the temptation to introduce complexities and excuses so that we can free ourselves from the command to love? By letting God's own love teach us how to love. It may not be easy, but it is simple. Jesus loves you. Not because you do the right things. (No one is perfect.) Not because you embrace every one of his teachings. (Everyone struggles with at least one commandment.) And not because you have shown yourself to be better than other people. (God's rain falls on the just and unjust alike.) No, Jesus loves you because he looks into your heart and sees how "very good" it is (Genesis 1:31). He looks past the hurts, the resentments, and the unconfessed sin, and peers right into the center of who you are. It's right there, in the center, that Jesus sees the love he has placed in you. He sees your desire to please the Lord. He sees the goodness and purity that God created you with. And what he sees pierces his heart with love. With joy. With compassion. It's this gaze that can melt our hearts and teach us to love as he does—simply, mercifully, and equally. "'My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God' (Psalm 84:3). Jesus, teach me to love." 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30
Psalm 84:3-5, 10-11 | my2cents: "Can it indeed be that God dwells on earth?" prayed King Solomon. Nothing can contain Him. I designed my home, on my computer, about 15 years ago. Me and my family built it. We did the dirt work (that's our family business). Another uncle helped with concrete, after we did some plumbing. I got married, and while on our honeymoon, framers had put up the house while we were gone, according to my design. I am not an architect. They had many questions, but I had an overall dream, and had pretty much spelled out most of the details in my plans I left them. And they did it, and it was so beautiful. 3 bedrooms. 2 bathrooms. 2 car garage. So good. But, its design has changed over the last decade. I have added more rooms, because my plans were not His. I have to make room for more children. I added a basement for safety. I added a studio to record songs for the Lord and now that studio is our school, for homeschooling. Compare this to God's kingdom. God has set a plan. We are left to build the temple. To the best of our talents. And God's design changes as times changes. His people have been chosen for thousands of years. The temple design has changed through the ages. Be watchful, mindful, and of good cheer....for whatever it takes, to be His. Let us pray: "How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God! My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the LORD. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." Jesus chose you. You may ask, "who, me?? Why me? Chosen for what?". Jesus chose men for fishing. Women to serve Him. Men and women to accept Him as their greatest love on earth....the world He has set out for us. Don't you find yourself pining and yearning, to, maybe, see the Lord's face? To feel His warm embrace? To, be reassured of His presence and the hereafter? Jesus is asking me to write to you...He says, "Be Re-Assured". "So long as you remain faithful and true, we belong together." In the Holy Gospel today, the Jews, (and Jesus was a Jew too), they approach our Lord and ask Him ""Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?" In other words "why you are you not obeying our laws? Why are you eating with dirt on your hands?" I am a dirt contractor. We build things out of dirt. This is why Jesus does this. He is the creator that created man out of dirt. I am in my Father's business said the Lord when found 3 days later as a youth in the temple, teaching and all were amazed. Jesus is lovingly hard ""Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites...This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me". In vain they honor. All things vanity, all things pride. It would be a shame for me, if I went to church to be seen as a good boy. Sadly, this is a reality we live. Many go for the appearance, but inside they hold a sad darkness. But some go out of purity. Why do you go to church? Do you go all the time? Are you faithful to the law of the Lord? It is one of the top 3 commandments you know. And are you hard on those that don't go? Or do you say nothing at all? But, let's hold up a second. What about you, yourself, you go "all the time", yeah, good, but what is the second...commandment? It is not what protestants made it, (they changed even commandments). The second commandment deals with vanity. Even more important than the 3rd commandment! Do Not Take the Lord's name in vain! Do not make your religion your own (today's heresy). This is God's Kingdom, not yours. Have a piece of humble pie...Eucharist, but do not take it in vain! Do not go with wretchedness, a sad disposition to Him and His people. It is not a blessing, it is a curse to receive Him with a wretched soul. It is a horrible curse. Why? Because you leave worse than how you came. It is not God's curse but your own. You have blasphemed the Holy Name of God with your accursed disposition to Him. All this curse happens, IF, IF you do not believe in mercy, if you do not desire mercy, if you do not desire Him above everything and everyone in the entire universe. Whoa! Take a chill pill Adrian! No. Why? Because, there's more.
There is a commandment greater than the second, I am second, and He is the first....the first command is to Love God above all, with all your soul, heart, strength, and your mind, you shall not have any other gods/loves. YIKES!
TADAA! For all of you who have wondered what other gods are, they are other loves.
With that said, be ever vigilant of His following commands that spring forth commands from love, love of neighbor, and his goods, and spouse, and LIFE. Notice the 5th commandment was to not take life? God is more important because He created it. Everything springs forth from it. Don't you try to understand God. Try to accept Him. This whole tassel/walking on water/being healed thing is all about faith. Faith needs a couple of ingredients, God, and You. When they are mingled (think of the Holy Eucharist) marvelous things happen, just as in Confession, or any Sacrament.
But that "you" ingredient must be a good one. "What do you mean mr. Adrian?" A good "you" is a soft you. A workable you. To soften dirt, we add water (Baptism). Then the dirt is worked/processed (confession) restored. Then it is allowed to dry in the light/heat (Confirmation). Then you have a living brick to build the church. Then the dirt is ready to lay a foundation or if worked in a farm, ready for seeds. This "you" ingredient is supposedly ready to receive the Eucharist, Jesus, the cornerstone the architects rejected. But God don't need architects, He needs "you".
How can one who has everything need me? The sentence is incomplete: He needs you to be one with Him. He has then, chosen you, to be one with Him. This oneness is centered on Him alone. The other day, I said a bad joke; "I love the Lord and nobody else". Isn't that a horrible joke? But that's why Jesus came to call us out, "Hypocrites". What's clean should be inside, the heart, and soul. And if you really love somebody, you will help them to Heaven, take them to Heaven....even if it costs your life. Ask today's saints if it isn't so... COLLECT PRAYER O God, strength of all the Saints, who through the Cross were pleased to call the Martyrs Saint Paul Miki and companions to life, grant, we pray, that by their intercession we may hold with courage even until death to the faith that we profess. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. | adrian
Things to Do: ▪ The survival of Japanese Catholicism is one of the most moving stories in the entire history of the Church. For over two centuries the people had no priests but lived the faith as best they could, in secret, not daring to keep written materials but handing down their beliefs by word of mouth. (James Hitchcock, The Nagasaki Martyrs) You can read more in this article from Catholic Culture's Library, The Nagasaki Martyrs.
▪ Stop for a moment today to pray for Christians who are persecuted throughout the world.
▪ Read more about St. Paul Miki and Companions at these websites: St. Paul Miki; or view this video St. Paul Miki's Martyrdom.
▪ Read Pope Pius XII's Encyclical Meminissee Iuvat on prayers for the persecuted Church.
| ▪ | The survival of Japanese Catholicism is one of the most moving stories in the entire history of the Church. For over two centuries the people had no priests but lived the faith as best they could, in secret, not daring to keep written materials but handing down their beliefs by word of mouth. (James Hitchcock, The Nagasaki Martyrs) You can read more in this article from Catholic Culture's Library, The Nagasaki Martyrs. | | ▪ | Stop for a moment today to pray for Christians who are persecuted throughout the world. | | ▪ | Read more about St. Paul Miki and Companions at these websites: St. Paul Miki; or view this video St. Paul Miki's Martyrdom. | | ▪ | Read Pope Pius XII's Encyclical Meminissee Iuvat on prayers for the persecuted Church. | read on | |
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