Live Outside the Walls The two grand basilicas at each end of Assisi, during the lifetimes of Francis and Clare, lay outside the city walls: the Basilica of Saint Francis and the Basilica of Saint Clare. It is fitting that these two great saints of Assisi were buried outside the original city gates. They walked out of the city, a passage through a gate that symbolized their rejection of the commercial values that dominated their city. They "left the world," meaning the values of the city of their birth, to begin the new life that God had shown them among the poor and the rejected who lived beyond the protection of the city walls, those who lived on the margins of the society that Assisi represented. —from Enter Assisi: An Invitation to Franciscan Spirituality | ✞Quote
"Act as if everyday were the last of your life, and each action the last you perform."
— St. Alphonsus Liguori ✞ MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"People often think of Christian morality as a kind of bargain in which God says, 'If you keep a lot of rules I'll reward you, and if you don't I'll do the other thing.' I do not think that is the best way of looking at it. I would much rather say that every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing either into a heavenly creature or into a hellish creature: either into a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God, and with its fellow-creatures, and with itself. To be the one kind of creature is heaven: that is, it is joy and peace and knowledge and power. To be the other means madness, horror, idiocy, rage, impotence, and eternal loneliness. Each of us at this moment is progressing to the one state or the other."
— C. S. Lewis, p. 92
AN EXCERPT FROM
Mere Christianity ✞ VERSE OF THE DAY
"Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high."
Hebrews 1:1-3 |  click to read more | | Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul Saint of the Day for June 29 Peter (d. 64?). Saint Mark ends the first half of his Gospel with a triumphant climax. He has recorded doubt, misunderstanding, and the opposition of many to Jesus. Now Peter makes his great confession of faith: "You are the Messiah" (Mark 8:29b). It was one of the many glorious moments in Peter's life, beginning with the day he was called from his nets along the Sea of Galilee to become a fisher of men for Jesus. The New Testament clearly shows Peter as the leader of the apostles, chosen by Jesus to have a special relationship with him. With James and John he was privileged to witness the Transfiguration, the raising of a dead child to life, and the agony in Gethsemane. His mother-in-law was cured by Jesus. He was sent with John to prepare for the last Passover before Jesus' death. His name is first on every list of apostles. And to Peter only did Jesus say, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:17b-19). But the Gospels prove their own trustworthiness by the unflattering details they include about Peter. He clearly had no public relations person. It is a great comfort for ordinary mortals to know that Peter also has his human weakness, even in the presence of Jesus. He generously gave up all things, yet he can ask in childish self-regard, "What are we going to get for all this?" (see Matthew 19:27). He receives the full force of Christ's anger when he objects to the idea of a suffering Messiah: "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do" (Matthew 16:23b). Peter is willing to accept Jesus' doctrine of forgiveness, but suggests a limit of seven times. He walks on the water in faith, but sinks in doubt. He refuses to let Jesus wash his feet, then wants his whole body cleansed. He swears at the Last Supper that he will never deny Jesus, and then swears to a servant maid that he has never known the man. He loyally resists the first attempt to arrest Jesus by cutting off Malchus' ear, but in the end he runs away with the others. In the depth of his sorrow, Jesus looks on him and forgives him, and he goes out and sheds bitter tears. The Risen Jesus told Peter to feed his lambs and his sheep (John 21:15-17). Paul (d. 64?). If the most well-known preacher today suddenly began preaching that the United States should adopt Marxism and not rely on the Constitution, the angry reaction would help us understand Paul's life when he started preaching that Christ alone can save us. He had been the most pharisaic of Pharisees, the most legalistic of Mosaic lawyers. Now he suddenly appears to other Jews as a heretical welcomer of Gentiles, a traitor and apostate. Paul's central conviction was simple and absolute: Only God can save humanity. No human effort—even the most scrupulous observance of law—can create a human good which we can bring to God as reparation for sin and payment for grace. To be saved from itself, from sin, from the devil, and from death, humanity must open itself completely to the saving power of Jesus. Paul never lost his love for his Jewish family, though he carried on a lifelong debate with them about the uselessness of the Law without Christ. He reminded the Gentiles that they were grafted on the parent stock of the Jews, who were still God's chosen people, the children of the promise. Reflection
We would probably go to confession to Peter sooner than to any of the other apostles. He is perhaps a more striking example of the simple fact of holiness. Jesus says to us as he said, in effect, to Peter: "It is not you who have chosen me, but I who have chosen you. Peter, it is not human wisdom that makes it possible for you to believe, but my Father's revelation. I, not you, build my Church." Paul's experience of the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus was the driving force that made him one of the most zealous, dynamic, and courageous ambassadors of Christ the Church has ever had. But persecution, humiliation, and weakness became his day-by-day carrying of the cross, material for further transformation. The dying Christ was in him; the living Christ was his life. Saint Paul is the Patron Saint of:
Greece | Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles - Mass during the Day Reading 1 Acts 12:1-11 In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them.
He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,
and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews
he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
–It was the feast of Unleavened Bread.–
He had him taken into custody and put in prison
under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.
He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter thus was being kept in prison,
but prayer by the Church was fervently being made
to God on his behalf. On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial,
Peter, secured by double chains,
was sleeping between two soldiers,
while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him
and a light shone in the cell.
He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying,
"Get up quickly."
The chains fell from his wrists.
The angel said to him, "Put on your belt and your sandals."
He did so.
Then he said to him, "Put on your cloak and follow me."
So he followed him out,
not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real;
he thought he was seeing a vision.
They passed the first guard, then the second,
and came to the iron gate leading out to the city,
which opened for them by itself.
They emerged and made their way down an alley,
and suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter recovered his senses and said,
"Now I know for certain
that the Lord sent his angel
and rescued me from the hand of Herod
and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting." Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (5) The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him. Reading 2 2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18 I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance. The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat
and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. Alleluia Mt 16:18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 16:13-19 When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply,
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
| Meditation: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 Saints and Peter and Paul, Apostles (Solemnity) The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. (2 Timothy 4:18) Today we celebrate the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. In them we see heroic virtue. In them we see enmity becoming friendship. And perhaps most important, in them we see how someone's yes to God can change, not only their own lives, but the entire course of Christianity. These two giants in the faith came from completely different backgrounds—one a fisherman, the other a scholar. One walked with Jesus personally for years, and the other encountered him after the resurrection. They didn't always see eye to eye. But their lives and their ministries had remarkable parallels. Their paths were not always easy: both were imprisoned many times. Both were miraculously released from jail (Acts 12, 16). Both dedicated their entire lives to building up the Church. And both were executed as martyrs for the faith. What united them? They said yes to Jesus. In living out that yes, they strove every day to be faithful to God's call in their lives. And in response to that yes, they experienced God's faithfulness to them every day. As they poured themselves out for Jesus and his mission, shared the gospel with as many people as possible, and willingly suffered in Christ's name, they changed and grew. Each day, they became more and more like Jesus, and the more they became like Jesus, the better equipped they were to do his will in the world. Take some time today to reflect on Peter and Paul's lives. Let their example show you how saying yes to God makes you more like Christ. Let them show you how your yes equips you to do his will on earth. Like them, you will surely face challenges. But like them, you will also experience God's grace, comfort, and wisdom to help you every step of the way. Peter and Paul's yes to God changed the course of history. Ours can too! Let's use their feast day to inspire us on our journey. "Lord, may Peter and Paul inspire me on my journey in faith. Help me to say yes to you today!" Acts 12:1-11
Psalm 34:2-9
Matthew 16:13-19 | my2cents:
Saint Peter our first Pope said: ""Now I know for certain that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me .." after he came to his senses. For he had blindly obeyed, and trusted, without question, just did what he was told by the angel, he put on his belt, put on his shoes, put on his cloak and followed. When an angel appears, it is important, extremely important. It goes to show that no gates we put up will keep an angel out. No walls, no cells, no prisons. On our part...we must be faithful indeed. Let us pray: "The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Taste and see how good the LORD is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him." Saint Peter must have only feared God, not men at this point. For by now, He had seen the risen Christ. By now, His was a true promise, a true covenant. A true and contrite heart. And so, an angel appears, as did to Mary, in the quiet cell/room. A light, an angel, and a command. And obedience. And light comes into the world. In comes our Lord and our light, our salvation: ""Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" In the world, we still have the same answers over and over, "oh he was a great man" and "oh he was a good prophet" and "oh he is a fictional character in a book of morals which none is true". If you ask CCD catholic students this question "But who do you say that Jesus is?" you will get some quiet answers, unsure, insecure, and every once in a while you'll hear the right answer but rarely. And so, they grow up like this. Insecure. Unsure of who He is. And Who He is to you matters to the degree that He matters. For He created matter itself. So what's the matter? When people think of matter, they believe we are talking of physical matter, and so they believe that is all...that matters. But what matters here is essence of being. God is being. Not just a being...but being itself. Blows the mind how this works, but He IS. Be happy you are where you are for that matter! Be joyful. Peter our Pope didn't shed his blood for nothing. Paul converted from killer to saver, didn't give up his life for nothing. They found out what was the matter. The world needs Christ. That's the matter right now.
Therefore, to live for Him is honorable, to die for Him is honorable. And everything in between...for Him...is honorable.
And so the question still lingers "Who am I?" Well, what matters is who is asking the question. That is what kills some people. Some think they are gods. Some think they are worthless nothings. Some think they are here for crooked purposes. Some believe they are called to be saints. Who are you any ways? Well, it all begins with "what" am I? I am a creation of God in His image...called to be one in Him, perfect and holy. Then the "who" can slowly begin to be revealed. The "being". Being is everything in eternity. God is everything. Right now, we are a human "being". Right? And then? The matter will change matter. Beyond us how the Eucharist works but this is what matters! What is the Eucharist to you?
The question is answered by responding to "who is Jesus Christ to you".
Everything?
or Nothing.
If everything, you will die for Him.
If nothing, you will die for self. And the matter of fact is Love | |
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