Alive with the Spirit Junipero Serra had a vision that did not turn out as he originally conceived, after human sinfulness overwhelmed the design, as it did in the Garden of Eden. Yet the Holy Spirit succeeded, and the missions he founded today are sacred places, alive with God's Spirit and God's people. The faithful who inhabit and tend these missions can give hope to all pilgrims, that however flawed our own efforts are, the Gospel will still find a way. –from Saint Junipero Serra's Camino: A Pilgrimage Guide to the California Missions | ✞Quote
"The patient and humble endurance of the cross—whatever nature it may be—is the highest work we have to do."
— St. Katharine Drexel ✞Meditation of the Day "While St. Teresa was well acquainted with methods of meditation and wished her young nuns to be instructed in them, she emphatically insisted that the primary need for beginners is not to find the ideal method but to do God's will from moment to moment throughout the day—which is probably the last thing the beginner thinks is primary. Her thought is strong and unambiguous: 'The whole aim of any person who is beginning prayer—and don't forget this, because it is very important—should be that he work and prepare himself with determination and every effort to bring his will in conformity with God's will'. She then adds that 'it is the person who lives in more perfect conformity who will receive more from the Lord and be more advanced on this road of prayer.'" — Fr. Thomas Dubay, p. 112 An Excerpt From Fire Within ⛪ Today's Feast Day Sacred Heart of Jesus The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated on the octave day of the feast of Corpus Christi. In the 17th century Jesus appeared in a vision to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque asking her to request that this feast be celebrated in honor of his Sacred Heart in reparation for the ingratitude of mankind toward the sacrifice of his love on the Cross. Pope Pius IX extended the feast of the Sacred Heart to the universal Church in 1856. The imagery of Christ pointing to his heart, on fire with love, signifies his immense and infinite love for humanity which took Him to the Cross to die for our salvation. The Sacred Heart of Jesus desires that all mankind draw close to Him in love and trust. Today this devotion, given to the faithful by Our Lord himself, is among the most popular of the Catholic Church. ✞Verse of the Day "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God." Ephesians 2:19-22 |  click to read more | | Saint William of York (c. 1090 – June 8, 1154) St. William of York (d. 1154) was born to a powerful family in England, the nephew of the king. He became a priest and then treasurer of York Minster Cathedral at the time when the English crown was contested by two grandchildren of William the Conqueror. When the Archbishop of York died, William was chosen to take his place. Kind-hearted and generous to the poor, he was well-liked by the people; however, he faced political and ecclesiastical opposition from the rival to the English throne. Because he was consecrated without papal approval, William was accused of wrongdoing by those who wanted their preferred prelate in the position; even St. Bernard of Clairvaux opposed him. Although the pope confirmed William's appointment, the pope died before the pallium was given, and the new pope took the side of William's detractors. A new archbishop was ordained in his place while William went to live as a monk with his uncle, a bishop, in quiet prayer and penance. The people of York, upset that their favorite had been deposed, took to rioting. Six years later the Archbishop of York died, and another new pope made William the successor. The people were overjoyed at his return, and so many came to greet him as he arrived into the city that a bridge collapsed under their weight; the fact that no one was hurt was considered a miracle. A few months later, after celebrating Mass on Trinity Sunday, William became ill and died. Poisoning was suspected but never confirmed. Miracles took place at his tomb which gave rise to his canonization in 1227. His feast day is June 8th. Reflection
"Good things come to those who wait" might be the catch phrase for today's saint. We don't always get what we want when we want it. Sometimes we have to wait patiently, trusting that if it is for our good, God will bless us. | Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Lectionary: 171 Reading 1 HOS 11:1, 3-4, 8C-9 Thus says the LORD:
When Israel was a child I loved him,
out of Egypt I called my son.
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
who took them in my arms;
I drew them with human cords,
with bands of love;
I fostered them like one
who raises an infant to his cheeks;
Yet, though I stooped to feed my child,
they did not know that I was their healer. My heart is overwhelmed,
my pity is stirred.
I will not give vent to my blazing anger,
I will not destroy Ephraim again;
For I am God and not a man,
the Holy One present among you;
I will not let the flames consume you. Responsorial Psalm IS 12:2-3, 4, 5-6.
R. (3) You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation. Reading 2 EPH 3:8-12, 14-19 Brothers and sisters:
To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given,
to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ,
and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery
hidden from ages past in God who created all things,
so that the manifold wisdom of God
might now be made known through the church
to the principalities and authorities in the heavens.
This was according to the eternal purpose
that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
in whom we have boldness of speech
and confidence of access through faith in him. For this reason I kneel before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory
to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Alleluia MT 11:29AB
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord;
and learn from me, for I am meek and gentle of heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Or 1 JN 4:10B R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God first loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel JN 19:31-37 Since it was preparation day,
in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath,
for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one,
the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken
and they be taken down.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first
and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,
they did not break his legs,
but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,
and immediately blood and water flowed out.
An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true;
he knows that he is speaking the truth,
so that you also may come to believe.
For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled:
Not a bone of it will be broken.
And again another passage says:
They will look upon him whom they have pierced. | Meditation: Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8-9 The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Solemnity) My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred . (Hosea 11:8) "Where are you off to now? To some church, probably, where you'll gaze at the images and consider yourself pious. And all the time what is really wanted of you is a decent house for these poor creatures." When Fr. John Eudes heard these words, he was cut to the heart. For years, he had been promoting devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He had dedicated his whole priesthood to helping the people of seventeenth-century France grasp how tenderly God loved them. And yet here was a friend essentially calling him a hypocrite. "How can you go and say your prayers when the people around you are suffering so much?" In truth, Fr. John was already working to remedy the situation. The "poor creatures" that the friend spoke about were the women that Fr. John and his workers had rescued from a life of prostitution. Lacking any source of income or anyone to help them, these poor ladies had been reduced to selling their bodies just so they could feed their children. Fr. John had arranged temporary housing for them so they could be safe from the men who preyed on them. But this wasn't enough. These women were still vulnerable. They needed a permanent home and the chance to earn a decent wage—something Fr. John could clearly make happen. Stung by his friend's words, he immediately began the process of founding a religious order of sisters who would care for these women and all the others like them. We might think that Fr. John's friend was being too harsh. Hadn't he done enough? Couldn't someone else pick up where he left off? Maybe. But Fr. John Eudes knew that "just enough" would never be enough—not if he wanted to be like Jesus. That's the point of today's feast. Jesus gave every drop of his blood to save us. His sacred heart was—and still is—"overwhelmed" with love for us (Hosea 11:8). He would do anything for us. And he did. Today, ask yourself: Do I believe that Jesus loves me fully, deeply, and completely? Then spend some time pondering how you can move beyond loving someone "just enough" in the days ahead. "O Sacred Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore you, I love you, I give you my life." (Psalm) Isaiah 12:2-6
Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19
John 19:31-37 | my2cents:
Saint Paul says "...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, rooted and grounded in love...so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Does He love me?
Does He love you?
Saint Paul talks much on the love of God.
The answer can be found on the cross. Let us pray: " You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation."
Why would God come as a human and die for us? Love. In the Holy Gospel, Jesus speaks. He speaks volumes as His heart had stopped beating and was pierced. What pours forth speaks...water and blood. Body and Spirit. Baptism and Eucharist. Mercy and Grace. Love and Mercy. One drop would have saved us...but God can only give lavishing love. He doesn't give table scraps to dogs...He gives amazingly.
That is what changes the world.
And so can you.
You learn to have a heart like this. You learn to pour out love when you are pierced. Within the last couple days of travelling, we have driven through many states. I have met a few with road rage. Some honking and yelling at me. Driving over 1400 miles in a 22 year old van to this wedding hasn't been easy. One family passenger was upset, because they asked us to cook when we got there. I said "if you don't then i will....i will drive these 1400 miles to arrive and start cooking. That's what our journey to Heaven is like. You are headed to a feast. There you will serve and be served.
What's being served?
What happens when you let yourself be pierced? When full of grace and love...that is what pours out...mercy grace. Beautiful. Completely amazing. And it changes the world.
Do not be afraid of this.
Holiness and grace forms us. The Eucharist strengthens us...our soul. His heart is precious and beats in Heaven.
His heart now can pour forth endlessly from Heaven.
Thank God.
Thank GOD! | |
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