God Hears Your Prayers I think there is a special place in purgatory for the person that originated the notion that some places count more than others do. Did this individual ever consider what this implies about the God who longs for us? Imagine God saying, "I'm not listening, Gary, because you are on the treadmill." That is certainly not the God of Jesus Christ. The Father always hears us, whenever and wherever we cry out to him. —from Prayer Everywhere: The Spiritual Life Made Simple | ✞Quote
"Christian optimism is not a sugary optimism, nor is it a mere human confidence that everything will turn out all right. It is an optimism that sinks its roots into an awareness of our freedom, and the sure knowledge of the power of grace. It is an optimism that leads us to make demands on ourselves, to struggle to respond at every moment to God's call."
— St. Josemaria Escriva ✞ MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Many men keep the commandments in the way sick men take medicine: more from fear of dying in damnation than for joy of living according to our Savior's will. Just as some persons dislike taking medicine, no matter how pleasant it is, simply because it is called medicine, so there are some souls who hold in horror things commanded simply because they are commanded . . . On the contrary, a loving heart loves the commandments. The more difficult they are, the sweeter and more agreeable it finds them, since this more perfectly pleases the Beloved and gives Him greater honor."
— St. Francis de Sales, p. 20
AN EXCERPT FROM
Finding God's Will for You ✞ VERSE OF THE DAY
"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Philippians 2:5-11 |  click to read more | | ST. VERONICA St. Veronica (1st c.) is one of the holy women of Jerusalem who accompanied Jesus on the Way of the Cross. Out of her sorrow and compassion she offered Jesus her veil to wipe the blood and sweat from his face as He carried the cross on the way to His crucifixion. In gratitude for her simple yet gracious act, Jesus left an image of His face on the cloth. According to tradition, Veronica afterwards went to Rome and brought the cloth with her. This piece of cloth, known as Veronica's Veil, has been venerated as a holy and miraculous image of Jesus Christ ever since. It has been kept since ancient times in St. Peter's Basilica. On the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) in Jerusalem there is a small chapel called the Chapel of the Holy Face that was built on the site of St. Veronica's home and the location where the miracle took place. St. Veronica's feast day is July 12th. | Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Hos 11:1-4, 8e-9 Thus says the LORD:
When Israel was a child I loved him,
out of Egypt I called my son.
The more I called them,
the farther they went from me,
Sacrificing to the Baals
and burning incense to idols.
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 man,
the Holy One present among you;
I will not let the flames consume you. Responsorial Psalm pS 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16
R. (4b) Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken.
From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power.
R. Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see:
Take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted,
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R. Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved. Alleluia Mk 1:15
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand:
repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 10:7-15 Jesus said to his Apostles:
"As you go, make this proclamation:
'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse the lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts;
no sack for the journey, or a second tunic,
or sandals, or walking stick.
The laborer deserves his keep.
Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it,
and stay there until you leave.
As you enter a house, wish it peace.
If the house is worthy,
let your peace come upon it;
if not, let your peace return to you.
Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words—
go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.
Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment
than for that town."
| Meditation: Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9 My heart is overwhelmed. (Hosea 11:8) Tradition has it that as St. John neared the end of his life, people flocked to the Island of Patmos to celebrate the Sunday Eucharist with him. John was old and frail, and he had to be carried out to the people each Sunday, but it never stopped him from giving them the same message week after week: "Little children, God loves you. Love him and love one another." That's all John ever said, but the people still came. When asked why he kept repeating the same words, he answered, "Because that's what the Master kept saying." Today's first reading shows us that the prophet Hosea might well have said the same thing! Speaking in the name of the Lord, the prophet recounts Israel's infidelity and sins—and yet he insists that God has never stopped loving them. In a moving poem, he shows that God's love is eternal, intimate, unconditional, and immutable. And when this love is poured out on his people, it's called mercy. Just like St. John, Hosea wanted his people to experience this mercy, not just hear about it. It sounds so attractive, doesn't it? But to quote Pope Francis, "It is not easy to entrust oneself to God's mercy, because it is an abyss beyond comprehension. But we must! 'Oh, Father, if you knew my life, you would not say that to me!' Why, what have you done? 'Oh, I am a great sinner!' All the better! Go to Jesus: he likes you to tell him these things. . . . He forgets, he kisses you, he embraces you, and he simply says to you, 'Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.' That is the only advice he gives you." Or consider God's revelation to St. Faustina, a Polish sister who lived just prior to World War II: "I am love itself. My heart overflows with great mercy for souls, especially poor sinners. Let no one fear to draw near to me, even though their sins be as scarlet. My mercy is greater than all your sins." God loves you. Believe it! No matter what you have done, no matter what anyone has done to you, he hasn't rejected you. Let him show you his love and his mercy. Let him tell you over and over again, "I love you. Love me and love one another. I love you!" "Father, fill me with your love!" Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16
Matthew 10:7-15 | my2cents: "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." One of the hardest things on mankind is man without father. Couple days ago, I read a quote on a new building for a dealership, it was actually nice place, a big inscription on an outdoor restaurant's chimney, and it caught my attention, because I was in a rush, but those big words said "Que Hombre Es Hombre Que Deja el Mundo Mejor". Which basically says "What Man Is Man who leaves the world a better place". God is our Father. He is. Yes you got your earthly dads, and with all their feeble love, they can't love like Our Father. Statistically, most men in jails are there because of a lack of a father, a real father, the kind that cares for them, guides them, helps them be a better man, the kind that never abandons them, the kind that would give their lives for them. But, in this porn-minded world, they ask a newborn's mother "who is the father" and they will put down a name, and many of these fathers never see their child grow up, they give them up. But God is always there, because He IS Being, He by His very nature can not give up, it is impossible. Amazing. Let us take to this model of life we are designed to live. Let us pray " Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved. Once again, O LORD of hosts, look down from heaven, and see: Take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted, the son of man whom you yourself made strong." God planted the Son of Man, Jesus, in the vineyard, the vine. He has replaced everything with Him. He has shown the world what He looks like, and it is good, opposite of what we are used to seeing and thinking, almost contrary to every day life, so good is His life, in the vine. In comes our Lord and our Savior: "Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give." You have received what? Power. It becomes a stewardship of power. Power to heal. Power to raise from the dead. Power to forgive. Power to love. Love is a power. How are you handling this love power? Does it move you? Does it move others through you? How does this work? God wants us out proclaiming, being outward expressers of His Love.
Much of the world is losing interest in real faith. Look around you. If it is like in my world, tons and tons of fellow workers are not church goers. Tons of family have stopped going to church. Is church important? It is if God is important. If you see a rampant problem, will you be a part of the solution? What is the solution? How do we get people to have an intimate relationship with God? Bring them back to Our Father. What does "bring them back" even mean? It means bring them to Heaven. It means, then, everything! It is a super challenge. Because the first front is self. How can I get over myself to get to others? I become an obstacle at times by misusing, abusing, the power of love. And God is love. How can you be uncharitable with your words? How can you be so insulting? That is abusive. How can you bring souls to Christ with this abuse? This Dictatorship. And if we don't watch it, this democracy can become a dictatorship, as socialists are now rearing their heads in the name of "liberty". Lies, really. Because true liberty is in Christ, and honoring the commands of Christ.
I have a calling. I am called to reach out. Social media is nice, but not really. It is abused. Bullies. Love affairs. Pornography, filth, gossip. And the worst? Careless jokes and funny clips of nonsense, a waste of time and souls. Wasting away precious moments. There is a time for everything but too much time is spent on nothing. "Nothing" is eternal too. Some scientists believe that beyond the universe there is nothing. That is a place where many will wind up...forgotten. What is the worst part about a prisoner in jail? Being forgotten. Everything they knew, everyone they knew is gone. This becomes an inner hell that leads many to depression and suicide. Someone forgot to love. For some, they forgot what love means. Love means God. You can't love with human love and expect perfection. You can love with Godly love and reach perfection.
God needs you. More today than ever before. Why? Because He IS Love. He desires to express Himself through you. In my world, at work, family, and church, God is needed to be shown in great strength and humility. The only strong words needed are "I Love God More".
He desires mercy, more than sacrifice.
He desires it to the cross. He desires it to infinity.
Focus and revolve around this reality. We revolve around the Son.
The Son Gives us light and life.
The Son is eternally burning hot, wishing the world were ablaze!
The Son is there even if you try to hide from Him.
You are reading this because you love the Son.
You are a chosen little one.
You are on a mission of Christ, of Church, armed with a great power, LOVE | |
No comments:
Post a Comment