How Do I Bear Witness? The testimony of faith comes in very many forms; just as in a great fresco there is a variety of colors and shades, all of which are important, even those that do not stand out. In God's great plan, every detail is important: your witness, my humble little witness, even the hidden witness of those who live their faith with simplicity in everyday family relationships, work relationships, and friendships. These are the saints of every day, the "hidden" saints, a sort of "middle class of holiness," as a French author said, that "middle class of holiness" to which we all can belong. —from the book The Blessing of Family | † QUOTE
"Consider God's charity. Where else have we ever seen someone who has been offended voluntarily paying out his life for those who have offended him?"
— St. Catherine of Siena † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"I remind you, My daughter, that as often as you hear the clock strike the third hour, immerse yourself completely in My mercy, adoring and glorifying it; invoke its omnipotence for the whole world, and particularly for poor sinners; for at that moment mercy was opened wide for every soul. In this hour you can obtain everything for yourself and for others for the asking; it was the hour of grace for the whole world—mercy triumphed over justice. My daughter, try your best to make the Stations of the Cross in this hour, provided that your duties permit it; and if you are not able to make the Stations of the Cross, then at least step into the chapel for a moment and adore, in the Blessed Sacrament, My Heart, which is full of mercy; and should you be unable to step into the chapel, immerse yourself in prayer there where you happen to be, if only for a very brief instant."
— St. Faustina Kowalska, (1572)
AN EXCERPT FROM
Diary of St. Faustina † VERSE OF THE DAY
"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."
Colossians 2:6-7 |  click to read more | | Saints Louis Martin and Zélie Guerin (August 22, 1823 – July 29, 1894; December 23, 1831 – August 28, 1877) Born into a military family in Bordeaux, Louis trained to become a watchmaker. His desire to join a religious community went unfulfilled because he didn't know Latin. Moving to Normandy, he met the highly-skilled lace maker, Zélie Guerin, who also had been disappointed in her attempts to enter religious life. They married in 1858, and over the years were blessed with nine children, though two sons and two daughters died in infancy. Louis managed the lace-making business that Zélie continued at home while raising their children. She died from breast cancer in 1877. Louis then moved the family to Lisieux to be near his brother and sister-in-law, who helped with the education of his five surviving girls. His health began to fail after his 15-year-old daughter entered the Monastery of Mount Carmel at Lisieux in 1888. Louis died in 1894, a few months after being committed to a sanitarium. The home that Louis and Zélie created nurtured the sanctity of all their children, but especially their youngest, who is known to us as Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus. Louis and Zélie were beatified in 2008, and canonized by Pope Francis on October 18, 2015. The Liturgical Feast of Saints Louis Martin and Zélie Guerin is July 12. Reflection
In life, Louis and Zélie knew great joy and excruciating sorrow. They firmly believed that God was with them throughout every challenge that married life, parenting, and their occupations presented. | Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Prv 21:1-6, 10-13 Like a stream is the king's heart in the hand of the LORD;
wherever it pleases him, he directs it. All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes,
but it is the LORD who proves hearts. To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart–
the tillage of the wicked is sin. The plans of the diligent are sure of profit,
but all rash haste leads certainly to poverty. Whoever makes a fortune by a lying tongue
is chasing a bubble over deadly snares. The soul of the wicked man desires evil;
his neighbor finds no pity in his eyes. When the arrogant man is punished, the simple are the wiser;
when the wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge. The just man appraises the house of the wicked:
there is one who brings down the wicked to ruin. He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself also call and not be heard. Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:1, 27, 30, 34, 35, 44
R. (35) Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.
R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.
R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Give me discernment, that I may observe your law
and keep it with all my heart.
R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Lead me in the path of your commands,
for in it I delight.
R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
And I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever.
R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands. Alleluia Lk 11:28
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are those who hear the word of God
and observe it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 8:19-21 The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him
but were unable to join him because of the crowd.
He was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside
and they wish to see you."
He said to them in reply, "My mother and my brothers
are those who hear the word of God and act on it."
| Meditation: Psalm 119:1, 27, 30, 34-35, 44 25th Week in Ordinary Time The way of truth I have chosen. (Psalm 119:30) Today's first reading teaches us how to live in ways that please the Lord. Then, our Responsorial Psalm gives us a beautiful response to these teachings: "Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands." So let's make the psalmist's prayer our own today as we set out to follow the Lord: "I choose you today, Lord. I choose to center my thoughts on you and your goodness. My first thought in the morning will be to thank you for giving me another day to love and serve you. I will thank you for the health I have, even if it isn't the best. I will thank you for the people in my life—even the difficult ones who teach me patience and compassion, perseverance and fortitude. Thank you that I can start afresh today and leave yesterday behind. Thank you that I can build on the grace you gave me yesterday. "I choose you today, Lord. I choose to ponder your word, which shows me the way of truth. Let me hear your voice today. Teach me who you are, and who I am in light of your love. I will let your words guide me and help me build a stable foundation for my thoughts and actions. Lord, I choose to fill my mind with your teachings, especially during the quiet times, when the devil will try to turn me to fearful, judgmental, or negative thoughts. "I choose you today, Lord. I choose you as the model for my life. I want to learn how to love as you do. I want to become just as patient with other people as you have been with me. Teach me to listen and to notice people around me who need my care: the poor and the sick, the lonely and the forgotten, even those who would call me their enemy. "Lord, just as you did during your hidden years with Mary and Joseph, help me to do all the everyday things with love: cooking, cleaning, mowing the lawn, paying the bills, walking the dog, helping my kids with homework, and all the rest. Jesus, I choose to extend the kindness and gentleness you have shown me, so that your love can shine through me. "I choose you today, Jesus. You are my way of truth." Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13
Luke 8:19-21 | my2cents:
The Word begins with a proverb: "Like a stream is the king's heart in the hand of the LORD; wherever it pleases him, he directs it." So let us try to please God. You know what? Forget trying. Yes. You heard me! Forget "trying" to please God. Just Do It. Please Him. Give Him a cup of water like the sinner Samaritan woman at the well. It's not too hard to please Him. Just do what He asks. She left so blessed for doing so. It changed her whole life, and better said...it saved her life. Let us pray and meditate on His command, His desire: "Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands. The way of truth I have chosen; I have set your ordinances before me." Holy people love God's law. And truly Holy People are in love with the supreme law of love. True love eradicates sin. True love dissolves sin. True love is mercy. We need this in our lives. And this is our Lord Jesus. This Jesus from Heaven. What is He? It's more like, who is He? A Holy Spirit? Spirits roam the entire world. A Holy Spirit is ready for the taking. The Holy Spirit desires to dwell in you. In comes our Lord Jesus with beautiful words of eternity: "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it." He declares with truth who are His brothers. Those who do what He desires. A true brotherhood. A true bond. His mother too, does what He desires. These family members hear and do. They don't just hear it, they do it. When God asks. . . you do.
Ahhh! But how do you know if God is asking?
LOL. Don't be a blockhead! Don't be so closed. Don't be so blind. Don't be so deaf. Be even headed, you have a mind for everything else, why not mind His business? When Jesus was found as 12 year old boy after he was "lost" for 3 days, he replied to His mother, "did you not know I must be about my Father's business?". He was found...doing His Father's business. Tending to the sheep. Even though He wasn't supposed to yet, He was already doing what we are called to do...be shepherds. Yes you. You for reading this. You are reading a manual for tending sheep. God's sheep.
Don't be so closed to Him. Is your wallet open to Him? Is your calendar open to Him? If the president comes and asks to see you, won't you open up your calendar and even your checkbook to make arrangements? That's if you care about your president, or honor at least the position!
Don't be so blind. Our Lord appears, in the least expected and at unexpected moments. He appears as an unknown. He appears in the known. He can appears as He knows...best. You want to see God? Have eyes that only seek Him.
And don't be so deaf. Watch this: I opened up CCD for 9th graders with a prayer and we read the bible. We sat down, and I asked them "what did you hear that stuck out the most out of these few verses?" Complete silence. But this is not just 9th graders, it is adults too that remain in silence in adult classes. It is the way we are, we are so distracted, we don't pay attention, or pay to care. The Word of God is living and active. He speaks. Later I said "God can speak to you, I promise, but not too often will you hear direct words to the heart, but it only takes one two or three words of His to change your entire life!" His Word created the world. Can He not create yours? Yes, if we are not deaf.
Hear and do.
Live in faith.
Faith is precious. It's what we got to be with God. And I've often equated faith with love. To know God better, is to love God better. But if knowledge pulls you away from Him, then it was not love, and it is not truth.
My brothers, and my mother,
I depend on you, and I depend on our love to hold us together...God's love. Lord, I pray for everyone reading this right now, bless them Lord, help them Lord, we need you more than anything, more than the air we breathe, and more than the sun that gives us life. We need your Spirit and your Light.
Bless us Lord. So that we may bless you better and love you better.
Amen. | |
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