 | The Eucharist Intensifies God's Indwelling It was that very Jesus who became for Francis, and all his followers, the closeness of God. For Jesus was and is the closeness of God. He is God become one of us, like us in everything but sin. He is the mystery of the incarnation of God, and that mystery was deepened for Francis with the knowledge that this Incarnate God can become present in us through the sacramental grace of the mystery of the Holy Eucharist wherein we eat the body and drink the blood of Christ whose effect is to intensify the indwelling of God in us. —from the book Surrounded by Love: Seven Teachings from Saint Francis | † QUOTE
"We must faithfully keep what we have promised. If through human weakness we fail, we must always without delay arise again by means of holy penance, and give our attention to leading a good life and to dying a holy death. May the Father of all mercy, the Son by his holy passion, and the Holy Spirit, source of peace, sweetness and love, fill us with their consolation."
— St. Colette † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Others, again, seeing their own imperfections, become angry with themselves with an impatience that is not humble. They are so impatient with their shortcomings as if they would be saints in one day. Many of these make many grand resolutions, but, being self-confident and not humble, the more they resolve, the more they fall, and the more angry they become; not having the patience to wait for God's time; this is also opposed to spiritual meekness. There is no perfect remedy for this but in the dark night. There are, however, some people who are so patient, and who advance so slowly in their spiritual progress, that God wishes they were not so patient."
— St. John of the Cross, p. 24
AN EXCERPT FROM
Dark Night of the Soul † VERSE OF THE DAY
"Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers."
Romans 12:9-13 |  click to read more | | Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos (January 11, 1819 – October 4, 1867) Zeal as a preacher and a confessor led Father Seelos to works of compassion as well. Born in southern Bavaria, he studied philosophy and theology in Munich. On hearing about the work of the Redemptorists among German-speaking Catholics in the United States, he came to this country in 1843. Ordained at the end of 1844, he was assigned for six years to St. Philomena's Parish in Pittsburgh as an assistant to Saint John Neumann. The next three years Father Seelos was superior in the same community, and began his service as novice master. Several years in parish ministry in Maryland followed, along with responsibility for training Redemptorist students. During the Civil War Fr. Seelos went to Washington, D.C., and appealed to President Lincoln that those students not be drafted for military service, although eventually some were. For several years, he preached in English and in German throughout the Midwest and in the Mid-Atlantic states. Assigned to St. Mary of the Assumption Church community in New Orleans, Fr. Seelos served his Redemptorist confreres and parishioners with great zeal. In 1867, he died of yellow fever, having contracted that disease while visiting the sick. He was beatified in 2000. The Liturgical Feast of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos is October 5. Reflection
Father Seelos worked in many different places but always with the same zeal: to help people know God's love and compassion. He preached about the works of mercy and then engaged in them, even risking his own health. | Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Gal 3:7-14 Brothers and sisters:
Realize that it is those who have faith
who are children of Abraham.
Scripture, which saw in advance that God
would justify the Gentiles by faith,
foretold the good news to Abraham, saying,
Through you shall all the nations be blessed.
Consequently, those who have faith are blessed
along with Abraham who had faith.
For all who depend on works of the law are under a curse;
for it is written, Cursed be everyone
who does not persevere in doing all the things
written in the book of the law.
And that no one is justified before God by the law is clear,
for the one who is righteous by faith will live.
But the law does not depend on faith;
rather, the one who does these things will live by them.
Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,
for it is written, Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree,
that the blessing of Abraham might be extended
to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,
so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Responsorial Psalm Ps 111:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. (5) The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
Majesty and glory are his work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
He has given food to those who fear him;
he will forever be mindful of his covenant.
He has made known to his people the power of his works,
giving them the inheritance of the nations.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever. Alleluia Jn 12:31b-32
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The prince of this world will now be cast out,
and when I am lifted up from the earth
I will draw all to myself, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 11:15-26 When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said:
"By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,
he drives out demons."
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them,
"Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste
and house will fall against house.
And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,
by whom do your own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,
his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters. "When an unclean spirit goes out of someone,
it roams through arid regions searching for rest
but, finding none, it says,
'I shall return to my home from which I came.'
But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order.
Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits
more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there,
and the last condition of that man is worse than the first."
| Meditation: Luke 11:15-26 It goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself. (Luke 11:26) Whenever a government is overthrown, there is always a question of what will rise up in its place. Sometimes, a stable government is established that ushers in a time of peace and justice. Other times, however, the power vacuum fills with factions and infighting—perhaps even violence. This scenario of a political coup illustrates Jesus' words in today's Gospel. As we journey with him, Jesus helps us identify old habits and attitudes that are opposed to him. In response, we try to "overthrow" them. We go to Confession and we resolve to put an end to them. But this is only one part of the solution. We can't think that confessing our sins automatically turns everything around for us. After we turn from old ways and receive God's forgiveness, we need to fill in the empty places with new ways. We need to develop new habits, new attitudes, and new thought patterns. Otherwise, the old ways will be able to sneak back in, and we'll feel twice as guilty for having fallen to them yet again. So what does this look like in practice? Take a moment right now to identify a habit or tendency that you would like to overcome. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Then, along with saying, "I don't want to do that anymore," think about what should go in its place. If you tend to complain, for example, ask the Spirit to help you cultivate an attitude of gratefulness. Then look for opportunities when you can specifically thank God for his goodness. Or if you suspect that you waste too much time on the Internet in the evening, think about other ways you can unwind and find refreshment. Perhaps going out for a walk or calling a friend will help restore you even more. Be creative, and be willing to try different solutions. Throughout this process, remember to keep asking for the Holy Spirit's help. Ask for his wisdom in discerning the old corrupt habits. Pray for his grace to help you overthrow them. And ask him to show you new ways of living that will bring you greater peace. "Holy Spirit, help me to form new habits that draw me closer to Jesus." Galatians 3:7-14
Psalm 111:1-6 | my2cents:
"Realize that it is those who have faith who are children of Abraham." Child of Abraham, have faith. That is what is going to get us through our journey on earth. This journey is an adventure. Are adventures fun? They sound fun sometimes, but it's not that fun if you're really living it out. Take for example, the life of our Blessed Mother. Hers was the ultimate adventure. She is given to a church, she gives her life to purity, she is visited by an angel, (frightening to most), she has a baby out of nowhere, she marries a holy man, they go through various mountains and valleys, highs and lows, suffer cold, rejection, sometimes warmth and acceptance, they suffer persecution, being chased, and the story goes on and on until Jesus is hung on a cross, a tree, a dead tree. There, her heart stops, she falls almost flat on her face. You call this an adventure? She gets enough strength to hold her baby in her arms, who was beat to death. It is a great love story in the end. The adventure doesn't stop. Her baby comes back in the end. Her life then becomes one of affliction and passion, one of a life where conflict is now one of complete turning, even more than a metanoia, a complete conversion. And God invites us to this adventure of faith. Faith of our fathers, beginning with Abraham. For Abraham too had his story of going through mountains and valleys, highs and lows...faith is a life worth living. Let us pray: "The Lord will remember his covenant for ever. I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart in the company and assembly of the just....He has given food to those who fear him; he will forever be mindful of his covenant. He has made known to his people the power of his works,
giving them the inheritance of the nations." Abraham left with a promise from God. Mary lived with a promise of God and with Him. It is what got them through everything. Have faith. His promise is forever. In comes our Lord, once again rejected and accused (evil is the accuser), and our Lord simply says "when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." He is stronger. He is stronger than anything. He distributes the spoils to the poor. For the rich tried to take over..His vineyard, His Kingdom, and all to no avail. "The Kingdom", says our Lord "if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you." The Kingdom is upon us. Where there is a King. Where there are subjects. Where there are servants and servants for servants. In the life to come, the real life, can you imagine the honor to serve? Yet, it starts right now, right here. And I'll tell you what, serving is not for the faint of heart. It takes guts. It's an adventure. There's alot of trial and tribulation. There's alot of gold being purified. Many don't take to faith because it is not easy. But many do. Many find a cause. But is it a selfish cause, like a cause of works, works of law. There's one thing to be obedient, like I told my brothers this week in reunion, but it is a whole other to actually love God. I always equate faith with a love of God. Works come naturally if you love God.
So when I say "Have faith" today, also think "Have Love".
And if Love is God, then, you will have God, his Kingdom, with us, Emmanuel, on this adventure.
And before we go, realize, after confession, you must fill up yourself with God. No more of what you used to be, with torments, anguish, and living with the accuser in your mind. No. God's love sets us free....free now, to do His will...to be His servants...to be His...saints | | |
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