Hear His Voice Jesus said: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one" (John 10:27–30). These four verses contain the whole of Jesus's message; it is the nucleus of his Gospel: he calls us to share in his relationship with the Father, and this is eternal life. –from the book Mother Mary: Inspiring Words from Pope Francis | ✞ "As the pilot of a vessel is tried in the storm; as the wrestler is tried in the ring, the soldier in the battle, and the hero in adversity: so is the Christian tried in temptation."
— St. Basil the Great ✞ MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Our confidence in God must be founded on His infinite goodness and on the merits of the Passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, with this condition on our part: that we should preserve and recognize in ourselves an entire and firm resolution to belong wholly to God, and to abandon ourselves in all things, and without any reserve, to His Providence. Observe that I do not say that we must feel this resolution to belong wholly to God, but only that we must have it and recognize it in ourselves; we must not concern ourselves with what we feel or do not feel, since the greater part of our feelings and satisfactions are only the movements of self-love. Neither must it be supposed that in all this practice of abandonment and indifference, we shall never have desires contrary to the will of God, or that nature will never shrink with repugnance from the dispositions of His good pleasure, for these will often occur. The virtues of abandonment and indifference reside in the higher region of our soul; the lower region, generally speaking, has nothing to do with them. We must remain at peace, and paying no attention whatever to what that lower nature desires, we must embrace the divine will and unite ourselves to it—whatsoever this may entail. There are very few persons who reach this height of perfect self-renunciation; nevertheless, we must all aim at it, each according to his little measure."
— St. Francis de Sales, p. 22-23
AN EXCERPT FROM
The Art of Loving God ✞ VERSE OF THE DAY
"But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ."
2 Thessalonians 3:3-5 |  click to read more | | Saint Gregory of Nyssa Saint of the Day for January 10
(c. 335 – 395) The son of two saints, Basil and Emmilia, young Gregory was raised by his older brother, Saint Basil the Great, and his sister, Macrina, in modern-day Turkey. Gregory's success in his studies suggested great things were ahead for him. After becoming a professor of rhetoric, he was persuaded to devote his learning and efforts to the Church. By then married, Gregory went on to study for the priesthood and become ordained (this at a time when celibacy was not a matter of law for priests). He was elected Bishop of Nyssa in 372, a period of great tension over the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ. Briefly arrested after being falsely accused of embezzling Church funds, Gregory was restored to his see in 378, an act met with great joy by his people. It was after the death of his beloved brother, Basil, that Gregory really came into his own. He wrote with great effectiveness against Arianism and other questionable doctrines, gaining a reputation as a defender of orthodoxy. He was sent on missions to counter other heresies and held a position of prominence at the Council of Constantinople. His fine reputation stayed with him for the remainder of his life, but over the centuries it gradually declined as the authorship of his writings became less and less certain. But, thanks to the work of scholars in the 20th century, his stature is once again appreciated. Indeed, Saint Gregory of Nyssa is seen not simply as a pillar of orthodoxy but as one of the great contributors to the mystical tradition in Christian spirituality and to monasticism itself. Reflection
Orthodoxy is a word that can raise red flags in our minds. To some people it may connote rigid attitudes that make no room for honest differences of opinion. But it might just as well suggest something else: faith that has settled deep in one's bones. Gregory's faith was like that. So deeply embedded was his faith in Jesus that he knew the divinity that Arianism denied. When we resist something offered as truth without knowing exactly why, it may be because our faith has settled in our bones. | Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20 During the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli,
a revelation of the LORD was uncommon and vision infrequent.
One day Eli was asleep in his usual place.
His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see.
The lamp of God was not yet extinguished,
and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD
where the ark of God was.
The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, "Here I am." Samuel ran to Eli and said, "Here I am. You called me."
"I did not call you," Eli said. "Go back to sleep."
So he went back to sleep.
Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli.
"Here I am," he said. "You called me."
But Eli answered, "I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep."
At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD,
because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.
The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time.
Getting up and going to Eli, he said, "Here I am.
You called me."
Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.
So Eli said to Samuel, "Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply,
'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'"
When Samuel went to sleep in his place,
the LORD came and revealed his presence,
calling out as before, "Samuel, Samuel!"
Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening." Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him,
not permitting any word of his to be without effect.
Thus all Israel from Dan to Beersheba
came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the LORD. Responsorial Psalm Ps 40:2 and 5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10
R. (8a and 9a) Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust;
who turns not to idolatry
or to those who stray after falsehood.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me.
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!"
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will. Allelluia Jn 10:27
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord.
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 1:29-39 On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn,
he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you."
He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come."
So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons
throughout the whole of Galilee.
| Meditation: Mark 1:29-39 The fever left her and she waited on them. (Mark 1:31) Imagine Simon's mother-in-law and her friend chatting over tea. "What happened at your house the other day?" the friend asked. Simon's mother-in-law said, "Well, I was pretty sick. I had a high fever, my whole body ached, and all I wanted to do was rest. But Jesus came into my room and held my hand. Moments later, I felt so good that I began to make lunch for Simon and his friends. I was so excited by what happened that I had to get out and tell other people about it. "I've discovered—both from my experience and from talking to other people—that when you meet Jesus, something happens inside of you. You can't help but act. That day, I did what I know how to do best. I didn't feel obligated; I could have kept lying in bed, but when you feel that kind of love, you just want to find ways to love people in return. "I think that the love just starts to spill over. At least that's what happened that day. Word got out that Jesus had come to visit, and by nightfall the house was filled with sick or unhappy people, and he touched them all. "What was unusual for me was that I didn't mind all these strangers at my door. Normally, I would be cautious, but something changed in me that day, and I felt a new kinship with these people whom I had never met. Some of them I may not have even liked before then, but it didn't matter. We were all looking for the same thing. We had all been brought together by a desire to be with Jesus. They felt like long-lost brothers and sisters, and I had no problem welcoming them." "So that's all?" her friend asked. "You felt his love when he healed you and that made you open your door to other people and they were healed as well?" "Yes. I know it sounds silly, but that's what happened. And it's happened for so many other people. You should try to find Jesus yourself. It's amazing what he can do!" "I've got to find him! There are so many things I need help with." "Lord, touch every heart with your healing love. Move us all to serve one another." 1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20
Psalm 40:2, 5, 7-10 | my2cents:
The Word spoke: " "Samuel, Samuel!"
Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening." Here I Am.
Listen for His voice. What's peculiar is that young Sammy thought it was Eli's voice. But it wasn't. God sounded like Eli? Sammy woke up Eli several times because God kept calling in the night. What did God say to Sammy? "The LORD said to Samuel: I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears it ring."
LOL, I got ringing of the ears, do you? It very well could be the Lord's ringing...right? Offer it up and answer the call. Let us pray: " Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will. I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry. Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust; who turns not to idolatry or to those who stray after falsehood." I fight in my years of ministries against idolatries, not personally but I see I have to compete with sports, work, and family activity. I am calling from the temple. I am ringing in, God is calling. Blessed the man who makes the Lord his trust. Not trusting in no man. Not trusting work. Not trusting anything else. I am in construction. That's what we do. I rely heavily on prayer, like a farmer does for his crop. Prayer, doing our part and trusting in God's providence, in what HE will provide. In the end, it will just be you in the afterlife...then what? Ahh. Maybe all this talk about trusting the Lord is true... In the Holy Gospel, Jesus is in the temple. Again we are in the temple. He leaves, and from there He enters another house, a temple, Simon's mom. He touches her, she is touched and moved by faith and gets up to serve. Are you being touched to serve God? I believe you are. There is a vast chasm that only God can traverse to save. Nightfall comes. He is there saving, from demons from diseases and diseases from demons, indeed a dis-ease is often caused by demons. Jesus is there cleansing, left and right and all night, and He finally takes a nap, and gets up before sunrise. Ready? Let's Go!
The disciples hear Him say ""Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come." People nowadays don't like to preach. Indeed. Darkness inside tells you not to preach. Preach what you teach and live what you teach to preach. Do not be afraid to be one with Jesus and follow His way. Yesterday I was asked to go say "words" at a funeral home today after lunch. What "words" could I say to a family that does not want a Mass or a Rosary? I talked to them and figured out we could pray. Now I ask you for prayers for I need your leverage coined "palanca" in cursillo. Then at 7pm they asked me to do a Vigil service, for another funeral. More preaching. Right? How do I preach? I don't really, and I'll let you in on the secret. Like a farmer that does His part, I allow the heart to speak...the Holy Spirit, by invoking Him, asking Him to speak after prayer. He does all the speaking every day I write to you. Some may not like what is said, and so they leave. Some say thank you. Some say nothing. Some move. Some will not. Some seeds grow. Some remain dormant. Jesus goes and farms the fields of lambs. Fishing and catching. Catching a heart by His subtle Words that are only heard from the temple. A man told me at a parts store this week "hey weren't you in here earlier?" I just looked down, "no sir, I just look like alot of people". The men there laughed. But I do, and I sound like different people too. Some ask me if other people sing in my CD's but it's just me. What's the point? God sounds like us, and we look like Him. I'm on the constant alert for His voice and face....listening for the next command which sounds like an invitation...all the time. Join Me, Let us Go.
These are the words of sending forth in a Holy Mass after the final blessing "Let's go together now" | |
