 clickable | | The Radical Gospel Journey A masculine spirituality would be one that encourages men to take the radical gospel journey from their own unique beginning point, in their own unique style, with their own unique goals— which is what we end up doing anyway, but now with no doubt or apology or need to imitate our sisters or even our fathers, for that matter. That takes immense courage and self-possession. Such a man has life for others and knows it. He does not need to push, intimidate or play the power games common to other men because he possesses his power with surety and calm self-confidence. He is not opinionated or arrogant, but he knows. He is not needy of status symbols because he draws his identity from God and from within. He does not need monogrammed briefcases and underwear; his identity is settled and secure. He possesses his soul and does not give it lightly to corporations, armies, nation-states or the acceptable collective thinking. —from the book From Wild Man to Wise Man: Reflections on Male Spirituality by Richard Rohr, OFM |  MorningOffering.com | "In the first place it should be known that if a person is seeking God, his beloved is seeking him much more." — St. John of the Cross Meditation of the Day "[The] ultimate end of man we call beatitude. For a man's happiness or beatitude consists in the vision whereby he sees God in His essence. Of course, man is far below God in the perfection of his beatitude. For God has this beatitude by His very nature, whereas man attains beatitude by being admitted to a share in the divine light." — St. Thomas Aquinas, p. 119 Verse of the Day "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!" Luke 12:4-5 |  click to read more | | St. Emily de Vialar St. Emily de Vialar (1797–1856) was born in Gaillac, France to an aristocratic family in the years following the French Revolution. Because the Catholic faith was under severe persecution, she was baptized in secret by her parents and her religious instruction was given at home. She was a devout child who displayed an aptitude for prayer, and she shunned the luxuries of her state in life. After the death of her mother, her father arranged to find her a suitable husband when she reached 15 years of age. Emily, who desired to lead the religious life in service to the poor, resisted her father's attempts and endured his anger at her refusal. She desired also to repair the harm caused by the Revolution by catechizing the local children. Emily remained a virgin and privately consecrated herself to God while living in her father's home. When she was 21 she met a priest who helped her set up an out-patient service for the sick in her own home, which heightened her tense relationship with her father. When her grandfather died, Emily inherited a large fortune which allowed her independence in the service of God. She bought a large home in her town and began a religious order in service to the sick and poor, and to the education of children, which quickly flourished. In 40 years her order, called the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition, established 40 houses throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia. St. Emily de Valiar's feast day is June 17th. | Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 2 Cor 6:1-10 Brothers and sisters:
As your fellow workers, we appeal to you
not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says: In an acceptable time I heard you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.
We cause no one to stumble in anything,
in order that no fault may be found with our ministry;
on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves
as ministers of God, through much endurance,
in afflictions, hardships, constraints,
beatings, imprisonments, riots,
labors, vigils, fasts;
by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness,
in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in truthful speech,
in the power of God;
with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left;
through glory and dishonor, insult and praise.
We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful;
as unrecognized and yet acknowledged;
as dying and behold we live;
as chastised and yet not put to death;
as sorrowful yet always rejoicing;
as poor yet enriching many;
as having nothing and yet possessing all things. Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1, 2b, 3ab, 3cd-4 R.(2a) The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
In the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation. Alleluia Ps 119:105 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 5:38-42 Jesus said to his disciples:
"You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one to him as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand him your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go with him for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow."
| Mass Reading & Meditation for June 17, 2019
Catholic Meditations
Meditation: Matthew 5:38-42 11th Week in Ordinary Time When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. (Matthew 5:39) No pain, no gain. You reap what you sow. The punishment should fit the crime. These sayings express our belief in natural consequences and proportional justice. In today's Gospel reading, Jesus addresses the Jewish version of this principle: "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" (see Leviticus 24:20). It may sound harsh to us, but the people would have understood it as a merciful commandment that curbed anger and placed a limit on revenge. But even that's not merciful enough for Jesus. He tells his listeners to turn the other cheek and to offer no resistance whatsoever to an enemy. By going beyond what's challenging but reasonable, Jesus gets to the heart of the Law: the disproportionate, undeserved mercy of God. Looking back at these words through the lens of Jesus' death and resurrection, we can see how he perfectly fulfilled this command. But it wasn't only during his final days that Jesus turned the other cheek. According to St. John Paul II, The whole of Christ's life was a continual teaching: his silences, his miracles, his gestures, his prayer, his love for people, his special affection for the little and the poor, his…sacrifice on the cross…, and his resurrection are the…fulfillment of revelation. Hence for Christians the crucifix is one of the most sublime and popular images of Christ the Teacher. (On Catechesis in Our Time, 9) Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek every time he endured his opponents' attempts to trap him in his teaching. He taught us when his own townsfolk tried to kill him and he just peacefully walked away. And most powerfully, he taught us when he prayed, "Father, forgive them" as he hung on the cross (Luke 23:34). Turning the other cheek is hard, but don't get discouraged. Jesus knows how hard it is. He won't condemn you if you should fall to the temptation to seek revenge or to withhold forgiveness. He'll simply do what he has always done—turn the other cheek, forgive you, and offer you more of his grace to do better. "Jesus, thank you for your constant mercy and grace!" 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Psalm 98:1-4 |  clickable | I prefer to judge the Church on her saints rather than her sinners because her saints have done so much more for me than her sinners could ever take away. I cannot help but think that others are like me and could find the same benefit from the plethora of saints who point the way to the loving God. —Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J. from Finding True Happiness | my2cents: Remember what the saint and our Lord said today, "As your fellow workers, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain." So it's possible to receive the grace of the Lord in vain? It is possible to receive Him in vain? How? By appearing to receive and have no desire for saving grace. | We pray today "The Lord has made known his salvation.
In the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel. "
The Lord has proven mercy.
To be merciful. And us? | Our Lord said "I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well." | From Bishop Barron:
Friends, today's Gospel gives Jesus' teaching about nonresistance to evil people. We are continually wanting God to behave as we would—that is to say, withdrawing his love from those who don't deserve it and giving his love to those who do deserve it. But this is just not the way God operates. Why should you pray for someone who is persecuting you? Why shouldn't you be allowed at least to answer him in kind—an eye for an eye? Because God doesn't operate that way, and you are being drawn into the divine life. Why should you turn the other cheek to someone who has struck you? Because it's practical? No, because that's the way God operates, and you're being called into the divine life. Why should you go beyond simply loving those who love you? Because that's the way God operates: he loves the saints and he loves the worst of sinners. Is any of this easy to do? Of course not. Are we able to get to this state through willing it, through earnest practice? Of course not! That's why love is referred to as a theological virtue. It is the sheerest participation in the divine life, and it can only come from God." | Turning the cheek is not easy. Especially when we are not in grace.
Jesus says to give...to give...and to give again.
And so He does as we shall do.
Shall we bear insults? Yes. Give.
Shall we bear persecution? Yes. Give.
Because the truth shall prosper.
Our Lord says to love and give beyond measure as He does.
Can you? It depends on grace.
Can you give to the one who asks?
And what is our Lord asking of us today?
Will we give to Him what He asks?
To go the extra mille with Him.
To give for the sake of peace and love? I bet we can. And I know He will Love reaches for love |  hear it read | adrian Random Bible Verse1
Joshua 1:8 (Listen) 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Thank You Jesus | |
No comments:
Post a Comment