 clickable | | Approaching God in Prayer I must always remember that I can no more approach God than an infant can approach its mother. When that baby sees its mother several feet away, he tries to reach her by stretching out his tiny arms toward her. But it is Mom who goes the distance and makes the connection. In the same way, my human capacity to reach across the great divide between the finite and the infinite is eternally inadequate. But from God's perspective, the gap doesn't exist at all. Like a loving mother, our God is ever present. Because of his mother's faithfulness, the child of the loving mother soon becomes convinced that his reach is sufficient, and in a way he's right, isn't he? In the same way, all I need to do in order to reach God is to reach for God. I should do myself a favor and memorize this line: To reach for God is to reach God. I will have to remind myself of this whenever I feel tempted to believe that God will only come to me if I find the magic book, say the magic formula and become the perfect pray-er. I should trust that God is present to me any time I stretch out my feeble little spiritual arms —from the book Armchair Mystic: How Contemplative Prayer Can Lead You Closer to God by Mark Thibodeaux, SJ |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote
"Jesus, help me to simplify my life by learning what you want me to be, and becoming that person."
— St. Therese of Lisieux † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"However great our efforts, we cannot change ourselves. Only God can get to the bottom of our defects, and our limitations in the field of love; only he has sufficient mastery over our hearts for that. If we realize that we will save ourselves a great deal of discouragement and fruitless struggle. We do not have to become saints by our own power; we have to learn how to let God make us into saints. That does not mean, of course, that we don't have to make any effort . . . We should fight, not to attain holiness as a result of our own efforts, but to let God act in us without our putting up any resistance against him; we should fight to open ourselves as fully as possible to his grace, which sanctifies us."
— Fr. Jacques Philippe, p. 14-5
AN EXCERPT FROM
In the School of the Holy Spirit † VERSE OF THE DAY
"For who is God except the Lord? And who is a rock besides our God?— the God who girded me with strength, and made my way safe. He made my feet like the feet of a deer, and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand has supported me; your help has made me great."
Psalm 18:31-35 |  click to read more | | Saint Ignatius of Loyola (October 23, 1491 – July 31, 1556) The founder of the Jesuits was on his way to military fame and fortune when a cannon ball shattered his leg. Because there were no books of romance on hand during his convalescence, Ignatius whiled away the time reading a life of Christ and lives of the saints. His conscience was deeply touched, and a long, painful turning to Christ began. Having seen the Mother of God in a vision, he made a pilgrimage to her shrine at Montserrat near Barcelona. He remained for almost a year at nearby Manresa, sometimes with the Dominicans, sometimes in a pauper's hospice, often in a cave in the hills praying. After a period of great peace of mind, he went through a harrowing trial of scruples. There was no comfort in anything—prayer, fasting, sacraments, penance. At length, his peace of mind returned. It was during this year of conversion that Ignatius began to write down material that later became his greatest work, the Spiritual Exercises. He finally achieved his purpose of going to the Holy Land, but could not remain, as he planned, because of the hostility of the Turks. Ignatius spent the next 11 years in various European universities, studying with great difficulty, beginning almost as a child. Like many others, his orthodoxy was questioned; Ignatius was twice jailed for brief periods. In 1534, at the age of 43, he and six others—one of whom was Saint Francis Xavier—vowed to live in poverty and chastity and to go to the Holy Land. If this became impossible, they vowed to offer themselves to the apostolic service of the pope. The latter became the only choice. Four years later Ignatius made the association permanent. The new Society of Jesus was approved by Pope Paul III, and Ignatius was elected to serve as the first general. When companions were sent on various missions by the pope, Ignatius remained in Rome, consolidating the new venture, but still finding time to found homes for orphans, catechumens, and penitents. He founded the Roman College, intended to be the model of all other colleges of the Society. Ignatius was a true mystic. He centered his spiritual life on the essential foundations of Christianity—the Trinity, Christ, the Eucharist. His spirituality is expressed in the Jesuit motto, Ad majorem Dei gloriam—"for the greater glory of God." In his concept, obedience was to be the prominent virtue, to assure the effectiveness and mobility of his men. All activity was to be guided by a true love of the Church and unconditional obedience to the Holy Father, for which reason all professed members took a fourth vow to go wherever the pope should send them for the salvation of souls.
Reflection Luther nailed his theses to the church door at Wittenberg in 1517. Seventeen years later, Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society that was to play so prominent a part in the Catholic Reformation. He was an implacable foe of Protestantism. Yet the seeds of ecumenism may be found in his words: "Great care must be taken to show forth orthodox truth in such a way that if any heretics happen to be present they may have an example of charity and Christian moderation. No hard words should be used nor any sort of contempt for their errors be shown." One of the greatest ecumenists was the 20th-century German Jesuit, Cardinal Augustin Bea.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola is the Patron Saint of: Retreats | Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest Reading 1 Ex 34:29-35 As Moses came down from Mount Sinai
with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands,
he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant
while he conversed with the LORD.
When Aaron, then, and the other children of Israel saw Moses
and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become,
they were afraid to come near him.
Only after Moses called to them did Aaron
and all the rulers of the community come back to him.
Moses then spoke to them.
Later on, all the children of Israel came up to him,
and he enjoined on them all that the LORD
had told him on Mount Sinai.
When he finished speaking with them,
he put a veil over his face.
Whenever Moses entered the presence of the LORD to converse with him,
he removed the veil until he came out again.
On coming out, he would tell the children of Israel
all that had been commanded.
Then the children of Israel would see
that the skin of Moses' face was radiant;
so he would again put the veil over his face
until he went in to converse with the LORD. Responsorial Psalm Ps 99:5, 6, 7, 9 R.(see 9c) Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his footstool;
holy is he!
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;
they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them;
they heard his decrees and the law he gave them.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for holy is the LORD, our God.
R. Holy is the Lord our God. Alleluia Jn 15:15b R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I call you my friends, says the Lord,
for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 13:44-46 Jesus said to his disciples:
"The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it." | Meditation: Exodus 34:29-35 Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest (Memorial) As Moses came down from Mount Sinai . . . , he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant. (Exodus 34:29) Do pregnant women really glow? Doctors say yes. A pregnant woman's skin can flush because her body is making more blood, and her face often shines because her skin glands are especially active. The woman may be aware of things changing inside her, but she is often surprised to learn that other people can see a difference too. Moses didn't know he was beaming either. After talking face-to-face with God on the mountain, he probably felt like a changed man, but he never guessed it would be so obvious to everyone else. And that's the point. Sometimes we have a hard time seeing what's crystal clear to everyone else: we have changed. By God's grace, we are maturing. The Spirit's activity within us is causing visible signs of that change to surface. This means you. God's grace has been active within you. He has been busy breaking up hard ground in your heart. Old habits are becoming less entrenched. You smile more, and you're more careful with your words. Right now, the Spirit's fruit is growing inside you. Slowly, incrementally, miraculously, you are being transformed from the inside out. All this activity can't remain hidden! What's surprising is that family, neighbors, and coworkers often sense it before you do. So how about taking some time to look in the mirror today? You might be surprised by what you see. As you reflect on the ways you've changed, don't be afraid to think outside the box either. For instance, maybe you've just made it through a major life transition. That's a sign of maturity. Or perhaps you've developed a new skill recently, even if it's not obviously spiritual. That's growth. This little exercise may inspire a spirit of gratitude in you. It may even motivate you to keep cooperating with God's grace so that you'll see even more changes. There's always, always more with the Lord. He will never stop pouring out grace on you. So keep drinking it in! Like Moses on the mountain, keep carving out bits of "face time" with God in prayer. Remember: the light of Christ is glowing within you. "Lord, thank you for your grace at work in me—and thank you for shining through me!" Psalm 99:5-7, 9
Matthew 13:44-46 |  clickable | Education is only truth in a state of transmission; and how can we pass on truth if it has never come into our hand?
—G.K. Chesterton
from What's Wrong with the World | my2cents:
"On coming out, he would tell the children of Israel all that had been commanded."
And his face would glow. Only one other time do we hear of someone glowing, becoming dazzling white, and it is Jesus. Moses was found talking with God. Both where glowing, and I'm talking about the transfiguration. Where Jesus was talking with Moses centuries later. How does that work? It just does and it is no problem for Jesus our Lord and our God and our Savior. Now, we the people must listen to the command from the mountain. | Let us pray:
"Extol the LORD, our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for holy is the LORD, our God. Holy is the Lord our God."
Let us then worship at the Holy Mountain that is His. Where is the mountain? What mountain? Where God mounts His throne. And the throne we gave Him and still do is the cross. Mount then if you dare, the cross of never turning back! | Our Lord says: "The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."
First of all, what is "the Kingdom"? Jesus always talks about the Kingdom. He came and said "The Kingdom of God is at hand" and said for us to tell everyone the Good News. And He likens it to a treasure or a fine pearl, of extreme value.
Ahh. Now we are getting somewhere. Value. | How much do I treasure His Word?
What value is His life in my own life?
Can you begin to see the Kingdom? In a Kingdom, there is a King. Yesterday, I picked up a homeless man found asleep in church. I spent all day with him. I found out many things this man has been through, his mom shot his dad, he was raised in the streets, gangs, fights, jail, and to this day, he seems lost, he said drugs helped him. I kept thinking "Lord, please help this man, he is in dire need". He told me he didn't like people shoving religion onto him. I kept praying "Lord help this man in need of You". He seemed to be always hungry. I fed him. He seemed to thirst as he was drenched in sweat as he was now helping me work. I prayed "Lord help me help this man". I asked him about the situation with his father, that's when I found out he was shot dead when he was only 2 years old. I knew already he was fatherless.
No father, no King. Then you set yourself up to be king, and that's when the world is chaos.
I told him from now on he would have to be a servant. No more fighting for respect, like they do in jails. No more getting mad when you get insulted or told what to do.
Now we are in a Kingdom, where we are subjects to the King and the King's name is
I AM LOVE |  hear it read | adrian Random Bible Verse1
Matthew 11:28-30 (Listen) 28 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Thank You Jesus | |
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