 clickable | | A Path of Peace in the Midst of Violence If relationship is the underlying key to Bonaventure's mysticism of the Crucified, the center of unity of God, humanity and creation, then how do we find this center in a century that "boasts" of more wars and violence than any other has experienced? According to Bonaventure, we find the center first within us, within the depth of our soul where Christ Crucified is center. But the discovery of the center and the journey to union with Christ necessitates that we move outward, to our neighbor and to the world of creation. Union with the Crucified is not a private I—Thou relationship, for the union by its very nature seeks expression. Thus, as we grow in the love of God through conformity to Christ, we mature in the love of our neighbor redeemed by Christ. Love of God and love of neighbor are two axes of the same center so that as we "ascend" to God we "descend" to our neighbor in compassionate love. This twofold movement that Bonaventure describes in union with the Crucified is the path to peace. His doctrine of union with the Crucified, as the path which leads to mystical peace, speaks to a world of violence. There is no other way to peace, Bonaventure states, than through the burning love of the Crucified. —from the book Crucified Love: Bonaventure's Mysticism of the Crucified Christ by Ilia Delio, OSF |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote
"Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater developments and greater riches and so on, so that children have very little time for their parents. Parents have very little time for each other, and in the home begins the disruption of peace in the world."
— St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"There is, actually, only one person in all humanity of whom God has one picture and in whom there is a perfect conformity between what he wanted her to be and what she is, and that is his own mother. Most of us are a minus sign, in the sense that we do not fulfill the high hopes the heavenly Father has for us. But Mary is the equal sign. The ideal that God had of her, that she is, and in the flesh. The model and the copy are perfect; she is all that was foreseen, planned, and dreamed. The melody of her life is played just as it was written."
— Archbishop Fulton Sheen, p. 15
AN EXCERPT FROM
A Year With Mary † VERSE OF THE DAY
"Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
James 1:12 |  click to read more | | ST. ALEXIUS OF ROME St. Alexius (d. 417 A.D.) was a native of Rome, the son of a distinguished Roman senator. His parents arranged a marriage for him, but he had a divine calling to a higher vocation. On the night of his wedding, with permission from his fiance, he secretly fled to Edessa in Syria to live in poverty and obscurity as a holy ascetic. He disguised himself as a beggar, unrecognized by all, even accepting alms from his own servants who were sent to look for him. St. Alexius lived in this way for seventeen years. A vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the church near his dwelling identified him as a "Man of God." When the fame of his sanctity spread in Edessa, he moved back to Rome so that he could continue his hidden life. He lived as a beggar under the very stairs of his father's palace, his true identity completely unknown to anyone. He lived in this way for another seventeen years. He was befriended by other Christians, shared his alms with the poor, and taught catechism to children. It was only after his death that his identity was revealed through a document that he secretly carried on his person. He was then venerated as a saint, and his father's palace was converted into a church in his honor. St. Alexius' feast day is July 17. | Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Ex 3:1-6, 9-12 Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian.
Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb,
the mountain of God.
There an angel of the LORD appeared to him in fire
flaming out of a bush.
As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush,
though on fire, was not consumed.
So Moses decided,
"I must go over to look at this remarkable sight,
and see why the bush is not burned." When the LORD saw him coming over to look at it more closely,
God called out to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!"
He answered, "Here I am."
God said, "Come no nearer!
Remove the sandals from your feet,
for the place where you stand is holy ground.
I am the God of your father," he continued,
"the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.
The cry of the children of Israel has reached me,
and I have truly noted that the Egyptians are oppressing them.
Come, now! I will send you to Pharaoh to lead my people,
the children of Israel, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God,
"Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh
and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?"
He answered, "I will be with you;
and this shall be your proof that it is I who have sent you:
when you bring my people out of Egypt,
you will worship God on this very mountain." Responsorial Psalm Ps 103:1b-2, 3-4, 6-7 R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
The LORD secures justice
and the rights of all the oppressed.
He has made known his ways to Moses,
and his deeds to the children of Israel.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful. Alleluia See Mt 11:25 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 11:25-27 At that time Jesus exclaimed:
"I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him."
| Meditation: Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12 15th Week in Ordinary Time I will be with you. (Exodus 3:12) Put yourself in Moses' shoes for a moment. He's a fugitive from justice. A death sentence hangs over him for having killed an Egyptian. He's a Hebrew, yet he is married to a Gentile who worships other gods. Would anyone take him seriously? This is likely what Moses was thinking when God commissioned him to deliver the Israelites from Egypt. Who, me? he must have thought. How is that ever going to happen? So God gives Moses a simple, five-word assurance: "I will be with you" (Exodus 3:12). No step-by-step plan, no promise of backup and armies. Just the promise of his constant presence. As it turns out, God's presence was all Moses needed. God brought about the ten plagues. He parted the Red Sea and led his people to safety. He drew water from a rock and called down manna from the sky. All these signs unfolded over time as Moses took one step forward at a time and trusted in the Lord. Haven't you felt like Moses at one time or another? We've all faced situations when it seems that God is asking us to do something that we don't feel equipped or capable of pulling off. We protest, saying, "Lord, you're asking the wrong person. I can't do this." And God gives us the same five-word message he gave to Moses: "I will be with you." It can seem too simple. It can seem inadequate. But remember, this is almighty God who is making the promise. The One who defeated Pharaoh's armies is with you. The One who created the universe is with you. The One who loved you enough to send his only Son is with you—always. So don't get caught up in the details. Don't worry about the far-off future. Instead, proclaim, "Lord, I trust you to give me whatever I need!" No situation is too complex or difficult for his power and presence to resolve. Your God is with you. He will guide you step-by-step. He will comfort you when it feels as if you have failed. He will give you the wisdom and patience and trust that you need, just as he did for Moses. "Lord, thank you for your abiding presence!" Psalm 103:1-4, 6-7
Matthew 11:25-27 |  clickable | "What took place in the upper room changed the lives of these men and women and would change the course of human history. This experience of the Holy Spirit is an encounter available to everyone; it is not reserved for a select few."
—FR. DAVE PIVONKA
from The Wild Goose | my2cents:
"I will be with you;
and this shall be your proof that it is I who have sent you:
when you bring my people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this very mountain."
Eventually, after 10 attempts and many miles of traveling with thousands, the proof comes.
But how did we get from point A (the burning bush) to point B (the return with God's people)?
There is a connection. Moses saw the light.
Moses then heard God speak.
Moses then obeyed.
Moses went with faith.
And you? Have you seen the light of Christ?
Have you heard Him speak?
Have you obeyed to the point of self sacrifice? Because Moses faced Jerusalem with a face like flint, no? Like Christ? Took on all the fears he was facing...even death itself?
And Moses returns triumphant, with all God's people. Amen?
How did we get from Point A to Point B? Faith. Trusting in His very Word of salvation. Amen? | Let us pray today: "The Lord is kind and merciful. He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion."
Moses, a murderer, was forgiven. No? And his penance was to now do saving work and leading and to be punished by being God's servant. From now on, Moses would face headache after heartache, for years and years, 40 years of it alone in the desert. Trusting doesn't come easy. Now is the hard part...trusting forever. Believing forever. Funny thing though...God was always there with them in the desert. He would provide. That is what He does. Afterall...He has provided life itself. Amen? Do you trust even though it's been a hard few years lately? Do you trust, even though you are in the desert? Fear not! Amen? | God speaks today:
Listen.
Hear His voice.
Let Him speak to your heart. "No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him." | No one knows really who you are, right? If that were the case, we could save any single soul we wanted. Much less do we know who Christ is! But, what is keeping us from letting others know you? Think confession. Think, getting to know Mercy.
There is always an open door at confessional. When it is time to meet Our Father, He is there waiting.
Once we get to know the Son, we will be revealed the Father, the Father's Love. That is how we can fall in love with Love.
Walking to the light. Then hearing His voice. Then obedience as He commands us our penance. Our leadership role with God's people. Amen? And the most powerful leadership tool is our example, right? Lead the way by following the Way perfectly....be perfect!
Is Jesus revealing the Father to people?
He did. And He does.
The world couldn't stand the light, so it stamped it out, or at least attempted to. But the more you stamp on this Fire, the more it spreads! So what is evil's attempt lately? Buying time with a water gun, a squirt gun. Water to cool you off, offering less suffering, offering more time off, offering more money, offering more pleasure, offering more sensations, anything and everything you'd like to be pampered with so you don't have to do anything for God.
Tell me if I'm not right, but, isn't it super hard to gather your family to pray every day? No? How about to go to daily Mass together every day?
How about a family rosary together every single day all together?
If you do not have a family, how hard is it to do this alone! ?
Life can get in the way, right?
What if life is a series of distractions, or time just a series of events? One event can affect the next.
What am I saying?
It starts with you buddy.
It's not the world's fault.
It's not the priest's fault. Nor the bishop's, nor the Pope!
Faith starts with you. No need to point fingers or blame.
What can deliver us from slavery and oppression, to sin, lust, guilt, shame, pleasure and power?
How about a small wafer of purity offered in humility, by the hands of a sacrificed soul to God's Kingdom?
Just because we don't see Jesus, doesn't mean He isn't there.
Just because we don't hear Jesus, doesn't mean He isn't speaking.
And so, I offer you words of hope.
I offer you encouragement to take a leap of faith.
Bring souls to God to worship Him on the mountain. They will remain, if you remain...full of faith, that is, faithful. Hold your hands up and the walls will come crumbling down.... |  hear it read | adrian Random Bible Verse1
Colossians 3:23-24 (Listen) 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. AMAZING LORD! Thank You Jesus | |
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