 clickable | | The Risk of Appearing Foolish The risk of appearing foolish never stopped Francis from embracing the Gospel as best he could, protesting the injustices of certain social systems, and letting nothing get in the way of his relationship with others. The virtue between the two foolish vices of avoidance and exploitation is the embrace of evangelical foolishness to become one of God's fools. It is the counterintuitive and gratuitous foolishness of God's love revealed in the healing of the broken and brokenhearted, forgiving the unforgiveable, and loving the unlovable. So becoming a fool for God's sake isn't something to avoid out of fear or exploit for personal gain, but a vocation to embrace in revealing the love of God in our lives. I challenge you—and remind myself all the time—to consider why, where, and how to be a fool for Christ. —from the book God Is Not Fair, and Other Reasons for Gratitude by Daniel P. Horan, OFM |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote
"You must ask God to give you power to fight against the sin of pride which is your greatest enemy—the root of all that is evil, and the failure of all that is good. For God resists the proud."
— St. Vincent de Paul
"You must ask God to give you power to fight against the sin of pride which is your greatest enemy—the root of all that is evil, and the failure of all that is good. For God resists the proud."
— St. Vincent de Paul † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Christ is the second person of the Blessed Trinity, true God and true man, eternally united with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Just as there can be no separation within Christ's human nature, so there can be none within His divine nature. Just as we cannot separate Christ's body from His blood, or His soul from His body and blood, so we cannot separate Christ from the other persons in the Trinity. Time after time, we hear the priest pray to the Father at the end of the opening prayer of the Mass: We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever."
— Vinney Flynn, p. 25
AN EXCERPT FROM
7 Secrets of the Eucharist †VERSE OF THE DAY
Are not all angels spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
Hebrews 1:14 |  click to read more | | Saints Pontian and Hippolytus Saint of the Day for August 13
(d. 235)
Two men died for the faith after harsh treatment and exhaustion in the mines of Sardinia. One had been pope for five years, the other an antipope for 18. They died reconciled. Pontian. Pontian was a Roman who served as pope from 230 to 235. During his reign he held a synod in Alexandria which confirmed the excommunication of the great theologian Origen. Pontian was banished to exile by the Roman emperor in 235, and resigned so that a successor could be elected in Rome. He was sent to the "unhealthy" island of Sardinia, where he died that same year of harsh treatment. With him was Hippolytus with whom he was reconciled. The bodies of both were brought back to Rome and buried as martyrs with solemn rites. Hippolytus. As a priest in Rome, Hippolytus—the name means "a horse turned loose"—was at first "holier than the Church." He censured the pope for not coming down hard enough on a certain heresy—calling him a tool in the hands of one Callistus, a deacon—and coming close to advocating the opposite heresy himself. When Callistus was elected pope, Hippolytus accused him of being too lenient with penitents, and had himself elected antipope by a group of followers. He felt that the Church must be composed of pure souls uncompromisingly separated from the world: Hippolytus evidently thought that his group fitted the description. He remained in schism through the reigns of three popes. In 235, he also was banished to the island of Sardinia. Shortly before or after this event, he was reconciled to the Church, and died in exile with Pope Pontian. Hippolytus was a rigorist, a vehement and intransigent man for whom even orthodox doctrine and practice were not purified enough. He is, nevertheless, the most important theologian and prolific religious writer before the age of Constantine. His writings are the fullest source of our knowledge of the Roman liturgy and the structure of the Church in the second and third centuries. His works include many Scripture commentaries, polemics against heresies, and a history of the world. A marble statue dating from the third century, representing the saint sitting in a chair, was found in 1551. On one side is inscribed his table for computing the date of Easter; on the other, a list of how the system works out until the year 224. Pope John XXIII installed the statue in the Vatican library.
Reflection Hippolytus was a strong defender of orthodoxy, and admitted his excesses by his humble reconciliation. He was not a formal heretic, but an overzealous disciplinarian. What he could not learn in his prime as a reformer and purist, he learned in the pain and desolation of imprisonment. It was a fitting symbolic event that Pope Pontian shared his martyrdom. | Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 414
Reading 1 Dt 31:1-8 When Moses had finished speaking to all Israel, he said to them,
"I am now one hundred and twenty years old
and am no longer able to move about freely;
besides, the LORD has told me that I shall not cross this Jordan.
It is the LORD, your God, who will cross before you;
he will destroy these nations before you,
that you may supplant them.
It is Joshua who will cross before you, as the LORD promised.
The LORD will deal with them just as he dealt with Sihon and Og,
the kings of the Amorites whom he destroyed,
and with their country.
When, therefore, the LORD delivers them up to you,
you must deal with them exactly as I have ordered you.
Be brave and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them,
for it is the LORD, your God, who marches with you;
he will never fail you or forsake you." Then Moses summoned Joshua and in the presence of all Israel
said to him, "Be brave and steadfast,
for you must bring this people into the land
which the LORD swore to their fathers he would give them;
you must put them in possession of their heritage.
It is the LORD who marches before you;
he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you.
So do not fear or be dismayed." Responsorial Psalm Deuteronomy 32:3-4ab, 7, 8, 9 and 12 R.(9a) The portion of the Lord is his people.
For I will sing the LORD's renown.
Oh, proclaim the greatness of our God!
The Rock–how faultless are his deeds,
how right all his ways!
R. The portion of the Lord is his people.
Think back on the days of old,
reflect on the years of age upon age.
Ask your father and he will inform you,
ask your elders and they will tell you.
R. The portion of the Lord is his people.
When the Most High assigned the nations their heritage,
when he parceled out the descendants of Adam,
He set up the boundaries of the peoples
after the number of the sons of Israel.
R. The portion of the Lord is his people.
While the LORD's own portion was Jacob,
his hereditary share was Israel.
The LORD alone was their leader,
no strange god was with him.
R. The portion of the Lord is his people. Alleluia Mt 11:29ab R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14 The disciples approached Jesus and said,
"Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?"
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
"Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever becomes humble like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. "See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.
What is your opinion?
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,
will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills
and go in search of the stray?
And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it
than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.
In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father
that one of these little ones be lost." | Meditation: Deuteronomy 31:1-8 Saints Pontian, Pope, and Hippolytus, Priest, Martyrs (Optional Memorial) It is the Lord, your God, who marches with you. (Deuteronomy 31:6) When Moses called together the people of Israel for his final speech, he began with the bad news: he was not going to lead them across the Jordan into the Promised Land. It was his time to die. Imagine the sadness that spread through the gathering. How could they possibly function without him? But Moses moved quickly to the good news: "It is the Lord, your God, who marches with you; he will never fail you or forsake you. . . . So do not fear or be dismayed" (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8). He reminded them that God himself would lead them, just as he had always done. Jesus made the same promise to his disciples. They were overcome with grief when he announced his imminent death, but he assured them, "It is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you" (John 16:7). What could be better than the Son of God walking beside them? The Holy Spirit dwelling within them! Both the Hebrew people and the disciples were facing a major transition. It was natural for them to feel anxious about the future, but their dying leaders reminded them that they could count on God's abiding presence with them, no matter what the future might hold. Perhaps you too are facing a transition or an uncertain future. Perhaps a parent or friend on whom you relied has been taken from you. Maybe you don't feel secure in your job—or a child has disappointed you or even turned against you. Perhaps you're keenly aware of falling short of your goals. In times like these, you might become consumed with anxiety. You might be tempted to dwell on the uncertain future and miss God's invitation to dwell with him in the present. Whatever the future brings, you can be sure of one thing: God will be with you there. More important, Jesus is with you here and now. Whether or not you receive answers to the questions that seem so urgent, you can count on his loving presence. Leave your fear and confusion with him, and rest in his unconditional love for you. "Spirit of the living God, I believe you are alive in me. Open my heart to the reality of your presence here and now." (Psalm) Deuteronomy 32:3-4, 7-9, 12
Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14 |  clickable | Actually, both reason and experience tell us the Bible could not have been intended as each man's private guide to the truth. . . . Christians have understood contradictory things from Scripture—even Christians whose 'born-again' experiences cannot be doubted. Indeed, fundamentalists often differ among themselves on what the Bible means. They may agree on most major points, but the frequency and vehemence of their squabbles on lesser matters, which should be just as clear if the Holy Spirit is enlightening them, prove the sacred text cannot explain itself.
—Karl Keating
from Catholicism and Fundamentalism | my2cents: "Be brave and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them,
for it is the LORD, your God, who marches with you;
he will never fail you or forsake you."
It was like 3 times Moses said this in a row. Be brave. Have no fear. The Lord is with you. He will not forsake you. He marches ahead of you, He marches with you.
How much security do you feel when walking by the hand of the Lord? A true child does. | Let us pray: "Think back on the days of old, reflect on the years of age upon age. Ask your father and he will inform you, ask your elders and they will tell you. The portion of the Lord is his people"
Ages have come and ages are here, and what have we to learn of all the ages? God has been made known. He has come and for good reason. To take over the world? Hardly, for He created it. No. He has though, created your beautiful soul. Your beautiful life. He has created the world for you. Now that is amazing love. And as if that were not enough, He promises more and better things that are beyond amazing. I stand in awe of true adoration. | In the Holy Gospel, our Lord speaks: "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever becomes humble like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me." A child is the greatest in Heaven? A humble child? How old was that child that He took as an example? Wouldn't you like to know? At what age do you begin to lose humility and become...dark adults? At what age did pride take over? It must've been at a very early age that you lost your innocence, and sense of wonder and fear of the Lord. How can I say that? I speak of the canticles of the Lord. I speak of one who is speaking about humanity, and especially His chosen one. For God chose Abram for one thing...to show God's love and the love of God, through humility, through obedience. Not perfection, for that comes in due time. See that you do not despise the humble ones. The little ones, the least in the world. This is a fair warning to all of us who are tempted to think the little ones have nothing to offer. Even the unborn.
And for Good reason He brings up the following analogy or parable: | "If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?" Bishop Barron says today:
"Friends, one feature of today's Gospel passage is the craziness of the shepherd: "If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?" Well, the implied answer is "No." Who would take that great a risk, putting the ninety-nine in danger to find the one? It's just bad economics. Why would God fret over one little soul? Why would he bother?
Well, it's his nature. It's what he does. As Catherine of Siena put it, he is pazzo d'amore (crazy in love). God is as crazy for you as if you were the only one in the world."
The bible calls our Lord the Good Shepherd. Now we could say He is the crazy shepherd, crazy in love, for nobody would dare leave 99 unattended loved ones to search for the lost one.
Unless.
Unless you are crazy in love with each and every single one.
Unless you know the 99 loved ones are praying and yearning and desiring the lost one to be back.
Unless, the whole calls for wholeness.
Some say Heaven is packed, and some say it is not. For good reason, we hear the road that leads to salvation is very narrow, it is a narrow path. A hard one to travel, bumpy, rocky, full of surprises, hard spots and lovely spots, and some spots seem outright impassable.
But God makes it passable. Everything is passable with Him. We can pass through the narrow path. Where the world calls it impossible, He comes in as a mighty warrior.
"And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost."
The entirety of the Heavens rejoice when a soul repents, they say.
You are sort of a big deal up there.
They are praying for you, and they are not whole until you arrive.
You child. Yes you my precious child.
God so loved you, that He came as His only Son, to give us His blood, body, soul, and divinity. He shares everything He has with you.
The promised land is worth fighting for.
Be brave. The Lord has gone before you. And the Lord is with you. |  hear it read | adrian Random Bible Verse1
Psalm 63:3-4 (Listen) 3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands. Thank You Jesus | |
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