 clickable | | Silence Is a Language God Can Speak Too often our prayers are projections of our own needs and desires and we give God little room to enter into the conversation. Talking all the time to God without ever listening is like a phone conversation with constant static; it is deafening to God. Silence is a language God can speak without being constantly interrupted because God is a mystery of incomprehensible love, and love speaks for itself. If we could really be attentive to the mystery of God in our lives we would realize that God is both beyond our thoughts and imaginations (although these can bring us closer to God) and very near to us. God is a mystery of silence and intimacy. God is incomprehensible and ineffable, far beyond our wildest imaginations, yet nearer to each of us than we are to ourselves. —from the book The Humility of God: A Franciscan Perspective by Ilia Delio, OSF |  MorningOffering.com | † Saint Quote
"Many live like angels in the midst of the world. Why not you?"
— St. Josemaria Escriva † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Many beginners, delighting in the sweetness and joy of their spiritual occupations, strive after spiritual sweetness rather than after purity and discretion, which is that which God regards and accepts in the whole course of the spiritual way. For this reason, over and above their imperfection in seeking after sweetness in devotion, that spirit of gluttony, which has taken possession of them, forces them to overstep the limits of moderation, within which virtue is acquired and consists. . . Inasmuch then as all extremes are vicious, and as in this course of conduct men follow their own will, the consequences are that they grow in vice and not in virtue; at least they minister to their spiritual gluttony and pride, for they do not walk in the way of obedience."
— St. John of the Cross, p. 26
AN EXCERPT FROM
Dark Night of the Soul † VERSE OF THE DAY
"Moreover I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there as well. I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for he has appointed a time for every matter, and for every work."
Ecclesiastes 3:16-17 |  click to read more | | STS. CRISPIN AND CRISPINIAN Sts. Crispin and Crispinian (d. 286 A.D.) were brothers, believed to be twins, from a noble Roman family. They were Christians and went as missionaries into Gaul (present-day France). Taking the Apostle St. Paul as their example, they earned their living through a trade, dividing their time between ministry and work. Their craft was shoe-making, and because they asked little pay for their shoes they were loved and esteemed by all. Crispin and Crispinian used their work as an opportunity to share the Christian faith with the pagans they encountered, and many were converted through their witness. During the persecution of the Roman Emperor Diocletian they were denounced as Christians and brought before the co-emperor, Maximanus Herculius. The emperor tried to persuade them to abandon their faith with promises and threats, but to no effect. The brothers were then given over to the governor who was notorious for his cruelty. They were stretched on the rack, their flesh was cut, and awls were driven under their fingernails. They were then thrown into a river with a millstone tied to their necks, but they both miraculously survived and swam back to shore. They were caught and finally beheaded. Crispin and Crispinian are the patron saints of shoemakers, saddlers, and tanners. Their feast, known as St. Crispin's Day, is October 25th. | Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 477
Reading 1 Rom 7:18-25a Brothers and sisters:
I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh.
The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not.
For I do not do the good I want,
but I do the evil I do not want.
Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it,
but sin that dwells in me.
So, then, I discover the principle
that when I want to do right, evil is at hand.
For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self,
but I see in my members another principle
at war with the law of my mind,
taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
Miserable one that I am!
Who will deliver me from this mortal body?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Responsorial Psalm pS 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94 R.(68b) Lord, teach me your statutes.
Teach me wisdom and knowledge,
for in your commands I trust.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
You are good and bountiful;
teach me your statutes.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Never will I forget your precepts,
for through them you give me life.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
I am yours; save me,
for I have sought your precepts.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes. 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 Lk 12:54-59 Jesus said to the crowds,
"When you see a cloud rising in the west
you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does;
and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south
you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is.
You hypocrites!
You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky;
why do you not know how to interpret the present time? "Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate,
make an effort to settle the matter on the way;
otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge,
and the judge hand you over to the constable,
and the constable throw you into prison.
I say to you, you will not be released
until you have paid the last penny." | Catholic Meditations
Meditation: Romans 7:18-25 29th Week in Ordinary Time Who will deliver me? (Romans 7:24) For seven chapters, Paul has been laying out one long theological argument: the gospel he preaches is "the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). In verse after verse, he has demonstrated that there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles when it comes to faith. Everyone has sinned. Everyone is guilty. Everyone needs salvation. And that salvation has been freely given to everyone through Jesus' death and resurrection. Now, as he approaches the end of his argument, Paul shifts his tone. Instead of Paul the careful theologian, we meet Paul the passionate believer. Reflecting on his own experience of the battle between sin and righteousness, he confesses that he may want to do good but is not always able to carry it out. "Evil is at hand," he says, always ready to thwart his determination to be holy (Romans 7:21). Finally, in a cry of exasperation and frustration, he calls out, "Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body?" (7:24). Jesus, that's who! "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord," Paul proclaims (Romans 7:25). In this passage, Paul seems to be repeating what he has said all along, only now he is saying it personally, joyfully, and filled with gratitude for the gift of salvation. Of course, Paul is still teaching. He is using his own experience to bring his teaching to life. This was Paul's way of showing that he wasn't just teaching abstract theories. Everything he said up to this point mattered deeply to him, and he wanted it to matter to everyone else as well. Brothers and sisters, Jesus matters! It may sound obvious, but that doesn't make it any less true. His gospel is your salvation from the very real sins you commit. His mercy is your hope for peace and comfort in the battle against sin. His love—a real love that you can sense in your heart and in the people around you—is the foundation for your life. So when temptation comes fast and furious or when frustration or guilt or anxiety feels like a millstone around your neck, remember Paul. Remember his teaching, but remember also his struggles and his faith. Then cry out with him, "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Psalm 119:66, 68, 76-77, 93-94
Luke 12:54-59 |  clickable | The Spirit of God reveals the Love of the Father that changes us. When we experience God's Love we come to understand in a powerful way that we are in fact "lovable." God's Love reveals our beauty and goodness before him. "
—FR. DAVE PIVONKA
from The Wild Goose | my2cents:
"I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh.
The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not."
Ever wonder why we can't just stop sinning?
Ever wonder why we can't be super saints?
But, isn't Paul a great saint? What got him there? Super human efforts? A special grace from God?
Before Paul, there was Saul, an over-zealous Christian hater. Ever seen one of those around nowadays? They exist. There is evil in them. But that's not all. God has the final word. For if death entered through one, Life came after to conquer death.
The spirit is willing, oh yes you are, but the flesh is weak...oh...yes we are. What is the remedy? Hang on. Hang on to dear life. And Jesus says He is THE Life! | "Lord, teach me your statutes. Never will I forget your precepts, for through them you give me life."
Why am I still in the Cursillo movement after 15 years of seeing people come and go, and now mostly go? I was pondering that yesterday as I sat in an Ultreya gathering of Cursillistas. I thought to myself as I enjoyed the music, warmth, and testimonies of all. I thought "I know why, it is because I am so very thankful...forever grateful to the means of my encounter with Jesus". I am like a stray puppy that found warmth and food. Not a perfect doggie, but I love my Master so. Sometimes a dog has nothing to do but to love its master. It sits waiting, doing what it is supposed to do, sometimes messing up. When the master returns, it comes to welcome him full of love and excitement. I am grateful. That is key. There is nothing wrong with saying "I want to be a saint." They say St. Max Kolbe said "I don't just want to be a saint, I want to be a GREAT saint!". | In the Holy Gospel, our Lord says to us all:
""Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way;". I witnessed this morning a person purposely not recognize another person, did not shake their hand, did not say hello, and left without saying a thing to them, and neither did the other bother to stretch their hand, say hello, or direct word or sight to them. They were in an argument a few months ago, and the remnants still lingers. Who is right in this case? Neither. Sin is not right. Sin must not win. Love must conquer death, and that means life. The only way I got them to stop choking each other in the heat of the moment was to say "God will not forgive you, if you do not forgive them". But their hands are still on the throats, just not fully choking...but slowly....they choke themselves. | Protestants do not like the last verse of today "I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny." They say this does not talk about purgatory. So what is Jesus talking about here? Paying for what? We are leading to all souls day. Jesus has talked about those who will be beaten. Those who will pay for their every last lack of charity, an act against love, which is an act against God. Think about this next time you swear, or talk ill of someone, or just by calling them stupid. These are acts against charity, and we are called to be a charitable body of Christ. They say that there are acts of sacrilege, like when an evil person takes the body of Christ and does bad things with it. Isn't it true? In daily Mass yesterday, Father mentioned how girls dress wrong and enter the church. Is this sacrilege? To be the cause of attention and temptation for men? What about when you tempt others to think ill of others? Is that worse or better? I say that because I've noticed how much damage this has done to so many ministries. The refiner's fire is at work though. Evil decays and drops. It has no hold on life. Remember earlier I said "Hold On To Life". I was thinking yesterday, how can I atone for sin? How can I pay back so I don't have to pay later? For there is hell to pay for sin, even if protestants don't believe. Why should I preach "do whatever you want because Jesus paid for it anyway"? That doesn't bring light into the world. That doesn't call for holiness. That doesn't make one want to stop sinning! It is a twisted message of mercy. And there is a good in other denominations, but not all good, and this means there is an air of evil, dissent, and disdain, a clear disconnect. Should we not connect? Should we not overcome the obstacles? Yes. That is our hope, that we become one flock and under one shepherd.
What is being urged here is to make amends. Settle up. Quit this "I'm right and you're wrong" business. Settle now, or pay. It is a call for mercy. A straight up call to love beyond human capabilities, and God wouldn't say it if He wouldn't give you the grace enough to do...the impossible.
In comes faith. If I were to live this as my last day.....
One said to me "I'd go do all I wanted" and I said "I'd go make amends with all and reconcile with the Lord...." |  hear it read | adrian Random Bible Verse 1 Isaiah 55:10–11 10 "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Thank You Jesus | |
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