 clickable | | God Loves Us Where We Are If God loves us where we are and comes to be with us humbly in the flesh, then we must admit that the humility of God is intertwined with the Incarnation. Incarnation we might say is God bending low to embrace the world in love. This makes the entire creation—all peoples, all mountains and valleys, all creatures big and small, everything that exists—holy because God embraces it. —from the book The Humility of God: A Franciscan Perspective by Ilia Delio, OSF |  MorningOffering.com | † Saint Quote "Let us love the Cross and let us remember that we are not alone in carrying it. God is helping us. And in God who is comforting us, as St. Paul says, we can do anything."
— St. Gianna Molla † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Even though the Disciples suffered persecution, they were filled with joy. One would have expected them to be depressed or angry or resentful. The very fact that they responded to persecution with joy is a sign that the Spirit was guiding their actions. We can use that same test with our own words and actions."
— Rev. Jude Winkler, O.F.M., p. 11
AN EXCERPT FROM
Daily Meditations Holy Spirit † VERSE OF THE DAY
"Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters, since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong has been done, and there is no partiality."
Colossians 3:23-25 |  click to read more | | ST. ADELAIDE OF BURGUNDY St. Adelaide (931-999 A.D.) was the virtuous daughter of King Rupert II of Burgundy, France. She became the Queen of Italy after being given in marriage to the future King of Italy. When her husband died, she was imprisoned for refusing a second politically-driven marriage. However, when the German Emperor Otto came to rule Italy, she accepted his rescue and offer of marriage. They had four children, the future Otto II and three daughters, two of whom became nuns. Pope John XII crowned Otto the Holy Roman Emperor in 962 A.D., and Adelaide was crowned as the Holy Roman Empress. When her son, Otto II, succeeded her husband as Emperor, she was driven from court by her jealous daughter-in-law. When they both died, Adelaide returned to court to rule the empire as regent Queen until her grandson was of age. She used her position, power, and influence to help the poor, evangelize her people, and to build and restore monasteries and churches. She afterwards retired to a convent in Germany, spending her remaining days in prayer. St. Adelaide is the patroness of princesses, empresses, second marriages, widows, parenthood, brides, exiles, and abuse victims. Her feast day is December 16. | Monday of the Third Week of Advent
Lectionary: 187
Reading 1 Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a When Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe,
the spirit of God came upon him,
and he gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor,
the utterance of a man whose eye is true,
The utterance of one who hears what God says,
and knows what the Most High knows,
Of one who sees what the Almighty sees,
enraptured, and with eyes unveiled:
How goodly are your tents, O Jacob;
your encampments, O Israel!
They are like gardens beside a stream,
like the cedars planted by the LORD.
His wells shall yield free-flowing waters,
he shall have the sea within reach;
His king shall rise higher,
and his royalty shall be exalted. Then Balaam gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor,
the utterance of the man whose eye is true,
The utterance of one who hears what God says,
and knows what the Most High knows,
Of one who sees what the Almighty sees,
enraptured, and with eyes unveiled.
I see him, though not now;
I behold him, though not near:
A star shall advance from Jacob,
and a staff shall rise from Israel. Responsorial Psalm Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9 R.(4) Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord. Alleluia Ps 85:8 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, LORD, your love,
and grant us your salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 21:23-27 When Jesus had come into the temple area,
the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him
as he was teaching and said,
"By what authority are you doing these things?
And who gave you this authority?"
Jesus said to them in reply,
"I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me,
then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things.
Where was John's baptism from?
Was it of heavenly or of human origin?"
They discussed this among themselves and said,
"If we say 'Of heavenly origin,' he will say to us,
'Then why did you not believe him?'
But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we fear the crowd,
for they all regard John as a prophet."
So they said to Jesus in reply, "We do not know."
He himself said to them,
"Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things." | Catholic Meditations
Meditation: Matthew 21:23-27 3rd Week of Advent By what authority are you doing these things? (Matthew 21:23) The chief priests and elders were challenging Jesus' right to teach in the Temple. And in one sense, their opposition was understandable. Jesus had just walked into the Temple acting like he owned the place, overturning the money changers' tables, and driving them out. Then he began healing and teaching the crowd that gathered around him. It must have been an unsettling scene: a stranger from Galilee assuming a mantle of authority that belonged only to the priests who governed this holy place. Who did he think he was? Jesus knew exactly who he was—the Messiah! But he also knew that these elders would never believe him if he told them that he was the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies and that his authority came from God himself. So instead, he turned the situation around and confronted them by bringing up John the Baptist, whom they had rejected. That was then, but this is now. Unlike the elders in Jerusalem, we already know who Jesus is. What could this passage have to say to us? Plenty, it seems. This story of Jesus' confrontation with the chief priests and elders gives us an opportunity to consider what Jesus' authority means for our lives. Of course, we proclaim that he is Lord, but our faith tells us that he is not a cruel dictator demanding unquestioning obedience from his subjects and ready to punish mercilessly every transgression we commit. No, his authority exists within the context of love. We obey his teachings because we know that he has only good in mind for us. We follow him because he is showing us the way to live in his own love. Ultimately, Jesus' authority is a gift, not a burden. It's the gift of his protection from evil. It's the gift of his grace to form us after his own image. Jesus will never force his will on you. He is inviting you into a relationship with him—a relationship marked by trust and love, by humility and surrender. So don't hesitate to take every concern, every difficult relationship, and every temptation to him. Place every area of your life under his rule, and let him fill you with his peace. "Jesus, let my actions reflect your loving authority in my life!" Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17
Psalm 25:4-9 |  clickable | We have something to contribute to the Glory of Christ because His Glory is extended when He manifests His Glory in us.
—Scott Hahn
from The End | my2cents:
"I see him, though not now; I behold him, though not near..."
Such was the prophecy, which still holds true. Although He came, now we await the Messiah, the second coming, when the world will end, when our judgement will come, on that terrible day, terrible meaning more than awesome and fearful. | Let us pray: "Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way.
Teach me your ways, O Lord."
Now who gets led to justice? The humble? He teaches the humble? Lord teach us please, we want to learn...to be humble, to be able to be led truly to you. | The chief priests approach the Lord and ask ""By what authority are you doing these things?
And who gave you this authority?"
Our Lord answered with a condition. Do you really want to know? Or do you want to condemn? Do you really want the truth? Or would you rather not? Do we go to Church seeking answers, or do we go just to check off a checkbox? | Our Lord asked: "Where was John's baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?"
Now let's ask deeper ... where was YOUR baptism from?
Is it from Heaven? If it is, then why do you not believe?
That's why many leave the faith. Because they can't admit the first thing about their baptism. Baptism is from Heaven and it calls us to follow God in this way. And so, the chief priests refused to answer. Instead, they conspire to kill the Lord. That is what happens every time we sin. We reject God.
And let's not think about mortal and grave sins.
Let's think about those sins you carry deep. What kind? The kind that don't fit in Heaven. Your sins of bitterness. Your sins of hatred. Your sins of resentment. Your sins of refusal...of a true calling to...humility.
What makes for a humble soul?
I can't answer that for you, because everyone has their opinion. But I will tell you a fact. The answer is Jesus.
Humility is demonstrated on the cross.
Now do you really want to know the way to humility?
It's going to cost everything...
To be all of Him, you need to let go of all of you... |  hear it read | Random Bible Verse 1 Ephesians 4:31-32
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Thank You Lord | |
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