 clickable | | A Prayer from Pope Francis O almighty and merciful God,
Lord of the universe and of history.
All that You have created is good
and your compassion for the mistakes of mankind
knows no limits.
We come to You today to ask You
to keep in peace the world and its people,
to keep far away from it the devastating wave of terrorism,
to restore friendship and instill in the hearts of your creatures
the gift of trust and of readiness to forgive. —from the book The Hope of Lent: Daily Reflections from Pope Francis by Diane M. Houdek |  clickable: The Following is from MorningOffering | †Saint Quote
"I urge you to remain steadfast in faith, so that at last we will all reach heaven and there rejoice together."
— St. Andrew Kim Taegon † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"And let me make it quite clear that when Christians say the Christ-life is in them, they do not mean simply something mental or moral. When they speak of being 'in Christ' or of Christ being 'in them', this is not simply a way of saying that they are thinking about Christ or copying Him. They mean that Christ is actually operating through them; that the whole mass of Christians are the physical organism through which Christ acts—that we are His fingers and muscles, the cells of His body. And perhaps that explains one or two things. It explains why this new life is spread not only by purely mental acts like belief, but by bodily acts like baptism and Holy Communion. It is not merely the spreading of an idea; it is more like evolution—a biological or superbiological fact. There is no good trying to be more spiritual than God. God never meant man to be a purely spiritual creature. That is why He uses material things like bread and wine to put the new life into us. We may think this rather crude and unspiritual. God does not: He invented eating. He likes matter. He invented it."
— C.S. Lewis, p. 64
AN EXCERPT FROM
Mere Christianity † VERSE OF THE DAY
"Guard your steps when you go to the house of God; to draw near to listen is better than the sacrifice offered by fools; for they do not know how to keep from doing evil. Never be rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be quick to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore let your words be few."
Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 |  click to read more | | ST. VINCENT FERRER St. Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419) was born in Valentia, Spain, the son of a knight. From his parents he learned virtue and generosity to the poor. As a child he fasted every Wednesday and Friday and was tenderly devoted to the Passion of Christ and the Blessed Mother. He excelled in his studies and joined the Dominican Order with the support of his parents. He flourished in both austerity and scholarship, and became famous for performing more miracles than any other saint. His miracle-working powers began in the womb with the healing of a blind woman who touched his mother's pregnant belly. He began a preaching career across Europe that continued for twenty years. He was followed by a train of priests, nuns, penitents, and pilgrims that numbered in the thousands. When he arrived in a village his retinue would set up camp, and St. Vincent would preach to great crowds on the subjects of sin, death, heaven, and hell. He would also celebrate Mass and hear confessions daily. He slept on the floor and maintained a perpetual fast. Twice a day the "Bell of Miracles" was rung when all the sick and infirm were brought to him for cures; it was not unusual for him to perform one hundred miracles in a day. He also made scores of converts among the Muslims and Jews. St. Vincent believed that he was a special messenger of penance sent by God to prepare men for the final judgment; at that time the Black Death was ravaging across Europe killing millions, and the Great Schism was rending the Church in two. Through him multitudes were brought to penance and conversion. St. Vincent Ferrer's feast day is April 5th. | Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent Reading 1 Wis 2:1a, 12-22 The wicked said among themselves,
thinking not aright:
"Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us;
he sets himself against our doings,
Reproaches us for transgressions of the law
and charges us with violations of our training.
He professes to have knowledge of God
and styles himself a child of the LORD.
To us he is the censure of our thoughts;
merely to see him is a hardship for us,
Because his life is not like that of others,
and different are his ways.
He judges us debased;
he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure.
He calls blest the destiny of the just
and boasts that God is his Father.
Let us see whether his words be true;
let us find out what will happen to him.
For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him
and deliver him from the hand of his foes.
With revilement and torture let us put him to the test
that we may have proof of his gentleness
and try his patience.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death;
for according to his own words, God will take care of him."
These were their thoughts, but they erred;
for their wickedness blinded them,
and they knew not the hidden counsels of God;
neither did they count on a recompense of holiness
nor discern the innocent souls' reward. Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23 R. (19a) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
He watches over all his bones;
not one of them shall be broken.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. Verse Before the Gospel Mt 4:4b One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. Gospel Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 Jesus moved about within Galilee;
he did not wish to travel in Judea,
because the Jews were trying to kill him.
But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. But when his brothers had gone up to the feast,
he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret. Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said,
"Is he not the one they are trying to kill?
And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him.
Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ?
But we know where he is from.
When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from."
So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said,
"You know me and also know where I am from.
Yet I did not come on my own,
but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true.
I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me."
So they tried to arrest him,
but no one laid a hand upon him,
because his hour had not yet come. | Meditation: Wisdom 2:1, 12-22 Saint Vincent Ferrer, Priest (Optional Memorial) They knew not the hidden counsels of God. (Wisdom 2:22) Can't you just hear these words describing the religious leaders who were opposed to Jesus? The very things they plotted against him would be turned upside down by God's "hidden counsels." Jesus' death would not stop him; it would vindicate his righteousness and show God's power to deliver us and save us! God's mysterious ways are at work in your life as well. When you face a challenge or trial, you might be tempted to think it means that God isn't with you or that he isn't paying attention to your prayers for help. But more likely than not, he is just moving in ways you can't perceive at that moment. This is the challenge of faith: to believe that God sees a much bigger picture than we do, and to trust that he knows what he is doing. So how can we do that? One way is to look at the Scriptures. The Old Testament is full of stories of how God's "hidden counsels" took something evil and turned it around for the good. Think about Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers. God used him to preserve the Israelites during a severe famine (Genesis 37). Or think of Abraham taking his son, Isaac, up the mountain to sacrifice him—at God's command. God saved Isaac at the very last minute and showed Abraham (and us) just how much he appreciates our faith (22:1-19). Perhaps you can recall a difficult time in your own life where you now understand how God deepened your faith or brought about an outcome better than you expected. With hindsight, you can see he was clearly at work. Let these insights serve as a foundation for you when challenging events arise in the future. Whenever you are facing a trial, ask your heavenly Father to show you his hidden counsels. You probably won't get an answer right away—that's why they're called "hidden." Still, take the situation as an opportunity to strengthen your faith. Remember, you are God's precious child. So keep trusting him, and ask him to show you how near he is and how much he loves you. Even if you don't understand his ways now, ask him to fill you with peace in not knowing everything. "Lord God, I trust in you. Open my eyes to see your hand in all things." Psalm 34:17-21, 23
John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 |  clickable | When the couple receives Holy Communion, especially, they should pray, 'Lord, live Your spousal love for the Church over again in me. Help me to love my spouse like You love the Church. Love my spouse for me and with me, Lord. Only You, who are love itself, can empower and support my love for my spouse.'
—DEACON JAMES KEATING, PhD
from Spousal Prayer |  Click to see the Devotional Calendar | | 2cents:
""Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us;
he sets himself against our doings...".
Who is the obnoxious one that this prophet spoke about hundreds of years before Christ?
Always, a prophet is despised. People do not like the truth. Jesus is the truth. The things that are anti-bible are anti-Christ. Because Jesus embodies everything in the Word of God. Ultimately, to be anti-christ is then...anti-life. We have hope my friends. We must focus on life Himself. We must turn to our Lord. We must turn to hope. | Let us pray: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. Many are the troubles of the just man, but out of them all the LORD delivers him." This lent has been a real test for me. Every weak I've had to endure a broken heart. Even at the prison retreat. There a young man, on the last day sneered at me "you better respect me man". It felt like a threat, as if I would get beat down any minute now. I didn't call him names, I didn't say anything other than "you are not ready for the free world". Boy did I touch a sensitive button. Truth is, none of us are ever ready. The key to making it to Heaven is humility. And God has the keys and the keys have been handed to the Church. The meek shall inherit the earth. Worse than cockroaches that infest the world, the meek can not be annihilated, because God is with the meek and the humble, those who are in the end..contrite, cut to the heart. Ever looked into the eyes of a saint? You can see the affliction of love. I want to see that more, because God is love. | In the Holy Gospel, we heard "....he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near." And He wouldn't miss the feast of Tabernacles for the world. That is His world, His home, the tabernacle. The feast of booths, the feast of being one with God, the feast of pilgrims, the feast of those on a journey, the feast of being home just with God. | They spotted Him "Is he not the one they are trying to kill?". One time the family of Jesus asked themselves "has he gone crazy?" What is He doing? Nobody understands when love makes one do crazy things....like facing death fearlessly. Jesus sets His eyes on the time He designed. Jesus knows nothing can keep Him from the love of God and His own people. Once again, they said "this can't be the Christ because we know where he came from". Our Lord said "You know me and also know where I am from.
Yet I did not come on my own...". What's up with this? Isn't it contradiction? No.
Many times people don't know where I come from.
If you do not believe, at least believe the signs. Believe the good fruits. They said today's saint did hundreds of miracles through and for Christ.
So why didn't they believe our Lord Jesus Christ in the flesh?
Oh many did, but the leaders did not want to believe.
You see, we have a choice. I write to you, I speak to people, I am crass, I am harsh, too direct maybe. I am praying for my words to be few. But you must know that I am invoking the Holy Spirit always. Do not think of someone as obnoxious because they contradict you. Learn humility from it.
I speak with volumes of unknown meaning if I speak through Christ.
Sure, people will take what you say and twist it and take it wrong. I see it in Church, at work, and at home. Rely not on your own understanding.
Trust in mercy and love.
This feast of tabernacles would be the greatest ever. This morning, I visited our Lord in Adoration before writing.
His presence was made known because last night I confessed. He was there with an utmost peace that the world could only dream of.
He was there with a light that provides everything needed to exist.
And I can only hope with my meager human intellect to express what is being made known in the forever now... |  click to hear the bible verse | STARTER PRAYER (From Franciscan) "God of loving truth, keep me from the world of gossip and accusation. Do not let me 'kill' others, even in my mind or heart." Random Bible Verse1
Proverbs 3:28-29 (Listen) 28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it"—when you have it with you.
29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
who dwells trustingly beside you. adrian Thank You Jesus | |
