 clickable | | Jesus Shows Us the Way In a world where people "look for love in all the wrong places"— settling for second-rate substitutes that can result in addictions, family strife, depression, and suicide—Jesus shows us a way. He is the answer to all our questions, no matter what our age or state of life. He offers solace to those aching for relief. He offers truth to young people who are searching for deeper meaning and security. He restores the dignity and moral center of those who are looking for life and see only death. To each of these weary souls, Jesus says: "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest…learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28–29). —from the book Healing Promises: The Essential Guide to the Sacred Heart by Anne Costa |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote
"The poor have much to teach you. You have much to learn from them."
— St. Vincent de Paul † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Consider that the love of divine charity is so closely joined in the soul with perfect patience, that neither can leave the soul without the other. For this reason (if the soul elect to love Me) she should elect to endure pains for Me in whatever mode or circumstance I may send them to her. Patience cannot be proved in any other way than by suffering, and patience is united with love as has been said. Therefore bear yourselves with manly courage, for, unless you do so, you will not prove yourselves to be spouses of My Truth, and faithful children, nor of the company of those who relish the taste of My honor, and the salvation of souls."
— St. Catherine Of Siena, p. 10
AN EXCERPT FROM
Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena † VERSE OF THE DAY
"And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life."
1 John 5:11 |  click to read more | | Saint Cyril of Alexandria (378 – June 27, 444) Saints are not born with halos around their heads. Cyril, recognized as a great teacher of the Church, began his career as archbishop of Alexandria, Egypt, with impulsive, often violent, actions. He pillaged and closed the churches of the Novatian heretics—who required those who denied the faith to be re-baptized—participated in the deposing of Saint John Chrysostom, and confiscated Jewish property, expelling the Jews from Alexandria in retaliation for their attacks on Christians. Cyril's importance for theology and Church history lies in his championing the cause of orthodoxy against the heresy of Nestorius, who taught that in Christ there were two persons, one human and one divine. The controversy centered around the two natures in Christ. Nestorius would not agree to the title "God-bearer" for Mary. He preferred "Christ-bearer," saying there are two distinct persons in Christ—divine and human—joined only by a moral union. He said Mary was not the mother of God but only of the man Christ, whose humanity was only a temple of God. Nestorianism implied that the humanity of Christ was a mere disguise. Presiding as the pope's representative at the Council of Ephesus in 431, Cyril condemned Nestorianism and proclaimed Mary truly the "God-bearer"—the mother of the one Person who is truly God and truly human. In the confusion that followed, Cyril was deposed and imprisoned for three months, after which he was welcomed back to Alexandria. Besides needing to soften some of his opposition to those who had sided with Nestorius, Cyril had difficulties with some of his own allies, who thought he had gone too far, sacrificing not only language but orthodoxy. Until his death, his policy of moderation kept his extreme partisans under control. On his deathbed, despite pressure, he refused to condemn the teacher of Nestorius.
Reflection Lives of the saints are valuable not only for the virtue they reveal but also for the less admirable qualities that also appear. Holiness is a gift of God to us as human beings. Life is a process. We respond to God's gift, but sometimes with a lot of zigzagging. If Cyril had been more patient and diplomatic, the Nestorian church might not have risen and maintained power so long. But even saints must grow out of immaturity, narrowness, and selfishness. It is because they—and we—do grow, that we are truly saints, persons who live the life of God. | Thursday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Gn 16:1-12, 15-16 Abram's wife Sarai had borne him no children.
She had, however, an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar.
Sarai said to Abram:
"The LORD has kept me from bearing children.
Have intercourse, then, with my maid;
perhaps I shall have sons through her."
Abram heeded Sarai's request.
Thus, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan,
his wife Sarai took her maid, Hagar the Egyptian,
and gave her to her husband Abram to be his concubine.
He had intercourse with her, and she became pregnant.
When she became aware of her pregnancy,
she looked on her mistress with disdain.
So Sarai said to Abram:
"You are responsible for this outrage against me.
I myself gave my maid to your embrace;
but ever since she became aware of her pregnancy,
she has been looking on me with disdain.
May the LORD decide between you and me!"
Abram told Sarai: "Your maid is in your power.
Do to her whatever you please."
Sarai then abused her so much that Hagar ran away from her. The LORD's messenger found her by a spring in the wilderness,
the spring on the road to Shur, and he asked,
"Hagar, maid of Sarai, where have you come from
and where are you going?"
She answered, "I am running away from my mistress, Sarai."
But the LORD's messenger told her:
"Go back to your mistress and submit to her abusive treatment.
I will make your descendants so numerous," added the LORD's messenger,
"that they will be too many to count.
Besides," the LORD's messenger said to her: "You are now pregnant and shall bear a son;
you shall name him Ishmael,
For the LORD has heard you,
God has answered you. This one shall be a wild ass of a man,
his hand against everyone,
and everyone's hand against him;
In opposition to all his kin
shall he encamp." Hagar bore Abram a son,
and Abram named the son whom Hagar bore him Ishmael.
Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael. Responsorial Psalm Ps 106:1b-2, 3-4a, 4b-5 R. (1b) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD,
or proclaim all his praises?
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed are they who observe what is right,
who do always what is just.
Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Visit me with your saving help,
that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones,
rejoice in the joy of your people,
and glory with your inheritance.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 14:23 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him
and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 7:21-29 Jesus said to his disciples:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,'
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,
'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?'
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
'I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.' "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined." When Jesus finished these words,
the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority,
and not as their scribes. | Meditation: Matthew 7:21-29 Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Optional Memorial) I never knew you. (Matthew 7:23) Have you ever known a namedropper? You know, someone who always mentions the important people he or she knows? Usually, the person is exaggerating, with some distant connection or contact turning into "I know that person well!" In today's Gospel reading, Jesus makes it clear that name-dropping doesn't work with him. He wants to have a real, living relationship with us. He doesn't want us to settle for a passing acquaintance. He wants us to know him personally, just as he knows us. Even if we're busy doing his work—whether in our homes, in our communities, or in our parishes—he wants us also to be growing closer to him in our hearts. Jesus doesn't want just servants; he wants friends. What does it mean to know Jesus personally? How does anyone go about building a relationship with the eternal Son of God? It may sound awfully complicated, but it really isn't. It's pretty much the same way you build a relationship with anyone else. You spend time with him; you talk to him; you listen to him; you learn to trust him; you share secrets with him; you let him see you at your best and at your worst. Don't let the tone of today's Gospel reading frighten you. Jesus deeply wants you to come to know him, but he's not about to abandon you because your relationship with him isn't as deep as the holiest of saints. Rather than worrying about whether Jesus will say, "I never knew you," make it your goal to come to know him better. Wherever you are with Jesus now, try to go a little deeper. As you read Scripture, listen a little more closely for his voice in your heart. Get in the habit of writing down what you think he is saying. Then take the time to talk to him. Tell him about your day. Open up about your hopes and fears, and see if you sense him offering you his guidance or consolation. By investing in this relationship, you are building your house on a foundation solid enough to withstand any storm. "Lord, I want to know you and to be known by you. Draw me to yourself." Genesis 16:1-12, 15-16
Psalm 106:1-5 |  clickable | It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.
—St. Teresa of Calcutta | my2cents:
"For the LORD has heard you, God has answered you."
Hagar was devastated. Her obedience had got her in trouble. But God sends a messenger, to tell her to have faith, and to return and "take the abuse". And "Ishmael" is born, which means "to hear the voice of God". To listen, to do His will, no matter where it takes us. | Let us pray: "Blessed are they who observe what is right, who do always what is just. Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good." What is just? Do what is just? We have an inkling, a notion of what "just" means right? But we have to know exactly what God is asking for...what God wills. And some of us go off into a search for God's will, when in reality, it is right in front of us, as the sun burns on. Why do we lose sight of God's will? Let us turn to the Son. | Our Lord said: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven."
Scary thoughts. I'm afraid. I'm not confident. Never shall I be confident. All I got is a sobbing prayer like Hagar, cast down, hoping for a message from God...always. Sin causes things. Abram's wife felt the sting of sin, for what seemed good, turned bad, her conscious now was chasing her, she saw her sin on Hagar's face and she couldn't stand it, and hers was the consent, the word, the command, her decree to sin. | "Only the one who does the will of My Father in Heaven will enter". Is the Kingdom here? Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. What is bound and loosed here shall be bound in Heaven. At least The Kingdom is contingent to our actions here and now. Watch carefully what transpires from the heart of Jesus to us today to open up His will in our lives: ""Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. 10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you. WOW So we heard them plea after death: "'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?'
But they were not peace keepers. They were not poor in spirit. They were not persecuted for Jesus. They were...all about them.
You see, in this life, people MUST see Christ in you.
They MUST take to the way by the Way you live if the Way lives in you.
How often do I get lost in the "Me Me" world. How soon we forget we are not of this world! Take heart. Have the heart of Christ. You know what I like to think of when I receive the Eucharist? It is a piece of my missing heart building up a true heart of and for Christ. I know in a perfect world, only one drop of His would complete me. But I, as a fallen being, can not fully receive Him. Not until I clean up my act and become blameless, righteous, and just. I'm working on that. So, how can I enter the Kingdom of Heaven? By not being an evildoer. By being a gooddoer. By doing all things that Christ asked, not just some. Like...living a sacrificial love, you know, by following His every way, His every move, and His every last word. No matter where it takes you...perhaps even to...Heaven |  hear it read | adrian Random Bible Verse1
Romans 15:4 (Listen) 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Thank You Jesus | |
