 clickable | | God Is Always Waiting for Us God was, and is, always waiting. There is never a time when he is not longing for us to come to him. The invitation is ever-present. The human heart was made for God and will only be fully satisfied when in union with him. How correct Saint Augustine was when he said that our hearts are restless until they rest in God. If we are quiet and still, we can feel his tugging; we can detect his summons. He is always calling us to more and wanting to draw us to himself. Our very life is a pilgrimage, always being enticed further, being brought closer to Christ. At times our lives are too chaotic for us to hear God's invitation, but if you are able to get away from the madness and be still, you can hear it; you can sense it. It is in the quiet that we understand why we are walking. It is in the stillness that we more fully understand what or whom we are walking toward. −from Hiking the Camino: 500 Miles with Jesus |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote
"What does Jesus Christ do in the Eucharist? It is God who, as our Savior, offers himself each day for us to his Father's justice. If you are in difficulties and sorrows, he will comfort and relieve you. If you are sick, he will either cure you or give you strength to suffer so as to merit Heaven. If the devil, the world, and the flesh are making war upon you, he will give you the weapons with which to fight, to resist, and to win victory. If you are poor, he will enrich you with all sorts of riches for time and eternity. Let us open the door of his sacred and adorable Heart, and be wrapped about for an instant by the flames of his love, and we shall see what a God who loves us can do. O my God, who shall be able to comprehend?"
— St. John Vianney † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"If we do not die to ourselves, and if our holiest devotions do not incline us to this necessary and useful death, we shall bring forth no fruit worth anything, and our devotions will become useless. All our good works will be stained by self-love and our own will . . . We must choose therefore, among all the devotions to the Blessed Virgin, the one which draws us most toward this death to ourselves, inasmuch as it will be the best and the most sanctifying. For we must not think that all that shines is gold, that all that tastes sweet is honey, or that all that is easy to do and is done by the greatest number is the most sanctifying."
— St. Louis De Montfort, p.40
AN EXCERPT FROM
True Devotion to Mary † VERSE OF THE DAY
"The Lord exists forever; your word is firmly fixed in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. By your appointment they stand today, for all things are your servants."
Psalm 119:89-91 |  click to read more | | ST. BENEDICT OF NURSIA St. Benedict of Nursia (480-547 A.D.) and his twin sister, St. Scholastica, were born to a Roman nobleman and his wife in Nursia, Italy. He spent his childhood with his parents in Rome. As a young man he found in himself a strong desire to escape the trifling things of the world and serve God. He left his family and wealth and settled in the mountainous region of Subiaco. After three years living in solitude as a cave-dwelling hermit, he was asked to lead a monastery in the place of an abbot who had died. Benedict did as they asked, but his way of life was too extreme for the monks and they tried to poison him. He thwarted their evil designs by blessing the poisoned cup, rendering it ineffective. Benedict returned to his cave, where news of his sanctity and miracles began to spread. Soon a community of men surrounded him wanting to adopt his way of life. To house them Benedict established twelve monasteries, including the world-famous Monte Cassino, and gave them a rule of life to live by, known as the Rule of St. Benedict. His Rule—still observed by Benedictines today—helped form the civilization and culture of Europe. Because of the organization, structure, and discipline he brought to the monastic life, he is known as the Founder of Western Monasticism. He is the patron saint of monks, students, farmers, all of Europe, and more. He is also especially known for his intercession against poison, temptations, and witchcraft. His feast day is July 11th in the Latin rite, while the Benedictines celebrate his feast on March 21st. Reflection: The Church has been blessed through Benedictine devotion to the liturgy, not only in its actual celebration with rich and proper ceremony in the great abbeys, but also through the scholarly studies of many of its members. Liturgy is sometimes confused with guitars or choirs, Latin or Bach. We should be grateful to those who both preserve and adapt the genuine tradition of worship in the Church.
Saint Benedict is the Patron Saint of: Europe
Kidney Disease
Monks
Poisoning
Schoolchildren | Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot Reading 1 Gn 44:18-21, 23b-29; 45:1-5 Judah approached Joseph and said: "I beg you, my lord,
let your servant speak earnestly to my lord,
and do not become angry with your servant,
for you are the equal of Pharaoh.
My lord asked your servants, 'Have you a father, or another brother?'
So we said to my lord, 'We have an aged father,
and a young brother, the child of his old age.
This one's full brother is dead,
and since he is the only one by that mother who is left,
his father dotes on him.'
Then you told your servants,
'Bring him down to me that my eyes may look on him.
Unless your youngest brother comes back with you,
you shall not come into my presence again.'
When we returned to your servant our father,
we reported to him the words of my lord. "Later, our father told us to come back and buy some food for the family.
So we reminded him, 'We cannot go down there;
only if our youngest brother is with us can we go,
for we may not see the man if our youngest brother is not with us.'
Then your servant our father said to us,
'As you know, my wife bore me two sons.
One of them, however, disappeared, and I had to conclude
that he must have been torn to pieces by wild beasts;
I have not seen him since.
If you now take this one away from me, too,
and some disaster befalls him,
you will send my white head down to the nether world in grief.'" Joseph could no longer control himself
in the presence of all his attendants,
so he cried out, "Have everyone withdraw from me!"
Thus no one else was about when he made himself known to his brothers.
But his sobs were so loud that the Egyptians heard him,
and so the news reached Pharaoh's palace.
"I am Joseph," he said to his brothers.
"Is my father still in good health?"
But his brothers could give him no answer,
so dumbfounded were they at him. "Come closer to me," he told his brothers.
When they had done so, he said:
"I am your brother Joseph, whom you once sold into Egypt.
But now do not be distressed,
and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here.
It was really for the sake of saving lives
that God sent me here ahead of you." Responsorial Psalm Ps 105:16-17,18-19,20-21 R.(5a) Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
or:
R. Alleluia.
When the LORD called down a famine on the land
and ruined the crop that sustained them,
He sent a man before them,
Joseph, sold as a slave.
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
or:
R. Alleluia.
They had weighed him down with fetters,
and he was bound with chains,
Till his prediction came to pass
and the word of the LORD proved him true.
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The king sent and released him,
the ruler of the peoples set him free.
He made him lord of his house
and ruler of all his possessions.
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Mk 1:15 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand:
repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 10:7-15 Jesus said to his Apostles:
"As you go, make this proclamation:
'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse the lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts;
no sack for the journey, or a second tunic,
or sandals, or walking stick.
The laborer deserves his keep.
Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it,
and stay there until you leave.
As you enter a house, wish it peace.
If the house is worthy,
let your peace come upon it;
if not, let your peace return to you.
Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words—
go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.
Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment
than for that town." | Meditation: Genesis 44:18-21, 23-29; 45:1-5 Saint Benedict, Abbot (Memorial) Do not reproach yourselves. (Genesis 45:5) There you have it: one act of forgiveness that changed the entire course of history. During Joseph's rule as governor of Egypt, widespread famine threatened the entire Middle East—including his own family back in Canaan. Joseph was wise enough to have the Egyptians store up food reserves during years of plenty so that the people would be able to weather the lean years. But what about Jacob and his clan? They risked starving to death. So Jacob, unaware that Joseph was in charge, sent his sons to Egypt to beg for help. Imagine what could have happened if Joseph had refused to give his brothers food. He certainly had reason to hold back. They had sold him as a slave, and he spent thirteen years in an Egyptian prison before his fortunes turned around. Joseph could have stewed over his unjust situation and spent the years contemplating his revenge. By the time his brothers came seeking food, he was second only to Pharaoh; he could have had them arrested on the spot. But Joseph chose mercy instead, and the results were amazing. Not only did he save his brothers from starving, but he also paved the way for God to bring peace and healing to a family that had been scarred by rivalry, deception, and division. Because of Joseph's forgiveness, Jacob and his descendants could once more become God's chosen, special people. It was their descendants whom God saved from slavery through awesome signs and wonders. Kings like David and Solomon came from their line, as did prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah. Then, centuries later, Jesus, the Messiah and Savior, was born into their family. All because Joseph chose mercy. If God accomplished all this through Joseph's forgiveness, imagine what he can do when we choose to forgive. He can heal marriages and reunite families. He can reconcile enemies and overcome age-old patterns of sin. He can even bring peace to neighborhoods and nations! Let's ask God for the grace to be merciful. Let's ask him to help us break the cycle of revenge. Let's echo Jesus' words from the cross: "Father, forgive them," and watch to see how history changes (Luke 23:34). "Jesus, help me to let go of my hurts. I choose to forgive." Psalm 105:16-21
Matthew 10:7-15 |  clickable | There is nothing "progressive" about sin, even when it is promoted as "enlightened."
—Cardinal Francis George
from Glorious Lives | my2cents:
"It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you."
What a powerful testimony, and what a precursor to what Christ would be for the whole world. Jesus was sold for a few pieces of silver, just like Joseph. He was cast down into a hole, a cave. He was abandoned by all his brothers the disciples at the very hour of dire need. Yet, mercy came back into their lives. Mercy saved them. How I wish we would love mercy and seek mercy and be mercy. Or better in the right order, seek, find, love and be mercy. To save lives. To save souls. To save what God wants saved, us for Him. | Let us pray:
"When the LORD called down a famine on the land and ruined the crop that sustained them, He sent a man before them, Joseph, sold as a slave.
Remember the marvels the Lord has done".
How do we "remember"? We can commemorate by "preserving the memory of by a solemn act; celebrate with honor and solemnity; honor, as a person or an event, by some act of respect or affection, intended to keep him or it in memory." Think Holy Mass! Ahh what a blessing. But we not only remember there, we celebrate for the groom enters the house. How else can we remember? I saw a clerk at a lumber parts place in town. She was ringing my stuff through and I saw on her arm a tattoo of the name of a little girl that died earlier this year, a little one year old baby. I asked how she knew that baby, and she said "I was her mom". I was taken aback, because I was the one leading the funeral vigil prayers and was the choir for the funeral. Granted, I don't know hardly anyone, and my memory is not as sharp to remember so many faces and names. I digress, she "remembers" with a tattoo. The remembrance is every day. Now, turn back to God. How can you remember every day? Do you need a tattoo of Christ on your arm? I know a guy who tattooed his kids names and wife's name on his arms. He has now left them all, alone at home, for another woman. Does the tattoo really help at all? Or is it a passing whim? Now, the subject is not of ink on skin, the subject matter is, Christ, remember God, how can we remember Him daily? Be honest now...be....sincere. | Let us turn to the Lord, and you'd better sit down for this, His following will is being revealed:
""As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
†Cure the sick,
† Raise the dead,
† Cleanse the lepers,
† Drive out demons. " | This morning, I read from ChurchPop, about some bishops and exorcists around the world taking to the air to perform exorcisms over towns or cities. They have turned to this because of what seems to be demonic activity on the loose and on the rise. Murders, church vandalism and theft. Bishop Barron today brings up statistics in his reflection: "Friends, in our Gospel today, Jesus sends the Apostles on a mission of evangelization, a mission that we continue today.
We Catholics cannot avoid the demand of evangelization, of proclaiming the faith. Vatican II couldn't be clearer on this score, seeing the Church itself as nothing but a vehicle for evangelization. According to Vatican II, it's not so much the case that the Church has a mission, but rather that a mission has the Church. Bringing people to Christ is not one work among many; rather, it is the central work of the Church, that around which everything else we do revolves.
Do we need evangelization? The statistics couldn't be clearer. Did you know that the fastest-growing "religious" group in the United States is the "nones"—that is, those who claim no religious affiliation? In the latest Pew Research Center survey, fully 25 percent of the country—80 million people—say that they have no formal religion. When we focus on young people, the picture is even more bleak. Almost 40 percent of those under thirty are nones, and among Catholics in that age group, the number rises to 50 percent. Of all the Catholic children baptized or confirmed these last thirty years, half no longer participate in the life of the Church.
We need evangelization more than ever before. Will you answer the call?"
We are called to, cure the sick, to raise the the dead, and cleanse the lepers. Touch the untouchables. Wow. What a tall order.
And it almost seems like this sideline prophet has just about given up. The fight seems too big, or lost. Many have given up around me. Stopped going to ministries, and many stopped going to Church. And so many of their children are going to CCD, and hate it. Not because they hate it, but because their parents hate it, like school, they'd never go back to school, but force their kids to school, or else they'll pay consequences. But spiritual consequences are of grave matter.
Cure. Heal wounds. How can we heal the sick? Firstly, the sick won't come to you...we must go out to them. When you hear of me feeding the homeless, helping orphans, or meeting abandoned folks at nursing homes, it is because I looked for them. And the fallen family? I call out to them. I invite them to church things. But why should they go? God gets the stiff arm. How can we work around the stiff arm? Write back and let me know. I'm all ears. I've been praying night and day for them already.
Raise the dead? A couple days ago, my wife's half sister passed away of cancer, and she'd lost her husband less than a hear ago. The prayers we were prayer for her within the last week were of strength and grace for her and her family, but never was I thinking of raising her from the dead. How can I? Well, truth is, you can't, but God can! And we've only to ask! But first, comes faith, first comes love.
Cleanse the lepers? The unclean. The untouchables. But the lepers want to be one with the people, God's people. Let us always be open to a sinner's conversion and helping them to Jesus. We can definitely lead each other to cleansing...especially in Holy Confession.
And, drive out demons. God left us a vineyard. In the vineyard, there can be critters that will ruin the vines. If left unattended, things crawl in, and eventually take over. We shouldn't let families be unattended. Other things take over. Don't let your TV or the world or strange ideologies raise your family. Let God raise His sheep, feed them, cleanse them. We take them to Him.
Will you save every soul you encounter?
I tried hard to save a sick kitten we found. And two weeks of struggling with it later...it died in my hands. And it hurt to see it struggle and I struggled with it.
You can't save every thing and every one. But our job is to try our heart out. Amen!
And God loves you for being a FAITHFUL servant.
I love you for it too! |  hear it read | adrian Random Bible Verse1
John 14:18 (Listen) 18 "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." Thank You Jesus | |
