 clickable | | Love Gives Itself Away The simplest way to describe God's poverty and humility is in terms of love. Love gives itself away—this is God's poverty. Love turns toward the other so it can give itself to the other—this is God's humility. In the Incarnation, God turns toward us through the Son/Word and gives himself to us as love.… The God whom Francis discovered is a God who shows himself to us in poor and humble fragile human flesh. This is a God who loves us so much as to be reckless in love; a God who throws it all away out of love and never tires of loving. —from the book The Humility of God: A Franciscan Perspective by Ilia Delio, OSF |  MorningOffering.com | † Saint Quote
"Let all creation help you to praise God. Give yourself the rest you need. When you are walking alone, listen to the sermon preached to you by the flowers, the trees, the shrubs, the sky, the sun and the whole world. Notice how they preach to you a sermon full of love, of praise of God, and how they invite you to proclaim the greatness of the one who has given them being."
— St. Paul of the Cross † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"True devotion to Our Lady is constant. It confirms the soul in good, and does not let it easily abandon its spiritual exercises. It makes it courageous in opposing the world in its fashions and maxims, the flesh in its weariness and passions, and the devil in his temptations; so that a person truly devout to our Blessed Lady is neither changeable, irritable, scrupulous nor timid. It is not that such a person does not fall, or change sometimes in the sensible feeling of devotion. But when he falls, he rises again by stretching out his hand to his good Mother. When he loses the taste and relish of devotions, he does not become disturbed because of that; for the just and faithful client of Mary lives by the faith (Heb. 10:38) of Jesus and Mary, and not by natural sentiment."
— St. Louis De Montfort, p. 55
AN EXCERPT FROM
True Devotion to Mary † VERSE OF THE DAY
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."
John 6:35 |  click to read more | | ST. NARCISSUS OF JERUSALEM St. Narcissus (c. 99 – c. 216 A.D.) was a holy and esteemed priest of Greek origin who became the 30th bishop of Jerusalem in the year 180 A.D., about a century after the city's destruction by the Romans. He was known as a miracle-worker, as well as for governing his diocese with vigor and discipline despite being in his 80th year when he was made bishop. Of his many miracles, the one for which he is most famous was turning water into oil on Holy Saturday, as recorded by the historian Eusebius: when the deacons had no oil to burn in the altar lamps for the Easter liturgy, St. Narcissus had them use water instead. After he prayed over the water and it was put into the lamps, it was miraculously converted into oil. In 195 A.D. St. Narcissus was part of a council of bishops who settled the date for the observance of Easter, deciding on Sunday and not the ancient Jewish Passover. Despite his reputation as a holy bishop, St. Narcissus drew opposition. Three enemies accused him of a serious crime and prayed that he might be cursed by God in punishment. This took a toll on the saint, and, forgiving his persecutors, he retired from public life and lived as a hermit for many years. His enemies meanwhile were struck by the calamities that they wished upon him. When St. Narcissus eventually returned to Jerusalem he was exuberantly welcomed by the faithful. He served the people of Jerusalem in many ways until his death at over 116 years old. His feast day is October 29th. | Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 480
Reading 1 Rom 8:18-25 Brothers and sisters:
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing
compared with the glory to be revealed for us.
For creation awaits with eager expectation
the revelation of the children of God;
for creation was made subject to futility,
not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it,
in hope that creation itself
would be set free from slavery to corruption
and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.
We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now;
and not only that, but we ourselves,
who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
we also groan within ourselves
as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
For in hope we were saved.
Now hope that sees for itself is not hope.
For who hopes for what one sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance. Responsorial Psalm Ps 126:1b-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6 R.(3a) The Lord has done marvels for us.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us. 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 13:18-21 Jesus said, "What is the Kingdom of God like?
To what can I compare it?
It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.
When it was fully grown, it became a large bush
and 'the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.'" Again he said, "To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?
It is like yeast that a woman took
and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch of dough was leavened." | Meditation: Romans 8:18-25 30th Week in Ordinary Time In hope we were saved. (Romans 8:24) A mountain climber had slipped backward over a precipice, but he was able to break his fall by catching hold of a small rocky ledge. The night was closing in, and hour after hour, he held on desperately. He was hoping that someone would come along and rescue him. Finally, he could hold on no longer. His fingers released their grip, and he began sliding. Almost immediately, his feet hit solid ground. A safe level place had been only a short distance beneath him the whole time! We may feel like that stranded climber in our times of trial. We feel as if we are hanging on for dear life, clinging to the faint hope that we will be rescued. We "groan within ourselves as we wait" (Romans 8:23). But if our hope is in the Lord, we can trust that the solid ground of his love is always right beneath us. As Paul told the Romans, in hope we are saved (8:24)! Notice that there's a big difference between "hoping that" and "hoping in." I hope that researchers will discover a cure for diabetes or that God will intervene to heal me. But I hope in the God who loves me, sustains me, and provides the wisdom and encouragement I need to live with diabetes. I hope that my wayward child will listen to my advice and repent of destructive decisions. I hope in the God who loves him far more than I do and is continually seeking him out. I hope that my financial situation will improve. But I hope in the Father who provides for my needs out of his abundant resources. We can hope that our situation improves or that things will turn out for the best. Those are future events that can help keep us moving forward, and they are appropriate petitions to lay before the Father. But far more powerful is placing our hope in the God who loves us here and now and who will never abandon us. "Father, I know that your love is sustaining me right now. Help me to hope in you and to trust that you hold my future in your loving hands." Psalm 126:1-6
Luke 13:18-21 |  clickable | In the end, we don't have to defend the Church. She's a bride. She needs to be unveiled.
—Jason Evert
from What's So Great About Being Catholic? | my2cents:
"For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance."
I sat with a friend and spoke about faith. He was at an uneasy state of faith. All I could do was listen. All I could say was to pray. For sure, faith is not a feeling. It is a gift. Not only is it a gift God gives to us, but it is a gift we give to God Our Father. | Let us pray: "Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown, They shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves. The Lord has done marvels for us" They went carrying seeds of hope. They sowed the seeds of hope. They watered them with their tears. They waited through the night with hope. In the morning they saw hope grow. Faith my friend. Hope in Christ. Carry Christ. Sow Christ. Wait in the dark with Christ. Hold on to Christ. See the morning rise with Christ. | In the Holy Gospel, our Lord says a small parable. It is about a seed. "It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.
When it was fully grown, it became a large bush
and 'the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.'
You see, the man planted the seed. Which raises the question...where did you come from? Was it not a man's seed? Now you are thinking earthly, now think from God, His seed. He planted you in the world. You are here to bloom. I am amazed at a dazzling flower growing in the desert. All alone. Who would behold its beauty? Only God. Only For God. He deserves tiny beauty, for the world was created from a spec. What kind of faith do you have? Because it is likened to such a seed, for you were created in His likeness, in creativity and ability to make small things something beautiful. Think charity. Think great Love as St. Therese of Lisieux suggested. Think how much yeast it takes to substantially change the dough into something greater, for the yeast breathed life into the rest. | My friend that I sat with, questioning his faith, if you are reading this, I am still sitting here next to you. I suggested "have faith". I suggested to not look into your own thoughts but into the thoughts of God. I suggested you look beyond human comprehension and step out into the dark murky and stormy waters, and as you step out, keep your eyes focused on our Lord.
I said "pray more" and I said "call me in the middle of the night and I'll be there" and you said "I know you would"....but you don't call me. You are trying to do this alone, and you are trying to make this journey alone. Our Lord sent men in pairs, 2 by 2. Our Lord had a companion my friend...He has you................. |  hear it read | adrian Random Bible Verse 1
1 Peter 4:12–13
Suffering as a Christian 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
Random opening of IMITATION OF CHRIST Book: audio of adrian reading to you
Lord, teach me to do Your will (Ps143:10) and to live worthily and humbly in Your sight. You are my wisdom and You know me as I truly am; You knew me before the world was made, and before I was born into this life. audio of me reading it to you Thank You Jesus | |
