 clickable | | Why Do We Live Small? We all wrestle with some internal governor prescribing some need for moderation or temperance, which translates, "It's time to put the kibosh on all manner of joy or ecstasy or elation or, God forbid, wholeheartedness." Here's the deal: When we give way to any such shackling measure, we put a lid on our passion and our spirit, and we short-circuit the bounty and generosity that would spill from our heart. This all begs the question: What is the reason we internalize this script, and how does it procure its power? In other words…why do we allow ourselves to live so small? —from the book This Is the Life: Mindfulness, Finding Grace, and the Power of the Present Moment by Terry Hershey |  MorningOffering.com | † Saint Quote "We should strive to keep our hearts open to the sufferings and wretchedness of other people, and pray continually that God may grant us that spirit of compassion which is truly the spirit of God."
— St. Vincent de Paul † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"When uncertain about God's will, it is very important that we tell ourselves: 'Even if there are aspects of God's will that escape me, there are always others that I know for sure and can invest in without any risk, knowing that this investment always pays dividends.' These certainties include fulfilling the duties of our state in life and practicing the essential points of every Christian vocation. There is a defect here that needs to be recognized and avoided: finding ourselves in darkness about God's will on an important question . . . we spend so much time searching and doubting or getting discouraged, that we neglect things that are God's will for us every day, like being faithful to prayer, maintaining trust in God, loving the people around us here and now. Lacking answers about the future, we should prepare to receive them by living today to the full."
— Fr. Jacques Philippe, p. 55
AN EXCERPT FROM
Interior Freedom † VERSE OF THE DAY
"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Matthew 5:11-12 |  click to read more | | Saint Peter Chrysologus (c. 406 – c. 450)
A man who vigorously pursues a goal may produce results far beyond his expectations and his intentions. Thus it was with Peter " of the Golden Words," as he was called, who as a young man became bishop of Ravenna, the capital of the empire in the West. At the time there were abuses and vestiges of paganism evident in his diocese, and these Peter was determined to battle and overcome. His principal weapon was the short sermon, and many of them have come down to us. They do not contain great originality of thought. They are, however, full of moral applications, sound in doctrine, and historically significant in that they reveal Christian life in fifth-century Ravenna. So authentic were the contents of his sermons that some 13 centuries later, he was declared a doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIII. He who had earnestly sought to teach and motivate his own flock was recognized as a teacher of the universal Church. In addition to his zeal in the exercise of his office, Peter Chrysologus was distinguished by a fierce loyalty to the Church, not only in its teaching, but in its authority as well. He looked upon learning not as a mere opportunity but as an obligation for all, both as a development of God-given faculties and as a solid support for the worship of God. Some time before his death around A.D. 450, Saint Peter Chrysologus returned to his birthplace of Imola, in northern Italy.
Reflection Quite likely, it was Saint Peter Chrysologus' attitude toward learning that gave substance to his exhortations. Next to virtue, learning, in his view, was the greatest improvement to the human mind and the support of true religion. Ignorance is not a virtue, nor is anti-intellectualism. Knowledge is neither more nor less a source of pride than physical, administrative, or financial prowess. To be fully human is to expand our knowledge—whether sacred or secular—according to our talent and opportunity. | ST. ELIZABETH OF THE VISITATION St. Elizabeth of the Visitation (1st c.) was the wife of Zachary, a temple priest, and the cousin and close companion of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is the one whom Our Lady visited in haste after the Annunciation. The Angel Gabriel had told Mary that Elizabeth was expecting a miraculous child in her old age. Upon hearing Mary's voice, who was then carrying the Son of God in her womb, Elizabeth's unborn child leaped in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit. It was with Elizabeth that Mary first shared the joy of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. St. Elizabeth gave birth to St. John the Baptist, the prophet who prepared the way for Jesus' ministry. St. Elizabeth is described in the Gospel of Luke as "righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments of the Lord blamelessly." St. Elizabeth shares a feast day with her husband, Zachary, on November 5th. | Tuesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 486
Reading 1 Rom 12:5-16ab Brothers and sisters:
We, though many, are one Body in Christ
and individually parts of one another.
Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us,
let us exercise them:
if prophecy, in proportion to the faith;
if ministry, in ministering;
if one is a teacher, in teaching;
if one exhorts, in exhortation;
if one contributes, in generosity;
if one is over others, with diligence;
if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be sincere;
hate what is evil,
hold on to what is good;
love one another with mutual affection;
anticipate one another in showing honor.
Do not grow slack in zeal,
be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope,
endure in affliction,
persevere in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the holy ones,
exercise hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you,
bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice,
weep with those who weep.
Have the same regard for one another;
do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Responsorial Psalm Ps 131:1bcde, 2, 3 R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor are my eyes haughty;
I busy not myself with great things,
nor with things too sublime for me.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted
my soul like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child on its mother's lap,
so is my soul within me.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O Israel, hope in the LORD,
both now and forever.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace. Alleluia Mt 11:28 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 14:15-24 One of those at table with Jesus said to him,
"Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God."
He replied to him,
"A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many.
When the time for the dinner came,
he dispatched his servant to say to those invited,
'Come, everything is now ready.'
But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves.
The first said to him,
'I have purchased a field and must go to examine it;
I ask you, consider me excused.'
And another said, 'I have purchased five yoke of oxen
and am on my way to evaluate them;
I ask you, consider me excused.'
And another said, 'I have just married a woman,
and therefore I cannot come.'
The servant went and reported this to his master.
Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant,
'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town
and bring in here the poor and the crippled,
the blind and the lame.'
The servant reported, 'Sir, your orders have been carried out
and still there is room.'
The master then ordered the servant,
'Go out to the highways and hedgerows
and make people come in that my home may be filled.
For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.'" | Meditation: Romans 12:5-16
31st Week in Ordinary Time Anticipate one another in showing honor. (Romans 12:10)
__
Jesus tells us to love one another, and who could argue with that? Even children would tell you it's best to "be nice" to one another. But that's not particularly specific. In today's first reading, though, Paul gives us some practical ideas about how to put love into action. Let's zero in on one of his suggestions: "Anticipate one another in showing honor" (Romans 12:10). What does it mean to "show honor" to another person? Think of a time when, perhaps, you've written a sympathy note. You assure the bereaved person of your prayers, but you probably also share a memory that honors the deceased: "I'll never forget the coffee cake she brought over to welcome us to the neighborhood." "I never heard him complain about his health challenges." "She had such a radiant smile every time she gave me Communion." Sharing memories like these is definitely one way to honor someone. But writing a note like this might also make you wish you had spoken your words of appreciation before the person passed away. And that's the point! Honoring doesn't have to wait for a special occasion. In fact, you likely have many informal opportunities to honor someone every day. A teacher might point out good qualities he sees in a student: "You're always the first one in your seat with your book open, ready to begin class." A mother might tell her child, "Your grandma makes the best Easter cake. I always enjoy watching you decorate it with her." A young adult might tell her younger cousin, "I know you feel shy sometimes. But I loved the way you introduced yourself to that new person and helped him feel comfortable at the party." It isn't always easy to compliment someone else, especially someone who rubs you the wrong way. But with a little bit of prayer and reflection, you'll be able to find some admirable quality to point out. It's a blessisng for that person, and it's a blessing for you too! Honoring others takes our focus off ourselves. That's what love in action looks like. So be on the lookout today. Is there someone you can lift up? "Lord, teach me how to treat people with honor today. Open my eyes and my heart to the goodness in them." Psalm 131:1-3
Luke 14:15-24 |  clickable | We still make sinful choices. God seems to be only here and there; sin and selfishness everywhere in between. What can I do? What Mary did—say yes. Obey God's laws of love; live up to the duties of my state in life. The world needs my day-by-day 'fiat'. Mary is a model of what God expects of me.
—Fr. Patrick Peyton
from Father Peyton's Rosary Prayer Book | my2cents:
"Do not grow slack in zeal,be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord."
Are you zealous for the Lord? Do you serve Him with zeal?
Be fervent! But how? For one thing, it takes two things: Prayer for fire and stoking the fire. Ask for good things. Such as zeal and fervor, this way you can serve the world fire, the fire of God's love! | We pray: "In you, O Lord, I have found my peace. O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor are my eyes haughty; I busy not myself with great things, nor with things too sublime for me."
If you ask most people if they are humble, I bet one of two things: 1.) they say they consider themselves humble. 2.) They will lie about being humble. Which one do you fall into? Notice, neither considers you to be humble. What if I told you that sin can make you humble? How though? Consider mercy. Consider grace. If you have grace, you will ask for mercy, and have true repentance. Consider your ways, because God will ask of something you may not be willing to let go of right now. | "One of those at table with Jesus said to him,
"Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God."
So, they speak about a banquet in Heaven, right? The Kingdom of God? Where is the Kingdom? Jesus our Lord says "it is at hand". Is it here and now? or is it being made available? Whatever the case, the offer is there! Consider the call to sacrifice for the Kingdom. | A servant was told to go bring the invited. The invited ones apparently knew! And they came up with all sorts of excuses not to come to the King's dinner! A banquet He had prepared Himself! What was the occasion for a banquet? The King prepared a great feast. He had the invitees in mind the whole time.
You are the invitee. You are the special guest. He has prepared room for you at the table. Won't you come? Won't you make it special? Won't you base your whole life on this invitation? The Pharisees had many excuses not to follow and believe. Many excused themselves. So God opened doors to every single soul. The lame, the gentiles, the crippled, the Samaritans, and the blind, the Canaanites, and the list goes on and on, until it reaches yorur eyes...your soul.
Do we have an excuse not to feast DAILY with what God has prepared? Think Holy Mass. Think Heaven. A spanish reflection says today (I'll translate with google and i'll attempt to edit):
"We are, unfortunately, able to change(trade) God for anything. Some, as we read in today's Gospel, for a field; others, for some oxen. And you and I, why are we able to change the one who is our God and his invitation? There are those who, for laziness, for neglect, for comfort, cease to fulfill their duties of love towards God: So little is God worth, that we substitute him for anything else? May our response to the divine offer always be a yes, full of thanks and admiration." Judas traded Him for some silver pieces. Today, some deny the faith for the sake of their pride. "You are religious" ...and the response is "no I'm not". You see? Ultimately, it is a matter shame, a game we play. With some crowds you are religious and with some others you are not. Sometimes you are zealous, and sometimes you are not. Where is your fervor? Where is your constant zeal? Where is .... your heart? Lord, help us spread your word like fire.
Help us seek out your invitation and take to it and be prepared for it.
Help us be the witness at the feast of what is transpiring on the altar...LOVE |  hear it read | adrian Random Bible Verse 1
Philippians 2:5–8 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,1 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,2 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,3 being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Thank You Jesus | |
