 clickable | | Healing Past Hurts To keep our bodies less defended, to live in our body right now, to be present to others in a cellular way, is also the work of healing of past hurts and the many memories that seem to store themselves in the body. The body seems to never stop offering its messages; but fortunately, the body never lies, even though the mind will deceive you constantly. Zen practitioners tend to be well-trained in seeing this. It is very telling that Jesus usually physically touched people when he healed them; he knew where the memory and hurt was lodged, and it was in the body itself. —from the book Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps by Richard Rohr, OFM |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote
"For He became man that we might become divine; and He revealed Himself through a body that we might receive an idea of the invisible Father; and He endured insults from men that we might inherit incorruption."
— St. Athanasius of Alexandria † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Now surely I do see what an immense effect such a doctrine [of the Holy Trinity] must have upon life. It is no mere question for theologians, but one that concerns every living soul. Whatever is allowed by God's power must be guided by His wisdom and urged on by His love. All that happens to me in life, the little worries and the great anxieties, the crises and the daily annoyances, the sorrows and the joys, the harms that reach me through the sins of others, the great crimes of history, the huge and devastating wars, the partings and loves and the whole cycle of human experience are permitted by Power, which is itself wise and loving. These three Persons determine my life, and, since I walk by faith, I must surely grow very patient in my attitude toward life. For how can I complain or criticize God's Providence, since it all comes under that triple influence of Power, Wisdom, and Love? Under the guidance, then, of this mystery, I can walk through the valley of death or the more perilous borders of sin without loss of courage or hopefulness. Nothing can make me afraid. How these are separate, yet one, I do not know, nor can I reconcile in my concrete experience the claims of each. It is always a mystery, but a mystery in which I believe. Whatever Power allows on earth is designed in Wisdom and attuned by Love."
— Fr. Bede Jarrett, p. 10
AN EXCERPT FROM
Classic Catholic Meditations † VERSE OF THE DAY
"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed."
Psalm 139:14-16 |  click to read more | | ST. ANASTASIUS THE PERSIAN St. Anastasius the Persian (7th c.) was the son of a Persian sorcerer. He became a Zoroastrian soldier in the army of Khosrau II, the Persian monarch who absconded the True Cross of Christ from Jerusalem and took it to Persia in 614. St. Anastasius inquired about the mysterious Cross and the Christian religion and as a result soon converted to the true Faith, left the army, received baptism, and became a monk at a monastery in Jerusalem. He lived there seven years until he was called by God to martyrdom among his people. He went to Caesarea to preach, which was then under Persian rule. He was captured and subject to cruel tortures. He was promised freedom and a high position in the kingdom if he would simply denounce his faith, which he refused. St. Anastasius was strangled and beheaded. His feast day is January 22. | Saint Vincent of Zaragossa (d. c. 304) Saint Vincent of Zaragossa's Story Most of what we know about this saint comes from the poet Prudentius. His Acts have been rather freely colored by the imagination of their compiler. But Saint Augustine, in one of his sermons on Saint Vincent, speaks of having the Acts of his martyrdom before him. We are at least sure of his name, his being a deacon, the place of his death and burial. According to the story we have, the unusual devotion he inspired must have had a basis in a very heroic life. Vincent was ordained deacon by his friend Saint Valerius of Zaragossa in Spain. The Roman emperors had published their edicts against the clergy in 303, and the following year against the laity. Vincent and his bishop were imprisoned in Valencia. Hunger and torture failed to break them. Like the youths in the fiery furnace, they seemed to thrive on suffering. Valerius was sent into exile, and Dacian, the Roman governor, now turned the full force of his fury on Vincent. Tortures that sound very modern were tried. But their main effect was the progressive disintegration of Dacian himself. He had the torturers beaten because they failed. Finally he suggested a compromise: Would Vincent at least give up the sacred books to be burned according to the emperor's edict? He would not. Torture on the gridiron continued, the prisoner remaining courageous, the torturer losing control of himself. Vincent was thrown into a filthy prison cell—and converted the jailer. Dacian wept with rage, but strangely enough, ordered the prisoner to be given some rest. Friends among the faithful came to visit him, but he was to have no earthly rest. When they finally settled him on a comfortable bed, he went to his eternal rest.
Reflection The martyrs are heroic examples of what God's power can do. It is humanly impossible, we realize, for someone to go through tortures such as Vincent had and remain faithful. But it is equally true that by human power alone no one can remain faithful even without torture or suffering. God does not come to our rescue at isolated, "special" moments. God is supporting the super-cruisers as well as children's toy boats. | Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Lectionary: 313
Reading 1 1 Sm 17:32-33, 37, 40-51 David spoke to Saul:
"Let your majesty not lose courage.
I am at your service to go and fight this Philistine."
But Saul answered David,
"You cannot go up against this Philistine and fight with him,
for you are only a youth, while he has been a warrior from his youth." David continued:
"The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear,
will also keep me safe from the clutches of this Philistine."
Saul answered David, "Go! the LORD will be with you." Then, staff in hand, David selected five smooth stones from the wadi
and put them in the pocket of his shepherd's bag.
With his sling also ready to hand, he approached the Philistine. With his shield bearer marching before him,
the Philistine also advanced closer and closer to David.
When he had sized David up,
and seen that he was youthful, and ruddy, and handsome in appearance,
the Philistine held David in contempt.
The Philistine said to David,
"Am I a dog that you come against me with a staff?"
Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods
and said to him, "Come here to me,
and I will leave your flesh for the birds of the air
and the beasts of the field."
David answered him:
"You come against me with sword and spear and scimitar,
but I come against you in the name of the LORD of hosts,
the God of the armies of Israel that you have insulted.
Today the LORD shall deliver you into my hand;
I will strike you down and cut off your head.
This very day I will leave your corpse
and the corpses of the Philistine army for the birds of the air
and the beasts of the field;
thus the whole land shall learn that Israel has a God.
All this multitude, too,
shall learn that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves.
For the battle is the LORD's and he shall deliver you into our hands." The Philistine then moved to meet David at close quarters,
while David ran quickly toward the battle line
in the direction of the Philistine.
David put his hand into the bag and took out a stone,
hurled it with the sling,
and struck the Philistine on the forehead.
The stone embedded itself in his brow,
and he fell prostrate on the ground.
Thus David overcame the Philistine with sling and stone;
he struck the Philistine mortally, and did it without a sword.
Then David ran and stood over him;
with the Philistine's own sword which he drew from its sheath
he dispatched him and cut off his head. Responsorial Psalm 144:1b, 2, 9-10 R. (1) Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
My refuge and my fortress,
my stronghold, my deliverer,
My shield, in whom I trust,
who subdues my people under me.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
O God, I will sing a new song to you;
with a ten-stringed lyre I will chant your praise,
You who give victory to kings,
and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock! Alleluia Mt 4:23 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 3:1-6 Jesus entered the synagogue.
There was a man there who had a withered hand.
They watched Jesus closely
to see if he would cure him on the sabbath
so that they might accuse him.
He said to the man with the withered hand,
"Come up here before us."
Then he said to the Pharisees,
"Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?"
But they remained silent.
Looking around at them with anger
and grieved at their hardness of heart,
Jesus said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."
He stretched it out and his hand was restored.
The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel
with the Herodians against him to put him to death. | Catholic Meditations
Meditation: Mark 3:1-6 2nd Week in Ordinary Time Stretch out your hand. (Mark 3:5) Instead of avoiding the religious leaders' scrutiny, Jesus pushed forward. He invited the man with the disability to join him in the front of the synagogue and asked his detractors a pointed question: "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil?" (Mark 3:4). Understanding what he was referring to, they remained silent. Their hardheartedness disturbed Jesus, for it had condemned this man to continued suffering. As far as he was concerned, their failure to act amounted to evildoing. Today, as we remember the United States Supreme Court's infamous Roe v. Wade decision, which made legalized abortion possible in the United States, this Gospel reading is especially challenging. It warns us against failing to act. To disregard the vulnerability of the unborn, to turn a deaf ear to the fears and concerns of their parents can be like passing by a wounded traveler on the other side of the road (Luke 10:29-37). This story urges us to step out in faith instead. "But what difference could I possibly make? Abortion is such a polarizing issue. How can I turn the tide?" Jesus told the man, "Stretch out your hand" (Mark 3:5). But the man's hand was useless. He couldn't do what Jesus commanded, but he obeyed anyway. And in that obedience, he found healing. Today Jesus says to us, "Stretch out your hand." Stretch out your hand in prayer, asking for a change of heart among those who advocate for abortion. Stretch out your hand in service by offering to help a single mom trying to make ends meet, by giving prayerful witness in front of an abortion clinic, or by supporting your parish's respect-life group. Of course your resources are inadequate, but God always makes possible what he commands. If salvation can come from a baby in a manger, don't ever discount how much of a difference you can make. As we pray for the unborn today, let's remember today's first reading. David was able to rescue his people with only a few stones and deep faith. In a similar way, we can triumph over fear, cynicism, and despair by stretching out our hands and witnessing to the preciousness of life. "Jesus, show me what I can do today to help protect the dignity of the unborn." 1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51
Psalm 144:1-2, 9-10 |  clickable | Remember that Christ has promised us eternal life. What can the world promise? Let it promise anything—it may be making that promise to someone who will die tomorrow. And what does the world threaten? Prisons? Chains? Fires? Torments? Wild beasts? Yes, but not eternal fire. Love what the Almighty promises, and then the whole world becomes vile in our sight, whether it promises or terrifies.
— St. Augustine
from A Year with the Church Fathers | my2cents:
""The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will also keep me safe from the clutches of this Philistine." Saul answered David, "Go! the LORD will be with you."
David had already faced ferocious beasts when shepherding the flock and protecting the flock.
Think our Lord Jesus. He offered to be the one to come against the powerful enemy. With one stone. The stone the architects rejected, that stone did it. In the same fulfillment as Joseph in Egypt. A new Exodus as of Moses. All came to be accomplished by our Lord Jesus. Our Warrior. And He has conquered and asks us to conquer in His Name. | Let us pray: " Blessed be the Lord, my Rock! Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war."
Blessed be our Lord, our ROCK! | In the Synagogue, our Warrior spoke, and He spoke: ""Come up here before us." It was a Holy Day of Obligation, as are all Sundays now since He resurrected.
"Come", and He motions to Him, and the man with a messed up hand comes, a little afraid, a little embarrassed. For He was a "sinful sight" because to be withered and debilitated was a sign of evil, or impurity in those eyes of all those in the temple.
Do you know anybody like that? I do. I know some that others look down on for being sinners.
And I know some of those sinners...in their hearts. And I know their hearts, and I desire for their hearts to be transformed by Love. Some other sinners completely reject this love, but some accept it, and some you will never know whether they accept it. And by Love, I mean Jesus, and by Jesus, I mean Salvation. | So Jesus speaks again: ""Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?"
Why did Jesus mention the law? Because, all Jews were Mosaics. They were judicial, they were all about laws. And why all these scriptures today? About a war, about laws, about saving?
Because, it is a day that a great evil was pronounced by the judicial side of our government, judges on seats ruled that (just like slavery) pre-born people are not people. They have no rights. They have no say. They have no vote.
That's why. Because we are facing a formidable giant that is blood thirsty. We threatened the giant to take away its thirst for human blood, by introducing more pro life people, and it has now fought back saying "I want born people too" and so if abortion monsters get their way, born people will be slaughtered to satiate this goliath of satanic rule. And from there, any age will be susceptible, and who will be the judge of all that?
So, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath?
Silly question to us. But the old Mosaic laws had lost the sense of good.
To them, following the law was more important than following God.
I'm not saying that from my own, but from an ex-Jew. He said that the law was more important than even really believing.
Unfortunately, it boils down to who makes the laws. The judges are the voice of the people. And if we have poor judges, it is a reflection of the whole. So, kick out the judges? LOL. That is like throwing papers at Goliath. Last year, Planned Parenthood, one of the heads of the satanic goliath was said to have had a record breaking number of abortions, with about 345,672 abortions in the United States. That's just them, there are uncounted numbers not in this figure, like other abortionists, and other types of abortions like abortifacient contraception, with new ones coming out all the time, like the magic ointment for men to kill their sperm cells that is being touted in the news lately. Does the devil like blood? The devil is not a physical body. It can not taste blood. So what does it feed off of? I don't know...pride? Weakness.
To counter attack, we need the rock from the wadi. What is the wadi? Arroyo, dry river. The waters had run dry. Jesus came to bring new life, he'd defeat death by hitting it right between the eyes. Ever seen those in that religion with a red dot on their forehead? They believe that the center there is where the soul focuses on. That's where Jesus enters, not in the forehead....but our souls.
Last night I got called out on a job...for the Lord. "Go do a funeral rosary". Had to cancel my plans and go.
The oddest thing at this one, and I've been doing quite a few lately...there was no physical body to pray with or over. The body was sent off to incinerate. So, we prayed as a body for her....soul. I told them "this is going to be a remote prayer session, but the Holy Spirit is everywhere, even when you are singing in the shower".
Yes, the Holy Spirit is now flooding the wadi with life, the stones are being washed. We are the living stones of the Church, the Body of Christ.
Please pray for the unborn.
Not just today, but every single day. They are souls too. They don't stand a chance at loving or being loved. The only way slavery ended was with a vicious and bloody war. Is that the only way to end this war against the innocent children? A vile hatred of children is spewing. Anti-life is contraception, and the worst kind is homosexuality. A clear sign that says " I don't want children...how God wants them". It says "my happiness is worth more than anything you do or say". And laws come in....against and chase the Lord to death.
You see, these things didn't happen 2,000 years ago to Jesus. Jesus still lives, and to this day is the cause for millions of persecutions (Martyrs) across the world.
The war against the Philistines didn't end with the death of one, they didn't accept the new King. Their heirs still hate. But, today, God still saves. How is this all happening? It is a free world. People do what they want, when they want, and how they want, with whoever they want. click for the novena for the unborn
click for novena app for unborn Mother in Heaven, pray for the unborn, pray for us to turn into a culture of life, to be like you...givers of life, in obedience, humility, and giving honor to God in Heaven. Pray for us sinners, now and forever |  click to hear a message | Random Bible Verse 1 Romans 8:15
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" Thank You Lord | |
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