 clickable | | Are You Still Running? Are you still striving, friend? Are you still running yourself ragged looking to have something to offer the Lord to make you worthy of him? Do you look around you and wonder how so many people seem to have gotten so much closer to him while you have been working so hard and still feel so far away? Here's the good news for today, for you and me both. We can quit the striving and the working and the approval seeking. We can exhale and fill our lungs with the fresh air of acceptance, of appreciation, of being invited into full friendship with Christ. We can be content, satisfied, and grateful. And we don't have to do a thing to earn it, to deserve it. We don't need to jockey for position. All we have to do is look up and see him here, beckoning us nearer, and then choose to be drawn in by his loving gaze and tuned into his voice. —from the book Who Does He Say You Are? Women Transformed by Christ in the Gospels by Colleen Mitchell |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote "I will go anywhere and do anything in order to communicate the love of Jesus to those who do not know Him or have forgotten Him."
— St. Frances Xavier Cabrini † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Christianity asserts that every individual human being is going to live for ever, and this must be either true or false. Now there are a good many things which would not be worth bothering about if I were going to live only seventy years, but which I had better bother about very seriously if I am going to live for ever."
— C.S. Lewis, p. 74
AN EXCERPT FROM
Mere Christianity † VERSE OF THE DAY
"For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace."
James 3:16-18 |  click to read more | | Blessed John of Fiesole (1387 – February 18, 1455) The patron of Christian artists was born around 1400 in a village overlooking Florence. He took up painting as a young boy and studied under the watchful eye of a local painting master. He joined the Dominicans at about age 20, taking the name Fra Giovanni. He eventually came to be known as Fra Angelico, perhaps a tribute to his own angelic qualities or maybe the devotional tone of his works. He continued to study painting and perfect his own techniques, which included broad-brush strokes, vivid colors and generous, lifelike figures. Michelangelo once said of Fra Angelico: "One has to believe that this good monk has visited paradise and been allowed to choose his models there." Whatever his subject matter, Fra Angelico sought to generate feelings of religious devotion in response to his paintings. Among his most famous works are the Annunciation and Descent from the Cross as well as frescoes in the monastery of San Marco in Florence. He also served in leadership positions within the Dominican Order. At one point, Pope Eugenius approached him about serving as archbishop of Florence. Fra Angelico declined, preferring a simpler life. He died in 1455.
Reflection The work of artists adds a wonderful dimension to life. Without art our lives would be much depleted. Let us pray for artists today, especially those who can lift our hearts and minds to God.
Blessed John of Fiesole is the Patron Saint of: Christian Artists | Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 336
Reading 1 Jas 1:12-18 Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation,
for when he has been proven he will receive the crown of life
that he promised to those who love him.
No one experiencing temptation should say,
"I am being tempted by God";
for God is not subject to temptation to evil,
and he himself tempts no one.
Rather, each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire.
Then desire conceives and brings forth sin,
and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters:
all good giving and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.
He willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. Responsorial Psalm 94:12-13a, 14-15, 18-19 R. (12a) Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.
Blessed the man whom you instruct, O LORD,
whom by your law you teach,
Giving him rest from evil days.
R. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.
For the LORD will not cast off his people,
nor abandon his inheritance;
But judgment shall again be with justice,
and all the upright of heart shall follow it.
R. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.
When I say, "My foot is slipping,"
your mercy, O LORD, sustains me;
When cares abound within me,
your comfort gladdens my soul.
R. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord. Alleluia Jn 14:23 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord;
and my Father will love him
and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 8:14-21 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread,
and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.
Jesus enjoined them, "Watch out,
guard against the leaven of the Pharisees
and the leaven of Herod."
They concluded among themselves that
it was because they had no bread.
When he became aware of this he said to them,
"Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread?
Do you not yet understand or comprehend?
Are your hearts hardened?
Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?
And do you not remember,
when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand,
how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?"
They answered him, "Twelve."
"When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand,
how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?"
They answered him, "Seven."
He said to them, "Do you still not understand?" | Meditation: James 1:12-18 6th Week in Ordinary Time He willed to give us birth by the word of truth. (James 1:18) Think of the excitement a husband and wife feel when a new baby arrives. Then compare it to the way God must feel about us. After all, St. James tells us that God has given us a spiritual "birth" through the power of his word (James 1:18). And that spiritual birth, which happens in Baptism, brings joy to our Father's heart. But despite the joy he feels at our baptism, God knows that we still have to grow in our faith—just as any human parents know that their newborn child has a long road ahead of him. And how do we keep growing? Certainly we need to keep encountering the word of truth through the sacraments. But we also need to encounter Jesus in the Scriptures. Scripture is where we can come to know Jesus. We meet him through the Gospel stories, and as we continue to ponder these stories, our friendship with him deepens. We can imagine ourselves accompanying Jesus on his journeys, or we can picture him teaching us. The more we do this, the more Jesus becomes real to us, strengthening our faith that he is with us even now. Scripture also forms our minds and our way of thinking. It helps us to comprehend more and more deeply who God is and all he has done for us through Christ. It also helps us adopt God's values rather than the world's. Finally, Scripture is an avenue for the Holy Spirit to speak to us. We can expect that as we read, something will jump out at us—something the Lord will use to guide us, comfort us, or help us through the day. So read the Scriptures every day and take time to reflect on what you read. Take, for example, another verse from today's first reading: "All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17). How does it make you feel? Perhaps it makes you want to thank God for your blessings. Or perhaps it makes you realize that despite whatever struggles you may be enduring, God is still in charge and he is good. If Scripture gives you an inspiration, don't ignore it. You never know, God could be trying to "birth" something new in your life! "Lord, give me a deeper hunger for your word!" Psalm 94:12-15, 18-19
Mark 8:14-21 |  clickable | | my2cents:
"Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proven he will receive the crown of life".
They asked an elderly exorcist, a good Priest, "until when will we be tempted?" as if to ask to about what age will it stop? And the answer was "until 3 days after you die". Here on earth, I write to you, with the Holy Spirit, to encourage you, to never give up. Let us never give up. Let us persevere. Did you know perseverance is a gift of the Holy Spirit? Did you know you can ask for God's gifts? It's all in what we ask for. God hears our prayers. He hears what we pray for. What if God really heard Mother Mary's prayer when she prayed fervently as Sister Anne Emerich recalled in her vision: "Mary let the veil fall over her face and crossed her hands (but, not her fingers) before her breast. I saw her fervently praying thus for a long time, with her face raised to heaven. She was imploring God for redemption, for the promised King, and beseeching Him that her prayer might have some share in sending Him." | Today we pray: "When I say, "My foot is slipping,"
your mercy, O LORD, sustains me; When cares abound within me, your comfort gladdens my soul. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord."
Been slipping up lately? Don't we all. We grow lax in fervor, mostly because we grow lax in prayer, and not just any prayer, but genuine prayer. The only times I am comforted in prayer in hardships, is when I truly put myself and all my problems in the hands of our Lord and Our Father. Remember today's first Holy Scripture: "all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights". All good thing is from above, a gift. | In the Holy Gospel today, our Lord brings up the gifts that the Apostles failed to see. If they failed to see, how much more do we fail to see? For God Himself was revealing Himself to the 12, yet...hardened hearts could not see. They could not see what revelation had brought before their very eyes. And what if God is revealing Himself to you, today, yesterday, and plans on it tomorrow? Do you want to see God? He is more than a celestial being...He is only known as BEING. That is why He said His name is (inexplicably) I AM WHO AM. Being revealed Himself to a quiet and honest and humble prayer. His heart can alter all of humanity, and He has, for the good. If all you see is evil, you are failing to see what is from above. If all you see is wrong, you are failing to see the greater picture. Think always "it is for the better" and this is faith, to trust everything into His Precious and perfect hands, with holes in each one that only we can fill. We are His missing piece, a living piece and a being that He has designed with love. | Bishop Baron said today: "Friends, in today's Gospel Jesus warns his disciples against the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod. Conversely, he wanted them to be the leaven that would transform their culture.
The Second Vatican Council spoke of the universal call to holiness—the summons of all the baptized to be a transforming leaven in the wider society. The Vatican II fathers wanted to inspire a generation of great Catholic professionals in the hopes that such people would carry the holiness they learned in the Church out to their areas of specialization in the secular world.
The Church manifests the way of ordering things born of love—love for God and love for neighbor. Generosity, peace, nonviolence, and trust will give rise to a new way of ordering things. This is true of a family, a school, a parish, a community, a nation-state. _
Now, how in the world does one get this project off the ground? As should be clear to even the most naïve person, this never happens all at once, overnight. Rather, in small ways, people begin living according to the Lord's ways. And then, in God's time, this new community begins to have a leavening effect on the wider society."_ The leaven is used to make bread, but now we are talking about different kinds of leaven.
You see, back then, the government would hand out bread and thus, win the favor of people. Like a flock.
Jesus came and provided a leaven that was not like the world's leaven.
He provided with what the people provided. Can you see? The Lamb of God was providing for His own, a true leader, a true King, in His righteous Kingdom. Today, these truths have been revealed to you for the rise and fall of many, where the lowly will be exalted, and where the truth of the cross speaks clearly. It is a true giving when it is sacrificial giving. God became one of us in the flock, and asked us to follow Him without fear, without looking around, without being distracted, and the only time you can look back is to make sure you haven't lost a fellow sheep. And if you do lose a sheep in the following, keep going, alert our Lord the Master sheep, and as the Good Shepherd, He will hear our sincere cries and yearnings of the heart.
Have faith. Your faith helps me. I hope mine helps you. Lord, we need each other. I know you hear my prayers, and my concern is that my prayers are good prayers, of true love. I know this true love exists only in Heaven, but You have said Your Kingdom is at hand. May we be fed with your grace, Your leaven, Your precious Body and live forever to give you praise and honor, and this would make my heart sing forever. From the book randomly opened "Imitation of Christ":
CHRIST: My child, always entrust your affairs to Me. In due season, I will dispose such things properly. Wait until I order things and you will recognize it was to your advantage.
2. Disciple: Lord I willingly commit all things to Your care, for my endeavors bring poor profits. I wish that I were less concerned about what the future might bring, but could abandon myself more completely to Your divine pleasure.
3. Christ: My child, people frequently pursue a thing they eagerly desire, but when they have achieved it, they begin to see it was a mistake. For our inclinations are unsteady and do not last long, but instead tend to urge us on from one thing to another. For all these reasons it is most important to forsake self, even in the smallest things. |  click to hear a message | ->Random Bible Verse from an online random verse generator< Deuteronomy 32:4 4 "The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. Thank You Lord | If one day you don't receive these, just visit my website Going4th.com, surely you'll find me there. God Bless You! Share the Word. Share this, share what is good | |
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