 clickable | | We Exist in a World of Gift When we exist in a world of gift, in which we ourselves are given, then our own labors must be gifts to those around us. To refuse that possibility is to refuse the thanksgiving to which we are properly called. Or, to put it another way, if we are not willing to see our lives and the creation as gifts, then we are not able to properly acknowledge our debts. Being so free, we then feel as though it is in our right to say that others owe us. Thus we can easily sell our labors, without any sense of obligation that perhaps we really owe them. That some should give their labors freely is then, properly, the response of those who owe what cannot be repaid—which includes us all. —from the book Wendell Berry and the Given Life by Ragan Sutterfield |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote
"A soul which does not practise the exercise of prayer is very like a paralyzed body which, though possessing feet and hands, makes no use of them."
— St. Alphonsus Liguori † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Oh, what awesome mysteries take place during Mass! One day we will know what God is doing for us in each Mass, and what sort of gift He is preparing in it for us. Only His divine love could permit that such a gift be provided for us. O Jesus, my Jesus, with what great pain is my soul pierced when I see this fountain of life gushing forth with such sweetness and power for each soul, while at the same time I see souls withering away and drying up through their own fault. O Jesus, grant that the power of mercy embrace these souls."
— St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, 914
AN EXCERPT FROM
Diary of St. Faustina † VERSE OF THE DAY
"But for thee, O Lord, do I wait; it is thou, O Lord my God, who wilt answer."
Psalm 38:15 |  click to read more | | ST. BARTHOLOMEW St. Bartholomew (1st c.) is one of Jesus' Twelve Apostles who, together with his friend and fellow Apostle Philip, came from Cana in Galilee. All we know of St. Bartholomew (also called Nathaniel) is what is mentioned of him in the synoptic Gospels and the book of Acts. Philip told Bartholomew that he had found the Messiah, and, despite Bartholomew's incredulity, the two went together to see Jesus. When Jesus saw Bartholomew he exclaimed, "Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him!", indicating that Bartholomew possessed great purity of heart. Bartholomew then asked Jesus how he knew him, and Jesus explained that he saw Bartholomew sitting under the fig tree. This secret between Jesus and Bartholomew caused Bartholomew to immediately exclaim that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God. According to the Roman Martyrology, Bartholomew became a missionary in the East, preaching and evangelizing in Asia Minor, Ethiopia, India, and finally Armenia, where he was flayed alive and beheaded by King Astyages. St. Bartholomew is the patron saint of nervous and neurological diseases, butchers, leather workers, tanners, cobblers, trappers, and shoemakers. His feast day is August 24th.
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In the New Testament, Bartholomew is mentioned only in the lists of the apostles. Some scholars identify him with Nathanael, a man of Cana in Galilee who was summoned to Jesus by Philip. Jesus paid him a great compliment: "Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him" (John 1:47b). When Nathanael asked how Jesus knew him, Jesus said, "I saw you under the fig tree" (John 1:48b). Whatever amazing revelation this involved, it brought Nathanael to exclaim, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel" (John 1:49b). But Jesus countered with, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this" (John 1:50b). Nathanael did see greater things. He was one of those to whom Jesus appeared on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias after his resurrection (see John 21:1-14). They had been fishing all night without success. In the morning, they saw someone standing on the shore though no one knew it was Jesus. He told them to cast their net again, and they made so great a catch that they could not haul the net in. Then John cried out to Peter, "It is the Lord." When they brought the boat to shore, they found a fire burning, with some fish laid on it and some bread. Jesus asked them to bring some of the fish they had caught, and invited them to come and eat their meal. John relates that although they knew it was Jesus, none of the apostles presumed to inquire who he was. This, John notes, was the third time Jesus appeared to the apostles.
Reflection Bartholomew or Nathanael? We are confronted again with the fact that we know almost nothing about most of the apostles. Yet the unknown ones were also foundation stones, the 12 pillars of the new Israel whose 12 tribes now encompass the whole earth. Their personalities were secondary—without thereby being demeaned—to their great office of bearing tradition from their firsthand experience, speaking in the name of Jesus, putting the Word Made Flesh into human words for the enlightenment of the world. Their holiness was not an introverted contemplation of their status before God. It was a gift that they had to share with others. The Good News was that all are called to the holiness of being Christ's members, by the gracious gift of God. The simple fact is that humanity is totally meaningless unless God is its total concern. Then humanity, made holy with God's own holiness, becomes the most precious creation of God.
Saint Bartholomew is the Patron Saint of: Plasterers | Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle Reading 1 RV 21:9B-14 The angel spoke to me, saying,
"Come here.
I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."
He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain
and showed me the holy city Jerusalem
coming down out of heaven from God.
It gleamed with the splendor of God.
Its radiance was like that of a precious stone,
like jasper, clear as crystal.
It had a massive, high wall,
with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed
and on which names were inscribed,
the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
There were three gates facing east,
three north, three south, and three west.
The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation,
on which were inscribed the twelve names
of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. Responsorial Psalm PS 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18 R. (12) Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Making known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. Alleluia JN 1:49B
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rabbi, you are the Son of God;
you are the King of Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel JN 1:45-51 Philip found Nathanael and told him,
"We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth."
But Nathanael said to him,
"Can anything good come from Nazareth?"
Philip said to him, "Come and see."
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
"Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him."
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."
Nathanael answered him,
"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this."
And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
| Daily Meditation: John 1:45-51 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him. (John 1:47) Today we commemorate St. Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, the central character in today's Gospel. The story tells us a lot about conversion. Even more, it can show us that every day presents an opportunity for a new encounter with Jesus. First, Nathanael is introduced to Jesus by his friend Philip. Philip knew Nathanael was hoping for the Messiah and was excited to introduce him to Jesus. And so it often happens for us. We encounter Jesus through another person, someone who has been touched by Jesus, who is excited about their faith, whose fervor might even call us to stretch our own way of looking at things. Second, Nathanael's expectations were jolted when he met Jesus. He had been pondering the Scriptures—a traditional interpretation of sitting "under the fig tree" (John 1:48)—and was convinced that the Messiah would not come from Nazareth. But after he spoke with Jesus, he was willing to consider that something good might in fact come from that small village. For us, encountering Jesus can shed light on a way of thinking or acting that needs to change. Maybe we don't pay enough attention to caring for the poor or we feel too busy to listen to people who don't agree with us. Jesus asks us to be open to rethink our ideas. Third, Nathanael responded. He didn't just say, "What a nice experience" and continue on his way as before. He professed Jesus as "the Son of God, . . . the King of Israel" and began to follow him (John 1:49). You might experience a singular, spectacular conversion moment like Nathanael. But it's more likely that the response Jesus wants from you is to turn your life over to him more, to say yes to him a bit more completely. Expect to meet Jesus today. Be on the lookout for someone through whom Jesus might be reaching out to you. How might he want to upend your expectations or call you to take the next step in following him? Today is an opportunity to encounter him. Make the most of it! "Lord, help me to meet you today. Shake up my expectations and help me to follow you more fully." Revelation 21:9-14
Psalm 145:10-13, 17-18 |  clickable | | my2cents:
""Come here.
I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."
And they call us, the Holy Church, the wife.
Christ is the Lamb.
Adam with Eve. Eve caused Him death.
But Adam so pure, with so much love, overcame such a chasm.
Adam was alone and nothing would make him complete...until she came along.
Heaven my dear, is not complete until you come along.
Shall we keep our Love waiting?
He is the fulfillment of our longing.
Ever dreamed about a soul mate? God has sent you a guardian angel. Not a romantic/erotic mate as we so twist it up on earth, but a partner, to help guide us to Heaven.
And that soul mate is citizen of Heaven. But to the ends of a means...God creates love for Love. Here then lies the key between husband and wife...and what lasts is truth, life, the way, Christ's love. | We pray today: "Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom." | Our Lord said: ""Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him."
As I write to you, as of late, I try to think of an appropriate Mass song for the Gospel we read daily. Right now, a song comes to mind "O God, You Search Me" by Bernadette Farrell. I want to share the lyrics with you so you can see what is working inside of me, but first recall the words of Nathanael: ""How do you know me?" Our Lord said ""Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this." | LYRICS of : "O God, You Search Me" -Bernadette O God, you search me and you know me.
All my thoughts lie open to your gaze
When I walk or lie down you are before me:
Ever the maker and keeper of my days.
Verse2
You know my rest-ing and my ris-ing.
You discern my purpose from afar
And with love ever-lasting you besiege me:
In every mo - ment of life or death, you are.
Verse3
Before a word is on my tongue, Lord,
You have known its meaning through and through.
You are with me beyond my understand-ing:
God of my pres - ent, my past and future, too.
Although your Spir - it is up-on me,
Still I search for shelter from your light.
There is no - where on earth I can escape you:
Even the dark - ness is radiant in your sight.
Verse4
For you creat - ed me and shaped me,
Gave me life within my mother's womb.
For the won - der of who I am, I praise you:
Safe in your hands, all creation is made new.
............................................... What caused Nathanael, that is, Bartholomew to exclaim and say ""Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."?
Peter too had said these words, that Jesus is the Son of God, yet, the Messiah.
It was the Holy Spirit that causes the truth to be revealed.
We should all "come and see".
Let's go see, the one they call the Son of God. The lamb of God. The Christ. The Love of God.
And then taste and see.
See the light.
Be transformed and renewed in His light. And then the Holy Spirit will cause you to exclaim the truth, the life...and live the Way. | Random Bible verse from online generator: prov 15:22 22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. | 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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