 clickable | | Are You Becoming a Mirror for Christ? Saint Clare of AssisiClare's emphasis on the person of Jesus Christ is an emphasis on the human person as well, what we are and what we are called to be. Christ crucified is the mirror in which we are to see our reflection, our strengths and weaknesses, our failures and our capacity to love. Clare is not interested in the flight of "the alone to the alone." Rather, she asks, are you becoming a mirror of Christ for others to see and follow? She wants us to reflect Christ in our lives, to help build up the Body of Christ through transformation in love, and to participate in the church. She is a mystic who calls us to go forward into God by letting Christ take on our flesh so that we may reflect the face of Christ to the world. She tells us not to be dissuaded in the path to God, to be resolute in our convictions and trust the guidance of the Spirit in our lives. Her thought is centered on the essence of human identity: Be yourself and allow God to dwell within you. Christ will then be alive and the world will be created anew. —from the book Clare: A Heart Full of Love by Franciscan Sister Ilia Delio |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote
"Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love."
— St. Therese of Lisieux †MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"When we generously accept God's Word, especially in the Commandments, we are doing God's Will in all things. To live the Will of God is the greatest sacrifice and personal denial."
— Rev. Thomas J. Donaghy, p. 17
AN EXCERPT FROM
Inspirational Thoughts for Every Day † VERSE OF THE DAY
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be."
John 14:1-3 |  click to read more | | ST. LAWRENCE OF ROME St. Lawrence of Rome (d. 258 A.D.) was likely a Spaniard by birth who lived in Rome while Christianity was outlawed under pain of death. He was appointed by Pope St. Sixtus II as archdeacon over the seven deacons of Rome, and held the sacred duty of tending to the Church's wealth and distributing alms to the poor. After Pope St. Sixtus II was beheaded by Roman Emperor Valerian, along with the six other deacons, Lawrence was left as the highest-ranking clergy in Rome. He was ordered by the Roman authorities to appear before the tribunal—a summons to his execution—along with the treasures of the Church that were in his possession. St. Lawrence then quickly distributed the Church's wealth to the poor so that the government could not confiscate it. On the appointed day, August 10th, Lawrence responded to the summons by bringing with him a multitude of the poor and crippled of Rome; these he proclaimed to be the true treasure of the Church. This angered the authorities so greatly that Lawrence was ordered to be burned alive on a gridiron. He was bound to the metal grate and slowly roasted to death over hot coals. During his torture Lawrence famously mocked his torturers by saying, "I am done on this side, turn me over." St. Lawrence is the patron saint of many causes including cooks, chefs, comedians, deacons, librarians, students, and the poor. His feast day is August 10th. | Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr Reading 1 2 COR 9:6-10 Brothers and sisters:
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you,
so that in all things, always having all you need,
you may have an abundance for every good work.
As it is written:
He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.
The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food
will supply and multiply your seed
and increase the harvest of your righteousness. Responsorial Psalm PS 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9 R. (5) Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear
till he looks down upon his foes.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Lavishly he gives to the poor,
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need. Alleluia JN 8:12 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness
but will have the light of life, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel JN 12:24-26 Jesus said to his disciples:
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me."
| Daily Meditation: John 12:24-26 Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain. (John 12:24) When a seed is planted, it doesn't just grow bigger and stronger. It actually disintegrates and gives way to a whole new plant filled with amazing potential. It may seem illogical, but that's exactly what happens. Similarly, by likening himself to a dying grain of wheat buried in the ground, Jesus makes it clear that his mission isn't to become stronger; it's to give up his life so that people everywhere could be born to new life and bear great fruit. It can be easy, however, to lose sight of this most critical truth. Jesus was a profound teacher, but we don't become like him simply by following his teaching on our own strength. And though he works miracles and healings, we do not bear his full likeness by experiencing some kind of healing. Similarly, practicing Christian morality leads to tremendous freedom and happiness, but adopting Christian morals does not completely imprint Christ on our souls. No, Jesus' life comes to us ultimately through his greatest act of love: his death on the cross. St. Lawrence, whose feast we are celebrating today, is a moving example of this truth. A deacon in Rome in the third century, Lawrence lived during a time of great persecution. When an agent for the emperor demanded that Lawrence hand over all the treasures of the Church, Lawrence gathered all the poor and hungry people the Church was serving and presented them. "These are the treasures of the Church," he told the prefect. For this act of humble defiance, Lawrence was put to death. Lawrence knew his life was meant to be poured out for the people around him, and he lived that out to the very end. Now, we don't have to die physically to live out this calling. We can follow Lawrence's example by asking the Spirit to help us put other people's needs ahead of our own. We can ask him to make us into servants just as Lawrence was—and just as Jesus was. "Holy Spirit, help me to bear fruit not just for myself but for the whole Church." 2 Corinthians 9:6-10
Psalm 112:1-2, 5-9 |  clickable | The Church of the twenty-first century and the third millennium will be a Christ- centered Church, born of the Gospel in full, or it will not be. Those who would lead the Church must understand that. The leaders of the Church must not be frightened by the fact that ours are not Christendom times, but apostolic times.
— George Weigel
from his book The Next Pope | my2cents:
"Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." These words "cheerful giver" hit me last week as an alcoholic loved one hit me up again for another $100 bill for nearly 2 or 3 weeks in a month already. At first I gave grudgingly and hesitantly, mostly because I'm pretty sure the money will be misspent on party life. He popped open a cold one in front of me (who is trying to fast) for our nation, and I said something to the effect that "that party man has to leave" and he said you couldn't take the party out of him as he chugged down the bottle. That party man has to die, the real man, the hidden gem is in there, but the party life is killing him. It has already cost him his prestigious job, and wife and kids. The next bottle will cost how much? Yet, am I a cheerful giver? It was the cause of about a 20 to 20 minute confession this week in my weekly confessions for 40 days fast, because I confessed I didn't think I was being a cheerful giver. To which I was revealed, perhaps I was being an enabler, and not truly helping the man. That was a hard pill to swallow. Truth always speaks. Would I lay my life down to save this man's soul? It's much easier to give up on him and let him die in his wretchedness. Isn't giving up easy? Most do. Most give up on trying to be Holy and following God's will to a T. I told my loved ones at a funeral this weekend "everyone is welcome in this Church, it's usually pretty empty....there is a seat available in Heaven for you". Take that how you will...it is truth...God's banquet hall is huge, and it is very hard to fill. | We pray today: "Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need. Blessed the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commands. His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed."
Will I continue to lend to those in need? Knowing full well they are lying to me and will never pay me back? I will do as the Lord says: "Lavishly he gives to the poor, his generosity shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory." I was not called to give less in confessional, I was called to give more. How's that? To truly help with love. Not with money, but to walk him to salvation. That's much more. | "Jesus said to his disciples: "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit." Who will go the extra mile? Jesus. Do you want to remain just a grain of wheat? An outer shell that won't give way to the new inside? Isn't that fearful greed? Where is faith in that? Where is the fruitfulness in that? | Our Lord continues: "Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life."
I love God first. Everything else comes second.
That's what Jesus says about Our Father.
Hate this life. Hate it because it does everything in its power to pull you away from God. Hate sin. Hate the dark pull. Hate this life that can't seem to love God right. I remember one uncle said he quit smoking simply by saying "I hate this cigarrette" every time he smoked. Eventually, he hated it for real, and dropped the habit, the addiction, the killer. In such manner we should treat sin. Hate it. Don't like it. Don't live with it. Don't deal with it. Hate it, and turn away from it.
And so our Lord preserved Himself...for eternity.
This is the fruit of purity. Preservation. Virginity, intact.
Saved.
"Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be."
On earth as it is in Heaven...right?
Are you a servant of God? Most religious orders members believe they are. But if you serve...you must follow...to a T. You must follow all the way to the T...the cross.
How can I convince you? No words would suffice. They say if everything Jesus said was written, there would not be enough books to fill the world. He said so much, with so little, and said so little so we could understand more with what He did.
'Follow Me", He says. And then, and only then, will you follow humility. Humility is the antidote to this poison that has been given to the world.
"The Father will honor whoever serves me."
There is an honor in Heaven...it's more work, more of a cross, more of what the world sees as ridiculous. But that's the crazy thing about...Love I was given Psalm 102 by the Holy Spirit, the message imprinted on His countenance. | Random Bible verse from online generator: Psalm: 30:2 O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. | 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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