 clickable | | A Window into God Teresa was not interested in her daily experiences per se but only inasmuch as they provided a mirror or window into God. Her regard for the humanity of Christ and her understanding of the human person were two sides of the same coin. In addition to her relationship with God, Teresa also recommended spiritual books, describing them as important aids to prayer. When vernacular books were prohibited, she wrote her own books to aid her sisters in their spiritual journeys. A distinctive note of her anthropology is that she steadfastly included women as well as men as having access to the higher reaches of contemplative prayer. God in Christ desired to dwell in everyone, not just men or those with theological or clerical credentials. — from Accidental Theologians: Four Women Who Shaped Christianity by Elizabeth Dreyer |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote
"We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way."
— St. Francis of Assisi † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"I desire trust from My creatures. Encourage souls to place great trust in My fathomless mercy. Let the weak, sinful soul have no fear to approach Me, for even if it had more sins than there are grains of sand in the world, all would be drowned in the unmeasurable depths of My mercy."
— St. Faustina Kowalska, (1059)
AN EXCERPT FROM
Diary of St. Faustina † VERSE OF THE DAY
"Then they will hand you over to persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. And then many will be led into sin; they will betray and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and deceive many; and because of the increase of evildoing, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come."
Matthew 24:9-14 |  click to read more | | ST. MARGARET MARY St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) was born in France to a virtuous and distinguished family. As a child she showed great devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and by the age of 9 was practicing severe penances. In her childhood she became sick with rheumatic fever and was confined to bed for four years. She made a vow to the Blessed Virgin to consecrate herself to the religious life, after which she was instantly healed. She often had visions of Jesus, which she thought was a normal experience in the spiritual life. When she turned 17 her mother insisted that she establish a place for herself in the world. Margaret imagined that her childhood vow was not binding, and persuaded herself that she could serve God while living at home and continuing her penances and charity to the poor. She then joined her brothers at dances and began considering marriage. One day, upon returning home from a carnival ball, Jesus appeared to her and reproached her for her infidelity, reminding her of her promise. Margaret then entered a Visitation convent at the age of 24. Jesus appeared to her frequently, and entrusted to her the mission of establishing devotion to his Sacred Heart during a time when religion in France had grown rigorous and cold. Because of her visions she was greatly persecuted by those around her, until her virtue under suffering won over her enemies. Her visions were determined to be genuine and officially recognized by the Catholic Church 75 years after her death. Her feast day is October 16th. | Friday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 EPH 1:11-14 Brothers and sisters:
In Christ we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ.
In him you also, who have heard the word of truth,
the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
which is the first installment of our inheritance
toward redemption as God's possession, to the praise of his glory. Responsorial Psalm PS 33:1-2, 4-5, 12-13 R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
From heaven the LORD looks down;
he sees all mankind.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own. Alleluia PS 33:22 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May your kindness, LORD, be upon us;
who have put our hope in you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel LK 12:1-7 At that time:
So many people were crowding together
that they were trampling one another underfoot.
Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,
"Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees.
"There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness
will be heard in the light,
and what you have whispered behind closed doors
will be proclaimed on the housetops.
I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear.
Be afraid of the one who after killing
has the power to cast into Gehenna;
yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows." | Daily Meditation: Ephesians 1:11-14 . . . so that we might exist for the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:12) Let's spend some time taking this phrase apart. What does it mean to live for the praise of God's glory? St. Irenaeus once said that "the glory of God is man fully alive." By that he meant that we are fully alive when we become what God intended for us, people who live in Christ and who radiate his life to those around us. When that happens, people notice. They see not just us but Christ in us. And that's how we give praise to God's glory. But what does this look like in real life? Here are some examples: you give praise to God's glory when you care for the poor and disadvantaged with a heart of compassion. You give praise to God's glory when you act as a peacemaker in situations in need of forgiveness and reconciliation. You give praise to God's glory in your workplace when your aim is to work "as for the Lord and not for others" (Colossians 3:23). Of course, we may not always feel as if we are radiating Christ in the world. We are all keenly aware of our weaknesses and failings, and this can discourage us. But it helps to remember that this process of existing more and more for God's glory is just that: a process, and a slow one at that! It doesn't happen overnight but over the course of years of walking with the Lord. He accomplishes his quiet but powerful work in us as we allow him. Oftentimes, in fact, we don't notice how present he is in us. But other people will see his glory shining from us, even when we don't. Existing for the praise of God's glory also means that we are part of a work that transcends this life and carries us into the next. As St. Paul says, "All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18). And it is this transformation that best prepares us to be fully united one day with our Father in heaven. "Heavenly Father, help me to live more consciously for the praise of your glory." Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 12-13
Luke 12:1-7 |  clickable | I wish for no prayer that does not make me grow in virtue. If it were accompanied by violent temptations, aridities, and trouble, and left me more humble, I should consider it a good prayer. For the more it pleases God, the better the prayer.
— St. Teresa of Avila
from the book 30 Days with Teresa of Avila | my2cents:
"In him you also, who have heard the word of truth,
the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance...".
Our first installment! We've been given the first installment? Isn't that like an investment? As if GOD Himself were interested in us, so much that He has invested Himself in us? I mean, that is good news! This means so much. That we are not alone. That He has interest in us and that is why we have the Gospel today. | First we pray: "Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he has chosen for his own inheritance. From heaven the LORD looks down; he sees all mankind. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own."
Chosen. You are of the chosen ones. Be ever chosen. Be forever chosen. Be mindful of the very fact that you are chosen. Watch what this means, because the chosen are to show the way of the Lord. | Our Lord says: "Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees. "There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed..."
Pharisees cook up hypocrisy. But our Lord cooks up Truth, that is, sincerity in humility, and truth in God alone. Who are the Pharisees in your world? They are out there still, their spirit lives on...they are the hypocrites. This is the number one excuse non-church goers have against church goers 'why should I go, all there is there are a bunch of hypocrites!". A bunch of Pharisees is all they see. A bunch of law pushing hypocrites. And to that, I say, Amen. We are all in the school and in the hospital for sinners. We do bunch up, and Jesus was always found among Pharisees, for they were being schooled, and they were being healed, but not all. And so we must be the next degree, like the Essenes. They were those few striving the narrow way, living set apart from the rest of the world. It is believed that Mother Mary and John the Baptist were Essenes. These try to live a pure life. These strive to live a holy life. And in community but in a holy community. And we are called to follow the Way of our Lord and our Mother. | " Therefore, whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light...".
All your little secrets will be aired out-loud my friend. So it is better to be truthful. It is better to not have bad secrets, only good secrets. There is a difference. The secret good you do, like giving anonymously, and giving forgiveness no matter how much it hurts you inside, these are good secrets that will be blasted out too. Bad secrets are shame, and doom for the coming life. Will we be found wanting on the scales of justice? Or will the scales be tipped by mercy? Are you afraid? Why? or Why not? Our Lord says be afraid:
"I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear.
Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one."
He says to be afraid of offending Him, and this is the Holy Fear that brings us to righteousness and holiness and purity.
Be afraid to be apart from Him, and so it is better to be set apart now.
Set yourself apart from sin and places of sin and even people that are inviting you to sin. Because there are friends I can choose that love sinful things, but there are a few that can choose the love of God. Find the few that will lead you to our Father. And if you don't find a friend, then be the friend.
And then our Lord says to not be afraid. LOL. Be afraid, don't be afraid? "Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
"Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows." Our Lord is speaking of Holy Fear. Holy fear brings you to our Lord. To be afraid of hell is one thing, but to be afraid of our Lord is another. We should come to Him, not just to stay out of jail, but to be united with Him for Love. What does this mean? Get involved in a bunch of ministries like I am? Not necessarily. I've seen some in ministries that I question their love of God. They'll help the needy, but will bad talk their neighbor to death. I'm mixed up about it. How can you serve...no love? I see it everywhere. That is why I write constantly about it. Who do you serve and what do you serve?
We are called to serve God and serve God what God is...Love.
And it takes guts to do this. Just look at the cross. Our Lord served Love complete Love. He held nothing back.
Whatever you do, picking up after others, do it with love.
I hate to hear complaints and hate to hear myself complain about "others" and "the people". Who do you serve my friend? What do you serve? Why do you serve if you have no love....for God?
I asked my 9th grade class once "do you really believe there are people in Heaven who do not love God?"
There was no answer, because it calls on something really deep.
Faith my friend. Lord, thank you for noticing everything about us. Help us Lord, to have Holy Fear. Fear to be away from you, fear to turn away, fear to sin, because of a fear to ever lose your glance, your holy Love by my own actions. Help me Love you better.... | Random Bible verse from online generator: Proverbs 16:7
When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | |
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