We Are All Connected I believe that Francis's message is even more important in light of this most recent pandemic. Francis—and his spiritual sister, Clare—remind us we are all connected. The paths of greed, consumerism, individualism, and nationalism endanger the planet and its peoples. In the spirit of Francis, we need to break down barriers of friend and stranger, citizen and immigrant, rich and poor, if we are to survive in this increasingly interdependent world. Nations need to see patriotism in terms of world loyalty as well as self-affirmation. We need the Franciscan vision of all creation singing praises to the Creator if we are to flourish in the years and centuries to come. Like Francis and Clare, we need to become earth-loving saints, committed to our planet and its peoples—in our time and our children's and grandchildren's time. —from the book Walking with Francis of Assisi: From Privilege to Activism
by Bruce Epperly |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote "Listen with the ear of your heart."
– St. Benedict of Nursia †MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"The shock of sorrow comes only to those who think this world is fixed and absolute, that there is nothing beyond. They think everything here below should be perfect. Hence, they ask questions: 'Why should I suffer? What have I done to deserve this?' Maybe you did nothing to deserve it. Certainly, Our Lord did nothing to deserve His Cross. But it came, and through it, He went to His glory."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen
AN EXCERPT FROM
The Cries of Jesus From the Cross †VERSE OF THE DAY
"I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us."
Romans 8:18 |  click to read more | | ST. TIMOTHY St. Timothy (1st c.) was born in Galatia in Asia Minor, the son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother. Timothy was a convert of St. Paul the Apostle around the year 47 A.D. Timothy became a trusted friend and a beloved spiritual son to Paul, laboring faithfully alongside him in his apostolic work for many years. Paul mentions Timothy repeatedly in his letters and dispatched him on important missionary work to the local churches he founded. Timothy was ordained to the priesthood at the hands of St. Paul and was later made bishop of Ephesus. St. Timothy was stoned to death thirty years after St. Paul's martyrdom for having denounced the worship of the false goddess Diana. St. Timothy is the patron of intestinal and stomach problems, because Paul admonished him to ease his penance and drink a little wine for the sake of his health, instead of only water. His feast day is January 26. | Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, bishops Lectionary: 520/318
Reading I 2 Tm 1:1-8 Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
for the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
to Timothy, my dear child:
grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord. I am grateful to God,
whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did,
as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day.
I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears,
so that I may be filled with joy,
as I recall your sincere faith
that first lived in your grandmother Lois
and in your mother Eunice
and that I am confident lives also in you. For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame
the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice
but rather of power and love and self-control.
So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,
nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;
but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel
with the strength that comes from God. OR: Ti 1:1-5 Paul, a slave of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ
for the sake of the faith of God's chosen ones
and the recognition of religious truth,
in the hope of eternal life
that God, who does not lie, promised before time began,
who indeed at the proper time revealed his word
in the proclamation with which I was entrusted
by the command of God our savior,
to Titus, my true child in our common faith:
grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior. For this reason I left you in Crete
so that you might set right what remains to be done
and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you. Responsorial Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10 R. (3) Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations, give to the LORD glory and praise; give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved; he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations. Alleluia See Mt 11:25 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 3:31-35 The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house.
Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him.
A crowd seated around him told him,
"Your mother and your brothers and your sisters
are outside asking for you."
But he said to them in reply,
"Who are my mother and my brothers?"
And looking around at those seated in the circle he said,
"Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of God
is my brother and sister and mother." | Daily Meditation: 2 Timothy 1:1-8 God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7) If you're married or in a serious dating relationship, think back to how you knew that person was "the one." Perhaps you had to overcome some initial fears. What were you going to say? How would they respond? Over time, your love and commitment toward this person grew much stronger than your fear. Sts. Timothy and Titus, whose feasts we celebrate today, probably had to face fear as well. Imagine the difficulties Timothy encountered setting up churches in Greece (Acts 16:1–17:14). And for his part, Titus had to deliver a rebuke to the Corinthians and address internal divisions in the church at Crete (2 Corinthians 7:6, 13-14; Titus 1:4-5). Both men could have let fear get in their way—and if they had, we might not be reading this passage today. But it's apparent that the Holy Spirit helped them overcome their fear. Most of us encounter some hesitation when it comes to sharing our faith. We can think of many reasons not to evangelize: "I don't know what to say." "They're not going to be interested in my story." "I will look foolish." If you're afraid to speak about your faith, remember who lives inside you—the same Holy Spirit who lived in Timothy and Titus! The Spirit of "power and love and self-control" (2 Timothy 1:7). Specifically, the power that he gives us is love. It's the love between God the Father and his Son, Jesus. It's the love God has for each of us—and it's stronger than any natural human love we have, even for those dearest to us. It's also stronger than our fears. Can you think of just one person who needs a touch from the Lord in their life? Maybe Jesus is prompting you to speak to that person. Ask the Spirit to fill you with love and the courage to reach out to them. The next time you see them, don't let fear get the upper hand. You don't have to "convert" them. Just love them and share something about what God has done for you—the Lord will do the rest. "Holy Spirit, fill me with zeal and with love for your people." Psalm 96:1-3, 7-8, 10
Mark 3:31-35 |  clickable | Radical modernity is parasitic. It will fail to the extent to which it succeeds. It cannot survive its own erasure of natural law and Christianity. We can avoid the cataclysm anytime we choose to, by returning to reality, to reason, to the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God. Reality is resilient because, as Plato said, it is what is—not whatever one fancies.
— Robert Reilly
from the book America on Trail | my2cents:
"...to Titus, my true child in our common faith:
grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior."
St. Paul was said to have been a celibate, a man purely for God. Protestants misread His scriptures and suppose he could've been married. But how could a married Jew live a life persecuting Christians, always on the road, always out and about...even after His conversion to Christ, was always about our Lord's business! He actually encourages celibacy...total dedication to Christ our Lord. And so he spiritually adopts Titus, and Onesiumus, and Timothy! He becomes not only their brother, but a Father...ordained in Christ's Priesthood. | We pray: "Give to the LORD, you families of nations, give to the LORD glory and praise; give to the LORD the glory due his name! Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations."
Give, families of nations. They say that the ultimate battle we are going to face is darkness trying to rule over families, which means the destruction of families. And here we have a command from the bible GIVE TO THE LORD FAMILIES. Can you give your family to the Lord? How? I know of a lady that allows her son to be a priest. But, she never steps foot in a church. And her son has fought hard in the seminary and has not been able to fulfill his dream. You see, he cannot do it alone. Sure, he has "moral support", but no spiritual support, no fastings, no intercessory prayers, no sacrifices offered for him. He'd have the same support as when he was a bouncer as at a club. You see, there's a difference when it comes to all things spiritual...my family. | They approached our Lord saying His brothers and mother were looking for Him.
Mother Mary is a consecrated virgin to God from many accounts from saints, visions, and writings, and St. Joseph was a supremely holy man, both said to have been of the Essene Jewish people, those consecrated only for God, so how can our Lord have all sorts of brothers, some protestant accounts stipulating over 10 to 20 brothers and sisters? | We are family. Our Lord declares how it comes to be: "...whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
"looking around at those seated in the circle he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers." It was the people that surrounded Him, listened to Him, looked for Him, and tended to Him. What does this mean? It means that you are my brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers. I remember that I met an older gentle man, I was perhaps in my late 20's and he was in his 60's, and we met in our Cursillo. We kept contact after the Cursillo and eventually met so much that we were brothers, and at times out on retreats, people would ask me if he was my father. We were friendship reunion brothers until he passed away in an accident. Now, I'm that father figure for many. I've been asked if I'm my wife's father. I've been asked if I'm my brother in law's dad. And the list goes on and on, sometimes I've been asked if I'm a priest, a Father. In a sense...I am. I am in charge of lives. I am supposed to tend to God's lambs. I am a shepherd like you. And the Good Shepherd becomes one of us in the Holy Spirit. And sometimes He is disguised in the lambs. Which one? All? If He so desires.
We who do His will have a higher calling...to give of our lives...and the more...the better. St.s Timothy and Titus, pray for us! Lord, I want to do Your Holy will. I know it is a higher calling, and so I ask for the grace to move forward...one step at a time, one day at a time...help us be with You. | from your brother in Christ our Lord,
adrian | Random online bible verse:
Psalm 104:24
4 O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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