†Saint Quote
""Work hard every day at increasing your purity of heart, which consists in appraising things and weighing them in the balance of God's will."
— St. Francis de Sales †MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Love proves itself by deeds, and how shall I prove mine? ... I can prove my love only by scattering flowers, that is to say, by never letting slip a single little sacrifice, a single glance, a single word; by making profit of the very smallest actions, by doing them all for love. I want to suffer and even rejoice for love, for this is my way of scattering flowers."
— St. Therese of Lisieux, p. 4-5
AN EXCERPT FROM
The Story of a Soul † VERSE OF THE DAY
"If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world."
James 1:26-27 |  click to read more | | ST. TERESA OF AVILA St. Teresa of Avila (1515–1582), also known as St. Teresa of Jesus, was born in Spain to a large, devout, and prominent Catholic family. Fascinated with the lives of the saints taught to her by her pious parents, as children she and a brother tried to run away from home to seek martyrdom among the Moors. After an uncle found them and returned them home, they built hermitages for themselves in the family garden. At the age of 14 Teresa was plunged into sorrow upon the death of her mother; to find consolation she asked the Virgin Mary to be her new mother. When she began to exhibit worldly vanities, her father placed her in a convent to be educated with other ladies of her social class. Determined to avoid marriage, and motivated more by the need for security than love for God, at the age of twenty Teresa entered religious life as a Carmelite nun. For two decades she led what she describes as a mediocre prayer life, hindered by too much socialization with visitors. However, an intense prayer experience in her forties helped her to renounce worldly attachments and enter deeper into a life of prayer. She advanced rapidly and taught others to do the same, being encouraged by a vision of the place reserved for her in hell if she was unfaithful to God's graces. She had many profound mystical experiences for which she was often slandered and ridiculed. After the reform of her own life she worked hard to reform the laxity of many Carmelite convents, and was successful even while being greatly opposed in her efforts. She was a strong and important female figure of her era, and her great progress in the spiritual life led her to write the spiritual classics Interior Castle and The Way of Perfection. For these works St. Teresa of Avila was named the first female Doctor of the Church. Her feast day is October 15th. | Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church Lectionary: 471
Reading I Rom 4:1-8 Brothers and sisters:
What can we say that Abraham found,
our ancestor according to the flesh?
Indeed, if Abraham was justified on the basis of his works,
he has reason to boast;
but this was not so in the sight of God.
For what does the Scripture say?
Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
A worker's wage is credited not as a gift, but as something due.
But when one does not work,
yet believes in the one who justifies the ungodly,
his faith is credited as righteousness.
So also David declares the blessedness of the person
to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven
and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not record. Responsorial Psalm 32:1b-2, 5, 11 R. (see 7) I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
my guilt I covered not.
I said, "I confess my faults to the LORD,"
and you took away the guilt of my sin.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just;
exult, all you upright of heart.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation. Alleluia Ps 33:22 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May your kindness, O 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: Luke 12:1-7 There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed. (Luke 12:2) When reading today's Gospel, we often emphasize what Jesus says about God's tender care and concern for even the minutest aspect of our lives and the value we have in his eyes (Luke 12:6-7). But then he offers a stark contrast: all cover-ups will be exposed; all secrets will be publicized. That sounds embarrassing—even scary! But let's remember that it's not only the bad things that will be revealed on the Day of Judgment. Read the Gospel again, this time in light of the God who counts all the hairs on your head. Think of all the small sacrifices you make, even the ones that other people may not notice. Saving the last piece of cake for someone else when you really want it yourself. Saying no to the temptation to engage in gossip. Praying in the middle of the night for someone who is sick. Or simply offering a cup of cold water to someone, as Jesus said (Matthew 10:42). God notices all these. No act of kindness is overlooked as insignificant by the one who cares even for "dime-a-dozen" sparrows. Every act of love done in secret—even the smallest kindness—is known to God. And one day they will all be revealed. So when you grow weary of doing good, remember: God sees what is done in secret, and he will reward you (Matthew 6:4). One day you will see him face-to-face and hear him say, "Well done, good servant!" (Luke 19:17). And you will discover that it's not only the Lord who remembers your acts of love. Your family, your friends, the person who was ignored until you spoke to them—all of these brothers and sisters will thank you and give praise to God. Even now, picture Jesus smiling at you as you do these things. Imagine him saying to the Father, "Look at my friend, loving as we have loved him." Thank him today for his care for you: you are worth more than many sparrows (Luke 12:7). And your secret acts of kindness for others have immeasurable value in the eyes of God! "Thank you, Father, for valuing the little ways I try to love you by loving others." Romans 4:1-8
Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11 |  Listen to 2cents | From Today's Holy Scripture:
"Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
And the ultimate plunge in faith is just that...a plunge into the unknown, but is made known in the Word, and the Word was made flesh, it is Christ our Lord. | We pray in Psalms:
" I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just;
exult, all you upright of heart."
There is cause for joy, in those who are following the Lord closely.
For sin makes you look down. And in the spiritual world, you are disfigured, not in His image. | Our Lord speaks, the TRUTH speaks:
""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." | Have you ever been put on "blast" as they say? People calling you out and discovered you?
If you haven't, well, it is being done regardless! Whether you know it or not, and whether you like or not.
Every little secret is known.
Then, we should have from now on...good secrets.
These secrets will be put on blast too.
And these secrets change the world.
This is what St. Theresa of Avila called the "interior castle". What is inside is put outside. "She sees the soul as a magnificent castle full of spacious and well-lit rooms or mansions each of which leads deeper into the heart of the castle to the seat of the King. However, St. Teresa laments that most people give all their attention to the outer wall of the castle the body ignoring the beauty of the soul within." Our Lord continues:
"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." And who is afraid of God? What if I said that a sin, an intentional sin says "I am not afraid of God and His wrath".
What about the fear of the Lord? Our Lord is asking for us to consider the King...and ultimately, He is King. He speaks:
"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." What does the hairs on your head matter?
Right? Apparently, even that detail matters to God our Father.
Does it matter to me, the hairs on my own head? Or the head of my children? This verse serves the purpose of God's immense care, and true Love.
What we consider worthless, He considers worthy.
And this message is all a calling.
You may feel worthless.
You may feel unworthy.
You may feel forgotten.
But God notices. And this kind of notice lifts you up from the corner, takes you by the hand and says "come my child, let's spend ourselves together". Let's pray:
Lord, Father, God,
Your message is one of Holy Love and a calling to a Holy disposition to Love...and You Are Love.
I pray that I can fear You rightly, believe You at every Word,
and lead myself and all to You, both now and forever.
In Your Precious name we pray. | from your brother in Christ,
Adrian |  click to hear | Random bible verse generator: The Word Became Flesh 1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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