†Saint Quote
"O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me."
St. Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) †Today's Meditation
"The Spirit of God is a spirit of peace, and he speaks and acts in peace and gentleness, never in tumult and agitation. What's more, the motions of the Spirit are delicate touches that don't make a great noise and can penetrate our spiritual consciousness only if we have within ourselves a sort of calm zone of silence and peace. If our inner world is noisy and agitated, the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit will find it very difficult to be heard. If we want to recognize and follow the Spirit's motions, it is of the greatest importance to maintain a peaceful heart in all circumstances." — Fr. Jacques Philippe, p. 37 †Daily Verse
"I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for the Lord!" Psalm 27:13-14 |  click to read more | | St. Rose Philippine Duchesne St. Rose Philippine Duchesne (1769–1852) was born in Grenoble, France, to a wealthy and prominent family. At the age of 18 she joined the Visitation nuns against the wishes of her family, taking her religious name after St. Rose of Lima and St. Philip Neri. During the anti-religious fervor of French Revolution, the "Reign of Terror," her convent was shut down. She then took up the work of providing care for the sick, hiding priests from the revolutionaries, and educating homeless children. When the tensions of the revolution subsided, she rented out her old convent in an attempt to revive her religious order, but the spirit was gone. She and the few remaining nuns of her convent then joined the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Since childhood St. Rose Philippine had had a strong desire to do missionary work in the New World, especially among the Native Americans. This was realized in 1818 when she and four nuns traveled across the Atlantic, a journey of eleven weeks, and another seven weeks up the Mississipi river to serve in one of the remotest outposts in the region in St. Charles, Missouri. St. Rose Philippine was a hardy pioneer woman ministering in the Midwest during its difficult frontier days. She opened several schools and served the Potawatomi Indians who gave her the name "Quah-kah-ka-num-ad," meaning, "Woman-who-prays-always." Her feast day is November 18th. | Thursday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 500
Reading I 1 Mc 2:15-29 The officers of the king in charge of enforcing the apostasy
came to the city of Modein to organize the sacrifices.
Many of Israel joined them,
but Mattathias and his sons gathered in a group apart.
Then the officers of the king addressed Mattathias:
"You are a leader, an honorable and great man in this city,
supported by sons and kin.
Come now, be the first to obey the king's command,
as all the Gentiles and the men of Judah
and those who are left in Jerusalem have done.
Then you and your sons shall be numbered among the King's Friends,
and shall be enriched with silver and gold and many gifts."
But Mattathias answered in a loud voice:
"Although all the Gentiles in the king's realm obey him,
so that each forsakes the religion of his fathers
and consents to the king's orders,
yet I and my sons and my kin
will keep to the covenant of our fathers.
God forbid that we should forsake the law and the commandments.
We will not obey the words of the king
nor depart from our religion in the slightest degree." As he finished saying these words,
a certain Jew came forward in the sight of all
to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein
according to the king's order.
When Mattathias saw him, he was filled with zeal;
his heart was moved and his just fury was aroused;
he sprang forward and killed him upon the altar.
At the same time, he also killed the messenger of the king
who was forcing them to sacrifice,
and he tore down the altar.
Thus he showed his zeal for the law,
just as Phinehas did with Zimri, son of Salu. Then Mattathias went through the city shouting,
"Let everyone who is zealous for the law
and who stands by the covenant follow after me!"
Thereupon he fled to the mountains with his sons,
leaving behind in the city all their possessions.
Many who sought to live according to righteousness and religious custom
went out into the desert to settle there. Responsorial Psalm 50:1b-2, 5-6, 14-15 R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth, from the rising of the sun to its setting.
From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Gather my faithful ones before me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
And the heavens proclaim his justice; for God himself is the judge.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Offer to God praise as your sacrifice and fulfill your vows to the Most High;
Then call upon me in time of distress; I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God. Alleluia Ps 95:8 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 19:41-44 As Jesus drew near Jerusalem,
he saw the city and wept over it, saying,
"If this day you only knew what makes for peace–
but now it is hidden from your eyes.
For the days are coming upon you
when your enemies will raise a palisade against you;
they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.
They will smash you to the ground and your children within you,
and they will not leave one stone upon another within you
because you did not recognize the time of your visitation." | Daily Meditation: Luke 19:41-44 If this day you only knew what makes for peace. (Luke 19:42) What heartache Jesus must have felt as he gazed upon Jerusalem! He knew that the beloved city of God's people would ultimately face destruction because of their refusal to accept him. He was the only one who could bring them peace, but they rejected him. The peace that Jesus offers is not just the absence of conflict. It's also not the surface-level, sweep-the-differences-under-the-rug kind of peace. It's a peace that comes when there is true reconciliation, when we are willing to receive mercy from him and offer it to each other. Only then is it possible to live in authentic peace amidst the challenges and messiness of life in this world. While it's a constant challenge to be merciful, Jesus' example can inspire us. He did not retaliate against his enemies; instead, he forgave them. He overcame sin and death not through violence but by offering himself as a sacrifice on the cross. He never forced Jerusalem to accept him, even though he knew that the consequences of their rejection would be dire. If we want to experience this kind of peace, we will have to follow Jesus' example. We won't find it if we're intent on getting our own way or insisting on getting back at someone. Neither will we be peaceful if we're bottling up resentment just so that we can "get along." Instead, it will mean forgiving the people who have hurt us and letting go of past history. It may also mean letting go of the fear that if we surrender our "right" to be angry or resentful, Jesus' grace won't be enough to sustain us. If you're struggling to offer or receive God's mercy, visualize Jesus as he wept over the city. He ardently wanted Jerusalem to accept him and the peace he came to bring. That's what he wants for you too. Whether you need peace in your heart or your family, in your parish or your workplace, Jesus is ready to give it to you. He is the one who makes for peace. He comes with the grace to help us forgive and to love one another as he loved us. Will you accept it? "Lord Jesus, I receive your peace. Heal the divisions in my world, in my church, in my family, and in my heart." 1 Maccabees 2:15-29
Psalm 50:1-2, 5-6, 14-15 | From Today's Holy Scripture:
""Let everyone who is zealous for the law
and who stands by the covenant follow after me!"
Thereupon he fled to the mountains with his sons,
leaving behind in the city all their possessions.
Many who sought to live according to righteousness and religious custom
went out into the desert to settle there." And the Moses run begins. The Exodus. Off to the desert and mountains we go. Away from evil, and prefer God's law above everything we know and own. Who will ascend the mountain of the Lord? It is the LORD that leads and calls us to this Way. | We pray in Psalms:
"Gather my faithful ones before me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice." And the heavens proclaim his justice; for God himself is the judge. To the upright I will show the saving power of God." Our Lord wants us gathered, not scattered. It is the evil that wants us scattered and not gathered. When we gather, something happens, in His Name. His presence is made known. And if we are upright, righteous, faithful, true, and Holy, we will see His power. Wouldn't you like to see His power today? The present is the forever now. | We heard in the Gospel today:
"As Jesus drew near Jerusalem,
he saw the city and wept over it, saying,
"If this day you only knew what makes for peace– but now it is hidden from your eyes." Another instance where our Lord cries is told today.
Did He sob out loud? Were His tears a moving moment? What would it have been like to hear Him cry? Have you ever seen your dad cry? I've seen our father cry, our priest, mostly because of the hardness of the heart of people.
Yesterday, a sales guy was in my office at the same time a vendor was stocking my cabinets with supplies. The vendor was breathing hard, he's had heart surgeries, and I asked if he was ok. He sat down and said "you notice anything missing?" as he gestured to his side. And I said "no, just your wife not here" (she is always helping him). These two tall older white couple, slender, western style cowboy type, are always together. He said "she died" and his lips trembled missing his wife of 47 years. My heart and world paused, in disbelief. As the story went on, he let me know what happened. "she was praying in our room, and was getting louder and louder in her prayers, and she was looking as if right through me, and she collapsed straight into my arms". They called 911 and they tried for an hour to revive her to no avail. It seemed in my eyes she was always ready to talk about God and being thankful, and he,well, not so much. I said "now you will have to lean heavily on our Lord to provide" as I'm sure she did so much for him.
But the story does not end.
The sales guy there was listening, and he started quoting proverbs and tried comforting the vendor.
After the vendor dismissed himself, the sales guy went on with his story, about how he remembered how hard it was when his dad lost his son (the oldest brother). The dad was never able to get over the loss and his voice would shake and he could not even pronounce the name of the lost son.
And not only that, but this sales man had just lost his own 37 year old son two years ago as well in an auto accident.
What's it like to see a father weep?
I've told you I've seen dads weeping, and a priest (father) and I've even seen my own dad weep once, a strong man in my opinion.
But can you imagine OUR FATHER weeping?
If God weeps, the whole world weeps.
If we are facing calamity soon, it is because He is weeping, as His tears turn the sky dark.
How can we console Our Father? Why was He weeping? | In the first Holy Scripture, with Mattathias, we heard how everyone in Jerusalem turned from God.
In the Gospel, Jesus faces Jerusalem and weeps. a couple hundred years later in the same spot.
Why? Because Jesus came to offer His peace, but the people chose upheaval and unrest, and murder. Even His own murder.
Jesus wept once before...with Lazarus.
And so we can relate what is going to happen after the destruction...a new life will arise. The whole of the Jewish people would have to rise again with Him through death and their destruction.
And today we are Judeo_Christian. We are of the descent of Jews. We follow the King of the Jews, and the King of All people....Jesus. This we will celebrate on the feast of Christ the King on Sunday. I woke up to another day of sad and bad news at work, in the news, and so forth. And so I pray inside with you: Lord, I am rising to fight another day. Give me the strength and zeal to follow You into the desert and back to the ones You seek, the lost, the forgotten, the abused by the devil, and help us all Live for God's law, His Holy Will...because You are worthy, for every tear that fell out of Your eyes, a drop of love has been planted in the world...and You would not rain down anything if it were not to reap up what the waters have made grow in this world...a harvest of plenty...grant us plenty of faith to worship You on earth with all our Heart, Mind, Soul, and Strength. | from your brother in Christ,
Adrian |  click to hear | Random bible verse generator: Isaiah 55:8–9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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