†Saint Quote
""Be a Catholic: When you kneel before an altar, do it in such a way that others may be able to recognize that you know before whom you kneel."
–St. Maximilian Kolbe †Today's Meditation
"'As God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk.' No one can do better with his life than that; no one can put it to a better use. Any life must be perfect in proportion as it does what it was made to do. There are many lives that are brilliant failures; they strive after many things that they were never intended to do and fail in that one thing. It seems strange that a reasonable being should never ask himself why he was put upon earth, or that it should not occur to him that the reason must be found in the will of his Creator … At the end of the day of our earthly life, we have to answer to our Maker whether we have been employed about our own work or about His, whether we have even made an effort to find out what He would have us do. A life that is inspired by such a motive is sure to be a success, for of this we may be absolutely certain: that each of us can fulfill in our life that for which we were created. We cannot be sure that we have the gifts needed for any other purpose … For God, in creating us, equipped us for the work for which He created us. We have every gift of nature and of grace, of mind and body that is needed for this work." — Fr. Basil Maturin, p. 35 †Daily Verse
"Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! Thou hast said, "Seek ye my face." My heart says to thee, "Thy face, Lord, do I seek." Hide not thy face from me. Turn not thy servant away in anger, thou who hast been my help. Cast me not off, forsake me not, O God of my salvation!"
–Psalm 27:7-9 |  click to read more | | St. Edmund Campion St. Edmund Campion (1540–1581) was born in London, England, the son of a bookseller. He was a promising student and went on to become an esteemed and celebrated Oxford scholar, winning the high regard of Queen Elizabeth who admired his wit and pleasant disposition. Although raised Catholic, he was ordained an Anglican deacon. Unsettled by his move away from the Church, he repented and returned to the Catholic faith. While in disguise to protect his safety following his reversion, he witnessed the martyrdom of a fellow scholar and recognized his vocation. He went to Rome and became a Jesuit priest, and while assigned to minister in Moravia he received a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary who foretold his martyrdom. He later returned to England as an undercover priest during the severe persecution of Catholics upon the Pope's excommunication of Queen Elizabeth. His mission was to strengthen Catholics wavering under government pressure and win converts among the Protestants. St. Edmund was eventually hunted down, imprisoned in the Tower of London, and tortured. After being found guilty of treason, he said, "In condemning us, you condemn all your own ancestors, all our ancient bishops and kings, all that was once the glory of England — the island of saints, and the most devoted child of the See of Peter." After spending his last days in prayer, he was dragged with two fellow priests to be hanged, drawn, and quartered on December 1st, 1581 at 41 years of age. His feast day is December 1st.
Find a Devotional for This Saint | Wednesday of the First Week of Advent Lectionary: 177
Reading I Is 25:6-10a On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples
A feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples,
The web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken. On that day it will be said:
"Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain. Responsorial Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 R. (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
He guides me in right paths for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff that give me courage.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. Alleluia R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, the Lord comes to save his people;
blessed are those prepared to meet him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 15:29-37 At that time:
Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee,
went up on the mountain, and sat down there.
Great crowds came to him,
having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute,
and many others.
They placed them at his feet, and he cured them.
The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking,
the deformed made whole,
the lame walking,
and the blind able to see,
and they glorified the God of Israel. Jesus summoned his disciples and said,
"My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,
for they have been with me now for three days
and have nothing to eat.
I do not want to send them away hungry,
for fear they may collapse on the way."
The disciples said to him,
"Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place
to satisfy such a crowd?"
Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"
"Seven," they replied, "and a few fish."
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then he took the seven loaves and the fish,
gave thanks, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full. | Daily Meditation: Isaiah 25:6-10 On this mountain . . . (Isaiah 25:6) In Scripture, mountains are often seen as places of revelation, where heaven and earth meet. Think of Mount Sinai, where God spoke with Moses (Exodus 19:1-6). Or Mount Horeb, where the Lord met with Elijah (1 Kings 19:8-18). In these first days of Advent, Isaiah points us to the end of the story, the heavenly Mount Zion. There, God will live among his people forever. There, he will destroy the veil over all people. There, he will overcome death itself and provide a rich feast for his people. In Jesus, these promises are fulfilled—and on mountains, no less! He will destroy the veil (Isaiah 25:7). On Mount Tabor, Jesus was transfigured before his three closest disciples. The veil that separated us from knowing and hearing God was lifted briefly (Matthew 17:1-8). Now you can hear from God personally—in prayer, in Scripture, even as you drive to work or do the laundry. As St. Paul promises, "Whenever a person turns to the Lord the veil is removed" (2 Corinthians 3:16). He will destroy death forever (Isaiah 25:8). On the mount of Calvary, death was defeated. As you look on Jesus in the manger this Advent, think of what he accomplished in his cross and resurrection. He suffered death and rose victorious, "trampling death by death" (St. John Chrysostom, Easter Homily). He also defeated the devil, who held the power of death and freed you from the grasp of sin. Through faith and Baptism, the floodgates of mercy have been opened. You have been reconciled with God and can live with him forever! The Lord . . . will provide . . . a feast (Isaiah 25:6). On the heavenly Mount Zion, you will come to a feast in "the city of the living God" (Hebrews 12:22). But even today you can feast on the close relationship with God that Jesus offers you. Not only that, but you can also feast on his own Body and Blood in the Eucharist. You feast because God provides all of this for you in Jesus. So rejoice today and shout for joy, "God . . . ; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!" (Isaiah 25:9). "Jesus, thank you for removing the veil and defeating death. I rejoice in your salvation!" Psalm 23:1-6
Matthew 15:29-37 | From Today's Holy Scripture:
"On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples A feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines...." Our Lord feeds us Himself. "On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations;" Our Lord destroys death by dying with us and for us. "The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove..." Hope will arise as He has risen. Mercy will thrive, as He is giving. "...let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain." | We pray in Psalms:
"You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life." What? What table is spread? What anointing is happening? What cup?
Everything is our Lord. He spreads a table. He provides on the Mountain for the whole world. I forget who I was telling this week, that our Lord pours Himself over us, like blood over a rock it seems, and a rock does not take it in. Only a soul desiring Him truly receives Him. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. | We heard our Lord in the Gospel today: "Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee,
went up on the mountain, and sat down there. Great crowds came to him,
having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others.
They placed them at his feet, and he cured them." Fr. Mark Mary of EWTN said in his homily today that someone said that for all the miracles (at Lourdes) no one ever grew out a leg...but it actually did happen in one of the many miracles, someone who had lost a limb grew it back! He chuckled and so do I. Isn't that amazing? Isn't it astonishing? How many licks will it take to lick and finish the whole lolipop? In other words, how many miracles will you have to hear about...to believe? How many times will you have to taste the same thing over and over? Now we are leading back to the Sacraments, and the Eucharist. And after how many, will you actually turn...and be grateful? Thanksgiving, the very meaning of Eucharist? | ""My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat." Here's where my mind stopped during reflection. 3 days? They had nothing to eat until the third day? Yes. It is the Lord Himself who returns to give heavenly food. HE would reveal Himself to His people in the breaking of the Bread...the Eucharist, the Thanksgiving. He was moved with pity. Why pity? Pity is a move to care. Have pity now, have mercy. The heartless have no mercy. The heartless have not Christ. _"Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied. " Two takeaways.
First, they Gave Thanks. Eucharist.
Second, what was given to our Lord was given in return with even more.
You cannot out-give God.
Takeaway then these last two bits. Learn to give in trust. Learn to give thanks with your whole heart. Let's pray:
Lord, it is good to be here, with You, giving thanks.
Your food is from Heaven. Help us have an appetite for Divinity, all things righteous and holy. Help us starve for it, and then enjoy it forever and ever with Thee!
Amen | from your brother in Christ,
Adrian |  click to hear | Random bible verse generator: 2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.1 | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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