 MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote
"I place trust in God, my creator, in all things; I love Him with all my heart."
— St. Joan of Arc † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"In times of spiritual coldness and laziness, imagine in your heart those times in the past when you were full of zeal and solicitude in all things, even the smallest. Remember your past efforts and the energy with which you opposed those who wanted to obstruct your progress. These recollections will reawaken your soul from its deep sleep, will invest it once more with the fire of zeal, will raise it, as it were, from the dead, and will make it engage in an ardent struggle against the Devil and sin, thus being restored to its former height."
— St. Isaak of Syria, p. 146
AN EXCERPT FROM
Manual for Spiritual Warfare † VERSE OF THE DAY
"Therefore thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'He who believes will not be in haste.'""
Isaiah 28:16 |  click to read more | | ST. BEDE THE VENERABLE St. Bede (672–735 A.D.), also known as the Venerable Bede, was born to a wealthy family in England. At the age of seven he was sent to the Benedictine monastery to be educated by the monks. He discerned a vocation to the monastic life, and devoted himself to prayer and to the study of Sacred Scripture and Church history. After being ordained at the age of thirty, he went on to become a prolific writer and teacher. He was considered to be a genius and was widely famous for his theological works and knowledge of ecclesiastical history. He was also well-versed in all the natural sciences known in his day, making him an extraordinary scholar whose influence spread throughout Europe for centuries. During his life he was also considered to be a saint, and his writings were so filled with heavenly wisdom that a Church council ordered them to be read publicly in the churches. Bede was given the name Venerable not long after his death, and centuries later was named a Doctor of the Church. St. Bede's feast day is celebrated on May 25th. | Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 348
Reading I Sir 35:1-12 To keep the law is a great oblation, and he who observes the commandments sacrifices a peace offering.
In works of charity one offers fine flour, and when he gives alms he presents his sacrifice of praise.
To refrain from evil pleases the LORD, and to avoid injustice is an atonement.
Appear not before the LORD empty-handed, for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the precepts.
The just one's offering enriches the altar and rises as a sweet odor before the Most High.
The just one's sacrifice is most pleasing, nor will it ever be forgotten.
In a generous spirit pay homage to the LORD, be not sparing of freewill gifts.
With each contribution show a cheerful countenance, and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy.
Give to the Most High as he has given to you, generously, according to your means. For the LORD is one who always repays, and he will give back to you sevenfold.
But offer no bribes, these he does not accept! Trust not in sacrifice of the fruits of extortion.
For he is a God of justice, who knows no favorites. Responsorial Psalm 50:5-6, 7-8, 14 and 23 R. (23b) 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.
"Hear, my people, and I will speak; Israel, I will testify against you; God, your God, am I.
Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, for your burnt offerings are before me always."
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.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me; and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God. 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 10:28-31 Peter began to say to Jesus,
'We have given up everything and followed you."
Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.
But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first." | Daily Meditation: Sirach 35:1-12 Appear not before the Lord empty-handed. (Sirach 35:6) Have you ever seen a small child at church when the offertory is being collected? Eager to participate, the child is upset that he has nothing to give. But then his mother leans over and slips something into his hand, and the child's face lights up as he puts a coin into the collection basket. We might feel a bit like that anxious child, especially when Sirach cautions us not to appear before the Lord empty-handed. But the truth is, we really are "unprepared." What could we possibly give to God? He has made everything, from the tiniest cell to the vast expanses of the galaxies. He is complete in himself and lacks nothing. He doesn't need anything from us. But like that mother at offertory time, God fills our hands so that we have something to give to him. Every minute of every day is a gift from the Lord. Everything we own comes to us through his hands, and he has given it to us so that we can offer it back to him through our acts of love and service. The writer of Sirach urges, "Give to the Most High as he has given to you, generously" (35:12). As we recognize all that he has given us, several things can happen. We can start to understand that no matter how keenly we feel our own emptiness, God extends his mercy and forgiveness to us. We can respond with generosity in the way we choose to care for the people around us and allow God's generosity to move us to praise and gratitude. That's something we can all offer to God: our praise and gratitude. No matter how little money we may have to offer the poor, no matter how little time we have to reach out in service, we can still offer him our hearts. We can still offer him our devotion by placing our needs and our loved ones' needs before his throne. As we lift our hearts to the Lord, we are giving him what he values most of all: our love. "Lord, I praise you for the life you have blessed me with, and I offer it to you!" Psalm 50:5-8, 14, 23
Mark 10:28-31 |  clickable | The only Jesus we know, the Jesus of the Gospels, told us to love as he did; that is, to touch and serve the specific individuals we meet. Jesus did not come to earth for the sake of humanity. He came for you and for me.
— Peter Kreeft
from his book The God Who Loves You |  Bro. Adrian Reads reflection Outloud. Click here | my2cents:
We hear the Holy Word of God on how to praise and worship and sacrifice:
"To keep the law is a great oblation,
and he who observes the commandments sacrifices a peace offering. In works of charity one offers fine flour, and when he gives alms he presents his sacrifice of praise. To refrain from evil pleases the LORD, and to avoid injustice is an atonement. Appear not before the LORD empty-handed...".
How to offer to God? Keep the law of God.
How to sacrifice to God? Be charitable, especially to God.
How to please God? Refrain from evil.
How to atone to God? What's atonement? It is an attempt to correct a wrong we've done. How can we atone? Jews had special feasts and prayers and acts for atonements, and what does the Holy Word say? Avoid an injustice! It is an immediate atonement for the past and the present. Stop being unjust, especially to our Lord in heaven! Let us be just as He is just, therefore, perfect, as He is perfect, is it too much to ask in the name of our Lord? Lord help us! | We pray today:
""Offer to God praise as your sacrifice and fulfill your vows to the Most High. He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me; and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God." To the upright I will show the saving power of God."
Now what was praise again? LOL.
Back to Sirach: "In works of charity one offers fine flour, and when he gives alms he presents his sacrifice of praise."
Giving alms, giving to God, and thus giving to the poor. Back to being upright, and not uptight! LOL. Do you believe you are going the right way? You will be shown, if we can sit and listen, if we can be still, and trust that He will speak in ways you never thought possible. | We heard in the Gospel:
"Peter began to say to Jesus,
'We have given up everything and followed you."
Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.
But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first." | Indeed, Peter gave up his job in his father's business. Our first Pope Peter, Saint Peter, gave up his family, it is believed he was even married, and perhaps he had kids. He gave up everything he had, to follow our Lord. And so our Lord speaks about those who gave up brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, children, lands and all and would receive much more with persecutions. Wait. What's that last part again? Receiving persecutions? Indeed, the call to perfection is added, like the rich young man that turned from Jesus, sad, because our Lord asked him to sell all he had to follow Him. It was too much to ask...to hit someone where it hurts, their pocketbooks, their joys, to ask them for true sacrifice.
A loved one asked me for money for tires. I know these folks, I've been raising them in Christianity, they are like my kids, and I said to them "I dare to say, you probably have not been tithing in Church anymore have you, because you are now asking ME for money". What is it about us that turn from God and then to man for supply? Give to God! He will supply. Now I will reveal my secret for this past lent: I decided to rely on God's providence, in a small way, and I would not take lunch to work, and I would not invite others to lunch as I normally do every day. I said "if no one invites me, I will not eat out" as I normally do. Only once do I remember having to fend for myself when a friend said he'd meet me for group reunion and then said he couldn't. But I did notice one thing, that if I did not do my daily text or emails of inspirations, I did not get invited. Tend to God first, and He will provide. How many of us can trust in God's providence? Many will not dare sacrifice, or step out in faith, because these two go hand in hand. Want to be perfect? Our Lord on the cross shows us the way. He trusted God our Father that much and shows us that God is trustworthy. And the new Exodus has begun. Let's pray: Lord, my every next move must hinge on You. My very next breath must come from You. My thoughts must keep You in mind every single time, and therefore, every single decision. Teach us to make every single action of life, one that is in solidarity with You always, and in thus, show the world, that we can trust You, and therefore, Love You, with all our heart, mind, soul, every bit of our strength that You have given us to begin with!
Amen | from your brother in Christ our Lord,
adrian |  click to hear | Random Bible Verse from online generator: 1 Corinthians 13:4–6
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;1 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
