 MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote "It is in the company of Jesus that you work for the glory of God."
— St. John Baptist de la Salle † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Whenever that sacrifice of Christ is memorialized in the Church, there is an application to a new moment in time and a new presence in space of the unique sacrifice of Christ Who is now in glory. In obeying His mandate, His followers would be representing in an unbloody manner that which He presented to His Father in the bloody sacrifice of Calvary. After changing the bread into His Body and the wine into His Blood: He gave it to them (Mark 14:22). By that communion they were made one with Christ, to be offered with Him, in Him, and by Him. All love craves unity. As the highest peak of love in the human order is the unity of husband and wife in the flesh, so the highest unity in the Divine order is the unity of the soul and Christ in communion."
— Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, p. 401-2
AN EXCERPT FROM
Life of Christ † VERSE OF THE DAY
"In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ [Jesus] have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit. Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envious of one another."
Galatians 5:22-26 |  click to read more | | ST. PHILIP NERI St. Philip Neri (1515–1595) was born in Florence, Italy, to the noble class. He was a dutiful child with a cheerful disposition, making him popular with all who knew him. At the age of 18 he was to begin an apprenticeship for a career in business. However, after having a mystical experience, his life was radically changed. He traveled to Rome and entrusted himself completely to God's providence. He found living accommodations with a fellow Florentine in exchange for tutoring his sons, which Philip did with great skill. He then enrolled in philosophy and theology classes at a local monastery in order to become a priest. Although he excelled in his studies, he suddenly quit in order to spiritually serve the people of Rome. At that time, indifference, luxury, and corruption were widespread characteristics of the Roman clergy. Churches were neglected, flocks were abandoned, and the loss of faith was widespread. St. Philip Neri, with his commitment to a life of asceticism, was a contradiction to all of this malaise. With his characteristic good-naturedness, he lead many to a life of virtue and love for God as he traveled through the streets of Rome. He began an oratory for laymen to gather together and practice greater spiritual discipline, which grew and became famous. In obedience to his spiritual director he finally became a priest at the age of 34. He also started a religious order known simply as "The Oratory." St. Philip Neri is known as the "Apostle of Rome." He is the patron of Rome and the U.S. Army Special Forces. His feast day is May 26. ... continue reading | Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest Lectionary: 349
Reading I Sir 36:1, 4-5a, 10-17 Come to our aid, O God of the universe, look upon us, show us the light of your mercies, and put all the nations in dread of you!
Thus they will know, as we know, that there is no God but you, O Lord. Give new signs and work new wonders. Gather all the tribes of Jacob, that they may inherit the land as of old,
Show mercy to the people called by your name; Israel, whom you named your firstborn.
Take pity on your holy city, Jerusalem, your dwelling place.
Fill Zion with your majesty, your temple with your glory. Give evidence of your deeds of old; fulfill the prophecies spoken in your name,
Reward those who have hoped in you, and let your prophets be proved true.
Hear the prayer of your servants, for you are ever gracious to your people; and lead us in the way of justice.
Thus it will be known to the very ends of the earth that you are the eternal God. Responsorial Psalm 79:8, 9, 11 and 13 R. (Sirach 36:1b) Show us, O Lord, the light of your kindness.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past; may your compassion quickly come to us, for we are brought very low.
R. Show us, O Lord, the light of your kindness.
Help us, O God our savior, because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins for your name's sake.
R. Show us, O Lord, the light of your kindness.
Let the prisoners' sighing come before you; with your great power free those doomed to death.
Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; through all generations we will declare your praise.
R. Show us, O Lord, the light of your kindness. Alleluia Mk 10:45 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 10:32-45 The disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem,
and Jesus went ahead of them.
They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid.
Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them
what was going to happen to him.
"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man
will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes,
and they will condemn him to death
and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him,
spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death,
but after three days he will rise."
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
came to Jesus and said to him,
'Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you."
He replied, 'What do you wish me to do for you?"
They answered him,
"Grant that in your glory
we may sit one at your right and the other at your left."
Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I drink
or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"
They said to him, 'We can."
Jesus said to them, "The chalice that I drink, you will drink,
and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;
but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared."
When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.
Jesus summoned them and said to them,
"You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles
lord it over them,
and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many." | Daily Meditation: Mark 10:32-45 The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45) In today's Gospel, Jesus is trying to help the disciples rethink the concept of greatness. It didn't mean what they thought it meant—prestigious titles and the ability to exert their authority over other people. It meant being a servant, which is exactly what Jesus said he had come to do. And how would Jesus serve? By giving "his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). He would be the true Suffering Servant, offering himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins (Isaiah 49:1-6; Hebrews 10:14). It would take a while for the disciples to fully understand this. Even though Jesus had told them that he would suffer and die, they didn't yet realize that this is how he would fulfill his call to serve (Mark 10:32-33). In time, not only would they understand, but they would follow in their master's footsteps, preaching the good news and giving up their lives for him and his people. We all serve in one way or another, whether it's in our families, at work, or in our parishes. You might be the parent who patiently helps his child with her homework night after night. Or the grandmother who spends hours in prayer interceding for her unbelieving grandson. Or the friend who accompanies his neighbor to the emergency room. Or the parishioner who labors all day in the kitchen cooking meals for the homeless. We all know how costly it can be to serve in these and other ways. But each time we make such sacrifices, we have the opportunity to lay down our lives out of love for God and his people. Jesus is inviting us to serve just as he did. These acts of service are not just isolated occurrences. For Christians, service is a way of life—and one that brings great joy. Because the more you give of yourself, the more you will be given in return. You will receive not only God's joy and peace but also the confidence that, like the apostles, you are walking in Jesus' own footsteps. And that's the best place you could ever be! "Jesus, fill me with your joy as I serve my brothers and sisters today." Sirach 36:1, 4-5, 10-17
Psalm 79:8-9, 11, 13 |  clickable | The way to happiness is self-forgetful love.
— Peter Kreeft
from his book The God Who Loves You |  Bro. Adrian Reads reflection Outloud. Click here | my2cents:
"Reward those who have hoped in you,
and let your prophets be proved true.
Hear the prayer of your servants, for you are ever gracious to your people; and lead us in the way of justice. Thus it will be known to the very ends of the earth that you are the eternal God."
We will soon learn what servants are, and if you dare to undertake the task, it becomes faith in action, and faith alive! | First, let us pray:
"Let the prisoners' sighing come before you;
with your great power free those doomed to death. Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever through all generations we will declare your praise."
What does it feel like to be saved from an impending doom? A big sigh of relief? That's it? How about...feeling like being eternally grateful? That my friend, would be the most amazing gift from God....an eternity to give thanks! And it starts now, as it is in Heaven...Lord hear our prayer for mercy! Now we can begin to talk about servitude. | In the Holy Gospel, our Lord says to those quarreling about trying to be seated at the right and left hand of His throne: "When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.
Jesus summoned them and said to them,
"You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles
lord it over them,
and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many." | The greatest among you, must be your greatest servant. Look no further than the cross. There you will find a scourged, a slave whipped. That is why Saint Bakhita, a black woman slave fell in love with Jesus, when they presented Him to her, and when she met Him...she literally was freed, from the bonds of slavery, as was her own choice. Throughout her life she was beaten, sold to other masters, and beaten and whipped, having scars of the lashings forever on her back. So when she saw the scourged and whipped slave on the cross, she fell in love with Love, the Slave Master, the slave of slaves. And it bears a question on us all; how many of us want to serve like Jesus? How many of us really want to be like Jesus? Dare I say, not very many do. Everyone loves being served but not to serve. I'm thinking of Church. It takes much sacrifice to serve God, and in the Church, as it is in Heaven. Why is it so difficult? Why is it hard to find slaves nowadays? Slaves for Christ. I wish, and as of yesterday, I am praying for slaves to show up. The kind that are good slaves, the kind that can take a beating and keep on working. I'm looking for the ones that don't show any resentment, or hatred, or pride, they just keep on chugging for the sake of God's Kingdom. I'm not speaking of worldly things. I am speaking of true humility now. I am speaking of a sincere love of God. When our Lord said He would give His life as a ransom for many, I don't remember much more discussion amongst the disciples. Who can love like that...to give your life for many?
It is like that in ministry, and I'm writing to ministers of the Word Incarnate. I am writing to the Body of Christ. Everyone that reads this becomes a minister. My name means dirt, fertile soil in some translations, and I do see myself as a type of booster, fertilizer, for you to grow. Our Lord has us planted where we are for a reason....to be seed for those around you. I encourage you, to love God in each person you encounter. I encourage you to do what others are afraid to do. Step out on the water, and walk to Christ. Sell what you have, cut off any thing that impedes you from holiness. And be ready to give yourself....to God.
This is how our Lord shows the way...to eternity, and eternity is designed to be a place of thanksgiving....and what more could we be thankful for....than all things He has given to lead us closer to HIMSELF! Let us pray:
Lord, I thank you as of this moment, for being the very opportunity to encounter You. I thank You for the grace that you are availing, and I pray that we take the opportunity to serve Thee, with all my heart, mind, soul, every strength to make every living action, an action of thanksgiving...self giving, and pouring out as libation to give You greater honor and glory, in Thy Most Precious Name we Pray... amen | from your brother in Christ our Lord,
adrian |  click to hear | Random Bible Verse from online generator: [Proverbs 28]
22 A stingy man1 hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
