.: 06/09/21

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

† “Do not think that I have come...

†Saint Quote
"Confession heals, confession justifies, confession grants pardon of sin. All hope consists in confession. In confession there is a chance for mercy. Believe it firmly, do not doubt, do not hesitate, never despair of the mercy of God."
— St. Isidore of Seville

†MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"When we are living in the world, we can easily take on the mindset of a secular society. It is important for us to cultivate in our lives, with great care, God's way of looking at things and life in general. His Word guides us."
— Rev. Thomas J. Donaghy, p. 22
AN EXCERPT FROM
Inspirational Thoughts for Everyday

†VERSE OF THE DAY
"To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing."
Isaiah 40:25-26

click to read more

BLESSED ANNA MARIA TAIGI

Bl. Anna Maria Taigi (1769-1837) was born in Siena, Italy, to a poor working class family. Her family later moved to Rome, and Anna took on various low-skill jobs to help with the family finances. She married a pious man with a bad temper, which helped her to grow in virtue, and together they had seven children. As a young wife and mother she discerned God calling her to renounce the vanities and worldliness that she was accustomed to. She began to give little care to fancy dress, and accepted God's grace more in her life. With her husband's consent she transformed their home into a sanctuary through which she would serve God. Although she was not wealthy, Anna would give her spare money to the poor and needy. She soon entered the Third Order of Trinitarians and grew in holiness. God transformed her into a mystic: she experienced ecstasies during prayer, and was given visions of the future and the state of other's souls which were shown to her in a miraculous golden globe of light over the course of forty-seven years. Many sought her out for spiritual advice as she attended her household duties. She refused special favors from benefactors, and instead lived a life of austerity, relying on God to provide for her daily needs. Anna Maria's life was marked with much suffering, which she joyfully embraced, and God used her as an instrument for many conversions. Her feast day is June 9th.

Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 361
Reading I

2 Cor 3:4-11

Brothers and sisters:
Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.
Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit
for anything as coming from us;
rather, our qualification comes from God,
who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant,
not of letter but of spirit;
for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life.

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, was so glorious
that the children of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses
because of its glory that was going to fade,
how much more will the ministry of the Spirit be glorious?
For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious,
the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory.
Indeed, what was endowed with glory
has come to have no glory in this respect
because of the glory that surpasses it.
For if what was going to fade was glorious,
how much more will what endures be glorious.

Responsorial Psalm

99:5, 6, 7, 8, 9

R. (see 9c) Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,

and worship at his footstool;

holy is he!
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
Moses and Aaron were among his priests,

and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;

they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them;

they heard his decrees and the law he gave them.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
O LORD, our God, you answered them;

a forgiving God you were to them,

though requiting their misdeeds.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,

and worship at his holy mountain;

for holy is the LORD, our God.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.

Alleluia

Ps 25:4b, 5a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Teach me your paths, my God,
and guide me in your truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mt 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven."

Daily Meditation: Matthew 5:17-19

I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17)

When a man and a woman come together in marriage, two things happen at the same time. First, the man "leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife." And second, "the two of them become one body" (Genesis 2:24). This twofold act of leaving behind something good for the sake of something even better is one way to understand Jesus' words about the Law of Moses in today's Gospel.

Every husband and wife bring their past experiences with them into their marriage, and together they take who they were and what they have learned and create something unique out of it: a new family. They don't abolish their past or the people they once were. They take what was good from it and leave behind what no longer works. Everything they have learned finds its fulfillment in the life they forge together. Over time, they raise their children to live out this new life they have created.

Similarly, when Jesus became a man, he united himself to our humanity in an intense and intimate way. And by doing so, he took all that his people, Israel, had learned and all they had become and created something new out of it: the family of the Church. By offering himself on the cross, he fulfilled the heart of the commandment to love God and neighbor even as he made it possible for us to do the same. And by giving us the sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist, he transformed the traditions of animal sacrifice and circumcision. The result? Children of God who shine his light to the entire world.

In the Gospel readings over the next few days, Jesus will be laying out what he wants life in his new family to look like: reconciliation between brothers and sisters, turning the other cheek, purity in marriage, and love for our enemies. All of this can sound intimidating at first. But always remember: you are part of a new family. You are a "new creation" in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)! That means you are an heir to all the grace you need to live the life Jesus has called you to. So how will you fulfill the purpose and intentions of God's laws today?

"Thank you, Lord, for making me a new creation and bringing me into your family!"

2 Corinthians 3:4-11
Psalm 99:5-9

Jesus stands with you when you reveal who you are and what you've done. He writes on the ground, perhaps pointing out that there isn't a single person without regrets, mistakes, and some serious failures. But those things do not make Him turn away. When you are honest and vulnerable with Him, He looks you in the face and loves you.
— Lisa Brenninkmeyer
From her devotional Rest: 31 Days of Peace

Bro. Adrian Reads reflection Outloud. Click here

my2cents:
"Brothers and sisters:
Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.
Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit
for anything as coming from us;
rather, our qualification comes from God,
who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant,
not of letter but of spirit;
for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life."
If something good has come out of your ministry, it is all glory to God. If something bad comes out of your ministry? LOL, then what? Time to keep at it until something good for His Glory happens, right? Too many quit before the right time...and how do you know it is the right time? In my case, it happens naturally, it is not forced. In other words, let God be in control. And this takes faith. More on that.

First let us pray with the Psalms:
"Holy is the Lord our God. Extol the LORD, our God, and worship at his footstool; holy is he! Holy is the Lord our God."
What does extol mean? Because we are being called to "Extol" the Lord our God. In a definition it says: " : to praise highly : glorify".

To lift up; esteem; praise. David's Psalm of praise. I will EXTOL thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. ( Psalm 145:1-2)
Sounds like God should be the center of our everything...our attention...our cares, because we should be living on earth....as it is in Heaven.

In the Gospel we hear:
"Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place."
In the old Testament, they expected the Messiah, the Savior, to save them all and unite them all.
And He did. But not the way the people expected.
Has our Lord ever done something for you in ways unexpected? They say He writes straight with crooked lines, and that is because He sees the greater scheme that we cannot see with human eyes and minds. And there comes faith being asked of us again.

Let us turn to our Lord.

"Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven."

Wouldn't you rather be called greatest in Heaven? But it isn't just Heaven...He calls it a Kingdom. Therefore...there is a King. Therefore, who's Kingdom do you belong to?
In our so called "modern world" which is the same as always, we have the same issue as the Israelites did that expected a true King. They wanted a King, but didn't want to follow the King. And once they got a king they thought they wanted, they burnt themselves. You see, here comes faith again.
Have faith that our King, Father God will take care of us.
Teach others that God is King and His commands and will is Holy and righteous and truth.
And then follow it.

Too many are teaching against our God. As a matter of fact, I dare to say, there are 3 times more teaching against than one.
Really? How? By the way we live. We live saying "oh my God" for everything but we don't actually do what He asks. So is He truly your God? Your King? Where is the honor? Where is the glory? Where is the person extolling HIM?

Our Lord Jesus Glorified God with His Body and Soul, and He did this way before the cross and crucifixion. He did this since He was a little boy, glorifying God in all His words and actions.
His Life.

Let's pray:
Lord, I want to extol You, I want to glorify You, in everything I do, say, and think. I want to show the world that I DO love You and that YOU are Truly My King, our King of all ages where time does not exist. Where I can truly Love You forever and ever!
Amen.

from your brother in Christ our Lord,
adrian