†Saint Quote
"Truth sees God, and wisdom contemplates God, and from these two comes a third, a holy and wonderful delight in God, who is love."
— St. Juliana of Norwich † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Let us recognize with lively faith and with the help of the Holy Ghost the great evil of sin, which robs us of grace. Then we shall immediately detest it with all the power of our soul and banish it from our heart. We shall detest it because, in depriving us of grace, it deprives us of the highest good and of the possession of God and make us worthy of the most severe punishment from His hands. We shall detest it still more because by sin we commit the greatest wrong and the greatest offense against the Author of Grace. For after we have been called through grace to be children of God, we offend Him not merely as our Supreme Lord and Master, to whom we owe unlimited service and respect, but as our most loving Father, our best Friend, the most tender Spouse of our soul. We despise the ineffable love with which He embraces us and return the basest ingratitude for His inestimable gifts and blessings. We disgrace Him and insult His name by dishonoring the name of His children and by showing ourselves unworthy of Him. We tear loose from His bosom the soul that He loved as the apple of His eye and considered as the jewel and joy of His heart. We rend the heavenly robe of innocence and sanctity with which He had clothed us and presented us to the whole Heaven. Like Judas, we desert Our Lord and Saviour, who by grace has numbered us among His friends and loved ones. What pain we inflict on the tender heart of our heavenly Father, how deeply we offend and wound it!"
—Fr.Matthias J. Scheeben, p. 345
AN EXCERPT FROM
The Glories of Divine Grace † VERSE OF THE DAY
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you."
John 14:15-17 |  click to read more | | POPE ST. CORNELIUS Pope St. Cornelius (d. 253 A.D.) was a Roman citizen and a holy priest who became the twenty-first successor to the chair of St. Peter, following a fourteen-month vacancy when Pope St. Fabian was martyred by Roman Emperor Decius. When the Emperor temporarily left Rome, the persecution against the Christians subsided long enough for the Church to elect St. Cornelius as the new Roman Pontiff. During Pope St. Cornelius' two year reign a great controversy arose as to what to do with Catholics who apostatized from the Christian faith under threat of death during the persecution. Many were being received back to the sacraments without any penance. In response to the scandal, some maintained that apostates could not be forgiven and could only be admitted back to the sacraments if they were re-baptized. Chief among them was a priest named Novatian, who, as a result of the scandal, caused a schism when he had himself consecrated as an anti-pope. In response, Pope St. Cornelius convened a synod of bishops to confirm his rightful authority as Pope. Novatian was excommunicated and his doctrine was condemned as heresy. Pope St. Cornelius proclaimed that the Church had the power and authority to forgive repentant apostasy, and that converted apostates could be readmitted to the sacraments after true contrition with adequate penance. Soon a new wave of persecution against the Christians broke out, and Pope St. Cornelius was driven into exile and martyred. His feast day is celebrated on September 16th. | Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Saint Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs Lectionary: 446
Reading I 1 Tm 4:12-16 Beloved:
Let no one have contempt for your youth,
but set an example for those who believe,
in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.
Until I arrive, attend to the reading, exhortation, and teaching.
Do not neglect the gift you have,
which was conferred on you through the prophetic word
with the imposition of hands by the presbyterate.
Be diligent in these matters, be absorbed in them,
so that your progress may be evident to everyone.
Attend to yourself and to your teaching;
persevere in both tasks,
for by doing so you will save
both yourself and those who listen to you. Responsorial Psalm 111:7-8, 9, 10 R. (2) How great are the works of the Lord!
The works of his hands are faithful and just; sure are all his precepts,
Reliable forever and ever, wrought in truth and equity.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
He has sent deliverance to his people; he has ratified his covenant forever; holy and awesome is his name.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; prudent are all who live by it. His praise endures forever.
R. How great are the works of the Lord! Alleluia Mt 11:28 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 7:36-50 A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him,
and he entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table.
Now there was a sinful woman in the city
who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.
Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,
she stood behind him at his feet weeping
and began to bathe his feet with her tears.
Then she wiped them with her hair,
kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself,
"If this man were a prophet,
he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him,
that she is a sinner."
Jesus said to him in reply,
"Simon, I have something to say to you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.
"Two people were in debt to a certain creditor;
one owed five hundred days' wages and the other owed fifty.
Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both.
Which of them will love him more?"
Simon said in reply,
"The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven."
He said to him, "You have judged rightly."
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon,
"Do you see this woman?
When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet,
but she has bathed them with her tears
and wiped them with her hair.
You did not give me a kiss,
but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.
You did not anoint my head with oil,
but she anointed my feet with ointment.
So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven;
hence, she has shown great love.
But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little."
He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
The others at table said to themselves,
"Who is this who even forgives sins?"
But he said to the woman,
"Your faith has saved you; go in peace." | Daily Meditation: Luke 7:36-50 Do you see this woman? (Luke 7:44) Whatever else you might say about Simon the Pharisee, in this story you have to admit that he wanted to get to know Jesus. Despite Jesus' reputation among many of the religious leaders in Israel, Simon wasn't afraid to invite him into his home. In this way at least, Simon is like us: we also invite Jesus into our lives to learn from him. But today's Gospel shows us that Jesus isn't the only one who teaches us about discipleship. When he asked Simon, "Do you see this woman?" he was inviting him to see the "sinful" woman from a different perspective (Luke 7:44). Rather than seeing her as a sinner, Jesus asked him to see her as forgiven and loved—as someone whose faith had brought her healing and salvation. In that moment, Simon the Pharisee, a teacher of the Law of Moses, became the student of a woman with a tarnished reputation. When she anointed Jesus' feet, she taught Simon—and us—about worshipping God in gratitude and humility. She taught that salvation and healing are possible for even the most sinful or the ones who are scorned by the "righteous." She taught that the power of Jesus' forgiveness is stronger than the shame of sin. And she taught that those who encounter Jesus' mercy can be transformed by it. We don't know if Simon took all these lessons to heart. But we can be sure that this one moment, when he was looking at this woman through Jesus' eyes, was a grace-filled opportunity for him to learn from her. It was a grace-filled opportunity for him to follow her example of worship, humility, and love. Jesus can teach all of us in surprising ways. In fact, every day he offers us numerous grace-filled opportunities to learn from him through our relationships and our circumstances. So look out for those moments when he asks you, "Do you see this woman? This child? This opportunity?" Remember, Christ can speak through anyone. Even the ones you least expect. "Jesus, help me to be open to learning from you in new and unexpected ways today." 1 Timothy 4:12-16
Psalm 111:7-10 |  Listen to 2cents | From Saint Paul:
"Let no one have contempt for your youth,
but set an example for those who believe,
in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity...
Do not neglect the gift you have..." | Let us pray the Psalms:
"He has sent deliverance to his people;
he has ratified his covenant forever; holy and awesome is his name.
How great are the works of the Lord!
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; prudent are all who live by it." | In the Holy Gospel in Luke we heard:
"Now there was a sinful woman in the city
who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.
Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,
she stood behind him at his feet weeping
and began to bathe his feet with her tears.
Then she wiped them with her hair,
kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself,
"If this man were a prophet,
he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him,
that she is a sinner."
Pause. | Last night we discussed this very story in the RCIA class for adults those who desire the Sacraments and to learn about the church.
They'd never heard of this story. And it is one that we have to learn, because we are learning about our Lord. Mercy. The Pharisee asked why a sinner was kissing His feet. He wondered why God didn't tell her to go away. I went on to tell many testimonies of how God's mercy works. And for that, let us go to our Lord.
Continue:
"Jesus said to him in reply,
"Simon, I have something to say to you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.
"Two people were in debt to a certain creditor;
one owed five hundred days' wages and the other owed fifty.
Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both.
Which of them will love him more?"
Simon said in reply,
"The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven."
He said to him, "You have judged rightly."
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon,
"Do you see this woman?
When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet,
but she has bathed them with her tears
and wiped them with her hair.
You did not give me a kiss,
but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.
You did not anoint my head with oil,
but she anointed my feet with ointment.
So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven;
hence, she has shown great love.
But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." I went on to tell the students what I want us all to realize, that the church is made up of saints and sinners, and some fully repented sinners are some of the best saints. I told them that I work with some repented sinners, scarred by drugs, abuse, and so forth, and I work side by side with them with my repented self. What happened? We were forgiven, and we are grateful.
Gratitude makes all the difference.
The prostitute or sinful woman kissing the feet of Christ was literally pouring out her life to Him. The perfume was her living investment, her income, her livelihood, her...lifestyle, and she was emptying it all out onto His feet and onto the floor, as Judas soon realizes and calls it a waste, like the parents who see a child deciding to waste their lives by becoming a religious priest or a nun.
Our Lord ends:
"He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
The others at table said to themselves,
"Who is this who even forgives sins?"
But he said to the woman,
"Your faith has saved you; go in peace." I went on to explain to the students, that faith is amazing. I've seen different things save people, physically, some holy dirt, some holy oil, a prayer at the Blessed Sacrament, a prayer gathering, and suddenly a miracle occurs.
And I went on to say, that for the one who received the miracle, like the sinner today, she left with a peace that nobody could take away. Think Grace. Think Holy Sacraments. Think living a daily holy life. Think Christ forever.
At the sight of the miracle, some will not be amazed, others may be a little amused, and a few will fall on their knees and worship, and adore Christ for WHO HE IS. Let's pray:
Lord Jesus, Thank You.
I am truly Amazed and I am truly humbled.
You provide in ways that we may never know.
You are gracious and merciful. I pray that I can be like that sinful woman at Your feet, honoring You, blessing You, and asking for true repentance and mercy. I want to greatly thank You, and I want that peace that You offer.
Help us Lord. amen | from your brother in Christ,
Adrian |  click to hear | Random bible verse generator: John 15:9–11 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
