†Saint Quote
"Quote of the Day
"Arm yourself with prayer rather than a sword; wear humility rather than fine clothes."
–St. Dominic †Today's Meditation
"In our self-centered culture and classic American emphasis on work, we often feel we have to accomplish something during our times of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. We rate our experience by how 'good' our prayer was, how heartfelt our devotion was, or how focused we could remain. Yet prayer and contemplation are fundamentally God's work, in which we are invited to participate. We need only to give Him the opening, and He will do the rest. By coming to adoration, we are handing Him the keys to our hearts, allowing the rays of His love and grace to bathe our souls in the light of His Presence, as the rays of the sun bathe our bodies in light. If we can take the time to pull away from the busyness and distractions of life and just sit at His feet, He will lead us."
—Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, p. 33 An Excerpt From
Manual for Eucharistic Adoration †Daily Verse
"The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and his ears toward their cry. The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit."
–Psalm 34: 15-18 |  click to read more | | St. Damien de Veuster of Molokai St. Damien de Veuster (1840–1889), also known as St. Damien of Molokai, was a priest from Belgium belonging to the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He had a special devotion to St. Francis Xavier and desired, like him, to be a missionary. His desire was fulfilled when he was sent to minister in Hawaii in place of his brother, a religious of the same congregation, who was assigned to go but was unable due to illness. The island was suffering from an influx of unknown diseases brought by foreigners, among them Hansen's disease (leprosy). The island of Molokai became quarantined as a leper colony, and all lepers were forcibly exiled there. The local bishop believed that the people living on the island, numbering over 800 at the time, needed a priest. Yet, the bishop knew that ministering to a people of this contagious and deadly disease would be a death sentence for the priest who went. The bishop asked for priests to volunteer to serve in Molokai. After serving in Hawaii for nine years, Fr. Damien was the first to volunteer. He began his ministry to the lepers in 1873. He built a church on the island and did much to improve the morale and joy among the people. St. Damien lived and ministered at the Kalaupapa leper colony for 15 years, fully knowing that this decision would eventually cause him to contract and die of the horribly mutilating disease. St. Damian died of leprosy in 1889 at the age of 49. He became known as a "martyr of charity" and the "Apostle to the Lepers." He was canonized during the Year of Priests in 2009. His feast day is May 10. | Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter Lectionary: 280
Reading I Acts 11:19-26 Those who had been scattered by the persecution
that arose because of Stephen
went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching the word to no one but Jews.
There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them, however,
who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well,
proclaiming the Lord Jesus.
The hand of the Lord was with them
and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord.
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians. Responsorial Psalm 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7 R. (117:1a) All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
His foundation upon the holy mountains the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion, more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you, O city of God!
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I tell of Egypt and Babylon among those who know the LORD;
Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia: "This man was born there."
And of Zion they shall say: "One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her is the Most High LORD."
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled: "This man was born there."
And all shall sing, in their festive dance: "My home is within you."
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 10:27 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 10:22-30 The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem.
It was winter.
And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon.
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him,
"How long are you going to keep us in suspense?
If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
Jesus answered them, "I told you and you do not believe.
The works I do in my Father's name testify to me.
But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
No one can take them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them out of the Father's hand.
The Father and I are one." | Daily Meditation: John 10:22-30 My sheep hear my voice. (John 10:27) Do you know which Jewish holiday corresponds with the feast Jesus attends in today's Gospel? It's Hanukkah. Known as the Feast of Dedication, it celebrates the rededication of the Temple at Jerusalem by Judas Maccabaeus in 165 BC. Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights because a small amount of oil miraculously kept the Temple lamp burning for eight days. Hanukkah begins on the first night with one candle shining in the darkness of winter. Then for the next seven nights, one by one, another candle is lit, allowing even more light to break through. John's mention of Hanukkah could refer to a major theme in his Gospel: darkness and light. Jesus, the light of the world, stands in the Temple during the festival and states that he is the Messiah (John 10:24-25). But despite Jesus' mighty deeds, some can't see them for what they are: signs pointing to who he is. These people are still in darkness. What can break through the darkness? Jesus' voice. "My sheep hear my voice," Jesus proclaims, "and they follow me" (John 10:27). Somehow, Jesus' voice can open a person's eyes to see the works that reveal who Jesus is. Then everything begins to change. This was true for the disciples as they heard his call and left everything to follow him. It was true of the first Christians as they listened to the Spirit and brought the light of Christ to distant nations. And it's true for us today as we learn to hear and respond to Jesus' still, small voice. Everyone can hear the voice of the Lord, but it takes practice to learn to recognize it. It helps to quiet your mind and ask Jesus to speak during prayer. He might speak through today's Scriptures. Try reading them slowly; see if anything stands out. He may speak through a trusted friend or a spiritual song. How can you know if it's his voice? His words always bring light. They help you to see him more clearly, to be more aware of his love, and to be more loving toward the people around you. They often bring a sense of peace. Let's listen for the Lord's voice so that we can follow him from darkness to light. "Lord, help me to hear your voice today." Acts 11:19-26
Psalm 87:1-7 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart" So much was the encouragement that they stayed a whole year...encouraging the people.
So it takes encouragement to encourage, right? What will it take to encourage you to be an encourager too? This now...is the Holy Spirit. How can I allow the Holy Spirit to work better and more through me...and you? | We pray in Psalms:
"His foundation upon the holy mountains the LORD loves: The gates of Zion, more than any dwelling of Jacob. Glorious things are said of you, O city of God! All you nations, praise the Lord."
What does glory look like in Heaven? What do they consider glory in Heaven? What if it is the opposite as we see on earth. "Blessed are the poor", they say from Heaven. And we've only a clue to our Lord's life to see what is considered glory from natural conception to natural death. Our Lord gave a perfect example of Glory to God, pure and always. | In today's Gospel we heard:
'The works I do in my Father's name testify to me. But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep." Those who do not believe are not among the sheep...what does this mean?
He tells us exactly what it means in the next things He says: "My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish." What is life on earth? It is a taste of what can and what shall be, of things that could be that will be. For God says His name is I AM who AM. This means He is being, all things being. Being cannot be attacked. Being cannot be trumped. Being cannot be extinguished, for being is being, with no beginning and no end. Now, I AM who AM has proposed to us what this appetizer can be for an eternity. I propose to you a most delightful appetizer that cannot do justice for the full meal that is to come. Think of what people have always wanted throughout humanity and history...a perfect eutopia. And this world is fed by none other than perfect love. What is earth then, other than a perfect place to grow perfect love out of dirt? Mother Mary has told Medjugore that even she sees humans, our people as flowers, as plants. It is perfect to say that is in a way how we are...made of dirt, like living plants too, how we bloom, how we give fruit.
Isn't it amazing?
People are amazing.
The devil, all things darkness hates people, and therefore promotes violence. But our Lord Jesus promoted the opposite...things of Heaven, mercy, righteousness, beautiful...grace.
What is grace? I been praying for it every time when receiving Holy Communion, the blood, body, soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace is a gift from God. It is a propulsion of beings, meaning, it is what propels action, to show the Love of God. In the cursillos we discuss different types of grace, like habitual grace and actual grace and believe it or not, the Holy Sacraments provide these types of grace with a willing soul, and our disposition to receive it matters.
This tree here wants to give fruit. I want to give fruit. And we are talking about everlasting fruit...to God in Heaven, creator and Father of us all.
Everlasting fruit needs eternal materials to grow. We need God's grace, and we can obtain this by mercy to Him and to one another, and another source is needed to do this gracefully and make a beautiful flower for God to come and dwell and pollinate this flower...grace. | Mother of God, Full of Grace...fill us with the flame of love of God for all of humanity, forever. | from your brother in Christ,
Adrian |  click to hear | Random bible verse generator: WOW! Psalm 37:27–29 27 Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever.
28 For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment