.: † ".It Was Also Said . ."

Friday, June 10, 2022

† ".It Was Also Said . ."

†Saint Quote
Quote of the Day
"The most deadly poison of our time is indifference. And this happens although the praise of God should know no limits. Let us strive, therefore, to praise him to the greatest extent of our powers."
–St. Maximilian Kolbe

† Today's Meditation
"If, then, we wish to persevere and to be saved—for no one can be saved without perseverance—we must pray continually. Our perseverance depends, not on one grace, but on a thousand helps which we hope to obtain from God during our whole lives, that we may be preserved in his grace. Now, to this chain of graces a chain of prayers on our part must correspond: without these prayers, God ordinarily does not grant his graces. If we neglect to pray, and thus break the chain of prayers, the chain of graces shall also be broken, and we shall lose the grace of perseverance."
—St. Alphonsus Liguori, p. 201

†Daily Verse
"And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God."

–John 3:19-21

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St. Olivia

St. Olivia (448 – 463 A.D.) was the beautiful daughter of a noble family living near Palermo on the island of Sicily. She desired to serve God through her life as a consecrated virgin, and gave her wealth to the poor. When the King of the Vandals invaded Italy and came to Palermo, many Christians were martyred at his hands. The young Olivia would visit and encourage the Christians in prison. Her piety, which was greatly admired, caused the local authorities to send her to Tunis to face the governor. There she converted many to the Christian faith, and as punishment she was banished into the wilderness to starve to death or be devoured by wild beasts. She was later found alive by hunters, and upon being brought back to civilization she continued to convert many pagans with her zeal. She was again sent to the governor for punishment and was cruelly tortured. After being dipped in a vat of hot oil and miraculously suffering no harm, she was finally beheaded. In Tunisia there was an ancient Christian basilica dedicated in her honor and built on the site of her tomb; today a mosque rests on the site, yet it retains her name and the memory of her relics. St. Olivia is a virgin martyr venerated especially in Sicily and Tunisia. Her feast day is June 10th.

Friday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading I 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-16
-----‐------
At the mountain of God, Horeb,
Elijah came to a cave, where he took shelter.
But the word of the LORD came to him,
"Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;
the LORD will be passing by."
A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains
and crushing rocks before the LORD—
but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake—
but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake there was fire—
but the LORD was not in the fire.
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.
When he heard this,
Elijah hid his face in his cloak
and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.
A voice said to him, "Elijah, why are you here?"
He replied, "I have been most zealous for the LORD,
the God of hosts.
But the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant,
torn down your altars,
and put your prophets to the sword.
I alone am left, and they seek to take my life."
The LORD said to him,
"Go, take the road back to the desert near Damascus.
When you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king of Aram.
Then you shall anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, as king of Israel,
and Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah,
as prophet to succeed you."

Responsorial Psalm 27:7-8a, 8b-9abc, 13-14
--------------‐----
R. (8b) I long to see your face, O Lord.
Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call;
have pity on me, and answer me.
Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.
R. I long to see your face, O Lord.
Your presence, O LORD, I seek.
Hide not your face from me;
do not in anger repel your servant.
You are my helper: cast me not off.
R. I long to see your face, O Lord.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. I long to see your face, O Lord.

Alleluia Phil 2:15d, 16a
----‐----------
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Shine like lights in the world,
as you hold on to the word of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 5:27-32
--‐----‐-------
Jesus said to his disciples:
"You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.
But I say to you,
everyone who looks at a woman with lust
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin,
tear it out and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.
And if your right hand causes you to sin,
cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.

"It was also said,
Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.
But I say to you,
whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful)
causes her to commit adultery,
and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery."

DAILY MEDITATION: 1 KINGS 19:9, 11-16
At the mountain of God, Horeb, Elijah came to a cave, where he took shelter. (1 Kings 19:9)

Elijah had called down fire from heaven, defeated the prophets of Baal, and led the Israelites back to faith in the Lord. He announced to King Ahab the long-awaited end of the drought, and the rains had come. What a vindication of all his work!

But then, after one death threat from Queen Jezebel, Elijah fled. Was he afraid, even after he had seen God move so powerfully? Yes. The Scriptures tell us of a dispirited, worn-out man who needed angelic help to make his journey to the mountain of God.

Elijah retreated to seek the Lord at Mt. Horeb, where Moses had received the Ten Commandments. He may have arrived afraid, tired, and lonely, but he left with a renewed sense of confidence and direction.

Haven't we all felt like Elijah sometimes? Perhaps our battles aren't as intense or as high stakes as his were, but we all go through challenging times that drain us physically and emotionally. In those moments of discouragement or weariness, the best thing we can do is to retreat to be with the Lord. Even when we don't feel especially depleted, it's still a good idea to take regular opportunities to recharge with our God.

There are many ways to do this. You might cut back on social engagements for a week or two and spend the extra time in prayer. You might attend an event at your parish or get away and clear your mind by praying and reading Scripture with some friends. Or you could carve out a few hours on a Saturday and turn off your phone, close the door, and pour out your heart to God, either at home or in the Adoration chapel at church. The point isn't what you do or where you do it; it's to take time to be with Jesus and let him refresh you.

How might God want you to "retreat"? Think about it. But for today, you can start by taking a few minutes, right now, to be with the Lord. Shut out your distractions as best you can and follow Elijah's example. Step back from the world and listen for the Lord.

"Lord, help me to retreat to be with you."

Psalm 27:7-9, 13-14
Matthew 5:27-32

From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"I alone am left, and they seek to take my life."

The lonesome prophet should remind us of our Lord.
Just like Moses, Elijah fled to the hills afraid for his life...but God calls him back to work...to the Good works which take courage, which takes faith.

Can we hear God speak to us?
He whispers to the center of the Heart in great silence...not storms.

We pray in Psalms:
_"Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call;
have pity on me, and answer me.
Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.

I long to see your face, O Lord"_

In today's Gospel we heard our Lord:
"It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna."
What is our Lord wanting? To cut out...to cut off what is causing the rest of you to lose your salvation, right? Is it literally? If it were, we would've heard of mangled disciples and saints. But as it is....they decided to forfeit the world in exchange for God's promise.

Our Lord continues with;
"But I say to you,
whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful)
causes her to commit adultery,
and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery."

From Bishop Barron today:

"Friends, in today's Gospel from the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord prohibits divorce.
Is there any better description of sex anywhere in the literature of the world than that provocative line, "The two of them become one flesh?" In a Jewish context, flesh carries the sense of the whole person. Hence sexual union is meant to be a union at all levels.
A husband says to his wife, "My life is no longer about me; it's about you and the children we will have." And the wife says the same thing to her husband: "My life is not mine anymore; it belongs to you and our children."
Some might expect Jesus to have a soft or relativized teaching on divorce, but later in Matthew's Gospel he firmly declares: "What God has joined together, no human being must separate." The husband and wife, who become one flesh, are brought together, not just by their mutual attraction, but by God. Their union is ingredient in God's purposes. And this is why it cannot be undone. God doesn't go back on his word."
...............

God designed Holy Matrimony, as a Sacrament, an outward sign of an inward reality. The physical joining is an expression of God uniting Himself to Humanity and to create creative creatures...that is...us in His image.

Today...look at the mockery of marriage. Look then at the sacrilege. Look at the destruction of His plan for man.
As if death to the unborn child were not enough...now marriage...death to the Holy Sacrament.

And so a prophet runs for his life to the mountains for some fresh air...to be relieved from the stench of Gehenna.
We must retreat at least once a week to the mountain of the Lord...in Holy Mass.
Here we may hear Him. Here we may be one with Him intimately.
Here, we maybe forever His.....true Love.

He asks the Church "do you love Me?".

Your brother in Christ our Lord and Savior, our Love in Heaven,
adrian