†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 †Today's Meditation
"Prayer is greatly aided by fasting and watching and every kind of bodily chastisement. In this regard each of you must do what you can. Thus, the weaker will not hold back the stronger, and the stronger will not press the weaker. You owe your conscience to God. But to no one else do you owe anything more except that you love one another."
—St. Augustine, p. 143 †Daily Verse
"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. | Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 362 Reading I 1 Kgs 18:41-46 Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink,
for there is the sound of a heavy rain."
So Ahab went up to eat and drink,
while Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel,
crouched down to the earth,
and put his head between his knees.
"Climb up and look out to sea," he directed his servant,
who went up and looked, but reported, "There is nothing."
Seven times he said, "Go, look again!"
And the seventh time the youth reported,
"There is a cloud as small as a man's hand rising from the sea."
Elijah said, "Go and say to Ahab,
'Harness up and leave the mountain before the rain stops you.'"
In a trice the sky grew dark with clouds and wind,
and a heavy rain fell.
Ahab mounted his chariot and made for Jezreel.
But the hand of the LORD was on Elijah,
who girded up his clothing and ran before Ahab
as far as the approaches to Jezreel. Responsorial Psalm 65:10, 11, 12-13 R. (2a) It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.
You have visited the land and watered it;
greatly have you enriched it.
God's watercourses are filled;
you have prepared the grain.
R. It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.
Thus have you prepared the land:
drenching its furrows, breaking up its clods,
Softening it with showers,
blessing its yield.
R. It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.
You have crowned the year with your bounty,
and your paths overflow with a rich harvest;
The untilled meadows overflow with it,
and rejoicing clothes the hills.
R. It is right to praise you in Zion, O God. Alleluia
Jn 13:34
----------,
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 5:20-26 Jesus said to his disciples:
"I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven. "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother, Raqa,
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny." | DAILY MEDITATION: 1 KINGS 18:41-46
Go, look again! (1 Kings 18:43) God had assured Elijah that the three-year drought was about to end. Now, Elijah had confidently prayed and believed that God would keep that promise. But he needed to send his servant to look out to sea seven times before the youth spotted the tiny cloud—a cloud that would soon bring an overwhelming downpour. Once he saw the evidence, Elijah's servant had the confidence to spring into action, and he told King Ahab a storm was on the way. Oftentimes we can be like that servant, desperately scanning the horizon for signs of God's action. Was Elijah's servant grumbling about his many trips to "look again"? We don't know. But we do know how weary we can become from waiting and looking for signs. It's challenging to persevere in prayer when we can't yet see any evidence that God is answering those prayers. The Lord can and sometimes does answer us right away—and in dramatic ways. But most often, his work proceeds by small, almost imperceptible steps. The changes we're praying for in ourselves, our families, or our surroundings can take time to bloom fully. So don't give up! Go ahead and pray for the big things that matter most to you—the miraculous healing, the dramatic conversion, the much-needed reconciliation. Then ask God to help you see where and how he has already begun to work. Perhaps a doubting teenager "likes" a prayer posted on social media. Perhaps relatives who haven't spoken to each other in years chime in on the same email thread. Or maybe a friend who has struggled with guilt for months is finally able to look you in the eye. Rejoice in these signs, even if they are as small as a wisp of cloud on the horizon. Be like Elijah and his servant. Keep looking even if it seems that nothing is happening. Don't be reluctant to go back again and again to search for God's answers. And when you do see signs of progress, rejoice! Be confident in the truth that God does hear and answer your prayers. "Lord, I dare to believe you are answering my prayers. Open my eyes to what you are beginning to do." Psalm 65:10-13
Matthew 5:20-26 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"But the hand of the LORD was on Elijah,
who girded up his clothing and ran before Ahab
as far as the approaches to Jezreel." Our Lord girded Himself too and made haste to do God's will. It's our case today too, that we are to not waste but make haste to do what He desires....to tend to His Kingdom. | We pray in Psalms:
"It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.
You have crowned the year with your bounty,
and your paths overflow with a rich harvest;
The untilled meadows overflow with it,
and rejoicing clothes the hills." We see clear signs of evil in the world. Why then can we not see clear signs of God our Father at work? We are on vacation this week. Yesterday we stopped at a Cathedral. Upon admiring the stained glass windows and tons of artwork, of all the things that could be mentioned, was the fact that in the paintings, a saint had been drawn with 6 toes. How we are drawn to flaws...and not the greater good. Then...it is our focus that sees what we want. GK Chesteron said that God if God said there's 10 things we aren't to do..there's a million things we can do. There's greater Glory abounding in our very midst. | In today's Gospel we heard our Lord:
"I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven." Who are our modern day scribes and Pharisees? Pharisees knew God's laws, as did the scribes and tended to them fervently. So who can we say they are today? Authors of theology? You see, there's a difference from know...to doing...the will...the Word of God. | Our Lord continues; "and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna."
Yet...we hear of such indignant acts of charity all day, every day. We look down on others and this is raqa. We say stupid and thus heap coals of fire unto ourselves. What you do to others...you do to yourself.
Then why shouldn't it be greater and greater acts of true charity...true Love of Heaven?
You should take a cue from He who said these words....God Himself. | Your brother in Christ our Lord and Savior, our Love in Heaven,
adrian |  click to hear | Random bible verse generator:
John 6:37
[John 6] 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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