†Saint Quote
"A friend is more to be longed for than the light; I speak of a genuine one. And wonder not: for it were better for us that the sun should be extinguished, than that we should be deprived of friends; better to live in darkness, than to be without friends."
–St. John Chrysostom †Today's Meditation
"Perhaps we do not know what love is, nor does this greatly surprise me. Love does not consist in great sweetness of devotion, but in a fervent determination to strive to please God in all things, in avoiding, as far as possible, all that would offend Him, and in praying for the increase of the glory and honor of His Son and for the growth of the Catholic Church."
—St. Teresa of Avila, p. 54-55 An Excerpt From
Interior Castle †Daily Verse
"Many are invited, but few are chosen."
–Matthew 22:14 |  click to read more | | St. John Chrysostom St. John Chrysostom (347-407 A.D.) was born to noble parents in Antioch, an important center of Christianity in his day. After the death of his father, his mother sent him to the best schools for his education. As a result of his philosophical studies he was convinced of the truth of Christianity, entered the Church, and became a renowned scholar and orator. He then adopted a life of extreme asceticism as a hermit and committed the whole of Sacred Scripture to memory. The brilliance of his mind combined with the holiness of his soul made him famous; he was ordained a bishop in Antioch and was later appointed to the Archbishopric of Constantinople. He was an incredible preacher, among the greatest in the history of the Church, which earned him the name 'Chrysostom' meaning, 'Golden-mouthed' or 'Golden tongued'. His sermons, which extended for up to two hours, were public marvels. His straightforward style of preaching the Scriptures and his practical homilies made him very popular. He also denounced the abuses of the ruling authority and preached against the immorality of the day, which resulted in him being exiled numerous times. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 451. St. John Chrysostom's feast day is September 13th. | Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Lectionary: 444
Reading 1 1 Cor 12:12-14, 27-31a Brothers and sisters:
As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. Now the body is not a single part, but many. Now you are Christ's Body, and individually parts of it.
Some people God has designated in the Church
to be, first, Apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers;
then, mighty deeds;
then gifts of healing, assistance, administration,
and varieties of tongues.
Are all Apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?
Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing?
Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. Responsorial Psalm Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5 R. (3) We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
For he is good, the LORD,
whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock. Alleluia Lk 7:16 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 7:11-17 Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain,
and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him.
As he drew near to the gate of the city,
a man who had died was being carried out,
the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.
A large crowd from the city was with her.
When the Lord saw her,
he was moved with pity for her and said to her,
"Do not weep."
He stepped forward and touched the coffin;
at this the bearers halted,
and he said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!"
The dead man sat up and began to speak,
and Jesus gave him to his mother.
Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming,
"A great prophet has arisen in our midst,"
and "God has visited his people."
This report about him spread through the whole of Judea
and in all the surrounding region. | Daily Meditation: 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31 The body is not a single part, but many. (1 Corinthians 12:14) What are you? An arm? A leg? Maybe a blood cell? When we hear St. Paul tell us that each of us is a separate part of the body of Christ, we may think right away about the people who do "big things" in our parish. They are the beating heart of our community, the arms and legs and brains who do most of the work. But then when we look at our own contribution, we can begin to feel as if our role is too small even to mention, let alone celebrate. The truth is, we all play an essential part. What would an arm or leg be without the blood cells or the nerve cells that keep it functioning? What good is a heart if it doesn't receive oxygen? Every person in your parish is a vital part of the body of Christ. Your parish needs every one of them—including you—to become the light to your community that God wants it to be. Your role in the body of Christ doesn't have to be "big" to be powerful. Just think of those blood cells! Nobody notices every drop of blood that courses through their veins, but that doesn't mean they're insignificant. Each cell brings much-needed oxygen to the entire body, just as your prayers of intercession help keep your pastor attuned to the breath of the Spirit. Or think about your toes! They help keep you balanced as you stand or walk, just as every catechist helps the entire parish stand firm in Christ and move forward on the path of holiness. The glue that holds the body of Christ together, of course, is the Holy Spirit. He is the One who makes the arm strong, who makes the blood pure, who keeps the ligaments flexible, and who moves the feet to run the race. If each of us were to invite that Spirit into everything that we do for the Lord and his people—that is, into every area of our lives—then this body would literally shine with the glory of God! The work of every member would add to a current of grace that would flow out to the whole world! May each member of the body of Christ "drink of one Spirit" today (1 Corinthians 12:13)! "Come, Holy Spirit, and fill every member of the body of Christ today!" Psalm 100:1-5
Luke 7:11-17 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
_"As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,so also Christ." I'm listening to the volumes on the Book of Heaven, and last night I was hearing about our Lord...how He cares for His body. It is hard to understand really how He cares for the body, I mean, how He treats the body as well. Sometimes it takes chastisements. Sometimes He is stern, and sometimes He is very gentle. And all the while, like an ongoing effort...of caring. | We pray today;
"We are his people: the sheep of his flock. Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; serve the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful song. We are his people: the sheep of his flock." It is perhaps, one of the hardest things to understand for me, that God loves me. But His love is incomprehensible. They say He gives more than we give, times one million if you ask me. The book of Heaven says our Lord took on all the sins, every single one, for the tremendous amounts of people that were to come. Only God could do this, only the Son of God. Does it still happen? I don't want to think of it that way, but I do know that true love...hurts. | In the Gospel today we heard:
""Do not weep."
He stepped forward and touched the coffin;
at this the bearers halted,
and he said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!"" That's all it took, one word, "Arise".
Our Lord had sympathy, for a woman, a lonely, perhaps widow, with her only son now dead in a coffin, being processed through town, a sad moment indeed, and he could foresee His own future, of a hurting mother, and His own death. I saw a wailing woman, crying for her dead son yesterday at a funeral that I helped at. And alongside her son, was the son's wife's body. The couple died in a car accident, and their children miraculously survived and are in the hospital right now, a baby and a teenager. The woman was deeply saddened. The husband used to work for us, and now their tragedy. I've never been to such an ordeal, where a couple are being buried at the same time. And I've done tons and tons of funerals.
And with all these readings and reflections, I often wonder about the line that says you cannot receive unless you give.
Give life. How can I give life to a dead person?
Surely, the natural way is through our Lord Jesus the Christ who died to give us life...in His baptism.
It's not the natural life, but the super natural...and more real life than what we live now. As much as I'd love to have my love back, my dad, I can't. And it hurts, every day I hurt. My best friend, no more.
But he's been given life. We have been given life in baptism. And I would say, that it was through my dad's faith, that I am here today writing to you, because of God's will.
So, now, you have the story of a resurrection at hand.
Yours to come for being baptized.
Now, will it be resurrection to life, or to death?
Most here reading this are looking for life.
I write to you for life. Lord, you came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. I plea to live with Thee, closer and closer to eternal light. Help us love Thee more and more. |  click to hear | Random bible verse generator:
Philippians 4:12
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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