†Saint Quote
""If you learn everything except Christ, you learn nothing. If you learn nothing except Christ, you learn everything."
–St. Bonaventure †Today's Meditation
"Man will not consent to drive away the money-changers from the temple of his soul until he realizes that it is a Holy of Holies—not a house of traffic, but in very truth the house of God. We thus reach two striking conclusions: There cannot be entire dependence upon the Holy Spirit's guidance, which is the true meaning of living in Christ, without complete self-renunciation. There cannot be complete self-renunciation without the constant underlying spirit of faith, without the habit of interior silence, a silence where God is dwelling. Many do not see the connection between thoughts about the King and the service of the King; between the interior silence … and the continual detachment … If we look closer, it will be seen that there is a strong, close, unbreakable link between the two. Find a recollected person, and he will be detached; seek one who is detached, and he will be recollected. To have found one is to have discovered the other … Anyone who tries, on a given day, to practice either recollection or detachment cannot ignore the fact that he is doing a double stroke of work."
— Raoul Plus, S.J., p. 39-40 An Excerpt From
How to Pray Always, p39-40 †Daily Verse
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make straight your paths."
–Proverbs 3:5-6 |  click to read more | | St. Marguerite Bourgeoys St. Marguerite Bourgeoys (1620-1700) was born in France to a large middle-class Christian family. After having a deep religious experience at the age of 20, Marguerite dedicated her life to God through the Virgin Mary. She then joined an aposolate which served God by educating underprivileged children. When she was 32 the governor of Fort Ville-Marie (now Montreal, Canada), visited Marguerite's town and invited her to be a missionary in the New World as a lay teacher, instructing the children of the colonists and the Native Americans. Marguerite agreed and made the long ocean journey. Realizing the importance of the family in establishing New France, Marguerite mentored young ladies and prepared them for marriage and family life as pioneer women. She signed as a witness on the marriage certificates of many early settlers. As a result of these activities she was affectionately called the "Mother of the Colony." She also worked to build the first church and the first school. She also founded the Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal, which is an active religious order to this day. For her great apostolic and missionary activity she is considered the co-foundress of Montreal. She is also the first woman saint of the Catholic Church in Canada. Her feast day is January 12. | Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Reading I 1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20 During the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli,
a revelation of the LORD was uncommon and vision infrequent.
One day Eli was asleep in his usual place.
His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see.
The lamp of God was not yet extinguished,
and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD
where the ark of God was.
The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, "Here I am." Samuel ran to Eli and said, "Here I am. You called me."
"I did not call you," Eli said. "Go back to sleep."
So he went back to sleep.
Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli.
"Here I am," he said. "You called me."
But Eli answered, "I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep."
At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD,
because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.
The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time.
Getting up and going to Eli, he said, "Here I am.
You called me."
Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.
So Eli said to Samuel, "Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply,
'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'"
When Samuel went to sleep in his place,
the LORD came and revealed his presence,
calling out as before, "Samuel, Samuel!"
Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening." Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him,
not permitting any word of his to be without effect.
Thus all Israel from Dan to Beersheba
came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the LORD. Responsorial Psalm 40:2 and 5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10 R. (8a and 9a) Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust; who turns not to idolatry or to those who stray after falsehood.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not; then said I, "Behold I come."
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me.
To do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!"
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will. 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 Mk 1:29-39 On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn,
he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you."
He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come."
So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons
throughout the whole of Galilee.
| Daily Meditation: 1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20 He could not see. (1 Samuel 3:2) If Samuel's calling were made into a film, an overhead camera might pan across the land of Israel and zoom in on the shrine at Shiloh, where the priest Eli lay asleep in an exterior room. Meanwhile, a voice-over would say that spiritual visions had become rare in the land and that Eli's own vision had grown weak (1 Samuel 3:2). The movie's hero, a boy named Samuel, would lie in another room, close to the ark of the covenant. In this scene, the director would be portraying two "sleepers." One, Samuel, dwells intimately close to God's presence, unaware that he will soon be called to be Israel's next prophet. The other, Eli, is farther away from God but familiar with his ways from a lifetime of study and service. By placing these two together, God ensures that Eli will help Samuel recognize God's call and respond to him. The calling of Samuel reminds us that we aren't alone in our efforts to understand God's call. He gives us brothers and sisters in Christ who can use their different gifts to help us hear and accept it. That means that none of us individually needs to try and discern God's will for our lives on our own. God has united us as a body of believers, some of whom are meant to accompany and guide us on our faith journey. The Lord works through these friends, spiritual directors, and confessors to help us to "see" so that we can know and follow his will for every season of our lives. So if you are trying to discover what God might be saying to you, you may get clarity through the help and prayers of another believer. Sometimes God wants us to rely on others just so that we can have more confidence in his direction and guidance. Not only that, but he uses these opportunities to knit us closer to one another. Of course, we all experience some degree of trial and error in this. It took three tries before Samuel and Eli finally recognized God's voice! But with the help of a fellow disciple, you too will be able to hear the Lord's call and say to him, "Speak, for your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:10). "Lord, send me trusted friends who can help me to follow you more closely." Psalm 40:2, 5, 7-10
Mark 1:29-39 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"When Samuel went to sleep in his place,
the LORD came and revealed his presence,
calling out as before, "Samuel, Samuel!"
Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
We are servants of Christ our Lord, our King. What are you called to serve? Who are you called to serve? It is Love. | We pray in Psalms:
"I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry. Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust; who turns not to idolatry or to those who stray after falsehood. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will..." | We heard in the Gospel today:
"Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them."
She waited on them. She arose to be the servant. It was her desire. It was her duty. It was her life. Today I pray that our Lord takes my dad's hand and raises him up from his sick bed, to serve Him, for it has been his duty. It has been a fact, that there has only been one other man in daily Mass in the mornings as of late, and it was my dad. And so when we are down, we need each other, we need each other's prayers. The Apostles were interceding for Simon's mom, and our Lord touched her, but not only her, but all souls. Prayers and miracles are meant to touch souls. To strengthen our faith. To bring us closer to Christ. To serve Him more fervently. Believe that your prayers fill a room. Believe that angels come into being through prayers. | "When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him."
And so we bring to our Lord those who are sick, and do we bring those who are possessed by demons? Those often don't want to go...on their own. But for many it is like a two sided face. A part of them wants to be freed, and another does not. And so we have our part...to help them with the holy part. And help ourselves, to do the holy part. "Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed." Our Lord would go off by Himself to pray. God Himself praying to God Himself. Jesus, the Son of God, praying to God the Father. Jesus, the Son of God, praying in the Holy Spirit with God our Father.
"...on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you." He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come." So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee."
What about everyone that was looking for Him?
They would have to now follow Him.
That is our duty, as a servant, that we should follow Him, until we find Him, and serve Him, with all our heart, mind, and soul. Let's pray:
Lord, to whom can we turn? You have words of everlasting life.
Help us with Thy grace, to seek You truly, follow You humbly, and serve You true Love...a gift from Heaven. Forever and ever. | from your brother in Christ,
Adrian |  click to hear | Random bible verse generator: The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation
Of David. 27 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold1 of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
