†Saint Quote
"Let us stand fast in what is right, and prepare our souls for trial. Let us wait upon God's strengthening aid and say to him: 'O Lord, you have been our refuge in all generations.'"
–St. Boniface †Today's Meditation
"Everything that exists is a gift from God. Yet oftentimes we look to the things and creatures created by God for a satisfaction and fulfillment that only God Himself can provide. When the soul wraps itself around the things and the people of this world, looking for satisfaction or fulfillment that only God can give, it produces a distortion in itself, and in others as well. Many spiritual writers call the process of unwinding this possessive, self-centered, clinging, and disordered seeking of things and persons 'detachment'. The goal of the process of detachment is not to stop loving the things and people of this world, but, quite to the contrary, to love them even more truly in God, under the reign of Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Things and people become even more beautiful and delightful when we see them in this light. There are almost always painful dimensions to this process of 'letting go' in order to love more, but it's the pain of true healing and liberation. Christian detachment is an important part of the process by which we enter into a realm of great freedom and joy."
—Ralph Martin, p.205 An Excerpt From
The Fulfillment of All Desire †Daily Verse
"As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."
–Colossians 3:12-13 |  click to read more | | Sts. Cletus & Marcellinus St. Cletus (1st c.) and St. Marcellinus (3rd c.) were both Romans, popes, and martyrs who ruled the Holy See during the terrible persecution of Christians at the hands of the Roman Empire. St. Cletus was a convert and disciple of St. Peter the Apostle who became the third Bishop of Rome from 76 to 89 A.D., under the reigns of Roman Emperors Vespasian and Titus. His name appears in the Roman Canon of the Mass. St. Marcellinus was the twenty-ninth Bishop of Rome from 296 to 304 A.D. during the infamous persecution of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, on the eve of the legalization of Christianity across the Empire. Statues of these two popes of the early Church sit on opposite corners of the portico ceiling of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. They share a feast day on April 26th. | Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter Lectionary: 268
Reading I Acts 4:32-37 The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common.
With great power the Apostles bore witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great favor was accorded them all.
There was no needy person among them,
for those who owned property or houses would sell them,
bring the proceeds of the sale,
and put them at the feet of the Apostles,
and they were distributed to each according to need. Thus Joseph, also named by the Apostles Barnabas
(which is translated "son of encouragement"),
a Levite, a Cypriot by birth,
sold a piece of property that he owned,
then brought the money and put it at the feet of the Apostles. Responsorial Psalm 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5 R. (1a) The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed; robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
or:
R. Alleluia.
And he has made the world firm, not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old; from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed: holiness befits your house, O LORD, for length of days.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 3:14-15 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man must be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him
may have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 3:7b-15 Jesus said to Nicodemus:
"'You must be born from above.'
The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Nicodemus answered and said to him,
'How can this happen?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this?
Amen, amen, I say to you,
we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen,
but you people do not accept our testimony.
If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe,
how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
No one has gone up to heaven
except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." | Daily Meditation: Acts 4:32-37 They had everything in common. (Acts 4:32) At first glance, these early believers didn't seem to have anything in common. They came from different social classes and practiced different trades. They spoke a variety of languages. Some had been part of God's chosen people for generations while others were newcomers. However, when each of them heard and believed the good news of Jesus' resurrection, they felt moved by the Holy Spirit to come together and form a new community of brothers and sisters. Suddenly one another's well-being became their primary concern. They realized that everything they had was on loan from God, intended to help build his kingdom. So they brought everything—possessions, riches, skills, and talents—and laid them at the feet of the apostles. As Christians, we may differ in many ways, but we have what is most essential in common: we have been baptized into the one body of Christ. All we are and have is given to us so that we can bless one another. So how can we live out this call? Let's look at some examples. Roger had always skipped over the notice in the parish bulletin seeking catechists, but this time he realized those CCD classes were taking place during an hour when he had no other commitments. So he took a deep breath and volunteered. While walking with her husband, Gracie saw a woman shivering under a bridge. She immediately pictured the fur coat hanging in her closet and remembered the old saying, "The coat unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it." Gracie learned the woman's name and asked her to wait while she went home to get her that coat. Ellen often found the news depressing, but one night the image on the television of a starving child's face pierced her heart. She pledged to pray a daily Rosary for that region of the world. Eventually, she was able to make a small, regular donation to a mission group there. These believers found creative ways to build up the common good. How is God inviting you to be a little more generous with your brothers and sisters today? "Holy Spirit, show me one specific way to make myself more available to someone today." Psalm 93:1-2, 5
John 3:7-15 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common."
When you read Holy Scripture, do you become afraid? Are you ever moved by Scripture? Or does it happen like me sometimes that your mind is actually preoccupied with other things and fail to recall a single word that was just given, or read, or heard? It happens to me, I'm ashamed to say, too often, especially in Mass. But you're talking to a guy pulling 3 or 4 different jobs during Mass, as choir director, sound tech, livestreaming video, and as a father of 8 children sitting around me at the same time. How do I pay attention really? Do I ever? The good thing for me is that I've already read scriptures for the Mass, studied them, and planned music to go with the readings. But, don't be fooled, because the Holy Spirit speaks differently at every Mass, if you tune in. And so, even while multitasking, I'm trying to listen, and be open to the Lord Himself.
And it gets worse when everything is quiet, or I have nothing to do at daily Mass, I cannot settle my mind often, and it takes a concerted effort to be truly there for God. So what now? Keep trying! Perfection comes with perfection. | We pray in Psalms:
"Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed: holiness befits your house, O LORD, for length of days. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty." | In today's Gospel we heard:
_""'You must be born from above.' The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Why does our Lord speak about the wind blowing?
Because, even in Genesis, HE IS, the wind, the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit speaks among us and to us every day.
Have you listened to the wind lately? We speak with wind inside of us...do we not? | Our Lord continues:
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen,
but you people do not accept our testimony.
If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe,
how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?" There have been reports from people who have come back to life supposedly, right? Do we believe? Some scientists are quick to dismiss it all as brain functions and hallucinations and such.
I recall my dad's near death experience. The way he spoke about was like a KNOWING. And this is the common denominator with most of their testimony. It is a knowing.
Do we trust? Do we believe? And so here is what our Lord knows:
"No one has gone up to heaven
except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." He has gone up and came to us in the Holy Spirit. If this were not true, God giving Himself in Jesus and in the Holy Spirit, then why would He have asked Saul "why are you persecuting ME" if our Lord had already ascended to Heaven?
You see? He is among us. That is why I'm trying to be attentive.
What is He saying to me today? What is He saying to you my child? Lord, may my heart seek you First and above all always, to give You true honor and glory. I want to be Yours forever.
Hear our prayers for this Holy Unity and for our loved ones too. | from your brother in Christ,
Adrian |  click to hear | Random bible verse generator: WOW
1 John 4:9
9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
