†Saint Quote
"And let me make it quite clear that when Christians say the Christ-life is in them, they do not mean simply something mental or moral. When they speak of being 'in Christ' or of Christ being 'in them', this is not simply a way of saying that they are thinking about Christ or copying Him. They mean that Christ is actually operating through them; that the whole mass of Christians are the physical organism through which Christ acts—that we are His fingers and muscles, the cells of His body. And perhaps that explains one or two things. It explains why this new life is spread not only by purely mental acts like belief, but by bodily acts like baptism and Holy Communion. It is not merely the spreading of an idea; it is more like evolution—a biological or superbiological fact. There is no good trying to be more spiritual than God. God never meant man to be a purely spiritual creature. That is why He uses material things like bread and wine to put the new life into us. We may think this rather crude and unspiritual. God does not: He invented eating. He likes matter. He invented it."
—C.S. Lewis, p. 64
Cover image from the book, Mere Christianity
An Excerpt From Mere Christianity
Recommended Reads Daily Verse "Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him." Proverbs 30:5 |  click to read more | | Saint of the Day St. Sebastian (d. c. 288 A.D.) was born in Gaul, present-day France, to wealthy Italian parents. According to tradition he went to Rome to serve and encourage the Christians who were being persecuted under the Roman Emperor Diocletian. To do so effectively and without suspicion, he enrolled in the Roman army as an officer. In this position he did much to encourage the faith of the Christians in the face of brutal martyrdom, and in the process made many new converts through his gift of healing. Once he was discovered to be a Christian, he was seized by Roman officers, tied to a tree, and shot through with arrows. He survived this, and was healed by St. Irene of Rome. Being fully recovered, he returned to preach to Diocletian himself. Diocletian then had him beaten to death with clubs. St. Sebastian is the patron of many causes, most notably of archers, athletes, police officers, soldiers, and against plague victims and enemies of religion. St. Sebastian's feast day is January 20th. | Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Heb 8:6-13 Brothers and sisters:
Now our high priest has obtained so much more excellent a ministry
as he is mediator of a better covenant,
enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless,
no place would have been sought for a second one.
But he finds fault with them and says:
Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord,
when I will conclude a new covenant with the house of
Israel and the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers
the day I took them by the hand to lead
them forth from the land of Egypt;
for they did not stand by my covenant
and I ignored them, says the Lord.
But this is the covenant I will establish with the house of Israel
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their minds
and I will write them upon their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
And they shall not teach, each one his fellow citizen and kin, saying,
"Know the Lord,"
for all shall know me, from least to greatest.
For I will forgive their evildoing
and remember their sins no more. When he speaks of a "new" covenant,
he declares the first one obsolete.
And what has become obsolete
and has grown old is close to disappearing. Responsorial Psalm Ps 85:8 and 10, 11-12, 13-14 R. (11a) Kindness and truth shall meet.
Show us, O LORD, your mercy,
and grant us your salvation.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. Kindness and truth shall meet.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. Kindness and truth shall meet.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. Kindness and truth shall meet. Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 3:13-19 Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted
and they came to him.
He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles,
that they might be with him
and he might send them forth to preach
and to have authority to drive out demons:
He appointed the Twelve:
Simon, whom he named Peter;
James, son of Zebedee,
and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges,
that is, sons of thunder;
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus;
Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean,
and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him. | Daily Meditation: Mark 3:13-19 [He] summoned those whom he wanted. (Mark 3:13) At the creation of the world, God called things into existence: light, land, living creatures, and the rest. In today's Gospel, Jesus begins to call his Church into existence in a similar way: by calling the first disciples. And he called them not just to exist but to be companions with him. The summoning didn't stop with the apostles. Jesus continues to call those he wants, and he wants everyone, including you. You became his own at your baptism. Whether in the arms of your parents or on your own two feet, you came before God and "put on Christ" (CCC 1227; see Galatians 3:27). You belong to his family now. The companionship with Jesus that the apostles experienced is for you, too. Every morning he calls you to walk with him and to learn from him as the apostles did. They discovered the kingdom of God that he was inaugurating. They came to understand the cost of following him and his way of love. They learned about the glory and the challenge of discipleship. These are the same lessons you can learn as you pray and read Scripture. What's more, as he did with his apostles, Jesus has given you the Holy Spirit to teach you and deepen your companionship with him. From the Spirit, you can learn to share Jesus' mission on earth. You might experience "nudges" from the Spirit as he helps you discern what Jesus is saying and guides you in what he is calling you to do. Maybe you will experience a sense of how much the Lord loves you. Perhaps spontaneous thoughts will arise in you: an impulse to speak kind, encouraging words to a neighbor or to lift up a prayer for someone who is sick. Jesus loves you and treasures you. He wants you to be his companion. He wants to spend time with you today and every day. Believe that you have worth in his eyes, just as surely as the first apostles did. And then talk to him! Ask him what he's doing in and around you today. Look for the Spirit's presence in your life guiding your steps. This is what companionship looks like. Enjoy it! "Jesus, thank you for calling me to be your companion and allowing me to share in your mission today." Hebrews 8:6-13
Psalm 85:8, 10-14 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers the day I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt; for they did not stand by my covenant and I ignored them, says the Lord." Why did we not stand by His covenant? Didn't they keep it for hundreds of years? Apparently not. He was not pleased on how we handled...His people.
He needed to show them Himself how to take care of His people. And in came our Lord Jesus from Heaven. | We pray today;
"Show us, O LORD, your mercy,
and grant us your salvation. Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land. Kindness and truth shall meet" | In the Gospel today we heard:
"He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons" And so, our Lord sent out priests to offer sacrifice, to preach, and to drive out demons. Do our priests do that? Yes. Yes they can. Yes they should. For this alone, they need much prayer on our part, our support, and they need to do much praying and fasting. For our Lord came to choose His priests, but, He fasted much and prayed much before so.
And guess what? You are baptized a type of priest too! You need to fast and pray much too! This is a grace that makes things work better for God's will. | From Bishop Barron Today:
"Friends, today in the Gospel, Jesus gathers his disciples. And he appointed twelve Apostles "that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach."
St. Thérèse of Lisieux tells us that she endeavored to write down her spiritual memoir at the prompting of her sister, who was also her religious superior to whom she was bound in obedience. After praying that she say nothing displeasing to Christ, she took up the Gospel of Mark, and her eyes fell on these words: "Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him."
This verse, she says, is the interpretive key to her life, for it describes the way Christ has worked in her soul: "He does not call those who are worthy, but those whom he pleases." Hers was a story of a divine love, graciously willing the good of the other, that awakens an imitative reaction in the one who is loved.
It is not a narrative of economic exchange—rewards for worthiness—but of the loop of grace, unmerited love engendering disinterested love, the divine life propagating itself in what is other."
What is it about grace that makes everything happen? Is it a super power? It is super special. Grace makes everything happen in the spiritual realms. God's grace is availed to the soul reaching to Him. It is given as a gift in Baptism. We are connected and every one and every thing matters. And the greatest of matter? The covenant...ultimately, God's will united with ours. The New Covenant is literal and spiritual. He is physical and metaphysical. He is the matter itself. Think Eucharist. Think Holy Spirit. Now, be Him and let Him live in you.
.......................†........................
Lord, I pray that we can unite our wills to Yours. I need your grace to be one in Your Holy Presence...forever.
.................................................. adrian | My brothers (and sisters who have brothers, men)!
Save the Date, West Texas Catholic Men's Conference is coming with Bear Woznick who has a show on catholic radio and TV!
I'm on the team putting this together, help us get the word out! Super important to get men involved: |  click to hear | Random Bible Verse 1 | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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