.: † So you also are now in

Friday, May 19, 2023

† So you also are now in

†Quote of the Day
"Our Lord has created persons for all states in life, and in all of them we see people who achieved sanctity by fulfilling their obligations well."
–St. Anthony Mary Claret

†Today's Meditation
"Solomon prayed for prudence and wisdom so that he might govern God's people rightly. Because his request was unselfish, God granted what he sought. When we pray, we should make sure that our desires are not motivated by selfishness. We should only want those gifts that help us most to serve others."
—Rev. Jude Winkler, p. 105

An Excerpt From
Daily Meditations with the Holy Spirit

†Daily Verse
"The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him? Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth."
–1 John 3:16-18

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St. Ivo

St. Ivo of Kermartin (1253–1303) was born to a noble family in Brittany, France. He studied civil and canon law, philosophy, and theology. He went on to practice law for many years in both the civil and ecclesiastical courts. He graciously defended the poor without charge, and visited them in prison as they awaited trial. He also worked to settle matters out of court to save litigants money and time. For these good works he became known as "Advocate of the Poor." St. Ivo also practiced a life of asceticism; he wore a hairshirt under his clothing, fasted regularly, and became a Franciscan Tertiary. These spiritual disciplines aided him in his practice of virtue in the courtroom: he fought the State in court on behalf of the rights of the Church, and became a diocesan judge who was unable to be tempted by bribes. St. Ivo eventually resigned from practicing law and joined the priesthood. He used the funds from his years practicing law to build a hospital for the poor, and he fed them with the harvests of his land. He became a miracle-worker during his life, feeding hundreds from a single loaf of bread. St. Ivo is the patron saint of judges, attorneys, lawyers, orphans, bailiffs, advocates, and canon lawyers. His feast day is May 19th.

Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter

Reading 1 Acts 18:9-18

One night while Paul was in Corinth, the Lord said to him in a vision,
"Do not be afraid.
Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you.
No one will attack and harm you,
for I have many people in this city."
He settled there for a year and a half
and taught the word of God among them.

But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia,
the Jews rose up together against Paul
and brought him to the tribunal, saying,
"This man is inducing people to worship God contrary to the law."
When Paul was about to reply, Gallio spoke to the Jews,
"If it were a matter of some crime or malicious fraud,
I should with reason hear the complaint of you Jews;
but since it is a question of arguments over doctrine and titles
and your own law, see to it yourselves.
I do not wish to be a judge of such matters."
And he drove them away from the tribunal.
They all seized Sosthenes, the synagogue official,
and beat him in full view of the tribunal.
But none of this was of concern to Gallio.

Paul remained for quite some time,
and after saying farewell to the brothers he sailed for Syria,
together with Priscilla and Aquila.
At Cenchreae he had shaved his head because he had taken a vow.

Responsorial Psalm PS 47:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (8a) God is king of all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All you peoples, clap your hands,
shout to God with cries of gladness,
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.
R. (8a) God is king of all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He brings people under us;
nations under our feet.
He chooses for us our inheritance,
the glory of Jacob, whom he loves.
R. (8a) God is king of all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;
the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.
Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our king, sing praise.
R. (8a) God is king of all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia See Lk 24:46, 26

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead,
and so enter into his glory.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 16:20-23

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn,
while the world rejoices;
you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.
When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived;
but when she has given birth to a child,
she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy
that a child has been born into the world.
So you also are now in anguish.
But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice,
and no one will take your joy away from you.
On that day you will not question me about anything.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you."

Daily Meditation: Acts 18:9-18

He settled there for a year and a half and taught the word of God among them. (Acts 18:11)

When we think of St. Paul, we tend to focus on the more action-filled episodes of his life—the missionary trips as well as the shipwrecks, beatings, trials, and imprisonments. But today's first reading shows us that Paul also enjoyed periods of relative calm and peace. So what was his life like during that year and a half he spent in Corinth, and what can we learn from his time there?

We know that Paul worked at his tent-making trade with his fellow disciples, Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:2-3). On the Sabbath, he would go to the local synagogue to talk about Jesus (18:4). During that time, both Jews and Greeks were converted, and the Corinthian community grew.

Few of us will ever travel the world as Paul did, nor are we ever likely to face an angry crowd. Much of our lives will look more like the "in-between" times of Paul's life. They might seem routine or mundane to us, but as it was for St. Paul, so it is for us: times like these are full of potential.

For example, Paul's business allowed him to support himself while he engaged in his missionary activities. That included evangelizing as well as caring for the Corinthian community and helping them to mature. His job brought him into contact with people from many different walks of life; surely he brought some of them to faith in Christ! Our day-to-day lives might seem boring or uneventful to us, but they are likely filled with opportunities to share our faith and build the kingdom of God.

The quieter seasons in our lives might also allow us to spend more time in prayer. It's likely that these calmer periods gave Paul the opportunity to study, learn, and pray. He may have used these times to write some of the letters that have become treasured parts of Sacred Scripture.

Your life might seem quiet, busy, or downright turbulent right now. Wherever you find yourself, thank the Lord for where he has you. Then trust him to help you to live out your calling right here and right now.

"Jesus, help me to live as your disciple in the everyday moments of my life."

Psalm 47:2-7
John 16:20-23

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Reflections with Brother Adrian:

From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you.
No one will attack and harm you, for I have many people in this city." said our Lord.

The Lord spoke with Paul, and notice the first words: Do Not Be Afraid. It's like we constantly have to be reassured, right? Saint Peter became afraid while walking on water, and that timidity comes from a little doubt. A little doubt keeps us from doing the impossible. Split up the english word "impossible" and you get two words "I'm Possible". And the first word can be split into two words as well, I AM. And so you have the trinity words "I AM Possible". Our Lord continues: I am with You. Our Lord Jesus said these words before ascending into Heaven. "I AM WITH YOU" and we hear the Lord say "With Christ, all things are possible". So, go ahead and give me something impossible, and I will present it to the Lord. He will say the endless possibilities that are to come.

We pray today:
"God is king of all the earth. He brings people under us; nations under our feet.
He chooses for us our inheritance, the glory of Jacob, whom he loves."

In the Gospel today we heard:

"So you also are now in anguish.
But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice,
and no one will take your joy away from you.
On that day you will not question me about anything.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you." says our Lord Jesus our Christ.

So, do you find yourself in anguish? Are you restless? Maybe you are trying to disconnect or distance yourself from things to relieve pressure that you cannot handle.
There is no need to distance yourself. Not from God. If anything, He will help with our burden, if we simply yoke up with Him, to hook our burdens, to pray with Him, to focus on Him and not so much on the problems we are having. At least, that is what I do. In my part of the world, I lead family, businesses, councils, meetings, and lots of people. If I focus away from God, and focus on a certain problem, it is as if to say that I could handle that problem without God. This is a great human error.
This is called auto-sufficiency, and this basically says we don't need God to make things happen. Lies. Yet, people are drinking it up in our world. This is why we are lax in our faith. This is why so few believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This is why most problems are spinning out of control. Truth is, you cannot even breathe without our Lord, for He is the very air we need!

When will we realize that God is everything? Would you have to die to see for yourself?

Ask now for whatever, and our Lord will hear us. Even the prayers you don't think are heard, oh boy, THEY ARE!
So make it a beautiful prayer. One with the greater good at the heart, like true Love.

...†....
Let's pray:
Lord, we suffer so much anguish in our lives, help us suffer for You, not for us any more, and make this suffering a true love yearning, a true response in true faith, a real love of You, help us adore You forever.