†Saint Quote of the Day
"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin." St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta †Today's Meditation
"Oftentimes, we don't recognize the many gifts that God pours out to us in our daily lives. What we do recognize are daily annoyances, burdens, difficulties, and inconveniences. These win our attention. These get us complaining. These get us in a bad mood and sap our energy. Wouldn't it be a tragedy if, after we started receiving even more gifts and graces through our consecration [to Mary], we didn't change this negative attitude? Yes, it would be…St. Mother Teresa lived in some of the poorest environments on earth. She had to put up with burning heat, bad breath, stuffy rooms, nagging fatigue, endless responsibilities, bland food, hard beds, body odor, cold water bathing, and an agonizingly deep spiritual aridity. Yet, despite all this, she radiated joy. She smiled. She marveled at the good things God did in her life and in the lives of others, and she pondered the countless loving details arranged by Our Lady. Seeing and recognizing all this, she didn't complain.
–Michael E. Gaitley, MIC, p.77 †Daily Verse
"This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 |  click to read more | | St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910–1997), known simply as Mother Teresa, was born to a family of Albanian descent in what is now Macedonia. As a young girl Mother Teresa was fascinated by stories she heard of missionaries serving in India. By age 12 she discerned a vocation to the religious life, and at the age of 18 joined the Sisters of Loreto as a missionary to India. She chose her religious name after St. Therese of Lisieux, the patron saint of missionaries. She arrived in Calcutta, India in 1929 and taught at a schoolhouse for wealthy children, eventually becoming head mistress. She enjoyed her work, but became increasingly disturbed by the extreme poverty and societal unrest she observed around her. In 1946 she received a "call within a call" and began her own religious order in Calcutta dedicated to ministering to, in her words, "the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone." This order was established in 1950 with 12 sisters and named the Missionaries of Charity. By the time of her death on September 5, 1997, the Missionaries of Charity had grown to 4,000 sisters operating 610 missions in 123 countries. She received the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize and the Nobel Peace Prize for her inspiring work with social outcasts. Mother Teresa was canonized by Pope Francis on September 4, 2016. Her feast day is September 5th. | Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 1 Thes 5:1-6, 9-11 Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters,
you have no need for anything to be written to you.
For you yourselves know very well
that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night.
When people are saying, "Peace and security,"
then sudden disaster comes upon them,
like labor pains upon a pregnant woman,
and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness,
for that day to overtake you like a thief.
For all of you are children of the light
and children of the day.
We are not of the night or of darkness.
Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do,
but let us stay alert and sober.
For God did not destine us for wrath,
but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep
we may live together with him.
Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up,
as indeed you do. Responsorial Psalm Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14 R. (13) I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. 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 4:31-37 Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.
He taught them on the sabbath,
and they were astonished at his teaching
because he spoke with authority.
In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon,
and he cried out in a loud voice,
"What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are–the Holy One of God!"
Jesus rebuked him and said, "Be quiet! Come out of him!"
Then the demon threw the man down in front of them
and came out of him without doing him any harm.
They were all amazed and said to one another,
"What is there about his word?
For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,
and they come out."
And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.
| Daily Meditation: Luke 4:31-37 What is there about his word? (Luke 4:36) That's a great question! Whether it was his teaching that astonished them or his command to an unclean spirit, something about the words of Jesus made people sit up and listen. Bible commentators often say that Jesus' words act in two different ways: as light and as power. Today's Gospel gives us a clear example of both. First, God's word is light. It shines in the darkness and reveals the true nature of the world around us. As an example, think about what happened when Jesus taught in the synagogue in Capernaum. The people were astonished and recognized his authority, yes. But something even more striking happened: a man who was possessed by an "unclean demon" started shouting at Jesus (Luke 4:33). This man didn't burst into the synagogue; he had been there all along. But something about Jesus' words exposed the bondage he was experiencing. He might not have even been aware of that spirit's influence, but Jesus' word brought it to light, and it caused the man to act out. Second, God's word is power. It brings everything into existence according to God's will. In the same synagogue, it wasn't enough for Jesus just to expose this man's condition. He wanted to do something about it. So he spoke directly to the demon and commanded it to be quiet and come out of the man. And that's exactly what happened—without harming the man himself. Imagine how wonderful that fellow must have felt! Jesus' mere words completely turned his life around. Maybe God's word will uncover something uncomfortable in you as you ponder today's readings. But you don't have to be afraid! Jesus wants to bring his light into your life. If his word uncovers something unexpected, know that he won't leave you there. His word is always there with the power to set you free and make you whole. God's word is not just a theoretical principle. It's a promise. It brings light and power. When you read about this man going from bondage to freedom, know that this is exactly what Jesus can do for you. So take his word into your heart. Sit with it and ponder it. Let God speak directly to you! "Lord, open my ears to hear your powerful, illuminating word." 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11
Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"For all of you are children of the light
and children of the day.
We are not of the night or of darkness.
Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do,
but let us stay alert and sober.
For God did not destine us for wrath,
but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep
we may live together with him.
Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.
...." end of verse. . . .
The words are repeated so that we may learn them, so that we may live them, so that we may take heart in them, and so that we may have because of them. For there is power in the Word of God our Father. | We pray today:
"I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD......"_ end of Psalm." | In the Gospel today we heard:
"Then the demon threw the man down in front of them
and came out of him without doing him any harm.
They were all amazed and said to one another,
"What is there about his word?
For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,
and they come out."........" end of Gospel verse. | We had heard of a man in the synagogue:
"...a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice,
"What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!"
Jesus rebuked him and said, "Be quiet! Come out of him!" Then we heard "Then the demon threw the man down in front of them
and came out of him without doing him any harm." It's like demons can use humans as puppets, right? And you don't have to be fully possessed for this to happen, we just let bad spirits talk and live through us. And we don't have to be phenomenal psychiatrists or psychologists or theologians or even perfectly holy people to see what a bad spirit is.
But it does take grace to discern the spirits. Therefore, we should strive to live a life of purity and grace.
Our Lord easily could've ignored the man, but he could not ignore the "unclean spirit". And we should do the same. Discern the spirits so that we may cast them out, of ourselves, and others. That's right! You can do this! And we should all do this. And there are a couple ways to do this. For self, go to confession, and let out all the unclean spirits and let our Lord wash us with His blood.
And secondly, we should pray with one another, and whence you see a bad spirit in the room, you can hear it, and you can sense it under your soul's skin. There are signs and they are more visible with a well formed conscious. Firstly, you know that something just isn't right. Secondly, you notice it goes against God's will of charity and love of God. Watch what the unclean spirit said to our Lord Jesus "Have you come to destroy us?"
Say what? Our Lord knew immediately this was not right. Our Lord did not come to destroy them. Not even the demons. Many nowadays like to use the names "demon slayers" and destroyers, but our Lord didn't kill demons...they are already dead! Say what?
Demons are already dead to our Lord, and this speaks volumes. We would like to see evil die like in the movies, but those are people that die, not spirits, the spirits don't die! But they are dead to a life of full communion with our Father in Heaven.
And so the question of "Have you come to destroy us" was an alarm for our Lord, it just didn't sound right and knew immediately this was a demonic spirit speaking for all to hear a revelation that was supposed to be secret until the appropriate time, the crucifixion and resurrection, where darkness would be dispelled by shining the light of how evil was really present among us.
And so what does our Lord do? LOL. He said "be quiet!"
Very gentle. Very strong. Very Fatherly.
And then "Come out of him".
The man is knocked to the ground, such was the power over the man, like a bully, pushes him, and this is a clear sign of evil, a lack of charity, and love, that it would shove a man to his face in front of all to see darkness in broad daylight.
But the man was not harmed, because our Lord does everything right. Now, if this happened in front of you, would you believe?
For a nonbeliever, the whole scene would've meant very little, it would even look comical, some guy yelling some words then falls to the ground is supposedly "delivered" and "freed".
But the non believer would only believe if he had lived with the man before and lived with the man afterward. Something happened, and the evidence would be there forever. Something very good happened. And so, we too should be on guard and watch for demonic spirits are constantly working around us. We need to have love and light in our eyes to see what is lurking in the shadows. There are millions if not billions of bad spirits out there that are trying to use people to make more bad spirits, and why? Misery loves company and hates the light.
How will we know if God is speaking?
Firstly, you will sense a gentle Word with authority.
You will know if the Word comes in peace and not by force.
The only aggravating thing you may sense is yourself quarreling and being agitated by...the truth that wants you and wants to set you free.
I say that because many times I am told to do something and I don't want to listen. This is a clear example of us quarreling with the voice of command and calling us to obedience.
But follow His voice. Obey. And on your way, pray for love of the voice of God.
I owe God and apology, for I was going to sing a song and I didn't in front of a crowd, and the song Called "Goodness of God" says: "I love You, Lord
Oh Your mercy never fails me
All my days, I've been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God Cause all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
And in darkest night You are close like no other
I've known You as a Father
I've known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah And all my life You have been faithful, ohh
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God, yeah 'Cause Your goodness is running after, it's running after me" ........
Let us pray:
Lord, Your voice is beautiful, and it speaks like no other voice. You say things with a voice that stands out like no other. I love it, help me follow it. Because I am a sheep in the flock, and I am Your child, and I want to be wherever my Good Shepherd and Father is...always and forever. |  Click To Hear | Random Bible Verse 1
2 Corinthians 12:9 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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