†Saint Quote Day
"A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love."
–St. Basil the Great †Today's Meditation
"Christians long ago concluded that each individual human being has his or her own particular guardian angel. Though the Church has never defined the teaching about individual guardian angels, the Catechism of the Catholic Church sums up the matter this way, quoting St. Basil: 'From infancy to death human life is surrounded by [the angels'] watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life'. In this light, we can turn to our guardian angels for help in spiritual warfare, especially to resist the temptations of the Enemy. Yet angels are more than guardians; they are also warriors."
—Paul Thigpen, p. 30
Manual for Spiritual Warfare †Daily Verse
"But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."
–Isaiah 40:31 |  click to read more | | St. Basil the Great St. Basil (330 – 379 A.D.) was born to wealthy and pious parents in Cappadocia, Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). His family was renowned for their great sanctity; his grandfather was martyred under the persecution of Roman Emperor Diocletian, and his grandmother, mother, and several siblings are all numbered among the saints. St. Basil became a monk and founded several monasteries, famously writing a monastic rule of life which has proved to be the most lasting of those in the East. He studied under the finest teachers and was a respected man of great learning, as well as a zealous defender of orthodoxy against many heresies that threatened the Catholic faith, especially Arianism. He was appointed the bishop of Caesarea and in this role became one of the most influential saints in Church history. His life of deep prayer, austerities, and humility, combined with his uncommon preaching and teaching gifts, guided him in leading one of the most politically and ecclesiastically important Sees of the day, for which he earned the name "the Great." He is a Doctor of the Church, and one of the group of three saints called the Cappadocian Fathers, together with his brother, St. Gregory of Nyssa, and his lifelong friend, St. Gregory of Nazianzus. St. Basil's feast day is celebrated on January 2nd, a shared feast day with his close friend St. Gregory Nazianzus. | Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church Readings for the Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church Reading I 1 Jn 2:22-28 Beloved:
Who is the liar?
Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.
Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.
Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father,
but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well. Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you.
If what you heard from the beginning remains in you,
then you will remain in the Son and in the Father.
And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life.
I write you these things about those who would deceive you.
As for you,
the anointing that you received from him remains in you,
so that you do not need anyone to teach you.
But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false;
just as it taught you, remain in him. And now, children, remain in him,
so that when he appears we may have confidence
and not be put to shame by him at his coming. Responsorial Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. Alleluia Heb 1:1-2 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In times, past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets:
in these last days, he has spoken to us through his Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 1:19-28 This is the testimony of John.
When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him
to ask him, "Who are you?"
He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted,
"I am not the Christ."
So they asked him,
"What are you then? Are you Elijah?"
And he said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."
So they said to him,
"Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?
What do you have to say for yourself?"
He said:
"I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
'Make straight the way of the Lord,'
as Isaiah the prophet said."
Some Pharisees were also sent.
They asked him,
"Why then do you baptize
if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?"
John answered them,
"I baptize with water;
but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie."
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan,
where John was baptizing. | DAILY MEDITATION: 1 JOHN 2:22-28
Children, remain in him. (1 John 2:28) When John urges us to "remain" in Christ, he isn't telling us to stay put. The Greek word John uses here, ménete, has a broader meaning than just sitting still. It also means to "abide" or "make your abode" with the Lord Jesus. John is telling us to find our home, our place of belonging, with the Lord. "Home" is not meant to be only a roof over our heads. It is not just the place where we go when the workday is over. Home is also meant to be a place of refuge and rest from our labors. It is meant to be a source of refreshment and restoration for us. It's a place where we are meant to be fed and nourished—by our conversations and times together as much as by the food on our plates. This is the kind of home Jesus can become for us: our refuge from the storms of life, our refreshment when we are anxious and feeling worn thin, and our source of inner nourishment when we are feeling empty and weak. But how can Jesus, who is enthroned in heaven, ever become our home while we are here on this earth? Ironically enough, by taking up residence in our hearts. We can abide in Jesus because he abides in us! You don't have to go seeking him in heaven because he is with you right now on earth. He dwells in your heart, and he is waiting for you to come and find rest in him. He is waiting to share with you his mercy, which removes guilt and shame. He is waiting to share his compassion for the outcast, his mercy for the sinner, his challenge to the self-righteous, and his embrace of the wounded. He is waiting to teach you with his word and to nourish you with the Bread of Life. In prayer today, imagine yourself joining Jesus' disciples as they gathered at table with him. Imagine the feeling of warmth and welcome they knew in his presence. You can experience that same ongoing, intimate connection to Jesus as you come to him in prayer each day. In fact, as you learn to draw close to Jesus in prayer, you'll find it easier to remain in him throughout the day. And the more you remain in him, the more you'll "have confidence and not be put to shame," no matter what happens in your day (1 John 2:28)! Truly, there's no place like home. "Jesus, help me to abide with you today and always." Psalm 98:1-4
John 1:19-28d | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
_"Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.
Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist." There are in many protestants in the world that are like the Jews, and not so much in a good way. The Jews still await the Messiah, but there are no true Jews anymore because the temple doesn't exist, the temple that houses the Ark of the Covenant. And the protestants are still waiting for the "anti-christ" at the "tribulations" period. But, as depicted today, the anit-christ has always existed, and it is simple, for it is a spirit, of denial, to deny Christ, and to deny the Father and the Son, our Christ and our Lord.
We are beginning a new year, how will I deny Christ this year myself? Can I deny Him anymore? Can I deny Him a place to live forever? Don't I wish for a place in Him forever? And if so, how important is that to me? Would I do anything it takes? Protestants hate the notion of works, of good works even in many cases, for they believe in faith alone. But it is not the case, for we are saved by grace alone. And the case for grace is that of being availed to Grace. Mother of God, mother of Grace, pray for us. | We pray today;
"The LORD has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God" | In the Gospel today we heard:
"John answered them, "I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie." These were not the readings of daily Mass today in our Parish, as our parish Priest said a funeral Mass for Pope Benedict XVI.
In those readings, we heard the beatitudes scripture readings in the Gospel of Matthew 5. "He said: 3
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. | John the Baptist was the greatest for he gave his life to God and ushered the opening of the Way of Christ.
And blessed are those who will be found doing so at His coming.
And do you know when He is coming? LOL, don't ask a protestant! They will tell you the date and time, but the bible says nobody knows, not even the angels. What I can say, is that there is a particular judgement that each one of us will have, and then the general judgement, at the second coming, and so, these are 2 encounters, terrible encounters that we are yet to meet.
And for this, we must be getting ready. For the particular encounter is our own judgement which, if you ask me, is tied very closely with the general judgement. Or do you think your actions will not affect those across the world...of the Body of Christ? Do not forget, we are intimately tied, bonded, and living in Him who are baptized. Church is a gathering, not a mere physical building. A physical building of a church is merely a symbolic gesture, much like our Holy Sacraments, which is an outward expression of an inward reality. The truth is...the Lord our Christ, our Savior.
This week may be somber, as we know the late Pope Benedict XVI and future saint in the making Pope Benedict XVI, who will be known as a keeper of the Word of God, loved music, classical, and traditional, all things that aim to keep the tradition of the Holy Faith in a moving action.
I hope these words give us courage to the end. .......................†........................ Pope Benedict XVI, pray for us! That we may be one in the Body of Christ!
.................................................. adrian P.S., We were on a trip last week! Bet you didn't know it, but I keep writing while I'm gone, and praying, and going to daily Mass as much as possible. This last trip, I decided to make a family video out of our weekend getaway. View it, and share it, that it is possible to keep Christ as the center of all things, as was my aim in making a vlog about it anyhow: https://youtu.be/wYQ9Xqh9INA |  click to hear | Random Bible Verse 1 Matthew 22:37–39 [Matthew 22] 37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
