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Wednesday, January 18, 2023

† "..to do good. . . "

 
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†Saint Quote
"The soul hungers for God, and nothing but God can satiate it. Therefore He came to dwell on earth and assumed a Body in order that this Body might become the Food of our souls."
–St. John Vianney

†Today's Meditation
"The right understanding of things is a necessary step in the way of perfection. The hunger and thirst after justice—after improvemtns—needs direction; the beginning of wisdom—the yearning and will to be holy—must be orderly; the growth in the knowledge and love of God—the giving of the mind and heart to God—have marks that show the way. To follow these, there must be a thought of spiritual need, a meditation on what has been acquired, a looking backward on the reasons and causes of failure or success, a searching anew for the means to avoid the mistakes of the past, while new courage, fresh resolve, and reborn yearning urge the soul to ascend the mountaintops where perfection waits."
—Matt Fradd, p.31

An Excerpt From
Rooting Out Hidden Faults - How the Particular Examen Conquers Sin

†Daily Verse
"Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the gospel of God's grace."
–Acts 20:24

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St. Margaret of Hungary

St. Margaret of Hungary (1242–1271) was the daughter of King Bela IV of Hungary, and niece of the famed St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Her royal parents made a vow to God that if Hungary was saved from the Mongol invasion they would dedicate Margaret to religion. God heard their prayer and the country was saved. The king and queen then entrusted four-year-old Margaret to be raised and educated in a Dominican convent. At the age of ten Margaret was transferred to the Convent of the Blessed Virgin founded by her parents, built on an island her parents named after her. Margaret spent the rest of her life there, dedicating herself to prayer and severe penances. She opposed her father's attempts to arrange her political marriage with the King of Bohemia, even though her suitor obtained a dispensation from the pope to release her from her religious vows so that she could enter into matrimony. Margaret made her solemn vows as a Dominican nun at the age of eighteen. Although a beautiful princess, she took the most menial tasks in the convent and dedicated her life to serving the poor and sick. She was considered a saint during her life and after her death. Many miracles, especially the curing of illnesses, were attributed to her intercession. She died at the age of 28. Her feast day is January 18.

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adly
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Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Heb 7:1-3, 15-17

Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High,
met Abraham as he returned from his defeat of the kings
and blessed him.
And Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything.
His name first means righteous king,
and he was also "king of Salem," that is, king of peace.
Without father, mother, or ancestry,
without beginning of days or end of life,
thus made to resemble the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

It is even more obvious if another priest is raised up
after the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become so,
not by a law expressed in a commandment concerning physical descent
but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed.
For it is testified:

You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 110:1, 2, 3, 4

R. (4b) You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The LORD said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand
till I make your enemies your footstool."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The scepter of your power the LORD will stretch forth from Zion:
"Rule in the midst of your enemies."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
"Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The LORD has sworn, and he will not repent:
"You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

Alleluia See Mt 4:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 3:1-6

Jesus entered the synagogue.
There was a man there who had a withered hand.
They watched Jesus closely
to see if he would cure him on the sabbath
so that they might accuse him.
He said to the man with the withered hand,
"Come up here before us."
Then he said to the Pharisees,
"Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?"
But they remained silent.
Looking around at them with anger
and grieved at their hardness of heart,
Jesus said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."
He stretched it out and his hand was restored.
The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel
with the Herodians against him to put him to death.


agosp
adailycatholic
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Daily Meditation: Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17

He was also "king of Salem," that is, king of peace. (Hebrews 7:2)

Who was Melchizedek? A "priest of God Most High," he greeted Abraham with bread and wine after Abraham's victory in battle (Genesis 14:18, 20). According to today's first reading, Melchizedek was "without father, mother, or ancestry" (Hebrews 7:3). Because his ancestry is never identified in Scripture, some Jews believed that Melchizedek was eternal.

Which brings us to Jesus. Hebrews tells us that he is the great and eternal high priest, "a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek" (7:17).

Scripture also tells us that Melchizedek was the "king of Salem," which translates as "king of peace," (Genesis 14:18; Hebrews 7:2). Jesus is the King of peace. He himself is our way to peace. Through his cross and resurrection, he has healed the rift between God and humanity. And by uniting us into one body, he has opened the door for us to experience healing in every relationship wounded by division.

Today begins the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. When we look at all the division in the world today, perhaps we don't necessarily think of the denominational divisions that exist among Christians. But God desires to heal the broken body of Christ. Why? Because it is through his united Church that he can bring peace and healing to the world.

So how can we cooperate with the God of peace in the great work of Christian unity? We can begin by taking on God's heart and praying for unity among believers, especially during this week. These prayers can transform our own hearts as we come to see just how much we hold in common with our separated brothers and sisters. And even if we never live to see all Christians visibly united in one Church, we can still be united with each other in our love for Christ. That spirit of unity can even carry over to help us bring peace wherever we encounter division.

Jesus wants us to work with him in bringing together his beloved people. May our prayers and actions give witness to the love God has for all those who believe in him.

"Father, help me to be a part of the work for peace among my brothers and sisters in Christ."

Psalm 110:1-4
Mark 3:1-6

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adyn
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From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"Without father, mother, or ancestry,
without beginning of days or end of life,
thus made to resemble the Son of God, he remains a priest forever."

In other words, Melchizedek was to remain a mystery, right? Much like our Lord, He is to remain more of a mystery than anything, because God is a mystery. This is what stumps atheists, and all those who have to know everything and trust...nobody.

psalms

We pray today;
""You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."

And it gets even more strange...that we are created in the mystery of God. Who can fathom the billions of lives before us and the billions to come? Who can fathom the countless stars in just our universe that is not fully known? What do I know? You are given to know only what is important...and the rest is left to trust in the Almighty, whom we ought to serve with all our hearts, minds, and souls.

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In the Gospel today we heard:
"He said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up here before us.... Looking around at them with anger
and grieved at their hardness of heart,
Jesus said to the man, "Stretch out your hand.""

Why was our Lord filled with righteous anger? Because nobody would stand up for the poor man. They wanted to keep him in his place. They didn't want to help him. This very well could've been the only chance the man could be one of them, healed, reconciled, one with the whole, back in the community, but they didn't want that, because in the end, it would mean to accept our Lord's teachings over everything else they knew.

You see, we can't rely on our own understanding. Love must win, and the love of God means love itself. This is why our Lord came...to prove to the world that God does love us like no other. That we are worthy and worth sending the love of His life, the most supreme creation if you can even call it that...of our Lord's blood, body, soul, and divinity....everything grace and mercy to be poured out to use, first with a trickle of blood of our Lord's open wounds, and then with a torrent down pouring of the light in the Holy Spirit all over the world.

So does this speak to you personally my child?

From a random opening of "The Imitation of Christ" by Kempis:

"Nothing is small that comes from the Most High God. Indeed, even if He sends punishment and affliction, we should accept it with gratitude; for whatever He permits to happen to us is always with our salvation in view.
If you desire to keep the grace of God, be thankful when it is given to you, patient when it is withdrawn. Pray that it may return; be humble and cautious that you do not lose it."

.......................†........................
Lord, I forget that the only place I've witnessed true humility is on that Holy Cross, and that you asked us to follow You. May we learn sacrificial Love, obedience, the very life and language of Heaven.
..................................................

adrian

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Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 103:11–12

[Psalm 103]

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

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God Bless You! Peace

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