†Saint Quote
"Love is the most beautiful sentiment the Lord has put into the soul of men and women."
–St. Gianna Molla †Today's Meditation
"Just as God's creature, the sun, is one and the same the world over, so also does the Church's preaching shine everywhere to enlighten all men who want to come to a knowledge of the truth. Now of those who speak with authority in the churches, no preacher however forceful will utter anything different—for no one is above the Master—nor will a less forceful preacher diminish what has been handed down. Since our faith is everywhere the same, no one who can say more augments it, nor can anyone who says less diminish it."
—St. Ignatius of Antioch, p. 194 An Excerpt From
Witness of the Saints †Daily Verse
"The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. Whoever says, "I know him," but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him: whoever claims to abide in him ought to live [just] as he lived."
–1 John 2:3-6 |  click to read more | | St. David of Wales St. David of Wales (6th c.), also called Dewi Sant by the Welsh, was a missionary priest, Celtic monk, archbishop, miracle-worker, and the founder of many monasteries in Wales and western England. He was descended from Welsh royalty, and in medieval times many believed he was the nephew of the famed King Arthur. His great leadership abilities gave him influence over many Church affairs. In the dozen monasteries he founded he established strict asceticism modeled after the early desert hermits. St. David is often depicted standing on a mound with a dove on his shoulder. According to legend, one day while preaching a dove rested on his shoulder, and the earth rose to lift him above the crowd so that all could hear him speak. During a battle with the Saxons, St. David advised the Welsh soldiers to wear leeks in their hats to distinguish themselves from their enemy; this is the origin of the leek as an emblem of Wales. St. David is one of the great saints of the 6th century whose work helped to establish Christianity in Europe. He is the patron saint of Wales, and his feast, "St. David's Day," is a popular cultural celebration. The Cathedral of St. David's in Pembrokeshire was built over his remains and became a pilgrimage destination for centuries. St. David of Wales' feast day is March 1st. | Wednesday of the First Week in Lent Lectionary: 226
Reading 1 Jon 3:1-10 The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time:
""Set out for the great city of Nineveh,
and announce to it the message that I will tell you.""
So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh,
according to the LORD's bidding.
Now Nineveh was an enormously large city;
it took three days to go through it.
Jonah began his journey through the city,
and had gone but a single day's walk announcing,
""Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,""
when the people of Nineveh believed God;
they proclaimed a fast
and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. When the news reached the king of Nineveh,
he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe,
covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes.
Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh,
by decree of the king and his nobles:
"Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep,
shall taste anything;
they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water.
Man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God;
every man shall turn from his evil way
and from the violence he has in hand.
Who knows, God may relent and forgive, and withhold his blazing wrath,
so that we shall not perish.""
When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way,
he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them;
he did not carry it out. Responsorial Psalm Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19 R. (19b) A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. Verse Before the Gospel Jl 2:12-13 Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart
for I am gracious and merciful. Gospel Lk 11:29-32 While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
"This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and there is something greater than Jonah here." | Daily Meditation: Jonah 3:1-10 The people of Nineveh believed God. (Jonah 3:5) Amazing! After hearing Jonah's call to repentance for just one day, the people of Nineveh "believed God" and "proclaimed a fast" as a sign of their repentance (Jonah 3:5). Why were this man's words so effective? One reason was that Jonah was not just speaking what was on his mind. He was saying what God had asked him to say! "Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed," he repeated as he walked through the city (3:4). Jonah was a prophet, one chosen to hear God's voice and speak it to those around him. And just as he had done with the other prophets of the Old Testament, God "backed up" Jonah's words with power. His words didn't just inform the people; they helped bring about deep, lasting change in their hearts—something today's reading shows us in a very dramatic fashion! The Church calls each of us—baptized Catholics—to "share also in Christ's prophetic office" and to "spread abroad a living witness to him" (Lumen Gentium, 12). Like Jonah, we, too, are called to hear God's word and proclaim it. And like Jonah, we, too, can expect God to bring about changes in the people around us when we speak his words! So when you come to prayer, be sure to listen for the Lord's voice. He might speak to you through a Scripture passage or with a thought that comes to you that you know isn't your own. He might speak to you through the words of someone else or through the beauty of nature. The Lord can use countless ways to speak to you; your part is to still the noise around you, listen carefully, and expect to hear from him. If you feel that God has spoken to you, don't be afraid to share it, especially if your words are for someone's "building up, encouragement, and solace" (1 Corinthians 14:3). You never know how your words could make a difference in the lives of the people around you. And if you're not sure you are hearing God clearly, don't get discouraged. Keep praying, keep listening, and keep believing that God is at work and wants to speak to you and through you. "Jesus, I thank you that I can hear your voice and share it with others." Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19
Luke 11:29-32 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"every man shall turn from his evil way and from the violence he has in hand. Who knows, God may relent and forgive, and withhold his blazing wrath, so that we shall not perish." What was your reaction when you heard of devilish things on TV and social media? Were you scandalized? Evil feeds off of attention. Did you do any acts of reparation for them? Did you hit your knees any? Pray any? Did you offer a sacrifice for God to see we are sorry? Why should we? I'm sure the people of Nineveh were the same as us today, prosperous, lots of sin rampant, sodomy, greed, and lust everywhere. So why should we people that don't do that stuff, atone for others? Why would we have to be like Christ and suffer unjustly? Do you want to know why we all need to do it, not just the sinners? Because we are in this together. Lent is the greatest wake up call for us all. | We pray today:
"For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn" | In the Gospel today we heard our Lord:
"At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here." What was so great about Jonah? Apparently our Lord said it was great because He said He had something "greater", more like some ONE greater.
And this is what He meant...that if people repented at His teaching, and command, then they would live...forever! This is greater news than that of Jonah's temporal salvation. For they were spared for the moment...but not necessarily forever.
This means that our repentance has to be one of the heart.
Everyone in Nineveh followed the King's orders and were spared, and Jonah was mad, because he saw they were living a rotten life that deserved God's wrath.
But our Lord is greater in Mercy and Justice.
He sees we not only need salvation, but much more...mercy. I'm praying that our Lord has mercy on us. In our families, communities and countries. I'm praying for the whole world to have a revelation...Of God, and Divine Mercy.
I am praying for peace, but more...for a world to have CHRIST AS OUR KING. | ....†....
Lord, help us learn how to give, a true contrite heart to You, forever. .......... from your brother Adrian@Going4th.com |  click to hear | Random Bible Verse 1
Matthew 12:50 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
