.: 05/11/23

Thursday, May 11, 2023

† I have told you THIS

†Quote of the Day
"Put your heart at His feet. It is the gift He loves most."
–St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

†Today's Meditation
"Prayer brings our mind into the brightness of divine light, and exposes our will to the warmth of divine love. Nothing else can so purge our mind from its ignorance, and our will from its depraved affections. It is a blessed fountain which, as it flows, revives our good desires and causes them to bring forth fruit, washes away the stains of infirmity from our soul, and calms the passions of our hearts."
—St. Francis de Sales, p. 61

†Daily Verse
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be." Matthew 6:19-21
–Matthew 6:19-21

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St. Francis of Girolamo

St. Francis de Girolamo (1642-1716) was the eldest of eleven children born to honorable and virtuous parents in Naples, Italy. As a child he was drawn to God and a life of prayer. Realizing his vocation to Holy Orders, he was ordained a Jesuit priest at the age of 28. He became a renowned public preacher due to his distinguished and eloquent voice. He was described as "a lamb when he talks, and a lion when he preaches." He had a heart for the missions after his patron St. Francis Xavier, but instead of traveling to distant lands he accepted his hometown of Naples as his India. He went as a missionary priest into country towns and villages for open-air preaching in the streets. He sought to convert sinners wherever they were—in brothels, prisons, galleys, hospitals, and asylums—as well as instructing the pious in their religious houses. He converted Muslim prisoners of war to the Christian faith, rescued chidren from dangerous and degrading situations, and opened a pawn shop for charity. The fruit of his labor was abundant. He converted many souls, even hardened sinners, and made them virtuous. Everyone knew him for his holiness and zeal. He also had a reputation for being a miracle worker during his lifetime and after his death. After spending 40 years in apostolic labor in Naples, he died of an illness from which he suffered greatly without complaint. His feast day is May 11th.

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Reading 1 Acts 15:7-21

After much debate had taken place,
Peter got up and said to the Apostles and the presbyters,
"My brothers, you are well aware that from early days
God made his choice among you that through my mouth
the Gentiles would hear the word of the Gospel and believe.
And God, who knows the heart,
bore witness by granting them the Holy Spirit
just as he did us.
He made no distinction between us and them,
for by faith he purified their hearts.
Why, then, are you now putting God to the test
by placing on the shoulders of the disciples
a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?
On the contrary, we believe that we are saved
through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they."
The whole assembly fell silent,
and they listened
while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders
God had worked among the Gentiles through them.

After they had fallen silent, James responded,
"My brothers, listen to me.
Symeon has described how God first concerned himself
with acquiring from among the Gentiles a people for his name.
The words of the prophets agree with this, as is written:

After this I shall return
and rebuild the fallen hut of David;
from its ruins I shall rebuild it
and raise it up again,
so that the rest of humanity may seek out the Lord,
even all the Gentiles on whom my name is invoked.
Thus says the Lord who accomplishes these things,
known from of old.

It is my judgment, therefore,
that we ought to stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God,
but tell them by letter to avoid pollution from idols,
unlawful marriage, the meat of strangled animals, and blood.
For Moses, for generations now,
has had those who proclaim him in every town,
as he has been read in the synagogues every sabbath."

Responsorial Psalm Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 10

R.(3) Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia Jn 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 15:9-11

Jesus said to his disciples:
"As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father's commandments
and remain in his love.

"I have told you this so that
my joy might be in you and
your joy might be complete."

Daily Meditation: John 15:9-11

If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love. (John 15:10)

We know that we are supposed to love Jesus. But how do we do it? How do you love someone that you can't touch, see, or hear?

Jesus gives us a simple answer in today's Gospel: keep his commandments.

Now, we often equate love with passion. But keeping Jesus' "commandments" is more likely to bring to mind a tedious and demanding list of rules, not deep sentimental or emotional feelings. In fact, it can sound about as exciting as washing a sink full of dirty dishes!

But the truth is, a love that does not include keeping Jesus' commandments is a love that lacks depth. It's as if a man were to tell his wife that he loves her but then spend next to no time with her. His words would have little meaning to her, wouldn't they?

In a similar way, we show our love for Jesus through our actions, especially by the way we love other people. God wants us to treat each other with the same dignity, respect, kindness, and forgiveness that Jesus has for them. As Jesus said immediately after today's Gospel, "This is my commandment: love one another" (John 15:12).

Loving others doesn't have to involve grand gestures. We can show our love most clearly in the ordinary ways we serve each other. Volunteering to help out a neighbor with a home improvement project. Helping a child with homework. Caring for a sick spouse. It's acts like these that show our love and that keep us rooted in Jesus' love.

Some days it may seem that your acts of love go unnoticed or unappreciated. But God is always pleased with your efforts, even if you can't see any immediate result. He is using you to bless his people!

So instead of looking at Jesus' commandments as chores, try thinking of them as your path to joy. Remind yourself that he has given you his command to love "so that my joy might be in you" (John 15:11). You are building his kingdom by your actions—and you are keeping yourself safe in his love at the same time. How could you not rejoice?

"Jesus, teach me to love as you love so that I can know your joy."

Acts 15:7-21
Psalm 96:1-3, 10

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Reflections with Brother Adrian:

From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"After this I shall return and rebuild the fallen hut of David; from its ruins I shall rebuild it
and raise it up again, so that the rest of humanity may seek out the Lord, even all the Gentiles on whom my name is invoked."

When I re-read this Scripture here, I really thought it was our Lord Jesus speaking! Because this is exactly what He came to do. King David became ruins...and from this stump, that was still alive, our Lord came, a shoot, a new life, a new tree from the old, the old cut down, and for good reason....the fruit that God desired was not being given to the world. What does this mean? It means that God's goodness was not being distributed at the appointed time. It means that me and you have our part to do this very day in His Kingdom...of His Holy Will. What lasts His is His wish.

We pray today:
"Sing to the LORD a new song;
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
...Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king."

In the Gospel today we heard:

" "As the Father loves me, so I also love you...
I have told you this so that
my joy might be in you and
your joy might be complete." says our Lord Jesus today."_

Why does our Lord speak so much about love?

Why did He die for Love?
You know that nowadays, love actually catches people by surprise?
Yep! Everyone is negative, so very few are positive in reality, in true love.
And I'm speaking of true heroic love, going where very few dare to go.
This is admirable, and so beloved in Heaven.
Would that we too could be heroic lovers of God the Father as our Lord Jesus.
Is there really true joy?
We know it exists, right?
But it seems the world we live in, especially in our nation, there is not a true joy, and so, because of it, there's tons of distractions, movies, sports, bars, clubs, dances, all sorts of things to try to make you happy. But it is in reality, no true joy. It offers a roller coaster ride, with ups and downs, but no true everlasting, and life changing joy from within. Externally, it cannot happen.
And so, our Lord desires to enter, internally and live there forever.
What if the size of the mansion you get in Heaven is related to how much of your heart you give to God the Father now?
Did you know that there is construction going on in Heaven and in great haste?
The lame, the paralyzed are working with all their limbs and wills and are thrilled to build a home for someone sacrificing their life to God now.
So, do you love God?

Then remain.
Remain true? What will it take for true love to be proven?
Let us follow the lead...Jesus our Lord and our Lover, to the extremes.
They say to love means to will the good of the other.

...†....
Let's pray:
Lord, Father, God, the Word says "God is Love", and so, I pray that my life may give fruits of love as You desire, help us discern this blessed calling and live it out every moment of our lives for You!