†Quote of the Day
"Viva Cristo Rey! Long live Christ the King!"
–Blessed Miguel Pro †Today's Meditation
"To love God's will in consolations is a good love when it is truly God's will we love and not the consolation wherein it lies. Still, it is a love without opposition, repugnance, or effort. Who would not love so worthy a will in so agreeable a form? To love God's will in His commandments, counsels, and inspirations is the second degree of love and it is much more perfect. It carries us forward to renounce and give up our own will, and enables us to abstain from and forbear many pleasures, but not all of them. To love suffering and affliction out of love for God is the summit of most holy charity. In it nothing is pleasant but the divine will alone; there is great opposition on the part of our nature; and not only do we forsake all pleasures, but we embrace torments and labors."
—St. Francis de Sales, p. 76 An Excerpt From
Finding God's Will for You †Daily Verse
"For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? This God is my strong refuge, and has made[a] my way safe. He made my feet like hinds' feet, and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. Thou hast given me the shield of thy salvation, and thy help made me great. Thou didst give a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip."
–2 Samuel 22:32-37 |  click to read more | | Pope St. Leo III Pope St. Leo III (d. 816 A.D.) was a Roman cardinal who was unanimously elected pope on the same day his predecessor was buried. He lived during a time of tension between the popes and emperors and their respective rights, powers, and responsibilities. Unlike his predecessor, Leo recognized Charlemagne as the protector of the See of Rome, which won him many enemies among the Roman nobility. As a result, Pope St. Leo III was attacked by a mob who cut out his eyes and tongue so that he could no longer serve in his office. He survived the attack, but was imprisoned by his attackers and deposed from his office under false accusations. Leo's eyes and tongue were miraculously restored, and he was able to escape his captivity and flee to Charlemagne for protection. Charlemagne in turn took up the Holy Father's cause, escorted him back to Rome, and put his enemies on trial. A few days later, at the Christmas Mass of 800 A.D., Pope St. Leo III crowned Charlemagne as the Holy Roman Emperor. As the Roman Pontiff, Pope St. Leo III was known for being an effective administrator and for improving the Roman churches. He also paved the way for a more unified Europe, and for greater cooperation across national borders between the Church and the secular European nations to maintain their collective Christian identity. His feast day is June 12 | Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 2 Cor 1:1-7 Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Timothy our brother,
to the Church of God that is at Corinth,
with all the holy ones throughout Achaia:
grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all encouragement,
who encourages us in our every affliction,
so that we may be able to encourage
those who are in any affliction
with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God.
For as Christ's sufferings overflow to us,
so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow.
If we are afflicted,
it is for your encouragement and salvation;
if we are encouraged,
it is for your encouragement,
which enables you to endure the same sufferings that we suffer.
Our hope for you is firm,
for we know that as you share in the sufferings,
you also share in the encouragement. Responsorial Psalm Ps 34: R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Alleluia Mt 5:12a R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad;
for your reward will be great in heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 5:1-12 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.
Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
| Daily Meditation: 2 Corinthians 1:1-7 Blessed be the God . . . of all encouragement. (2 Corinthians 1:3) The Corinthians were upset with Paul. He had promised to visit them, but then decided not to (2 Corinthians 1:12-22). As a result, doubt and suspicion clouded their relationship with him. That shouldn't surprise us, really. After all, Paul was writing to a people who were fallible, insecure, and eminently human—just like himself, and just like us. Paul later explained why he had changed his plans (2 Corinthians 1:15-24). But first he focused on the goodness of God, assuring the Corinthians that he is "the God of all encouragement" (1:3). It's almost like a drumbeat: Paul uses the words "encourage" or "encouragement" in every sentence (1:4-7). The Corinthians could rely on this, no matter what. Paul could point the Corinthians to the goodness of God because he had experienced this truth himself. Facing constant threats to his life, he could feel "utterly weighed down" at times (2 Corinthians 1:8). Even his ruptured relationship with the Corinthians caused him great suffering. Having loved and cared for them for many years, he probably found it hard to be at odds with them now. But despite all of this, Paul drew comfort from his heavenly Father—the comfort that God offers us in every circumstance of our lives. The Greek word translated in this passage as "encourage" means "to call by the side of." When you face suffering, especially the hurt of a broken relationship, know that your heavenly Father is calling you to himself. He is waiting to wrap you in his arms and hold you close to his heart. The Holy Spirit comes alongside you too, to strengthen you, comfort you, and give you wisdom to navigate your difficulties. Paul's hope for this "coming alongside" was unwavering. It's what helped him experience the Lord's encouragement in his suffering. When you are hurt, even by your brothers and sisters in Christ, you can look to the Lord for comfort and encouragement as well. So seek out your Father and allow him to draw you to his side. "Father, thank you for always coming alongside me." Psalm 34:2-9
Matthew 5:1-12 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction,
so that we may be able to encourage
those who are in any affliction
with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God." end of verse. They say that this is a sign of the Holy Spirit at work, His encouragement. What else could possibly give us the strength to persevere? This is hope alive. | We pray today:
"Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord"
end of Psalm. What would motivate us to motivate others? Have you tasted and seen the goodness of the Lord? Then this ought to be what we desire for others, that they may see, that they may come and taste, the goodness of the Lord, and the offer is an eternal offering. | In the Gospel today we heard:
""Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land." end of verse. | From Bishop Barron today:
"Friends, in today's Gospel, Jesus goes up a mountain and sits down to teach. In the Old Testament, we find Moses, the great teacher, also going up a mountain to receive the Law and then sitting down to teach it. However, Jesus is not receiving a law; he is giving one.
Theologian N.T. Wright has pointed out that the Old Testament is essentially an unfinished symphony. It is the articulation of a hope but without a realization of that hope. Thus, as the fulfillment of Israel's entire story, Jesus begins his primary teaching with the Beatitudes, a title that stems from the Latin noun beātitūdō, meaning "happy" or "blessed."
Through this series of paradoxes, surprises, and reversals, Jesus begins setting a topsy-turvy universe aright. How should we understand them? A key is the Greek word makarios, rendered "blessed" or "happy" or perhaps even "lucky," which is used to start each of the Beatitudes.
And so, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." We might say, "How lucky you are if you are not addicted to material things." Here Jesus is telling us how to realize our deepest desire, which is the desire for God and not for passing things that only bring temporary comfort." end quote Bishop Barron.
Who are the poor in spirit? For it is to them that the Kingdom belongs to. So, let's take some clues. Who is in Heaven? Saints are in Heaven. How were they poor? Most gave up all earthly treasures for God's Heavenly treasure.
What is this treasure? What if I told you what the treasure is? It is Jesus! It is Him in the Eucharist! Right? Isn't He?
So who else is in Heaven? Our Lord Jesus. The Saints followed Him there. The Saints did as our Lord did. The Saints spoke as our Lord spoke. The Saints lived as our Lord lived. How? They let Him. These words reaching into your heart are words of encouragement. That you may persevere in the really "good" life, the holy life, the pure life. I've said it before, and it is always worth mentioning again. Purity is power. Pure light is more powerful than regular light. Why should we be powerful in God's eyes? Because, there are not enough souls venturing to be poor in spirit. Purely His. And I'm about to say what this means; it is about humility. The humble suffer, no? Don't the humble suffer the most humiliations? For God? Be meek.
"Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God."
And some have lived on earth and have seen God!
Moses? Yeah, but way more since Jesus walked this earth.
Even non-believers have seen Him! And they have converted. And they are more beautiful for it.
What is it to see our Lord? It is to see the very heart of God Himself. Puro Amor. Pure Love. Let's pray:
Lord, that we may be more like You, in Your image, in Your likeness, in Your every way! |  Hear it click | Random Bible Verse 1
Galatians 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
