†Quote of the Day
"You know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them."
–St. Therese of Lisieux †Today's Meditation
"We live in a fallen world. We must therefore work out our destiny under the conditions created by sin. Did we but realize this truth, we would accept each of life's trying changes in the same spirit in which we accept the penance from the confessor. Were we truly convinced that our hope of pardon, and consequently our salvation, depends upon repentance, we would willingly undergo all the sufferings of life's warfare."
—John A. Kane, p. 81 An Excerpt From
How to Make a Good Confession †Daily Verse
"Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."
–1 John 3:2 |  click to read more | | Sts. Gervase and Protase Sts. Gervase and Protase (2nd century) were twin brothers born in the Roman Empire to Christian parents. Their parents were killed for their Christian faith, and the brothers likewise suffered martyrdom. They were imprisoned, scourged, and beheaded in Milan, Italy under the brutal persecutions of the Roman Emperor. In the year 386 A.D. the location of their relics was revealed in a dream to St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, just as he completed the building of the magnificent Milan basilica. He had the sacred relics moved to the new basilica, today called the Basilica of St. Ambrose, for veneration by the faithful. The relics established that the brothers were indeed beheaded as tradition had handed down. Many miracles occurred at their finding, confirmed by St. Ambrose and his disciple St. Augustine. Sts. Gervase and Protase are the patron saints of Milan. Their feast day is June 19. | Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 2 Cor 6:1-10 Brothers and sisters:
As your fellow workers, we appeal to you
not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says: In an acceptable time I heard you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.
We cause no one to stumble in anything,
in order that no fault may be found with our ministry;
on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves
as ministers of God, through much endurance,
in afflictions, hardships, constraints,
beatings, imprisonments, riots,
labors, vigils, fasts;
by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness,
in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in truthful speech,
in the power of God;
with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left;
through glory and dishonor, insult and praise.
We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful;
as unrecognized and yet acknowledged;
as dying and behold we live;
as chastised and yet not put to death;
as sorrowful yet always rejoicing;
as poor yet enriching many;
as having nothing and yet possessing all things. Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1, 2b, 3ab, 3cd-4 R.(2a) The Lord has made known his salvation.
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. The Lord has made known his salvation.
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. The Lord has made known his salvation.
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. The Lord has made known his salvation. Alleluia Ps 119:105 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 5:38-42 Jesus said to his disciples:
"You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one to him as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand him your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go with him for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow." | Daily Meditation: Matthew 5:38-42 Offer no resistance. (Matthew 5:39) A young man grew up observing and, at times, even participating in violence against people who didn't share his faith. At one point, however, a Christian, at great personal risk to himself, reached out and shared the gospel with him. In response to the good news of Christ's love, the young man, also at great personal risk, declared his faith in Jesus. When asked what had most drawn him to the Lord, he said it was Jesus' words in today's Gospel: "Offer no resistance to one who is evil" (Matthew 5:39). This teaching was so far beyond what the world could conceive that he became convinced that Jesus truly is God. Today's passage is indeed a radical call. In just a few words, Jesus sweeps away all the accepted legal responses to injustice and tells his followers to act in a completely different way. But notice that he was not speaking only to a large, anonymous crowd. He was also speaking to "his disciples" (Matthew 5:1)—his closest followers. It was these disciples who had seen Jesus live out his teachings on a daily basis. Later, they would see him live out his words to the fullest as he humbly allowed himself to be mocked, beaten, and crucified. After Jesus' resurrection, these same disciples followed in his footsteps. They did not fight back when persecuted, even if it meant being martyred for the faith. And through their willingness to "offer no resistance," the Church grew and spread. Many Christians still face persecution and injustice today. At times they endure severe hardship and even death because they refuse to fight evil with evil. And many hearts are still being touched and changed. Today, let's ask the Spirit to pour out his grace on all persecuted Christians. May he give them the courage and strength to resist fighting evil with evil. Let's also pray that we would be able to turn the other cheek. This doesn't come easily, but with God's grace, our decision to "offer no resistance" could just be the catalyst for someone to turn to the Lord. "Jesus, be with all persecuted Christians today. May their witness—as well as mine—bring people to faith in you." 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Psalm 98:1-4 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"Brothers and sisters:
As your fellow workers, we appeal to you
not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says:
In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you." end of verse. What is it like to receive grace in vain? Let's look at the root word of "vain" and what it compares to: Meaning "conceited, elated with a high opinion of oneself" first recorded 1690s in English; earlier "silly, idle, foolish" (late 14c.). Phrase in vain "to no effect" (c. 1300, after Latin in vanum) preserves the original sense.
And so, how do we receive grace in the first place? Prayers, right? Rosaries, sure. But even more than those things, are the Holy Sacraments where grace upon grace are availed.
If there's something I've learned lately, is that I need more grace in my life.
Why? Because, it is a light to me feet, and soothing balm to my soul. Grace is life, and a life in grace is to live in union and connection with God's divine will.
So what good would it be to receive sacraments and to pray and not be willing to let God our Father run the show, your very life? You'll have to move your big head out of the way! LOL. | We pray today:
" In the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
The Lord has made known his salvation." end of Psalm. | In the Gospel today we heard:
"You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well." end of verse. Oh boy, so you mean I can't hit somebody right back?
Scriptures go much deeper than that. And we've no further to look at than our Lord Jesus.
He turned the cheek. They plucked His beard, and He turned the cheek. They spat on His face, and He turned the cheek. They punched His face, and He turned the cheek. I mean, a person tied up being tortured can't fight back much right? But all the other times He was rejected in ministry, He turned the cheek.
Towns would reject Him.
Jews would reject Him.
Pagans would reject Him.
And Romans? Their neutrality would soon turn to fierce persecution after crucifying Him. Everything would be blamed on Christ and His followers.
And today? Is it that much different?
So what can we do?
Yours my friend, is availed a life of grace.
In the world, we will face trouble, always.
It's as if, in my position, all I do is focus on problem solving, from all aspects of work, family, church, all I do all day long is try to solve problems. Even the new bitcoins out there depend on solving problems! LOL, and how much energy it takes to solve a problem! So, what am I doing to become a better problem solver?
I'm finding it easier to live in grace.
To focus on Christ, then things straighten up. But if I lose focus on Christ, then, the world starts to close in.
I sang a song at Mass today, a daily Monday Mass for today's readings, during the Eucharist, Holy Communion "Cristo Libertador" which means Christ the Savior.
It sings: " about forgiving others, and to fight for justice and peace. Christ gives us salvation. Christ gives us liberty". Christ gives us the hope! Says the song.
And there is no more greater feeling than to be liberated from sin, from darkness, from the weight of oppression. | Our Lord continues: "Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow." end of verse.
LOL, just how easy is it to go the extra mile? Not very. If someone asks something of you, especially at church, how hard is it to give and go above and beyond? Maybe I'm just speaking for me! But for instance, I do a LOT of funerals, and when the church calls me to be the choir, seeing as there are no other choirs, I say yes. And there remains always the question, who would sing at the graveside? But I never ask, and why? That'd be going the extra mile! LOL. And the same with rosary vigil, I used to ask right away "who's doing the rosary?" as if to offer, but not lately. I haven't gone the extra mile.
So what if they ask you for a case of cokes for a funeral? Would you take them to donate for a family in need? Or would you take 2 cases! Or, would you say "sure, what else can I take? Can I go serve? Do you need something else?"
When people ask me those questions they fell really good. But I find myself being that loving is just not natural!
And so, I pray, that I can do the unnatural. Grace should be more natural, but instead, it takes much work to get into this life choice, this lifestyle, this new song, this whole new way of life.
And they say in Heaven, everything is always new. And if this means there is a life of going the extra mile, seeing who can love more and better...then Jesus is King, of Heaven and Earth.
Only through Him, through His life and teachings and blood pouring will we be able to see and live this eternal life offering.
Lately, I've bought family cars, mobile home, and help them with tons and tons of money and most are not doing their part in paying me back.
" Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow."
I've not turned my back on anybody. And now they've turned their backs on me. Not returning my texts as I wonder if they're going to pay back.
And this scripture haunts me. GIVE TO THE ONE WHO ASKS OF YOU. Giving then...hurts. It hurts the giver, it costs something. Think of our Lord now.
Ok, now back to me! LOL. Do I hurt because people turn their backs, instead of being grateful?
What happens when they turn their backs to me? They go away. I'm not going anywhere! They are the ones who decide to cut off the relationship.
Now think of the Lord. How we turn our backs in our sins.
Now back to me! LOL.
If God is our Father, I prayed this morning, "then, Lord, You must give us the grace, and make things be converted so that we may resemble you more on earth".
They say God is a giver.
When you give, there is not and expectation to give anything in return. But a closer relationship...would mean the world to me, and I bet even more so, to our God, for the light to burn bright in our world. LOL, the church office just called and asked for another funeral and I went ahead and went the extra mile asking if they wanted a rosary! I'm re-learning and training always to be in God's life of grace and Love. Let's pray:
Lord, Father, you know everything I do is so that people may experience a Heavenly Father inside of me. I desire mercy more than sacrifice. I desire clemency, and I desire a closer unity through gratefulness. The Eucharist is thankfulness, and to receive it on my knees is my sign that I am grateful above all things and all other loves. |  Hear it click | Random Bible Verse 1
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
