†Quote of the Day
"Love your children. In them you can see Baby Jesus. Pray for them a lot and every day put them under Holy Mary's protection."
–St. Gianna Molla †Today's Meditation
"I worry some of you still have not really met Jesus—one to one—you and Jesus alone. We may spend time in the chapel—but have you seen with the eyes of your soul how He looks at you with love? Do you really know the living Jesus—not from books but from being with Him in your heart? Have you heard the loving words He speaks to you? Ask for the grace; He is longing to give it. Until you can hear Jesus in the silence of your own heart, you will not be able to hear Him saying 'I Thirst' in the hearts of the poor. Never give up this daily intimate contact with Jesus as the real living person—not just the idea."
—Saint Mother Teresa, p.129-130 †Daily Verse
In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth."
–Ephesians 1:7-10 |  click to read more | | Blessed Pope Benedict XI Bl. Pope Benedict XI (1240-1304) was born in Italy with the name Nicholas Boccasini. At the age of 14 he entered the Dominican Order, and went on to become a theology professor before being named Master General of the Order in 1296. As Master of the Dominicans, Boccasini defended Pope Boniface VIII when the hostility of secular rulers towards the Roman Pontiff grew, especially during the pope's open conflict with the King of France. In reward for his loyalty, Boccasini was elevated to Cardinal and then Bishop of Ostia. When Hungary was torn with civil war, Boccasini was sent there by the Holy See to restore peace. When he returned to Rome, the Pope's conflict with France reached its height; Boniface VIII was seized, beaten, and driven from the Sacred Palace by his enemies, while Boccasini was one of only two cardinals who defended the Holy Father to the end. After Boniface VIII died, Boccasini was elected in his place and took the name Pope Benedict XI. He excommunicated all those who had taken part in the seizure and abuse of his predecessor, while at the same time restoring peace with the French court. In this time of tumult he repaired the damage with leniency, yet without compromising the Holy See or the good memory of the previous pope. His reign was brief; he died suddenly of a suspected poisoning after only eight months in office. Bl. Pope Benedict XI was the author of a volume of sermons and commentaries on the Gospel of Matthew, Psalms, Job, and Revelation. His feast day is July 7th. | Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Gn 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67 The span of Sarah's life was one hundred and twenty-seven years.
She died in Kiriatharba (that is, Hebron)
in the land of Canaan,
and Abraham performed the customary mourning rites for her.
Then he left the side of his dead one and addressed the Hittites:
"Although I am a resident alien among you,
sell me from your holdings a piece of property for a burial ground,
that I may bury my dead wife." After the transaction, Abraham buried his wife Sarah
in the cave of the field of Machpelah,
facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham had now reached a ripe old age,
and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
Abraham said to the senior servant of his household,
who had charge of all his possessions:
"Put your hand under my thigh,
and I will make you swear by the LORD,
the God of heaven and the God of earth,
that you will not procure a wife for my son
from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live,
but that you will go to my own land and to my kindred
to get a wife for my son Isaac."
The servant asked him:
"What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land?
Should I then take your son back to the land from which you migrated?"
"Never take my son back there for any reason," Abraham told him.
"The LORD, the God of heaven,
who took me from my father's house and the land of my kin,
and who confirmed by oath the promise he then made to me,
'I will give this land to your descendants'–
he will send his messenger before you,
and you will obtain a wife for my son there.
If the woman is unwilling to follow you,
you will be released from this oath.
But never take my son back there!" A long time later, Isaac went to live in the region of the Negeb.
One day toward evening he went out . . . in the field,
and as he looked around, he noticed that camels were approaching.
Rebekah, too, was looking about, and when she saw him,
she alighted from her camel and asked the servant,
"Who is the man out there, walking through the fields toward us?"
"That is my master," replied the servant.
Then she covered herself with her veil. The servant recounted to Isaac all the things he had done.
Then Isaac took Rebekah into his tent;
he married her, and thus she became his wife.
In his love for her, Isaac found solace
after the death of his mother Sarah. Responsorial Psalm Ps 106:1b-2, 3-4a, 4b-5 R. (1b) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD,
or proclaim all his praises?
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Blessed are they who observe what is right,
who do always what is just.
Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Visit me with your saving help,
That I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones,
rejoice in the joy of your people,
and glory with your inheritance.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. Alleluia Mt 11:28 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 9:9-13 As Jesus passed by,
he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, ""Follow me.""
And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
""Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?""
He heard this and said,
""Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.""
| Daily Meditation: Genesis 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67 The Lord had blessed him in every way. (Genesis 24:1) As he neared the end of his life, Abraham looked back over his journey of fellowship with the Lord. And as he did, his heart swelled with gratitude over God's faithfulness to his promises. The Lord had brought him into the Promised Land and had given him and his wife, Sarah, the gift of their son, Isaac. It was these memories of God's goodness that guided Abraham as he moved forward with the Lord. Abraham had just purchased his first tiny holding in the Promised Land, a burial place for Sarah, who had just died. Through his grief, he considered the one thing that remained to be settled: finding a good wife for Isaac. When Abraham sent his trusted servant back to his kinsmen in search of a bride for his son, the servant asked, "What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I then take your son back to the land?" (Genesis 24:5). Abraham didn't hesitate to answer: "Never!" Having come this far on his journey, he knew there was no turning back for him or any member of his family. God's faithfulness had guided him as he had raised Isaac and made a life in the Promised Land. And that faithfulness guided how he looked into the future. Because God had provided for him, Abraham knew he could count on God to provide for Isaac as well. As he did with Abraham, God has made promises to us. He promises to be with us always (Matthew 28:20). He promises us forgiveness of our sins (John 20:23). And he promises eternal life to all who believe (5:24). As we look back over our lives, we are sure to see signs of God's faithfulness to these promises. Maybe it was an unexpected sense of peace in the midst of a trying time. Maybe it was a sense of freedom after you confessed your sin. Or maybe it was a sudden feeling of eager expectation for heaven. All these are proofs that God is watching over you and blessing you. God is faithful. Let that truth help you, like Abraham, respond to him with your own faithfulness. Let it convince you that you can count on his provision for you and your family long into the future. "Father, thank you for your promises. Help me to look back on your faithfulness and move forward with hope!" Psalm 106:1-5
Matthew 9:9-13 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"'I will give this land to your descendants'–
he will send his messenger before you,
and you will obtain a wife for my son there." Our heritage matters. Our descendants matter. Everything matters, for we are descendants, and we have an inheritance. What will the next generation do with what we've given them? It is not up to me to know. We are only living and working by faith. | We pray today:
_" Blessed are they who observe what is right,
who do always what is just.
Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. "_ end of Psalm. | In the Gospel today we heard:
" he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, ""Follow me.""
And he got up and followed him. " end of Gospel verse. | From Bishop Barron:
Friends, our Gospel for today is the simple but magnificent story of the conversion of Matthew. I urge you to read it and meditate upon it this week, for it's about you. The Bible says that Jesus told Matthew, "Follow me." The call of Jesus is meant to get into your mind, and then past your mind into your body, and then through your body into your life, into your most practical decisions. And then we hear that Matthew "got up and followed him." The verb used here in the Greek is the same verb used to describe the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead: Matthew rose. Conversion means a transition into a higher life, arising from a preoccupation with the goods of the world and a reorientation to the things of God. Then we hear what happened after Matthew's conversion: "While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples." This deeply annoys the Pharisees, who ask of Jesus' disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" The answer is that Jesus loves sinners, and he doesn't require perfection before he approaches them.
Has our Lord ever come to you and said "follow me?".
The invitation is actually daily! We must daily take up our cross and follow Him. And that baffling question resounds "but what is our cross?", wouldn't you like to know? So you could pick it up or leave it. Many say it is their burdens they have to deal with, but I say, it is so much more. It is the cross of following our Lord, of choosing suffering for the greater good, of self sacrifice to God. That is a cross that would be fruitful, where a dead tree actually brings life. Do you understand?
Follow Me, just two words. Do you follow me? LOL! We are leading people one way or the other, just be looking at someone we are leading them to something. And so is our Lord. He has a glance of faith that will save souls. He has a touch that will melt hearts. And we are called to follow Him and do the same and even more! Let's pray:
My Lord, I want to follow You right. Help me follow You as You like and do whatever You please, the only thing I ask is for a corner of Heaven, a small place in Your heart to experience thriving life to share, in joy, and peace, and give in work and grace forever. |  Click To Hear | Random Bible Verse 1
Jude 24–25 [Jude 1]
Doxology 24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time1 and now and forever. Amen. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
