†Quote of the Day
"You change your life by changing your heart."
–St. Benedict of Nursia †Today's Meditation
"Every human being is infinitely loved and infinitely precious. We haven't earned that divine dignity; it is a gift. Nonetheless, we convince ourselves that we must somehow show ourselves worthy of God's love–that if we are charming or charitable or brave enough, He will feel obliged to reward us. Self-abasement is the antidote to this delusion. It is the practice of reminding ourselves that we are nothing without God's grace and will never earn it. Ironically, this healthy sense of nothingness, understood correctly, brings with it a deeper sense of confidence and freedom."
–J. Augustine Wetta, O.S.B, p.101 †Daily Verse
For ever, O Lord, thy word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Thy faithfulness endures to all generations; thou hast established the earth, and it stands fast. By thy appointment they stand this day; for all things are thy servants."
–Psalm 119:89-91 |  click to read more | | St. Benedict of Nursia St. Benedict of Nursia (480-547 A.D.) and his twin sister, St. Scholastica, were born to a Roman nobleman and his wife in Nursia, Italy. He spent his childhood with his parents in Rome. As a young man he found in himself a strong desire to escape the trifling things of the world and serve God. He left his family and wealth and settled in the mountainous region of Subiaco. After three years living in solitude as a cave-dwelling hermit, he was asked to lead a monastery in the place of an abbot who had died. Benedict did as they asked, but his way of life was too extreme for the monks and they tried to poison him. He thwarted their evil designs by blessing the poisoned cup, rendering it ineffective. Benedict returned to his cave, where news of his sanctity and miracles began to spread. Soon a community of men surrounded him wanting to adopt his way of life. To house them Benedict established twelve monasteries, including the world-famous Monte Cassino, and gave them a rule of life to live by, known as the Rule of St. Benedict. His Rule—still observed by Benedictines today—helped form the civilization and culture of Europe. Because of the organization, structure, and discipline he brought to the monastic life, he is known as the Founder of Western Monasticism. He is the patron saint of monks, students, farmers, all of Europe, and more. He is also especially known for his intercession against poison, temptations, and witchcraft. His feast day is July 11th in the Latin rite, while the Benedictines celebrate his feast on March 21st.
Find a Devotional for This Saint | Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot • Readings for the Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot Reading 1 Gn 32:23-33 In the course of the night, Jacob arose, took his two wives,
with the two maidservants and his eleven children,
and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
After he had taken them across the stream
and had brought over all his possessions,
Jacob was left there alone.
Then some man wrestled with him until the break of dawn.
When the man saw that he could not prevail over him,
he struck Jacob's hip at its socket,
so that the hip socket was wrenched as they wrestled.
The man then said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."
But Jacob said, "I will not let you go until you bless me."
The man asked, "What is your name?"
He answered, "Jacob."
Then the man said,
"You shall no longer be spoken of as Jacob, but as Israel,
because you have contended with divine and human beings
and have prevailed."
Jacob then asked him, "Do tell me your name, please."
He answered, "Why should you want to know my name?"
With that, he bade him farewell.
Jacob named the place Peniel,
"Because I have seen God face to face," he said,
"yet my life has been spared." At sunrise, as he left Penuel,
Jacob limped along because of his hip.
That is why, to this day, the children of Israel do not eat
the sciatic muscle that is on the hip socket,
inasmuch as Jacob's hip socket was struck at the sciatic muscle. Responsorial Psalm Ps 17:1b, 2-3, 6-7ab, 8b and 15 R. (15a) In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
From you let my judgment come;
your eyes behold what is right.
Though you test my heart, searching it in the night,
though you try me with fire, you shall find no malice in me.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Show your wondrous mercies,
O savior of those who flee from their foes.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking, I shall be content in your presence.
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord. Alleluia Jn 10:14 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 9:32-38 A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,
and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.
The crowds were amazed and said,
"Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."
But the Pharisees said,
"He drives out demons by the prince of demons." Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest."
| Daily Meditation: Matthew 9:32-38 At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them. (Matthew 9:36) Pity. Some of us cringe when we hear that word! Once meant to convey a deep compassion for the sufferings of others, it can now sound smug, even condescending. Even when that's not the intention, it can convey a feeling of superiority. That surely is not the kind of pity that moves Jesus' heart! He looks on us and our sin with neither contempt nor disdain. No, he looks with love. The pity that Jesus feels for us is best described as a concern tinged with sadness. He feels sad because of the pain that sin causes us. And his concern for us moves him to reach down and help us: to forgive, to heal, to ease our sadness and guilt. If you want the best illustration of Jesus' pity, think of how he was moved to take on himself the sin of the whole world! There is no syrupy sentiment here. This kind of pity is passionate, almost fierce, in its readiness to go so far as to die so that we could be set free. Sin can cause us to feel weighed down with shame. As Adam and Eve did in the garden, we want to hide from God. But he isn't angry with us. He doesn't hate us or reject us. No, he seeks after us. He calls out to us, "Where are you?" (Genesis 3:9). He suffers with us, and he offers us his gentle kindness. Moved with divine pity, he seeks to tend to our wounds, remove our guilt, and build us up in his love. Close your eyes for a minute and try to picture what Jesus' pity looks like. Imagine the concerned look in his eyes and the warm smile on his face. Feel him putting his arms around you and drawing you close to his heart. He is not judging or condemning you; he is speaking words of comfort, guidance, and hope to you. He's filling you with strength to take another step closer to him. Jesus' pity may look different for you than it does for your neighbor. It may not look exactly as you have imagined it. But it is real, and it has the power to reshape your heart. "Jesus, thank you for loving me. I accept your pity—your compassion—and I open my heart today to your healing and forgiveness." Genesis 32:23-33
Psalm 17:1-3, 6-8, 15 | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"Then the man said,
"You shall no longer be spoken of as Jacob, but as Israel,
because you have contended with divine and human beings
and have prevailed." end of verse. We see Jacob wrestling with God, and that is where the name of "Israel" comes from, which basically means "wrestling with God".
Isn't that the case for most of us? That we come to a crossing in our life, like Jacob came to a crossing although literally, a brook, and He came across a divine and human being? Who else has been said to be divine and human? Our Lord Jesus, right?
Can it be then, that we wrestle with our God Jesus? We do when we have doubts, and we do when we find it hard to do what He wants and to imitate Him in every aspect of our life and His life. For that, we come here, to the brook, for water, for strength, and although we will come away limping, life hurts, and lessons hurt, but they will not be forgotten. | We pray today:
" In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
From you let my judgment come;
your eyes behold what is right.
Though you test my heart, searching it in the night,
though you try me with fire, you shall find no malice in me." end of Psalm. | In the Gospel today we heard:
"A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,
and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.
The crowds were amazed and said,
"Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." " end of Gospel verse. Do you know of those that cannot "speak" of our Lord or to our Lord?
Demons can keep us from our Lord. Demons keep us from a close and intimate relationship with our Lord.
There are demons for everything too, and although we cannot blame demons for every little thing, that would be completely wrong, but there are demons in many cases which cannot be ruled out.
For instance, there are demons that help promote abortion, and homosexuality, and even for laziness in faith! And so we are in need of great liberation for things that keep us from a closer and more intimate relationship with our Lord, and for this, we need shepherds, good ones, holy ones, firm and gentle, just as our Lord is with all of us....sinners. | We hear: "... his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest." end quote. Being in many ministries, we see a severe lack of attendance in teams, very few laborers show up to the task. Some say yes, and never come. Some just say no, they are "too busy". Do you think there is someone more busy than me? Running a family business with a hundred pieces of equipment and 50 employees and I have a wife and 8 kids and I am in a dozen ministries, and so, I look out, and I recall what one retired woman said at Ultreya gathering last night "I am retired and I find it hard sometimes to carve out time to do this ministry". You see, it is never about how "busy" you are, but about where your heart, and priorities, and true loves really are!
What is number one?
Who is number one?
Jacob wrestled with our Lord they say. And they say Jacob prevailed...but I say, it is the Lord in humility, letting us have our way...through Him, and His authority, and His permission. Wrestling with God can hurt, good lessons come at a high cost.
I am only encouraging you to the Good fight. The noun "Israel" occurs 2,507 times in the Hebrew text of the Old Testament. The name still applies to us all as "the people of God", the "Israel" throughout the rest of time to fulfill God's word, and His Holy will.
You are an important part of this movement of love from which all efficacy springs. Let's pray:
from St. Benedict's very own prayer:
"Almighty God, give me wisdom to perceive You, intelligence to understand You, diligence to seek You, patience to wait for You, eyes to behold You, a heart to meditate upon You and life to proclaim You, through the power of the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen." - St. Bendedict....pray for us! |  Click To Hear | Random Bible Verse
Proverbs 29:25 25 The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
