†Saint Quote of the Day
"When we serve the poor and the sick we serve Jesus. We must not fail to help our neighbors, because in them we serve Jesus."
–St. Rose of Lima †Today's Meditation
"We do not come to church to attend the service as a spectator, but in order, along with the priest, to serve God. Everything we do—our entering, being present, our kneeling and sitting and standing, our reception of the sacred nourishment—should be divine service. This is so only when all we do overflows from the awareness of a collected heart and the mind's attentiveness."
—Fr. Romano Guardini, p. 28 An Excerpt From
Meditations Before Mass †Daily Verse
"Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began. I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word."
–John 17:3-6 |  click to read more | | St. Rose of Lima St. Rose (1586-1617) was born in Lima, Peru, one of ten children belonging to a Spanish immigrant and his wife, a descendant of the Incas. Rose was beautiful and very pious. She was so sensitive to compliments on her physical appearance that, to combat vanity, she disfigured her face with pepper and lime. When her father's finances deteriorated, Rose used her skill at needlework to help support her family. Her parents desired that she marry, but she refused, and lived as a recluse in a hut in her parent's garden. Inspired by the example of St. Catherine of Siena, Rose joined the Third Order Dominicans, dedicated her life to chastity and assisting the sick and poor, and inflicted severe penances on herself daily. For this extreme behavior she endured disapproval and persecution from her family, especially when she began to have visions and other mystical experiences. An evaluation by priests and physicians proved Rose's experiences to be authentically supernatural. She also spoke out against the corruption of her day, as the Spanish grew rich from Peru's natural resources while Peruvians became impoverished. She was greatly revered by the people, and at the time of her death, at the age of 31, her body could not be buried for several days due to the large crowds. After her death many miracles were attributed to her intercession. Rose of Lima was the first native-born saint from the Americas to be canonized. She is the patroness of the Americas, the Philippines, India, Peru, and of gardeners, florists, needle-workers, and against vanity. Her feast day is August 23rd.
Find a Devotional for This Saint | Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Jgs 9:6-15 All the citizens of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together
and proceeded to make Abimelech king
by the terebinth at the memorial pillar in Shechem. When this was reported to him,
Jotham went to the top of Mount Gerizim and, standing there,
cried out to them in a loud voice:
"Hear me, citizens of Shechem, that God may then hear you!
Once the trees went to anoint a king over themselves.
So they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'
But the olive tree answered them, 'Must I give up my rich oil,
whereby men and gods are honored,
and go to wave over the trees?'
Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come; you reign over us!'
But the fig tree answered them,
'Must I give up my sweetness and my good fruit,
and go to wave over the trees?'
Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come you, and reign over us.'
But the vine answered them,
'Must I give up my wine that cheers gods and men,
and go to wave over the trees?'
Then all the trees said to the buckthorn, 'Come; you reign over us!'
But the buckthorn replied to the trees,
'If you wish to anoint me king over you in good faith,
come and take refuge in my shadow.
Otherwise, let fire come from the buckthorn
and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'" Responsorial Psalm Ps 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 R. (2a) Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
O LORD, in your strength the king is glad;
in your victory how greatly he rejoices!
You have granted him his heart's desire;
you refused not the wish of his lips.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
For you welcomed him with goodly blessings,
you placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked life of you: you gave him
length of days forever and ever.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
Great is his glory in your victory;
majesty and splendor you conferred upon him.
You made him a blessing forever,
you gladdened him with the joy of your face.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad. Alleluia Heb 4:12 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern the reflections and thoughts of the heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 20:1-16 Jesus told his disciples this parable:
"The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,
he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o'clock,
he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.'
So they went off.
And he went out again around noon,
and around three o'clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o'clock,
he found others standing around, and said to them,
'Why do you stand here idle all day?'
They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.'
He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.'
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
'Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.'
When those who had started about five o'clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,
but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,
'These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day's burden and the heat.'
He said to one of them in reply,
'My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?'
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last." | Daily Meditation: Matthew 20:1-16 Are you envious because I am generous? (Matthew 20:15) Anyone who has spent time with small children has heard this refrain: "That's not fair!" Whether it's a slice of cake or a birthday gift, children notice right away when someone else gets something bigger or better. They're like the workers in Jesus' parable who find it unfair when the workers hired at the last minute receive the same daily wage as themselves. Complaining that they didn't get paid more, these workers are unable to rejoice in the landowner's generosity. How often we react that way, too! Maybe it's not over the question of fair pay for a day's work. But we might feel disgruntled when we see someone else receive a blessing or grace from God that we ourselves have been longing for. Why didn't we receive it first? Or we might become irritated when we hear of the deathbed conversion of a notorious sinner. How can the Lord promise them the same thing he promises us? If those thoughts come to mind, recall the landowner's words, which echo God's attitude: "Are you envious because I am generous?" (Matthew 20:15). The truth is that God offers no less than everything—his whole self—to all of us. There's no "more" or "less" in his kingdom! He never runs out of goodness, and when it looks as if someone is receiving more, that doesn't mean there's less for us. In Christ, each of us has all we need. That's more than enough. The more we're aware of God's generosity to us, the easier it will be to rejoice when he is generous to other people. So don't begrudge someone else a grace from the Lord just because you want it yourself. Instead, share in God's kindness by putting off jealousy or resentment. Rejoice with the people around you in the goodness of God. In the end, that's what the workers in the parable missed out on. Their hearts couldn't rejoice in the master's generosity because they were measuring who got how much. But you don't have to miss out. Today, acknowledge God's abundant compassion and look at other people with his merciful gaze. "Heavenly Father, I rejoice in your great generosity!" Judges 9:6-15
Psalm 21:2-7 |  click to hear 2cents | audio link
Reflections with Brother Adrian: | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"'If you wish to anoint me king over you in good faith,
come and take refuge in my shadow.
Otherwise, let fire come from the buckthorn
and devour the cedars of Lebanon......." end of verse.
. . .
The people got tired of not having a king after a long time of being ruled by judges. They said they wanted a single leader to follow and to "fight their battles". What does this mean? They were losing trust in the Lord, and this because they were drifting away in their faith. Isn't that how we are? We want everything easy and convenient and someone else to battle for us? This means to be lazy and to let go of the cross, the burden, the will of God in our lives. We need the cross, and we need to do God's burden, and our very lives will become light, and lighter. | We pray today:
" For you welcomed him with goodly blessings,
you placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked life of you: you gave him
length of days forever and ever. Lord, in your strength the king is glad......"_ end of Psalm. | In the Gospel today we heard:
" 'My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?'
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."
..." end of Gospel verse. | From Bishop Barron:
"Friends, in today's Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the landowner who hires people at various times of the day and then pays everyone the same. Now consider the fact that these workers represent us and the landowner God. From our perspective, there is plenty of injustice, plenty of inexplicable inequity, plenty of infuriating unfairness.
But God is that Being who knows everything about everything. Our knowledge is comparatively miniscule in both depth and breadth. What we can see of God's canvas is laughably small. And yet we make bold to declare certain things just or unjust.
Recall the story of the gangster who called for a priest as he lay dying on the street in New York. The priest declared him forgiven, and there was a flood of protest: How could this be fair to all of those who had been good and devout Christians all of their lives?
My ways are not your ways, says the Lord. Let us have the humility to allow God to distribute his graces as he sees fit. And let us ask "why" not in a spirit of rebellion but in a spirit of awe and expectation."_ end quote Bishop Barron.
Who is the land? Who are the trees? What are trees made of? What is man made of? We are made of land. And the land owner? It is God. And today He brings us a story to consider for our very lives. He is the vine grower. He is the owner. He is the one paying as he pleases.
As a father of 8 children, I can relate many times biblical stories to what is being said of a father. I see a good dad as a good regulator. I lay down the law and I expect it to be followed, or there will be repercussions and ramifications to deal with if the law is not followed. And this is good because there has to be order. In order for peace and joy to exist, there must be order in life, especially in the spiritual life. And this is why our Lord has come to you with a message.
He is inviting you to work, no matter where you are, no matter how old you are, no matter what state your soul is in, a saint or a sinner. And on that note, we are all created saints and in holiness because we are created in His image. So don't be surprised who is in Heaven and who is not enjoying eternal life.
I remember a story that was said, when our Lord or his angel showed this saint a man that was holier than him...and he showed him down the street, to a merchant who seemed impatient but whence our Lord showed him inside of his personal life, this merchant was taking care of a poor person, maybe his own disabled father, bathing him, feeding him, and so forth. This spoke volumes to the future saint.
Do not judge by a cover, but let the Lord be who He is, the just judge, and in being our judge, then our King.
How many times did our Lord present parables about judges? A pestering woman incessant and insistent in her pleas to the judge...it is our Lord! Or the times the bad steward squandered riches, or the one man who wouldn't' forgive smaller debts after the judge had let him go.
The King is Judge, isn't He?
Our Lord is laying down the Father's law.
And rule of obedience deals with love, the Father's love. What are we doing with His gift? ........
Let us pray:
Lord, I'm so wrapped up in my own problems, that I seem to forget what is truly important, our Father's love and His desire for our lives. Help us have a better love and clarity for God's true desires on earth...as it is in Heaven. |  Click To Hear | Proverbs 19:11 11 "Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense." | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
