†Quote of the Day
"When you have free moments, go faithfully to prayer. The good God is waiting for you there."
–St. Julie Billiart †Today's Meditation
"Prayer is the duty of every moment. We ought always to pray, said our Lord. And what He said, He did; therein lay His great power. Action accompanied His words and corresponded with them. We must pray always in order to be on our guard. Our life, both of body and soul, our natural and supernatural life, is like a fragile flower. "
—Dom Augustin Guillerand, p. 9 An Excerpt From
The Prayer of the Presence of God †Daily Verse
"So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs."
–Mark 16:19-20 |  click to read more | | Bl. Bartholomew of Vicenza Bl. Bartholomew of Vicenza (1201-1270), also known as Bartholomew of Braganca or Breganza, was born to a noble family in Vicenza, Italy. While studying in Padua he entered the newly established Dominican Order as one of their first friars, receiving the habit from St. Dominic himself. Bartholomew quickly advanced to positions of prominence within the Order, becoming prior and then overseeing several convents. He was sent to preach against the heretics in Lombardy, and was so successful that in 1235 the Holy Father made him Master of the Sacred Palace (an office known as "The Pope's Theologian") a position which was first held by St. Dominic. In this role he also founded a military order of knights for the purpose of maintaining civil order and peace throughout Italy called the Order of the Knights of the Mother of God (or the Knights of St. Mary). He was later made bishop of Cyprus, and also served as papal legate and confessor to St. Louis King of France, who was then leading a crusade in the Holy Land. From this friendship Bartholomew received the gift of a relic of the True Cross and a thorn from the Crown of Thorns. When Bartholomew returned to his native Vicenza as the city's bishop he built a church to house the precious relics called the Church of the Holy Crown. Bl. Bartholomew of Vicenza was an effective mediator between the factions and feuds of his day, even converting the leader of a heretical party back to the Catholic faith. His feast day is October 27th. | Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Rom 7:18-25a Brothers and sisters:
I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh.
The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not.
For I do not do the good I want,
but I do the evil I do not want.
Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it,
but sin that dwells in me.
So, then, I discover the principle
that when I want to do right, evil is at hand.
For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self,
but I see in my members another principle
at war with the law of my mind,
taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
Miserable one that I am!
Who will deliver me from this mortal body?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94 R. (68b) Lord, teach me your statutes.
Teach me wisdom and knowledge,
for in your commands I trust.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
You are good and bountiful;
teach me your statutes.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Never will I forget your precepts,
for through them you give me life.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
I am yours; save me,
for I have sought your precepts.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes. Alleluia See Mt 11:25 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 12:54-59 Jesus said to the crowds,
"When you see a cloud rising in the west
you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does;
and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south
you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is.
You hypocrites!
You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky;
why do you not know how to interpret the present time? "Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate,
make an effort to settle the matter on the way;
otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge,
and the judge hand you over to the constable,
and the constable throw you into prison.
I say to you, you will not be released
until you have paid the last penny."
| Daily Meditation: Luke 12:54-59 Why do you not know how to interpret the present time? (Luke 12:56) Clouds in the west and winds from the south—what was Jesus talking about? Among the crowds were farmers, fishermen, and tradesmen. So Jesus drew from their everyday experience to illustrate a spiritual truth. Just as everyone knew that clouds from the west brought moisture from the Mediterranean Sea and desert winds from the south brought heat, they should have been able to recognize the spiritual signs around them. Jesus wanted his listeners to realize that God was present among them in a new way. In Jesus, God was fulfilling his promises to Israel—but they couldn't see it. Perhaps it was because they were so burdened or distracted by their concerns that they couldn't recognize Jesus or "interpret the present time" (Luke 12:56). We have vastly improved our ability to interpret earth and sky since the time when Jesus walked the earth. But our telescopes and technology haven't always helped us to perceive the things of God. Sometimes they have the opposite effect! Scientific advancements have often filled our lives with distractions and blurred our spiritual vision. They can dull our awareness of God's closeness and blind us to his work in the world. The Lord longs to pierce through our fog. For centuries, the saints have offered a simple tool to do just that: silence. Contemplative silence can help us cut through distractions so that we can see the Lord. While it may take time, persevering in silent contemplation gives the Lord the space to wipe our spiritual lenses clean. It softens our hearts and increases our ability to recognize Jesus everywhere we go. Sometimes this path of silence can be difficult, but the name of Jesus is a powerful guide. As you quietly seek the Lord, utter his sacred name in your heart with each breath. With one breath after another, his name can lead you closer to him. As you release your burdens, you can move toward peace. The name of Jesus can help wipe away distractions and open your eyes to better see and follow the Lord. Then you will be able to "interpret the present time" and recognize what the Lord is doing—both in your heart and in the world around you. "Lord Jesus, open my eyes." Romans 7:18-25
Psalm 119:66, 68, 76-77, 93-94 |  click to hear 2cents | Reflections with Brother Adrian:Audio Link | From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
"For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self,
but I see in my members another principle at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord..........."
. . . Do you find yourself struggling within? Do you struggle with sin? If you said no, then please contact me as soon as possible! LOL. Because either you have figured out how to be just like our Lord or you have settled with sin!
Unfortunately, I believe most "settle" with sin, and we "mix" with sin, that is, we make peace with sin, or if you dare to admit, you have made a deal with the devil. Once you give a little to the dark side, that is all it needs to enter more and more. What sin do you struggle with the most? I think of an addict I know. I offered rehab, but he says he doesn't have a problem. And this is even more worrisome to me, because the first step to recovering is to admit that you do indeed have a problem. And so...once again, I ask you, do you have a struggle? This problem with sin? We all should have a problem with sin. Because sin is a direct act against our Lord. | We pray today:
"Teach me wisdom and knowledge, for in your commands I trust. Lord, teach me your statutes......" | In the Gospel today we heard our Lord:
"If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate,
make an effort to settle the matter on the way;
otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge,
and the judge hand you over to the constable,
and the constable throw you into prison.
I say to you, you will not be released
until you have paid the last penny."......" end of Gospel verse. | From Bishop Barron Today:
"Friends, in today's Gospel, Jesus criticizes the crowd by saying that they could interpret the earth and the clouds but do not know how to interpret the present time.
So, how do we know what's going on in the world? How do we read the signs of the times? We could do so politically, sociologically, culturally, or economically. All these ways are valuable lenses for viewing the world. But note the important difference in the Bible.
What was peculiar about ancient Israel was their reading the world through theological lenses. When they wanted to read the signs of the times, they wondered what God was doing and why. The deepest and truest reading is the theological one that seeks after the divine causality and purpose that works under and through all the other lenses.
The modern period has become largely conditioned by a deist view of God, whereby God is construed as a distant object only vaguely related to the world. On this reading God does not actively involve himself in the affairs of economics, politics, or culture. Ah! But that's not the biblical reading. For the biblical authors, God acts in and through all the ordinary events and dynamics of the world....." end quote Bishop Barron.
Have you ever heard our Lord tell us "leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."?
Have you ever heard our Lord say "I desire mercy, not sacrifice".
It is God speaking!
No other religion harks so much on mercy and love than that of Christ our Lord. And it goes deep. It goes into realms of eternity.
How can we settle, or reconcile with our enemies? I don't know, but we better figure out a way before we meet our maker!
Right?
We're on this earth for a very limited time. All I can tell you is that our Lord has bestowed on me a huge call that I have to dissipate to the world, and that is you, in your world. Our God is demanding something that takes an external force...it really takes Him to make the impossible happen, doesn't it? He is on the other end. He is the missing link.
And God calls Himself "I AM". He is everything. He is the answer.
Take heart. He Is, calling us to an external meeting, that can be connected on the inside. It is our being connecting with His being.
Let's make that love connection now, and how? In Church? Yes. But that's basics. In daily prayer? Yes. That is basics. I'm talking about always reaching within another soul...to connect with our Lord too. That is the internal and external connection. Just like it is with our Lord, in faith and love. ........
Let us pray:
Lord, this day we are fasting and praying for peace. There is evil calling out for attention, in wars, calamities, and all sorts of distractions. Help us be there for You in the needy. Help us be stronger united in love for You, on earth, as it is in Heaven! |  Click To Hear | Random Bible Verse 1
Proverbs 3:11–12 11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
