† Quote of the Day
"At the end of our life we shall be judged by charity."
— St. John of the Cross Today's Meditation
"Every human person consists of both a body and soul. Just as our body needs things to survive and grow, such as oxygen, water, food, etc., so our soul needs things as well, such as faith, hope, and love. These spiritual longings point to the truth that every human person has a natural desire for God. The human person is a spiritual person, and we all interiorly desire the relationship that God offers to us. In our lives and in our culture, we can find several apparent goods to try and fill the capax Dei, which is our capacity for God, oftentimes simply called the "God hole" within us. But, try as we might to fill it with other things, this interior desire can only be completely fulfilled by a relationship with God, and by acts of religion that bind us to him." —Father Jeffrey Kirby, STL, p.4 Daily Verse
"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one."
— Luke 12:4-5 | Saint of the Day for April 26
(March 19, 1626 – April 25, 1667) Saint Pedro de San José Betancur's Story Central America claimed its first saint with the canonization of Pedro de San José Betancur. Known as the "Saint Francis of the Americas," Pedro de Betancur is the first saint to have worked and died in Guatemala. Pedro very much wanted to become a priest, but God had other plans for the young man born into a poor family on Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Pedro was a shepherd until age 24, when he began to make his way to Guatemala, hoping to connect with a relative engaged in government service there. By the time he reached Thavana, he was out of money. After working there to earn more, he got to Guatemala City the following year. When he arrived, he was so destitute that he joined the breadline that the Franciscans had established. Soon, Pedro enrolled in the local Jesuit college in hopes of studying for the priesthood. No matter how hard he tried, however, he could not master the material; he withdrew from school. In 1655, he joined the Secular Franciscan Order. Three years later, he opened a hospital for the convalescent poor; a shelter for the homeless, and a school for the poor soon followed. Not wanting to neglect the rich of Guatemala City, Pedro began walking through their part of town ringing a bell and inviting them to repent. Other men came to share in Pedro's work. Out of this group came the Bethlehemite Congregation, which won papal approval after Pedro's death. A Bethlehemite sisters' community, similarly founded after Pedro's death, was inspired by his life of prayer and compassion. He is sometimes credited with originating the Christmas Eve posadas procession in which people representing Mary and Joseph seek a night's lodging from their neighbors. The custom soon spread to Mexico and other Central American countries. Pedro died in 1667, and was canonized by Pope John Paul II in Guatemala City on July 30, 2002. Calling the new saint an "outstanding example" of Christian mercy, the Holy Father noted that Saint Pedro practiced mercy "heroically with the lowliest and the most deprived." Speaking to the estimated 500,000 Guatemalans in attendance, the Holy Father spoke of the social ills that plague the country today and of the need for change. "Let us think of the children and young people who are homeless or deprived of an education; of abandoned women with their many needs; of the hordes of social outcasts who live in the cities; of the victims of organized crime, of prostitution or of drugs; of the sick who are neglected and the elderly who live in loneliness," he said in his homily during the three-hour liturgy. The liturgical feast of Saint Pedro de San José Betancur is celebrated on April 25. Reflection As humans, we often pride ourselves on our ability to reason. But as Pedro's life shows, other skills may be an even more crucial element of our humanity than a clever mind: compassion, imagination, love. Unable to master studies for the priesthood despite his efforts, Pedro responded to the needs of homeless and sick people; he provided education to the poor and salvation to the rich. He became holy—as fully human as any of us can ever be. | Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter Lectionary: 283
Reading I Acts 13:26-33 When Paul came to Antioch in Pisidia, he said in the synagogue: "My brothers, children of the family of Abraham,
and those others among you who are God-fearing,
to us this word of salvation has been sent.
The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders failed to recognize him,
and by condemning him they fulfilled the oracles of the prophets
that are read sabbath after sabbath.
For even though they found no grounds for a death sentence,
they asked Pilate to have him put to death,
and when they had accomplished all that was written about him,
they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb.
But God raised him from the dead,
and for many days he appeared to those
who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem.
These are now his witnesses before the people.
We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you
that what God promised our fathers
he has brought to fulfillment for us, their children, by raising up Jesus,
as it is written in the second psalm, You are my Son; this day I have begotten you." Responsorial Psalm 2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11ab R. (7bc) You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
"I myself have set up my king on Zion, my holy mountain."
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; this day I have begotten you."
R. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
"Ask of me and I will give you the nations for an inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall rule them with an iron rod; you shall shatter them like an earthen dish."
R. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
And now, O kings, give heed; take warning, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him; with trembling rejoice.
R. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 14:6 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 14:1-6 Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father's house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way."
Thomas said to him,
"Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me." | Daily Meditation: John 14:1-6 Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way? (John 14:5) One of the most enjoyable aspects of reading a mystery story is when all the clues finally come together and you wonder, "How could I have missed it?" Then when you read the story a second time, you can savor how tightly all the clues fit together. If only you could have seen it all the first time! Imagine how the disciples must have felt in today's Gospel. Jesus is making so many mysterious statements, and they just can't piece it all together. But all that will change once they meet the risen Lord and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. All the clues will fall into place, and they will see Jesus—and their own lives—in a new and glorious way. Something similar can happen to us as well. It can be hard to figure out what God is doing in our lives when we are in the middle of a difficult situation. Sometimes clarity comes only after the chaos has passed and we look back and reflect on the big picture. But that doesn't mean that we are left casting about for answers when we are in the midst of a challenge. When the disciples asked Jesus to explain what he meant, he replied, "I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6). He told them to keep their hearts fixed on him in faith and trust, even when the way forward was obscured by pain or confusion. He told them that only he could help them make sense of all the chaos and suffering they were about to experience as they followed him to his passion and death. And he says the same thing to each of us, no matter what we are facing. This weekend, take some time to look back over the past couple of months to see if you can discern a few more clues to whatever mystery you are puzzling through. Or maybe recall a challenge from a couple of years ago and ask the Spirit to give you new insights into how he was at work back then. And if, like the disciples, you still feel as if you "do not know" the way (John 14:5), cast your lot in with Jesus, the way and the truth and the life. Muster all the faith you can and trust that he will show you the answers at just the right time. "Jesus, I believe that you are the way for me, no matter what!" Acts 13:26-33
Psalm 2:6-11 |  try to hear it read by AI | Reflections with Brother Adrian: | In the Holy Scripture we hear today:
""Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father's house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be......." end quote. | Is your heart troubled? Yes or no?
If yes, read the scripture, the words of God again:
"Do NOT let your hearts be troubled."
It is a command isn't it?
If your answer was no, then it is time to hit your knees, in thanksgiving, or to pray to reveal what troubles you have hidden under the rug.
Because in another scripture, our Lord says that in the world we will have trouble, then He says "But take heart, I have conquered the world".
Am I living faithless because I feel like I am troubled right now?
Then you are at the right place. You are hearing this message because He wants to assure you that He loves you. Want to hear it?
"Take heart my child, I have conquered the world, and You are mine, You are my child whom I love very much".
If these words are taken to heart, then you will be soothed and healed, and you will want to come closer to Him.
Where else would I rather be than to be with the one who has conquered the world? There is no better place to be than with Him.
This is an open invitation, that you might learn to live to love and to love to live for Him, and Him in you.
Otherwise he wouldn't have said:"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be."
When my dad died, I learned later that he had told my youngest sister that he said "I am going to unlock heaven's doors for you". He had that much faith. He had THAT MUCH LOVE. And it brings tears to my eyes because yes, we miss him, yes we don't see him, yes we don't hear his voice, but we know that the father is at work in Him and in us all.
If we'd only take heart, and take His heart seriously....His love, His love of His life, Jesus, the love of the world! Lord, I love you so much, help me let it show! Pray for us, we are on a Catholic family Conference trip, hence the shorter writings and images. |  Click for Audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Hebrews 10:24–25 [Hebrews 10] 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
