†Quote of the Day "O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the godless chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge, for by professing it some have missed the mark as regards the faith.
–St. Paul the Apostle, 1 Timothy 6:20-21 Today's Meditation "The shock of sorrow comes only to those who think this world is fixed and absolute, that there is nothing beyond. They think everything here below should be perfect. Hence, they ask questions: 'Why should I suffer? What have I done to deserve this?' Maybe you did nothing to deserve it. Certainly, Our Lord did nothing to deserve His Cross. But it came, and through it, He went to His glory."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen, p. 36 Daily Verse "I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered by news of you. I have no one like him, who will be genuinely anxious for your welfare. They all look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But Timothy's worth you know, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me; and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself shall come also."
–Philippians 2:19-24 | St. Timothy St. Timothy (1st c.) was born in Galatia in Asia Minor, the son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother. Timothy was a convert of St. Paul the Apostle around the year 47 A.D. Timothy became a trusted friend and a beloved spiritual son to Paul, laboring faithfully alongside him in his apostolic work for many years. Paul mentions Timothy repeatedly in his letters and dispatched him on important missionary work to the local churches he founded. Timothy was ordained to the priesthood at the hands of St. Paul and was later made bishop of Ephesus. St. Timothy was stoned to death thirty years after St. Paul's martyrdom for having denounced the worship of the false goddess Diana. St. Timothy is the patron of intestinal and stomach problems, because Paul admonished him to ease his penance and drink a little wine for the sake of his health, instead of only water. His feast day is January 26. | Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, bishops • Readings for the Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, bishops Reading 1 2 Tm 1:1-8 Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
for the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
to Timothy, my dear child:
grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord. I am grateful to God,
whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did,
as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day.
I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears,
so that I may be filled with joy,
as I recall your sincere faith
that first lived in your grandmother Lois
and in your mother Eunice
and that I am confident lives also in you. For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame
the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice
but rather of power and love and self-control.
So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,
nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;
but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel
with the strength that comes from God. or Ti 1:1-5 Paul, a slave of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ
for the sake of the faith of God's chosen ones
and the recognition of religious truth,
in the hope of eternal life
that God, who does not lie, promised before time began,
who indeed at the proper time revealed his word
in the proclamation with which I was entrusted
by the command of God our savior,
to Titus, my true child in our common faith:
grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior. For this reason I left you in Crete
so that you might set right what remains to be done
and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you. Responsorial Psalm PS 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10 R. (3) Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations. 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 Mk 4:26-34 Jesus said to the crowds:
"This is how it is with the Kingdom of God;
it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land
and would sleep and rise night and day
and the seed would sprout and grow,
he knows not how.
Of its own accord the land yields fruit,
first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once,
for the harvest has come." He said,
"To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God,
or what parable can we use for it?
It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground,
is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.
But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants
and puts forth large branches,
so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade."
With many such parables
he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.
Without parables he did not speak to them,
but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.
| Daily Meditation: 2 Timothy 1:1-8 Bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God. (2 Timothy 1:8) Today we celebrate the memorial of two faithful servants of the gospel: Sts. Timothy and Titus. Paul wrote affectionately about both men, and he seems to have relied heavily on them in his work of establishing the new Christian communities. Timothy, born to a Gentile father and Jewish mother, accompanied Paul on many of his travels and became the first bishop of Ephesus. Titus came from a Gentile family and also traveled extensively with Paul. He joined Paul at the apostolic council in Jerusalem, where it was agreed that Gentiles would not need to follow the whole of the Mosaic law. Paul also sent Titus on the important mission of addressing the problems in the community at Corinth (Titus 1:4). Titus was later named bishop of Crete. Paul, the tireless apostle, trusted these two spiritual sons of his to take on responsibilities that were arduous and sometimes complex. They seem to have been men of great skill who gave of themselves generously to the Lord. How can we, like Timothy and Titus, respond generously to the Lord? In today's first reading, Paul tells Timothy to "stir into flame the gift of God" (2 Timothy 1:6). When we take the time to recall how God has loved us, it stirs up our love for him. Then we want to return that love by serving him generously. Paul also tells Timothy, "Bear your share of hardship . . . with the strength that comes from God" (2 Timothy 1:8). Rather than "grin and bear it," God invites us to rely on him for the strength to endure the trials in our lives. So ask the Lord for grace today for the specific concern or battle that you are facing. Imagine him infusing you with everything you need to face it confidently. Like Timothy and Titus, you have an important part to play in the Church. So recall God's goodness and receive his strength today. That way, whatever God is asking of you, you'll be equipped to respond generously. "Thank you, Lord, for strengthening me and leading me in service to others and to the Church." Psalm 96:1-3, 7-8, 10
Mark 4:26-34 |  click to hear 2cents | Reflections with Brother Adrian:
Audio English | In the Gospel today we heard:
""To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it?
It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.
But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches,
so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade."....." end of Gospel verse.
. . . | From Bishop Barron:
"Friends, our Gospel for today features the parable of the mustard seed.
How does God tend to work? From the very small to the very great—and by a slow, gradual process. God tends to operate under the radar, on the edges of things, quietly, clandestinely, not drawing attention to himself.
C.S. Lewis speaks to this principle. How, he asks, did God enter history? Quietly, in a forgotten corner of the Roman Empire, sneaking behind enemy lines. How was European Christianity established? Through the handful of people that listened to St. Paul in Philippi and Athens. How did the mighty Franciscan movement come to be? One odd, mystical kid who heard a voice coming from a crucifix: "Francis, rebuild my Church, which is falling into ruin." A handful of followers joined him in his quixotic project, then dozens, then hundreds, then thousands.
So don't be afraid to do small things at the prompting of God! Plant the seed, make the move, take the risk—take even the smallest step, and don't worry about who notices or how much attention you're getting. Sow the seed and leave the rest to the mercy and providence of God." end quote Bishop Barron.
They say this is one of the smallest of parables. Yet, it has proven to be one of the biggest of parables, right?
And it has been proven to be true. Big things start little, like our universe, some say started very small, even the size of an atom! Is that something you can even fathom? And the atheist Stephen Hawking proved with his theories that the Universe could've come from nothing, which actually proves God's Word of Creation, in the beginning there was nothing. And sometimes, don't we make a big deal out of nothing? LOL, right? I know I've been training myself to realize this issue. What's the big deal? Am I going to lose my health over this? Am I really going to let my family go down over a pride issue? What's more important?
God is more important. What does this mean? God is love. Therefore, Love is more important. And do you remember the true definition of love? It means "willing the good of the other".
God our Father has set forth the rules of life, that we might live forever. Why is the Kingdom of God likened to a mustard seed by our Lord Himself? Because it is! It is exactly how He says it is. It is not like everyone tries to imagine. It is much more deep, much more giving, much more amazing than we care to think!
Therefore, like St. Therese of Lisieux says, "little things done with great love" make the biggest of difference.
So by all means, add a little love to what you do. Sure you are frustrated and nobody appreciates...but God does.
Sure you're running out of resources and finances, but was it all yours to begin with? Everything is on borrowed time on earth, we own really nothing! Even our bodies are on loan from God for our souls to dwell in and represent Him on earth.
We often wish we could do great things for God, but that's not what I'm learning in the Book of Heaven. God looks at the heart. The big things are of little worth if what matters is not there.
I am a business major, and am in charge of a business, and many ministries too. But in business, I read a book lately, "Profit First", and it said that we could bring in 10 times more sales, but still be making the same amount of profit, which in many cases it is practically nonexistent. So what's the use? You're still at zero!
And the same can be said of those that wish they could be the next Mother Teresa, without though....lifting a finger to the forgotten in their own community, or even family.
Truth hurts. And it is going to hurt even more if we die and haven't paid attention to God's word of Love for the world as we live.
I am envisioning a world on earth that will give to God at least 700 years to come, of pure love of God where He reigns true on earth as it is in Heaven. Will it come soon? I don't know! But I want to make it happen. Will you? Let us pray today:
Lord, Thy Will Be Done, in my heart, on earth as it is in Heaven, Thy Holy will, that You might truly live, from the Eucharistic heart to my human and soul's heart. |  Click for Audio | Random Bible Verse 1
1 John 4:20–21 20 If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot1 love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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