† Quote of the Day "The limitless loving devotion to God, and the gift God makes of Himself to you, are the highest elevation of which the heart is capable; it is the highest degree of prayer." — St. Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) Today's Meditation "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Even though the Disciples suffered persecution, they were filled with joy. One would have expected them to be depressed or angry or resentful. The very fact that they responded to persecution with joy is a sign that the Spirit was guiding their actions. We can use that same test with our own words and actions." —Rev. Jude Winkler, O.F.M., p. 11 An excerpt from Daily Meditations With the Holy Spirit Daily Verse "But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind." — Job 12:7-10 | St. George St. George (d. 303 A.D.) was born in Palestine to noble Christian parents. Like his father, he enlisted as a soldier in the Roman army serving under Emperor Diocletian. He was renowned for his bravery and outstanding military prowess, and was a favorite of the Emperor. Many fantastical legends are ascribed to him, however, none are known to be true with any certainty. The most famous legend is St. George and the Dragon, where St. George, after making the Sign of the Cross, saved a king's daughter from being devoured by a man-eating dragon. St. George killed the elusive dragon, and by this feat persuaded many souls to accept baptism. He also admonished the king, in gratitude for his princess being saved by Christ's power, to support the cause of the Church. What is known with certainty is that St. George, after confessing and refusing to renounce his faith in Christ, was martyred in Palestine during the Christian persecution of Diocletian. He became a highly venerated saint in antiquity, and many early churches were dedicated in his honor. St. George is the patron of many causes and countries, including soldiers, knights, chivalry, horsemen, farmers, Canada, England, and Germany, to name a few. His feast day is April 23.
Find a devotional for this saint | Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter Reading 1 Acts 11:19-26 Those who had been scattered by the persecution
that arose because of Stephen
went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching the word to no one but Jews.
There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them, however,
who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well,
proclaiming the Lord Jesus.
The hand of the Lord was with them
and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord.
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians. Responsorial Psalm 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7 R. (117:1a) All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God!
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I tell of Egypt and Babylon
among those who know the LORD;
Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia:
"This man was born there."
And of Zion they shall say:
"One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High LORD."
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
"This man was born there."
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
"My home is within you."
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 10:27 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 10:22-30 The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem.
It was winter.
And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon.
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him,
"How long are you going to keep us in suspense?
If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
Jesus answered them, "I told you and you do not believe.
The works I do in my Father's name testify to me.
But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
No one can take them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them out of the Father's hand.
The Father and I are one." | Daily Meditation: Acts 11:19-26 He rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart. (Acts 11:23) Isn't it astounding to think that the good news of Jesus Christ spread primarily because of persecution? As awful as it was, the persecution of the early Christians actually led to many people—both Jews and Gentiles—hearing the good news for the first time. For those who stayed behind in Jerusalem, any sense of discouragement at the flight of so many brothers and sisters was short-lived when they learned how that flight caused a "great number" to believe in the Lord (Acts 11:21). In today's first reading, we hear about Barnabas, a disciple in Jerusalem, who traveled to Antioch and "rejoiced" when he saw how many people had come to faith in Christ (11:23). The truth is, God can use even the most difficult challenges for good—both your good and the good of others. Many of the early Christians moved from everything they had ever known and had to start over—with new jobs and new homes—and adapt to new cultural norms (Acts 11:19). But as they accepted all these dramatic changes, they kept what was most precious to them: their faith. They kept "preaching the word" and "proclaiming the Lord Jesus" to the people they met (11:19, 20). When facing job loss, the death of a loved one, or an unexpected medical condition, it can be easy to get discouraged. But what if God's plans include working to bring about good in the midst of those challenging situations? A hospital stay, for example, could lead to an opportunity to share your testimony with the medical staff or other patients. A job loss could lead to a new position more suited to your gifts. Or perhaps the loss of one relationship leads to a new season of friendship in another. Wherever you find yourself today, hold onto your faith that the Lord is with you. Your hope could attract people to you and lead to an opportunity to share the treasure that you hold—the reality of Jesus' life and love! God is faithful; he can bring good out of any situation. "Lord, open my eyes to see and share your goodness and truth in every season of my life." Psalm 87:1-7
John 10:22-30 |  try to hear it read by AI | Reflections with Brother Adrian: | In the Holy Scripture we hear today:
"The works I do in my Father's name testify to me.
But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish......." end quote. | From Bishop Barron:
"Friends, in today's Gospel, Jesus explains why his sheep listen to him and follow him. They do so because he is leading them to eternal life.
He says, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish." The life of heaven, where we "shall never perish," is that place where death and sickness have no power over us, where we see God face-to-face.
Heaven and earth are always connected in the biblical imagination; that's true. But heaven should never be reduced to earth, as though religion is just about this-worldly ethics, social justice, or psychological well-being. No; the Christian faith is about a journey beyond this world to the heavenly Jerusalem.
Everything in the Christian life—from our ethical behavior, to prayer, to the liturgy, to works of justice—all of it is meant to conduce to that end. So listen to the voice of the shepherd and follow him wherever he goes..." end quote.
Our Lord says that His sheep hear His voice. Have you "heard" His voice?
They had been asking Jesus, God, if He was the Messiah, the Savior. They wanted Him to declare it "plainly". They were literally hearing the voice of God on earth, and they still could not believe. They wanted Him to just come out and say it clearly. But He did not speak what they wanted to hear.
And so it is the case for us all today. We want Him to just appear out of thin air, but He has been speaking through many in your life, but we still reserve doubt. We love to doubt. Doubting is easier than faith. But what if I told you that faith was easier than doubt?
Doubt is like a lie. Lies are not easy to carry. They are a burden and hard to keep up with. That is the same with doubt. It makes you weary, anxious, always watching your back. All things contrary to faith, and having a light load with our Messiah.
Then why do we love to doubt? See how children are, they live lightly, no burdens, not because of less responsibility but because of total faith.
Not because of ignorance, but because they, in purity, know they have nothing to fear, for they have not learned that darkness.
On that note, because we have learned to doubt and to fear in the rule of darkness, we need to taste and learn to love God.
That's what I told my godson last night as we met at church. I said "why is it so hard for us to love God, in church? Why is it so hard to love Him? Why is it so hard to just stop by when we are driving by?"
And the questions can go on and on as we question everything.
Why is it so hard to concentrate in prayer? Or in Mass? Or in anything requiring our full attention to Him? Why are we so distracted? Why are our minds restless? Why do we not focus? Why do we not care? Why do we yawn when it comes to prayer? Why do so few take to prayer groups and gatherings? Why does something have to be "new" to be interesting? Why can't the old be interesting? And the questions can go on forever. And all the while, we sat outside the church, locked out. Why are we locked out? Someone in the church fears. They heard of vandalism in another state in the news. And so, in my parish, I'm locked out of everything I've worked so hard for. I'm locked out of the classrooms, I used to have a key years ago. I'm locked out of the hall, I used to have a key for monthly and semi monthly gatherings. I'm locked out even of the new hall that I've worked so hard for in designing, gathering funds, and building it. I'm locked out of the church and I'm locked even of the thermostats to control the temperatures. I laugh, and I tell the councils, after realizing why they locked everything "It was me!" I'm the one that messes with thermostats, and I'm the one always in the halls in gatherings probably making messes, and I'm the one always trying to open classrooms for my kids to gather and for meetings. I'm the reason they were probably missing a table for the family festival that I am the director of! There are no thieves or vandals, it's just me! I'm the one you fear!
You see, God has put everything together for us in this world, yet...we lock Him out of our hearts and our lives.
And so, I sit there outside the locked church, praying they will let me inside, to sit by the new tabernacle which I helped design in the new renovations. Maybe one day the people will let us in.
I told my godson, "we are going to have to go start knocking on doors to let us in, if they will not come to us, we will go to them, and I hope they let us in "their heart".
And just then, a sacristan helper drove up "do you want to go into the chruch?" LOL, I laughed and said no, we are finished praying, and leaving, and she said "are you sure? because I can call the sacristan, she has the keys but she is eating at a restaurant right now!" LOL Lord, I am like a persistent dog that has been fed scraps and will not go away. I deserve the scraps. I am hungry. I need You to survive. I need Your food. I am not a bad dog, I'm just not wanted anywhere else.
I want to be that D. O. G. that D depends, that O is On, that G is God, Depends
On
God.
And my dependence my God, let it be my love for You. I have no other way to show you that I love You. That I come to Your door, and although You haven't let me in today, I pray one day the doors will be wide open to come and lay at your side, waiting for You to train me, to feed me, and to love me. I am Yours, where else would I go? You have the words of everlasting life! |  Click for Audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 145:8 8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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