† Quote of the Day "Young people need the light of watchful guides to lead them on the path of salvation." — St. John Baptist de la Salle Today's Meditation "Heaven is the birth-place and home of love. Its blessed inhabitants love much, love forever, and love only what is worthy of love. Joseph, however, was blessed by anticipation, for he passed all his days in the exercise of divine love, and lived a life of love upon earth. The Evangelists do not record a single word of this great saint; he observed, indeed, a marvelous silence. Not, however, an ungracious silence. The silence of ordinary men, as well as their irrepressible flow of words, is often merely selfish. But Joseph's silence and his speech were alike prompted and regulated by the law of charity ... His words, indeed, were never superfluous, for they had their source in love, but they were also ruled by his will, not forced from him as the expression of his feelings." —Edward Healy Thompson, p. 362
An excerpt from The Life and Glories of St. Joseph Daily Verse "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." — 2 Timothy 1:7-8 | St. Augustine Zhao Rong St. Augustine Zhao Rong (d. 1815) was a Chinese soldier who was assigned to escort the captive Catholic bishop, John Gabriel Taurin Dufresse, to Beijing where he was to be executed by beheading. The bishop's faith made a strong impact on Zhao, who then requested baptism. He took the Christian name Augustine, and later entered the seminary and was ordained to the priesthood. During the continuing persecution of Christians in China, Augustine was one of thousands of Chinese Catholics who suffered martyrdom for the faith. He was arrested, tortured, and killed in 1815. St. Augustine Zhao Rong is honored with a group of 120 martyrs who were killed for their Catholic faith in China from 1648-1930. The group was canonized by Pope St. John Paul II in 2000. Of them, 87 were Chinese natives and 33 were Western missionaries. The feast day of St. Augustine Zhao Rong and the Chinese Martyrs is July 9th. | Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Hos 8:4-7, 11-13 Thus says the LORD:
They made kings in Israel, but not by my authority;
they established princes, but without my approval.
With their silver and gold they made
idols for themselves, to their own destruction.
Cast away your calf, O Samaria!
my wrath is kindled against them;
How long will they be unable to attain
innocence in Israel?
The work of an artisan,
no god at all,
Destined for the flames—
such is the calf of Samaria! When they sow the wind,
they shall reap the whirlwind;
The stalk of grain that forms no ear
can yield no flour;
Even if it could,
strangers would swallow it. When Ephraim made many altars to expiate sin,
his altars became occasions of sin.
Though I write for him my many ordinances,
they are considered as a stranger's.
Though they offer sacrifice,
immolate flesh and eat it,
the LORD is not pleased with them.
He shall still remember their guilt
and punish their sins;
they shall return to Egypt. Responsorial Psalm PS 115:3-4, 5-6, 7ab-8, 9-10 R. (9a) The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Our God is in heaven;
whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the handiwork of men.
R. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
They have mouths but speak not;
they have eyes but see not;
They have ears but hear not;
they have noses but smell not.
R. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
They have hands but feel not;
they have feet but walk not.
Their makers shall be like them,
everyone that trusts in them.
R. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 10:14 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 9:32-38 A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,
and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.
The crowds were amazed and said,
"Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."
But the Pharisees said,
"He drives out demons by the prince of demons." Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest." | Daily Meditation: Matthew 9:32-38 Ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. (Matthew 9:38) Jesus was filled with compassion for his people, who "were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36). He wanted to be their Shepherd, healing them and releasing them from the bondage of sin and death. But like a ripe harvest, they needed to be gathered and brought to him. That's why he instructed his disciples to "ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest" (9:38). Of course, the disciples themselves brought in a great harvest, as did so many dedicated believers who came after them. Yet the harvest is still "abundant" today (Matthew 9:37). So many people need to hear and accept the good news. That's why, as modern-day disciples, we, too, are called to bring in this harvest. But with so many work and family demands pressing in on us, how can we do that? First, we can respond to Jesus' request and pray for more workers who can dedicate their whole lives to sharing the good news and caring for his people. Maybe our prayers will help a young man realize that he is being called to the priesthood. Or perhaps a young woman will hear God leading her to enter the convent. Pray for those reading this magazine right now who are discerning whether to become a full-time "harvester," whether in a religious vocation or as a lay minister. Second, we can pray for opportunities to do some "harvesting" ourselves. We don't have to be full-time laborers to bring in some of the harvest. If everyone does their part, think of how many people could come to know the Lord! So be open to inviting a neighbor, friend, or coworker to a parish Bible study. Ask them if they want you to pray for a specific need. So many people are "troubled and abandoned" and need you to share God's love with them! Finally, we can encourage young people, both in our families and in our parishes, to consider a vocation. Sometimes all it takes is asking the question, "Might God be calling you?" The harvest is more than ready. Let's help to bring it in! "Jesus, I am praying for more laborers. Help me to be one, too!" Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13
Psalm 115:3-10 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: | In the Holy Scripture we hear today:
"A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,
and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.
The crowds were amazed and said,
"Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."
But the Pharisees said,
"He drives out demons by the prince of demons."....
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest."......" end quote. | From Bishop Barron Today:
"Friends, in today's Gospel, Jesus directs his disciples to "ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest," to pray for evangelists to rescue the lost. But what precisely does it mean to evangelize?
Euangelion (glad tidings) was a familiar word in the culture of the New Testament authors. When the emperor or one of his generals won a battle, he would send evangelists ahead to announce the glad tidings.
The first Christians were being edgy when they adapted the word to their purposes. They were saying that the definitive battle had indeed been won, but that it had nothing to do with Caesar and his armies. It had to do with the victory that God had won in Christ over sin and death.
Jesus went into the belly of the beast—into the heart of our dysfunction, to the limits of godforsakenness—and he defeated the dark powers. He demonstrated that the divine love is greater than our greatest enemies.
This evangelical message entails, too, that there is a new King, a new Emperor. Christ, the victor over sin and death, must be the center of your life...." End Quote Bishop Barron.
Our Lord Jesus healed everyone that asked. And for this, He was accused of evil things. And it leaves one to wonder why so few tend to God's will, doesn't it? St. Teresa of Avila: "Oh, my Lord!" she exclaimed, with her usual loving familiarity, "when wilt Thou cease from scattering obstacles in our path?" "Do not complain, daughter," the Divine Master answered, "for it is ever thus that I treat My friends." "Ah, Lord, it is also on that account that Thou hast so few!" was her reply.
It definitely is not an easy way of life. Take for instance, today's chinese martyr. He saw a Bishop beheaded, and decided to become a Catholic and a priest too, and this lead to his own death as well.
No wonder very few decide to take to this life, right? It takes too much of your life. Too much effort. And I hate that we have to fight for the effort. There is always something vying for your attention....your life, always pulling us from the Lord, and His holy will.
What kind of sacrifice will it take to be a laborer for the harvest?
And who planted the whole harvest anyhow? It is the Lord and His holy angels that have planted the seeds, amen? His is the vineyard, the one that is to harvest. All we need help with is plucking the grains, the grapes, the fruit, we just need to add labor!
Are you ready to work, for the Lord? It is brutal! The scorching heat! The blazing sun, the sweat of your brow, the heartaches, the hunger spells, the thirst! Our Lord languishes on the cross, uttering with His suffering body "please, help Me".
And we are like that weakling finger that faintly makes a muscle move in the Michaelangelo painting, where God with all His might and strength is making all kinds of effort to touch our finger tip with His.
Why are we so weak? And this is not a joke, and this is not good.
When Jesus walked the earth, with a mere word He could exorcise a person, free them from demons. Today, a Catholic exorcist, on average takes about 75 sessions to free a person from demons. Are the demons stronger? Not really, we are just that much weaker. We are weak in our efforts. We are spoiled. We want things of convenience. We want things our way right away, like fast food. We want a miracle to be instantaneous or else. We need to be stronger in our efforts.
What efforts? What can we do?
Your holiness, your prayer life, your attendance alone speaks volumes, but then, God sees in the heart, the heartless souls in church. We take a step but we need to take many more to do His will. You can fast for conversion. You can fast for conversions of others. You can offer prayers, rosaries, novenas, and the ultimate, a Holy Mass.
This life on earth is no time to waste.
Every moment is precious. There is a key word that changes everything: Gratefulness. Thanksgiving. To truly appreciate this life, we must give the most beautiful to God. Everyone in the past offered the best to God. Nowadays, we offer the very least to God.
God needs laborers. I am writing to the laborers right now.
God needs all hands on deck. Yes, He needs us, and our prayers, and our offerings. How and why? For the good of the world He created.
Pray with me, for the conversion of the ones that neglect and deny us, our own family that hate that we preach to them. Offer sacrifices for them, souls are at stake. Loving is willing the good of the other. Love is not a two way street always, sometimes it is stronger...a one way effort.
Don't expect appreciation. Expect humiliation.
And then, gratitude for your humiliation will come from Heaven.
Nobody wants to meet. So what? You keep meeting in church.
Nobody wants to help? So what? That's nothing new. Keep inviting.
This is work! This is hard work! This is work that hardly anyone wants to do. That's why there are fewer priests in our country. That's why vocations to the religious life are low too in most places (some are actually exploding).
I remember working in the fields, hoeing weeds with my grandmother's brother, Tio Gollo. I knew he was a faithful man, already elderly, just me and him working, we hardly spoke, but I do remember sighing in the hot sun, thirsty, and all I remember him saying was "What a beautiful Sun".
I never forgot his words, and he passed away a few years later.
The sun gives life, and the sun can burn. But we cannot live without the sun. We need the sun to see! We need the sun to have life on earth! We need the sun to revolve around! We need the energy for life!
This is how previous indians lived without knowing our Lord and our God, they knew the Sun was a life giver.
Now we know there is the true Son, the Son of the Universe, the Son of God, the Son of Life, and this Son, wants to work with you and in you.
We've already allowed evil in our weakness to thrive. It is time to allow God to do what He wants. It is time for obedience, a holy obedience to sacrifice ourselves in this life, and then reap the benefits in the next life, that of knowing that you got to serve the most amazing God and Father, what gifts we could offer now! They are priceless! Sacred Blood of Jesus, Be our Love, our all! | Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 104:24 24 O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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