† Quote of the Day "May the Holy Spirit enkindle you with the fire of His Love so that you may persevere, unfailingly, in the love of His service. Thus you may merit to become, at last, a living stone in the celestial Jerusalem." — St. Hildegard von Bingen Today's Meditation "You have never begrudged the martyrs their triumph but rather trained them for it. And so I am asking you to be consistent with the lessons you teach them. Just beg for me the courage and endurance not only to speak but also to will what is right, so that I may not only be called a Christian, but prove to be one. For if I prove myself to be a Christian by martyrdom, then people will call me one, and my loyalty to Christ will be apparent when the world sees me no more. Nothing you can see is truly good. For our Lord Jesus Christ, now that he has returned to his Father, has revealed himself more clearly. Our task is not one of producing persuasive propaganda; Christianity shows its greatness when it is hated by the world." —St. Ignatius of Antioch, p. 194
An excerpt from Witness of the Saints Daily Verse "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace." — Numbers 6:24-26 | St. Hildegard Von Bingen St. Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179) was born to a large and noble German family. She began to have mystical visions at the age of three which continued throughout her life. Her parents, promising her to the service of God, sent her to be educated at the Benedictine Abbey by an anchoress when she was about eight years of age. At the age of fourteen she became a consecrated nun attached to the Abbey, where she lived a quiet life of prayer for many years. At the age of 38, after the anchoress' death, she was chosen as the new leader of a growing group of nuns. Hildegard led a remarkable and unusual life for a woman of her day. She was an avid composer of sacred music and liturgy, in addition to poems and plays. She also wrote heavily on theology, natural medicine, and natural science. At the age of 42, at the command of God, Hildegard began writing down what she saw in her visions. Her works were widely read, even by the Pope, and leaders around the world sought her council. Her fame as a mystic and prophetess grew, earning her the name "Sibyl of the Rhine." More nuns flocked to join her, causing Hildegard to establish a new monastery at Rupertsberg. She wrote proficiently on the harmony of created nature and man's need to live in balance with it, especially in virtue, morality, and the love of God, which led Pope Benedict XVI to declare her the fourth female Doctor of the Church in 2012 alongside Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, and Thérèse of Lisieux. Because her works were far ahead of her time she is regarded as a historical phenomenon. Hildegard of Bingen is considered the founder of scientific natural history in Germany. Her feast day is September 17th. | Tuesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 1 Cor 12:12-14, 27-31a Brothers and sisters:
As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. Now the body is not a single part, but many. Now you are Christ's Body, and individually parts of it.
Some people God has designated in the Church
to be, first, Apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers;
then, mighty deeds;
then gifts of healing, assistance, administration,
and varieties of tongues.
Are all Apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?
Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing?
Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. Responsorial Psalm Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5 R. (3) We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
For he is good, the LORD,
whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock. Alleluia Lk 7:16 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 7:11-17 Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain,
and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him.
As he drew near to the gate of the city,
a man who had died was being carried out,
the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.
A large crowd from the city was with her.
When the Lord saw her,
he was moved with pity for her and said to her,
"Do not weep."
He stepped forward and touched the coffin;
at this the bearers halted,
and he said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!"
The dead man sat up and began to speak,
and Jesus gave him to his mother.
Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming,
"A great prophet has arisen in our midst,"
and "God has visited his people."
This report about him spread through the whole of Judea
and in all the surrounding region. | Daily Meditation: Luke 7:11-17 When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her. (Luke 7:13) In today's Gospel, we find a heartbreaking scene: a woman who has already lost her husband is now grieving the death of her only son. When Jesus sees her, he is deeply moved. The Greek word for "pity" in this passage (splagchna) literally means to feel moved in your internal organs. It's a gut-wrenching kind of compassion. Jesus used this same word to describe the way the father of the prodigal son reacted when his boy returned (Luke 15:20). He also used it to describe the way the good Samaritan felt toward the wounded man (10:33). This is the compassion that God feels for each of us when we are grieving. Death can pierce the heart in ways not much else can, even when we know that death is not the end. One of the chief results of Adam's sin, death is a bitter reminder that things are not as they should be. We were never meant to be separated from one another in this way. Jesus himself wept at the loss of his friend Lazarus and grieved for his cousin, John the Baptist (John 11:35; Matthew 14:13). Even though he knew he would ultimately defeat death, the pain of loss and the effects of sin moved him to mourn. So although, as Paul wrote, we do not grieve "like the rest, who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13), we still suffer deeply over the loss of our loved ones. Our hearts break over conversations we wish we could have had and experiences we can no longer share with them. Every fiber of our being protests that this is not the way life should be, and we grieve the way sin and death have infiltrated our world. So we cling to the hope we have in Christ's resurrection, that death is not the final end. Yet it's sometimes even more meaningful to remember that we are not alone in our grieving. Our Father grieves with us. Your God is full of compassion. Just as Jesus saw the widow of Nain in her anguish, he sees you. He is not cold or distant; his heart aches with love for you. He doesn't ask you to wipe the tears from your eyes. He is truly Emmanuel, God with us. He is with you in your joy and in your sorrow. And he is with you today. "Thank you, Lord, that you never leave my side." 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31
Psalm 100:1-5 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: | In the Holy Scripture we hear today:
"...a man who had died was being carried out,
the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.
A large crowd from the city was with her.
When the Lord saw her,
he was moved with pity for her and said to her,
"Do not weep."
He stepped forward and touched the coffin;
at this the bearers halted,
and he said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!"
The dead man sat up and began to speak,
and Jesus gave him to his mother.
Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming,
"A great prophet has arisen in our midst,"
and "God has visited his people."........."_ end quote. | From Bishop Barron: "Friends, our Gospel today gives us Jesus' raising of the son of the widow of Nain. This is a prime exemplification of the key Gospel truth that everything Jesus said and did, in one way or another, is an anticipation of his Resurrection. The God of Israel, the God of Jesus Christ, is a God of life, a God of the living. He hates death and the ways of death.
The death in today's Gospel goes beyond the tragic loss of a loved one, as awful as that is. In the context of Jesus' time and place, this is a disaster for the widow. There is no social safety net, no insurance, no guaranteed income. Unless she finds kindly neighbors who will support her, she is lost without her husband and, importantly, her "only son." This is why the heart of Jesus is especially moved with pity.
Notice please that the reaction of the bystanders is fear. This is the fear that comes from the turning upside down of a world. This is also the reaction of the women at the tomb on Easter Sunday morning. An evangelization that isn't a little scary is an inadequate evangelization......" end quote Bishop Barron.
"Young man, I tell you, arise!"
The dead man sat up and began to speak.... Our Lord once asked a little girl to wake up, in the Gospel of Mark 5 we heard: "Talitha koum!" which means: "Little girl, I say to you, arise!" 42 And immediately the girl, a child of twelve, got up and began to walk around."
It is amazing, that someone would just wake up from death at His command. Lazarus arose after days of death and beginnings of a bad smell. Yet, they arise, walk, and talk at His command.
This means many things and goes on all levels of physical to spiritual, to a whole world that is combined with the next.
But what causes such grand miracles? Compassion. Love of neighbor.
Mercy. Grace. These are all things that cause Christ our Lord to do what He does. He revives a dying soul inside of us if we want to be healed and revived. How many times have you felt down and out? How many times have you been that weeping widow? Jesus our Lord and King, knew His death, and knew His mother would be afflicted like that weeping widow He saw. And so, our Lord said "I will take the place of this dead young man, I will console that woman, I will make things right by giving my own life!". And He did. He would die. Mother Mary would not be consoled, our Lady of Sorrows would forever suffer the bitter anguish of losing an only child, and God Himself. She would see Him again in this earthly life, but for a few days, and not be able to live with Him as before on earth.
If He can raise the dead with a few words and a touch, wouldn't you want to be healed by His word?
This is why we are hearing this message right now. We need healing inside. The Holy Sacraments heal us inside. Then we can heal others with the grace, touch, and word of God.
Share this message, and you will be sharing life. You will be a life giver.
The world teaches to kill, believe it or not, this is the rule of jungle law, kill or be killed. But that is not the message of Christ. His is to give life.
Inside, let Him live. Just say the words "Jesus come inside" and He will no longer be an outcast in your life. You will see what He wants to see, when the two are joined and made one flesh.
Think Eucharist. Live gratitude. Think the blood and body of Christ that lives forever inside. |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Colossians 3:12–14 [Colossians 3] 12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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