† Quote of the Day "Prayer is the best preparation for Holy Communion. Prayer is the raising of the mind to God. When we pray we go to meet Christ Who is coming to us. If our Creator and Savior comes from heaven with such great love, it is only fitting that we should go to meet Him. And this is what we do when we spend some time in prayer." — St. Bernardine of Siena Today's Meditation "For us Christians, the first virtue of godliness is to honor our parents—to pay back the troubles of those who bore us, and to give them whatever comforts we can with all our strength. For if we repaid them as much as possible, we could still never pay them back for their gift of life. Then they will enjoy the comfort we provide, . . . And then won't our Father in heaven accept our good intentions, and judge us worthy to 'shine like the sun in the Kingdom of our Father' (Matthew 13:43)?" —St. Cyril of Jerusalem, p. 190 An excerpt from A Year with Church Fathers Daily Verse "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." — Proverbs 9:10 | St. Bona Of Pisa St. Bona (1156 - 1207 A.D.) was born in Pisa, Italy. She experienced visions at a young age which led her into an ascetical life of penance and fasting. She dedicated herself to God at the early age of ten and became an Augustinian tertiary. At the age of fourteen she went on her first pilgrimage to Jerusalem where her father was fighting in the crusades. On her trip home she was captured and wounded by Muslim pirates and imprisoned, later being rescued by her fellow countrymen. She became fond of making pilgrimages and returned to the Holy Land many times. She also led a large pilgrimage group along the Way of St. James (Santiago de Compostela), a 1,000 mile journey. She had a great devotion to St. James, whom she had seen in a vision as a child. She was named an official guide of the ancient route by the Knights of St. James. St. Bona made the Way of St. James a total of nine times. On her tenth trip she had to return home due to illness, and died soon after. St. Bona of Pisa is the patron saint of travelers, couriers, tour guides, pilgrims, flight attendants, and the city of Pisa. Her feast day is May 29th. | Wednesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time • Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Paul VI, Pope Reading 1 1 Pt 1:18-25 Beloved:
Realize that you were ransomed from your futile conduct,
handed on by your ancestors,
not with perishable things like silver or gold
but with the precious Blood of Christ
as of a spotless unblemished Lamb.
He was known before the foundation of the world
but revealed in the final time for you,
who through him believe in God
who raised him from the dead and gave him glory,
so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified yourselves
by obedience to the truth for sincere brotherly love,
love one another intensely from a pure heart.
You have been born anew,
not from perishable but from imperishable seed,
through the living and abiding word of God, for: "All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory like the flower of the field;
the grass withers,
and the flower wilts;
but the word of the Lord remains forever."
This is the word that has been proclaimed to you. Responsorial Psalm Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 R. (12a) Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Mk 10:45 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 10:32-45 The disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem,
and Jesus went ahead of them.
They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid.
Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them
what was going to happen to him.
"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man
will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes,
and they will condemn him to death
and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him,
spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death,
but after three days he will rise." Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
came to Jesus and said to him,
"Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you."
He replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?"
They answered him,
"Grant that in your glory
we may sit one at your right and the other at your left."
Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I drink
or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"
They said to him, "We can."
Jesus said to them, "The chalice that I drink, you will drink,
and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;
but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared."
When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.
Jesus summoned them and said to them,
"You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles
lord it over them,
and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many."
| Daily Meditation: 1 Peter 1:18-25 You were ransomed from your futile conduct. (1 Peter 1:18) What do you think of when you hear the word "ransomed"? You might imagine an action movie in which someone is kidnapped and held prisoner until their captors receive payment for their release. If you're historically minded, you might recall that, in ancient times, "ransom" described a price paid to release a person from slavery. But in today's first reading, St. Peter is saying that "you were ransomed" (1 Peter 1:18, emphasis added)! Few of us have ever been held captive. But if we're honest, we can probably think of examples of the kind of "futile conduct" that Peter says we were ransomed from. It could be resentment that hangs over you like a dark cloud. Or a habit of unforgiveness that you just can't shake. Or a tendency to complain or react with anger. These sins can seem like foes holding you hostage or keeping you enslaved; you struggle with them, but you can't seem to free yourself. Whatever your challenge, remember that "your faith and hope are in God" (1 Peter 1:21). Jesus has offered his very life, his own blood "as of a spotless unblemished Lamb," to set you free (1:19). It's this life—pure, divine, freely given—that has broken the power of sin and death. The forces that held you captive have been defeated. Jesus himself said that he came "to give his life as a ransom" (Mark 10:45). He has done the work on your behalf, and now he is asking you to do the work of believing in him! Whenever you find yourself indulging in "futile conduct," turn to the Lord. Believe in the objective truth: Jesus has ransomed you. Get a friend or spiritual mentor to pray with you. They can help support you in faith. Receive God's forgiveness and grace in prayer and in Confession. That's where you'll find God's strength to keep going, even in the face of sins that seem hard to overcome. With each act of faith in Jesus' work on your behalf, you are taking another step down the road toward the freedom that Jesus has won for you. "Jesus, thank you for ransoming me! Help me to walk in freedom." Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20
Mark 10:32-45 |  try to hear it read by AI | Reflections with Brother Adrian: | In the Holy Scripture we hear today:
"You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles
lord it over them,
and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many......" end quote. | Is there someone you know personally that you admire in the world right now?
What are they like? What are their leadership qualities like?
Major categories of characteristics and skills that people find most desirable in a leader are:
Communication skills (45.2%)
Interpersonal skills (44.2%)
Values and ethics (41.9%)
Personal attributes (30.2%)
Coaching and feedback (21.8%)
Does this apply to bosses or organizational leaders only?
I would say no. This applies to everybody. Everybody from a mother at home to a major organization has to have these qualities that are desirable.
We have to have communication skills. Often I tell my family and friends "it's not what you are trying to say, but HOW you are saying it!", without love and charity, things come out all wrong and can actually cause more division, right? Amen?
This where God comes in. Love.
Interpersonal skills? Those with good interpersonal skills are strong verbal and non-verbal communicators and are often considered to be "good with people".
And sometimes it is not about what you say with words but your mannerisms, your body language to. Authenticity oozes out. They say about 70% of what you say is done through body language. What does your body say about God? There are times that people ask me if I am a Deacon or a Pastor, once even asked if I was a priest. Funny thing is, I never spoke with these people direct, and it happens so often, that I am not amazed by the question anymore. People can tell from a mile away they say.
But yes, how you deal with people can make for a great leader if you know how, and the best way is through God's grace.
And what of values and ethics? The world needs values. That's why God has sent His only Son, to set the bar as far as values and ethics go. He has placed priorities in our lives. To love God above all, and neighbors as we love ourselves. This is unlike any other idea or proposed value or ethics in the world. We are lacking in this regard. We say we love God and neighbor, but act otherwise in our neglect of His Holy Desires. Thus, we need Him more than those we neglect! Amen?
Coaching and feedback? How often do you teach others, and coach them? We do, even if we don't think we are. People see you from afar and study you. They watch and learn. They are listening. We are coaching with our lives and what we say matters, to build up the body of Christ or to destroy it.
You see, either we are building up the Body of Christ or we are not. Things are black and white, yes or no.
My job is to be fertile soil, and fight for true joy for you. I make a huge deal to make you smile if you know me. I am a stepping stool for you to go higher than me. And my prayer, my beloved, is that you do not forget me. I know God won't forget me when I make others greater than me.
And here goes that word again...humility. Look at the cross of humiliation. What did Jesus our Christ and Savior mean at the cross with His body language?
It was total surrender to God's will. That He would be opened and naked before God for all to see everything He had to offer...and then He allowed His heart, His Sacred Heart to be slashed open and all His life poured out for us that would believe in His love ....forever. Lord, May Your Sacred Heart and Precious Body and Blood be honored Forever through me! |  Click for Audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 27:1 The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation
Of David. 27 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold1 of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
