† Quote of the Day "Consider God's charity. Where else have we ever seen someone who has been offended voluntarily paying out his life for those who have offended him?" — St. Catherine of Siena Today's Meditation "I remind you, My daughter, that as often as you hear the clock strike the third hour, immerse yourself completely in My mercy, adoring and glorifying it; invoke its omnipotence for the whole world, and particularly for poor sinners; for at that moment mercy was opened wide for every soul. In this hour you can obtain everything for yourself and for others for the asking; it was the hour of grace for the whole world—mercy triumphed over justice. My daughter, try your best to make the Stations of the Cross in this hour, provided that your duties permit it; and if you are not able to make the Stations of the Cross, then at least step into the chapel for a moment and adore, in the Blessed Sacrament, My Heart, which is full of mercy; and should you be unable to step into the chapel, immerse yourself in prayer there where you happen to be, if only for a very brief instant." —Jesus to St. Faustina Kowalska, (1572)
An excerpt from Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska - Divine Mercy in My Soul Daily Verse "So, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." — Colossians 2:6-7 | St. Cleophas St. Cleophas (1st c.) was one of Jesus' seventy disciples, and one of the two disciples who were traveling along the road to Emmaus after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus in Jerusalem, as recounted in Luke's Gospel. The resurrected Jesus appeared and walked along the road with St. Cleophas and his companion, explaining the events of his Passion and how they fulfilled the Holy Scriptures. According to one tradition, Cleophas (also known as Alphaeus), was a relative of Jesus; he was the brother of St. Joseph, and therefore was Jesus' uncle. Cleophas was the husband of St. Mary of Cleophas, and they had three sons we know by name: St. Simon, St. James the Less, and St. Jude. St. Cleophas, through his daughter Mary Salome, was also grandfather to St. James the Greater and St. John. Therefore three of his sons and two of his grandsons were among the Twelve Apostles. According to tradition, St. Cleophas was martyred by the Jewish authorities in the same home in which he received Jesus as a guest. His feast day is September 25th. | Wednesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Prv 30:5-9 Every word of God is tested;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Add nothing to his words,
lest he reprove you, and you will be exposed as a deceiver. Two things I ask of you,
deny them not to me before I die:
Put falsehood and lying far from me,
give me neither poverty nor riches;
provide me only with the food I need;
Lest, being full, I deny you,
saying, "Who is the LORD?"
Or, being in want, I steal,
and profane the name of my God. Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163 R. (105) Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
Remove from me the way of falsehood,
and favor me with your law.
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
Your word, O LORD, endures forever;
it is firm as the heavens.
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
From every evil way I withhold my feet,
that I may keep your words.
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
Through your precepts I gain discernment;
therefore I hate every false way.
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
Falsehood I hate and abhor;
your law I love.
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet. Alleluia Mk 1:15 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 9:1-6 Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.
Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.
And as for those who do not welcome you,
when you leave that town,
shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them."
Then they set out and went from village to village
proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere.
| Daily Meditation: Luke 9:1-6 Take nothing for the journey. (Luke 9:3) When preparing for a backpacking trip, a hiker needs to be discerning about what to bring. Every item is considered with shrewd judgment: "Is this necessary? Or is it extra weight that will drag me down?" Jesus' words in today's Gospel remind us to follow a similar kind of calculation as disciples: "Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money" (Luke 9:3). Jesus sent out the Twelve to preach the gospel—no small task! But he also told them not to bring anything with them. Instead, they should trust God to provide for their needs. Just as he had first called the disciples to leave everything to follow him, Jesus wanted them to trust the Father now to provide for them in their missionary efforts (Luke 5:11, 28; 9:3). And he wants us to trust him to provide for us as well. As Jesus' disciples, we are called to travel light because our Father is trustworthy; we can depend on him to give us what we need. We are often tempted to misplace our trust and overstuff our bags with things we think will bring us security, like our possessions, human acclaim, or worldly success. But these "treasures" weigh us down and keep us from trusting the Lord. In the end, they make our journey more difficult. In contrast, the more loosely we hold onto these treasures, the more we will experience God's faithfulness and provision. This is especially true when God invites us to share our faith or to be generous with our finances. When our confidence comes from human esteem, we can dread initiating a conversation about Jesus because we fear rejection. Or when we find security in money, sharing our resources with someone in need feels too risky. But when we trust in God to provide for us, we have peace in our hearts and can reach out with words of hope. So what's weighing you down today? Whether it's material possessions, the pursuit of success, or the burdens of life, Jesus invites you to ponder, Is this necessary? Or will it just weigh me down? God provided for the disciples as they went out to preach the gospel—and he will provide for you. "Lord, I surrender all my burdens to you." Proverbs 30:5-9
Psalm 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: | In the Holy Scripture we hear today:
"Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick........"_ end quote. | Bishop Barron said:
"Friends, in today's Gospel, Jesus sends his disciples on mission: He "summoned the Twelve . . . and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick." As members of the Mystical Body, we share the mission of evangelization.
In accord with the subjectivism of our culture, many Christians think of their spiritual lives in an individualist way, as the cultivation of their personal friendship with God. But this overlooks something that the New Testament authors took for granted—namely, that Christians exist not for themselves but for the world.
Jesus compared his followers to salt, which is designed to preserve and enhance something other than itself, and to light, whose purpose is to be set on a stand in order to illumine what is around it. Pope St. Paul VI articulated the same truth as follows: the Church doesn't have a mission; the Church is a mission.
We go forth, therefore, with God's authority and empowered for his work. When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, he will ask whether we have taught the world how to praise, how to reverence the truth, how to go out vigorously on campaign to extend the kingdom of God. . . ." end quote.
A Spanish reflection ended today with: "Effectiveness will not lie in the great displays of the media, in mass gatherings, in powerful figures, but in the simplicity that makes us free and confident. What greater glory can we desire than to participate with Jesus in his plan, in the Father's dream for men?". End quote. Our Lord has left us with a mission, for the church, and the whole body of Christ.
Do you feel like you are a part of the church? A part of the body of Christ?
We ARE the church!
If you are baptized, you are in!
But do you feel like you don't belong? Do you have a hard time fitting in somehow?
How can the church carry on when we don't feel like we belong there?
Ok. If that is the issue, then here is the answer: "who told you that you don't belong?". Most of the time it is our consciousness or evil spirits pulling us away from each other, especially church.
The solution is to counteract this mentality, and to apply yourself all the more...to prayer, to church, to ministries, to ministering in your own home providing teaching and healing.
And for those that won't listen or have us? Keep going! The same has always happened from the beginning to which we heard that they dusted their feet and "Then they set out and went from village to village
proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere."
Otherwise we will be held back, with our grudges, resentment, or losing hope and faith by remaining stuck.
We are a people of hope, a people of the resurrection, a people called to do what no one else will do, in salvation, in rescuing and saving souls from the clutches of death and damnation that is always seemingly at our door. Who's war are you fighting? This life on earth is not meant to be taken lightly or at leisure. It is a constant struggle and fight in the Church militant. Not of taking up arms in physical weapons, no! But to take up each other's arms, to help each other on this struggling walk of faith, hope, and love. That we may show God our Father, that yes, the faith we have can provide hope and love for the world.
No one who sets to the plow and looks back is doing any good for the Kingdom. Don't look at your successes, don't look back at the failures, only look ahead, where Christ the light has chosen to shine in your life.
How do you know you are on the right path?
If you are well with the church, if you are living your life for God, if you are living according to the Word and the Holy Tradition of the Holy Apostles, in communion, and in holy obedience, with purity and humility all for the sake of God's Kingdom. Love's Kingdom. Jesus Eucharist is the heart of God. |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Hebrews 13:6 6 So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
