† Quote of the Day "Realize it, my brethren; —every one who breathes, high and low, educated and ignorant, young and old, man and woman, has a mission, has a work. We are not sent into this world for nothing; we are not born at random; . . . God sees every one of us; He creates every soul, He lodges it in the body, one by one, for a purpose. He needs, He deigns to need, every one of us. He has an end for each of us; we are all equal in His sight, and we are placed in our different ranks and stations, not to get what we can out of them for ourselves, but to labor in them for Him. As Christ has His work, we too have ours; as He rejoiced to do His work, we must rejoice in ours also." — St. John Henry Newman Today's Meditation "O my God, you and you alone are all wise and all knowing! You know, you have determined everything that will happen to us from first to last. You have ordered things in the wisest way, and you know what will be my lot year by year until I die. You know how long I have to live. You know how I shall die. You have precisely ordained everything, sin excepted. Every event of my life is the best for me that it could be, for it comes from you. You bring me on year by year, by your wonderful Providence, from youth to age, with the most perfect wisdom, and with the most perfect love." —St. John Henry Cardinal Newman, p. 103
An excerpt from Everyday Meditations Daily Verse "Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy." — Hebrews 10:23 | Saint John Henry Newman
Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801–1890) was the eldest of six children born to a nominal Protestant family in London, England. As a child he loved reading the Scriptures and experienced a conversion to Christianity at the age of fifteen. He became a brilliant academic, an extremely influential Oxford scholar, and an Anglican priest. He was a leader in what was called the "Oxford Movement," which argued for a revival of traditional religious practice in the Church of England. Once anti-Catholic in his religious sentiments, sentiments that were common in England, Newman was increasingly impacted by the Church Fathers and other Catholic writers. His theological views gradually aligned with the Catholic Church in opposition to Anglican doctrine. Through his continued study of Church history he became unable to remain a Protestant in good faith. He made the decision to convert to Catholicism in 1845, which exposed him to much ridicule in his academic and religious circles. Two years later he was ordained a Catholic priest in Rome. He was made Cardinal in 1879. John Henry Newman is remembered for his influential writings on theology and philosophy as well as his founding of the famous London Oratory. Newman wrote forty books and 21,000 letters, some of which had profound influence on the Second Vatican Council, making him one of the most important theologians of his day. His most famous work is his Apologia in which he defends his conversion to the truths of the Catholic Church. His feast day is October 9th. | Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Gal 2:1-2, 7-14 Brothers and sisters:
After fourteen years I again went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas,
taking Titus along also.
I went up in accord with a revelation,
and I presented to them the Gospel that I preach to the Gentiles–
but privately to those of repute–
so that I might not be running, or have run, in vain.
On the contrary,
when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Gospel to the uncircumcised,
just as Peter to the circumcised,
for the one who worked in Peter for an apostolate to the circumcised
worked also in me for the Gentiles,
and when they recognized the grace bestowed upon me,
James and Cephas and John,
who were reputed to be pillars,
gave me and Barnabas their right hands in partnership,
that we should go to the Gentiles
and they to the circumcised.
Only, we were to be mindful of the poor,
which is the very thing I was eager to do. And when Cephas came to Antioch,
I opposed him to his face because he clearly was wrong.
For, until some people came from James,
he used to eat with the Gentiles;
but when they came, he began to draw back and separated himself,
because he was afraid of the circumcised.
And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him,
with the result that even Barnabas
was carried away by their hypocrisy.
But when I saw that they were not on the right road
in line with the truth of the Gospel,
I said to Cephas in front of all,
"If you, though a Jew,
are living like a Gentile and not like a Jew,
how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?" Responsorial Psalm Ps 117:1bc, 2 R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.
Praise the LORD, all you nations,
glorify him, all you peoples!
R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.
For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News. Alleluia Rom 8:15bc R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You have received a spirit of adoption as sons
through which we cry: Abba! Father!
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 11:1-4 Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished,
one of his disciples said to him,
"Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples."
He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name,
your Kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread
and forgive us our sins
for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,
and do not subject us to the final test." | Daily Meditation: Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14 They recognized the grace bestowed upon me. (Galatians 2:9) Relationships are tricky. They can bring us so much love and joy, but they also challenge us—especially when we don't see things eye-to-eye. In today's first reading, St. Paul is addressing this dynamic among the Galatians. They were arguing over whether the Gentiles among them needed to accept circumcision and observe the Mosaic law. In response, Paul reminds them of the Council of Jerusalem, when he and Barnabas met with James, John, and Peter to discern the same question (Galatians 2:9). The dispute had threatened to tear apart the young Church, but as the apostles listened to Paul, they "recognized the grace bestowed upon [him]" (Galatians 2:9). They could see the Spirit working powerfully through Paul's ministry to the Gentiles. Even more, they agreed that every believer, Jew or Gentile, was saved by the grace of God. In the end, they did not require Gentiles to be circumcised (Acts 15:7-11). Paul wanted the Jewish believers in Galatia to recognize the same grace of God in the lives of their Gentile brothers and sisters and vice versa. He pleaded with them to see each other as members of one family (Galatians 6:10). But it wasn't easy for them—and it isn't easy for us. It's hard to let go of our opinions, and that can strain our relationships. But Jesus can help us recognize his grace at work in another person, and that can strengthen bonds of love. So how does this happen? A good first step is to recognize and let go of any negative biases you may have. By the Spirit, you can see positive qualities in other people and take a generous outlook toward them. Second, you can put on humility. When you remember that God has shown you mercy, you view people more mercifully and recognize God's grace at work in them. You see the patience a father shows his children or a coworker's diligence at the office. You notice the quiet faith of a Mass-goer who lingers to pray, or you rejoice when you see someone extend a hand to a gruff neighbor. And this can move you to do the same. Today, let the Spirit help you to appreciate God's grace in the whole family of God. "Lord, I want to see my brothers and sisters as you do!" Psalm 117:1-2
Luke 11:1-4 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Click to hear AI read it. | In the Holy Scripture we hear today:
"He said to them, "When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name,
your Kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread
and forgive us our sins
for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,
and do not subject us to the final test."..." end quote. | Bishop Barron said:
"Friends, our Gospel for today gives us an opportunity to reflect on the great prayer that Jesus taught us. Think how this prayer links us to all of the great figures in Christian history, from Peter and Paul to Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Francis of Assisi, John Henry Newman, G.K. Chesterton, John Paul II, and right up to the present day.
A desire to pray is planted deep within us. This just means the desire to speak to God and to listen to him. Keep in mind that prayer is not designed to change God's mind or to tell God something he doesn't know. God isn't like a big city boss or a reluctant pasha whom we have to persuade. He is rather the one who wants nothing other than to give us good things—though they might not always be what we want.
Can you see how this prayer rightly orders us? We must put God's holy name first; we must strive to do his will in all things and at all times; we must be strengthened by spiritual food or we will fall; we must be agents of forgiveness; we must be able to withstand the dark powers.. . . ." end of Bishop's quote.
When you pray say "Father". Our Lord wants us to know our Father and to be intimately united with Him as He is united. "Hallowed be Thy name!". This is an order to make God Holy in your life. "Your Kingdom Come", asks His Kingdom to be among us, and make Him truly our beloved King! "Give us our daily bread", the sustenance to keep our soul alive, not just our bodies, but our communion with God our Father. "Forgive us, for we forgive those who owe us", this means that we ask for mercy, inasmuch as we are merciful to those who affect us. It is a tall order, and means our pride must fall to the side. Mercy must come from the heart. "Do not subject us to the final test", we pray, and this falls by way of temptation, the apple, the lure, mostly that comes in by feelings. Watch out for those things. Just as they can do good, feelings can make you do some very bad things. Tests of temptations. We ask to be delivered from them, don't we? Do you really want that? This is the same as a confession, do you really want to be free from sin? Do you really want to go, and sin no more? We must want that. We must be holy, or die trying. And what is holier than what the Lord's prayer is trying to do? Honor Father God above all. Making Him King and center of your life. Asking Him to feed you, not anyone or anything else in mind, body, and soul. Forgiving, learning mercy to be like our Father on earth. And to be strong when temptations arise, to resist, in humility to God.
What a phenomenal prayer that has lasted through the ages!
Can you pray this prayer and mean every word? If you do, then you will be letting Christ pray to God the Father in you! His very words on earth...as it is in Heaven... |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Ephesians 6:10 The Whole Armor of God 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
