† Quote of the Day "Men do not fear a powerful hostile army as the powers of hell fear the name and protection of Mary." — St. Bonaventure Today's Meditation "Essentially a soldier, the Christian is always on the lookout. He has sharper ears and hears an undertone that others miss; his eyes see things in a particularly candid light, and he senses something to which others are insensible, the streaming of a vital current through all things. He is never submerged in life, but keeps his head and shoulders clear of it and his eyes free to look upward. Consequently he has a deeper sense of responsibility than others. When this awareness and watchfulness disappear, Christian life loses its edge; it becomes dull and ponderous." —Fr. Romano Guardini, p. 177
An excerpt from Meditations Before Mass Daily Verse "See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." — 1 John 3:1 | St. Cecilia (3rd c.) is one of the most venerated of the virgin martyrs of Rome. Her name is in the Roman Canon of the Mass. According to tradition she made a private vow of chastity to Jesus, yet her parents promised her in marriage to a suitor. On her wedding night, St. Cecilia told her husband that she had not only made a vow to remain a virgin, but that an angel guarded her purity. Her husband agreed to honor her vow and follow Christ if he could also see her guardian angel. She instructed him to first be baptized, and afterwards he was able to see her angel. Cecilia's brother-in-law also converted, and both men were eventually martyred for their faith; but not without first converting their jailer. St. Cecilia was later arrested and also sentenced to death. An executioner struck three blows but was not successful in severing her head from her body; instead, she survived for three days preaching to those who visited her in prison until her last breath. They lovingly soaked up the blood from her wounds with clothes and sponges. Her relics, along with those of her husband, his brother, and the converted jailor, were placed in the church of St. Cecilia in Rome. Because she sang hymns to Jesus in her heart on her wedding day, St. Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians. Her feast day is celebrated on November 22nd. | Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr Lectionary: 681 Below are the readings suggested for today's Memorial. However, readings for the Memorial may also be taken from the Common of Martyrs, #713-718, or the Common of Virgins, #726-731. Reading 1 Hosea 2:16bc, 17cd, 21-22 Thus says the LORD:
I will lead her into the desert
and speak to her heart.
She shall respond there as in the days of her youth,
when she came up from the land of Egypt. I will espouse you to me forever:
I will espouse you in right and in justice,
in love and in mercy;
I will espouse you in fidelity,
and you shall know the LORD. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 45:11-12, 14-15, 16-17 R. (11) Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.
or:
R. The bridegroom is here; let us go out to meet Christ the Lord.
Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear,
forget your people and your father's house.
So shall the king desire your beauty;
for he is your lord, and you must worship him.
R. Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.
or:
R. The bridegroom is here; let us go out to meet Christ the Lord.
All glorious is the king's daughter as she enters;
her raiment is threaded with spun gold.
In embroidered apparel she is borne in to the king;
behind her the virgins of her train are brought to you.
R. Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.
or:
R. The bridegroom is here; let us go out to meet Christ the Lord.
They are borne in with gladness and joy;
they enter the palace of the king.
The place of your fathers your sons shall have;
you shall make them princes through all the land.
R. Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.
or:
R. The bridegroom is here; let us go out to meet Christ the Lord.
Alleluia R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is the wise bridesmaid, whom the Lord found waiting;
at his coming, she went in with him to the wedding feast.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Matthew 25:1-13 Jesus told his disciples this parable:
"The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
'Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.'
But the wise ones replied,
'No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.'
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
'Lord, Lord, open the door for us!'
But he said in reply,
'Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.'
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour." | Daily Meditation: Luke 19:45-48 Every day he was teaching in the temple area. (Luke 19:47) Jesus shows passion and zeal for his Father's house when he cleanses the Temple. You can imagine him moving with great determination as he upends tables and drives out the money changers. But why was he so angry? People needed animals for sacrifice and coins to pay the Temple tax. Weren't the merchants just doing their jobs? Perhaps—but they were getting in the way of God meeting with his people: "My house shall be a house of prayer" (Luke 19:46). Jesus had come to bring salvation to his people, but many did not welcome him. While the crowds sang, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord," some Pharisees wanted Jesus to rebuke them (Luke 19:38, 39). He wept over Jerusalem long before he saw the chaos in the Temple. Their "time of visitation" was at hand, but Jesus knew that his own people would hand him over (19:44). So Jesus wasn't just angry; he was grieved. That's why nothing could stop him from reaching his people. He wanted to overcome every obstacle: the physical clutter, the treacherous schemes, the spiritual resistance and hardness of heart. That's why, despite all the opposition, Jesus entered the Temple "every day" to teach the people (Luke 19:47). Jesus chose to spend his last days on earth teaching and making disciples. He didn't turn his back on Jerusalem. He didn't hide away with his disciples and friends or seclude himself in prayer. He sat publicly among his people and taught them the mysteries of the kingdom. He wasn't concerned that his detractors were watching for a reason to condemn him. All he wanted was to feed his sheep and lead them to the Father. This is what Jesus wants to do for you. Every day, he wants to meet with you. To speak to you through his word. To lift you up as you pray. To lead you to a deeper relationship with his Father. And sometimes, to reach you, he has to turn over some tables. He doesn't want you to miss your visitation. Can you make space for him today? "Jesus, thank you for visiting me every day. I want to make room for you. Clear out the clutter in my heart!" Revelation 10:8-11
Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Click to hear Audio | In the Holy Scripture we hear today:
"The foolish ones said to the wise,
'Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.'
But the wise ones replied,
'No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.'
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
'Lord, Lord, open the door for us!'
But he said in reply,
'Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.'
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour. ......" end Gospel quote, word of the Lord. | The foolish versus the wise. Right?
This story of the virgins, is a complex story, that shouldn't be taken lightly.
Who are the virgins? Who are the wise ones? Who is the groom? What oil should we have ready? Oil for who? For what?
The virgins represent all of us.
The wise ones are the ones who had oil for the groom.
The oil is the fuel we use for the purpose.
Who do you spend on? Who do you give the oil of your life to? Will you have any left for the groom when He comes suddenly?
The groom is our Lord. And He is coming.
The wise live forever.
The foolish must spend time in the dark, because, they chose to self over the eternal light.
How can we obtain fuel now?
I've told you, love is what fuels heaven...it is our love, and our love is composed of many things. Firstly, to love, is to to will the good of the other. Love is composed of necessary things, our wills, grace, humility, and obedience. These are materials that are spiritual materials. Very important!
Love is not cheap. Love is sacrificial. It takes the grace of God inside, and humility, to bring about this holy will to have oil inside, for you to be living a life of grace for when our Lord comes suddenly in that unexpected moment.
Therefore, yes, be ready.
Be holy or die trying, like St. Cecilia, who was murdered for being a Christ follower. And this in the first couple centuries. Nowadays, your faith will be tested. Some are still martyred, murdered for believing. But how is your faith tested otherwise?
You will be tested by grace or disgrace.
What you think matters.
What you say matters.
What you do matters.
Your life and how you spend it matters.
The oil is there. For who or what do you spend it?
It is better to be found spending it for the Lord and His will and His people.
It is better to live the life of a holy saint right where we are, both now, and forever. |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Ephesians 4:26–27 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
