† Quote of the Day "Be patient, because the weaknesses of the body are given to us in this world by God for the salvation of the soul. So they are of great merit when they are borne patiently." — St. Francis of Assisi Today's Meditation "Your Lord is seated at the Father's right hand in heaven. How then is the bread His body? And the chalice, or rather its content, how is it His Blood? These elements are called Sacraments, because in them one thing is perceived by the sense and another thing by the mind. What is seen has a bodily appearance; what the mind perceives produces spiritual fruit. You hear the words, 'The Body of Christ', and you answer 'Amen.'" —Saint Augustine, p. 91
An excerpt from Augustine Day by Day Daily Verse "This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you." — John 15:12-14 | St. Barbara St. Barbara (3rd c.) was born in Nicomedia in modern day Turkey. According to tradition, after the death of her mother she was raised by her rich and tyrannical pagan father who, because of her beauty and intelligence, guarded her closely, keeping her locked away in a tower to protect her from the outside world. She was educated by tutors and came to reject the false gods she was taught to worship in favor of the true God for whom she yearned and wished to discover, dedicating her life and virginity to this purpose. She developed a prayer life and resisted her father's attempts to have her marry. Believing Barbara to be negatively affected by the seclusion, her father allowed her more freedom to associate with the world. She soon discovered Christians, and, recognizing the Creator she sought, and was baptized in secret. After informing her father that she was a Christian, he denounced her to the authorities under the persecution of Roman Emperor Maximian. She was imprisoned and cruelly tortured, but remained steadfast in her faith. During the night she would pray fervently, and her wounds would miraculously heal. This only subjected her to greater torments, followed by more miraculous interventions. She was finally beheaded by her own father, and afterward he was struck and killed by lightening as punishment. St. Barbara is the patron saint of firemen, armorers, artillerymen, military engineers, miners, and others who work with explosives. She is also the patron against storms, lightning, and fire, to name a few. St. Barbara's feast day is December 4th. | Wednesday of the First Week of Advent Reading 1 Is 25:6-10a On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples
A feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
The web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken. On that day it will be said:
"Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain. Responsorial Psalm Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 R. (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, the Lord comes to save his people;
blessed are those prepared to meet him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 15:29-37 At that time:
Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee,
went up on the mountain, and sat down there.
Great crowds came to him,
having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute,
and many others.
They placed them at his feet, and he cured them.
The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking,
the deformed made whole,
the lame walking,
and the blind able to see,
and they glorified the God of Israel. Jesus summoned his disciples and said,
"My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,
for they have been with me now for three days
and have nothing to eat.
I do not want to send them away hungry,
for fear they may collapse on the way."
The disciples said to him,
"Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place
to satisfy such a crowd?"
Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"
"Seven," they replied, "and a few fish."
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then he took the seven loaves and the fish,
gave thanks, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full. | Daily Meditation: Isaiah 25:6-10 The Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines. (Isaiah 25:6) Have you ever looked forward to a special meal? You were probably anticipating not just the food but the company as well. Maybe you were getting together with some family members or friends whom you hadn't seen for a long time. Or maybe it was a meal with someone you know well, whom you see every day, like your spouse—someone you just love to spend time with. That's the kind of special meal Isaiah is referring to in today's first reading. He's describing the heavenly banquet, where God will "destroy death forever" and "wipe away the tears from all faces" (Isaiah 25:8). We will be united to the Lord forever, "feasting" on his presence and his love. That's something to look forward to! During Advent, we look forward to the coming of Jesus into our world and into our lives. But we also anticipate the heavenly feast that will begin with his Second Coming. We long for the time when we will celebrate with Jesus face-to-face. What a glorious day that will be, when we finally see the One we have prayed to, worshipped, and sought our entire lives. That day can seem so far away, but the good news is that we can experience a foretaste of that banquet here on earth. When we receive the Eucharist, we are joined to Jesus sacramentally. The "veil" that separates us is destroyed (Isaiah 25:7), and we have communion with him. We receive the "rich food and choice wines" (25:6) that nourish us spiritually until we can experience the unimaginable richness of heaven. We can't all make it to daily Mass, but we can all get a sense of the glory of heaven, this close presence of Jesus, as we pray. So as you approach Christmas, let your prayer stir your longing for heaven. And the next time Jesus spreads the Eucharistic feast for you, receive him with joy! What better way to prepare for Christmas—and for eternal life—than by partaking of this heavenly food? "Lord, help me to long for the heavenly banquet that awaits me!" Psalm 23:1-6
Matthew 15:29-37 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Click to hear Audio | In the Holy Scripture we hear today:
"The disciples said to him,
"Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place
to satisfy such a crowd?"
Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"
"Seven," they replied, "and a few fish."
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then he took the seven loaves and the fish,
gave thanks, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full......." end Gospel quote, word of the Lord. | From Bishop Barron:
"Friends, in today's Gospel, Jesus instructs the crowd to sit on the ground. Taking the seven loaves and a few fish, he makes a meal that satisfies the enormous crowd. They are hungry, tired, and worn out from their exertions, and Jesus gives them sustenance for the day.
For Thomas Aquinas, the great metaphor for the Eucharist is sustenance, food for the journey. The Eucharist is daily food, nourishment to get us through the day-to-day. How effective would we be if we never ate, or ate only on special occasions and in a festive environment? Not very. So, in the spiritual life, we must eat and drink or we will not have strength.
Is this just meant in some vague symbolic way? No, rather in a vividly analogical way. For just as the body needs physical nourishment, the spirit needs spiritual nourishment, and there is no getting around this law.
Sometimes we think it's no big deal if we stay away from Mass and refrain from receiving Communion. Not so, according to the spiritual physics laid out in this account......" End quote Bishop Barron.
From a Spanish Reflection:
"Advent is a time of preparation and hope. Just as the multitude was satisfied by Jesus, we are called to approach the banquet that the Lord has prepared. This liturgical time impels us to live with the confidence that God not only fulfills his promises, but has already begun to act among us, filling our lives with meaning, compassion and salvation.
May this Advent, illuminated by the hope of the Jubilee, be a time to allow ourselves to be transformed by the love of God, to open our hands to those in need and to proclaim with joy: "Here is our God. Let us celebrate and rejoice in his salvation."
Edgardo Guzmán, cmf
Our Lord took what was offered, the only thing they had, and as the High Priest, He took it, gave thanks, and broke it to feed more than enough, like a good banquet always does.
Gratitude changes everything. ChurchPop site said today about gratitude:
1) Gratitude Rewires Your Heart and Mind
Did you know that practicing gratitude can change your brain?
2) A Thankful Heart Reflects God's Generosity
When we acknowledge that everything we have comes from God, our hearts become mirrors of God's generosity.
3) Gratitude Draws God Closer During Life's Trials
It's easy to be grateful when life is smooth, but what about in suffering?
The other day, I nibbled on a small bite size burger, and gave the other to one of my kids at the movies. I was thankful, and the small bites and longer time to digest made me feel satisfied.
This is what normally happens to me when I receive the daily bread too, in holy communion.
I leave satisfied, physically, and spiritually.
We have enough. Why do we think we do not have enough? Why do we want feasts that are wasteful? Why do I need more than what I have already?
God is enough. What more do you need? The rest are not needs after food and shelter. The rest are wants. Amen? Then why do we live so depressed, and stressed? Why so angry if we have everything we need? God should fill our every heart's desire. But we let the problems we encounter become more than God's loving grace and mercy, and love. And so, a godless heart is a restless heart. A godless soul is depraved, because it is deprived of the very sustenance that comes to us, from a manger of humility.
There, we can feast on the light of God. At that humble scene, where His mom, and his earthly dad, would be ousted, put outside the city in a corral for animals, a shed. There, on the outskirts of the town of the "City of Bread" Bethlehem, He is born to give bread to the world.
Give us this day our daily bread, my Lord and My God.
Give us yourself, and let us give ourselves to you.
May we become the daily bread for God. That He may feast inside of us, that He may dine with us, and live with us.
No longer on the outskirts of my life, but deep, deep inside my heart, where the true love burns a warm fire, in a world that needs it so very much. |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Matthew 18:20 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
