† Quote of the Day "Help me to journey beyond the familiar and into the unknown. Give me the faith to leave old ways and break fresh ground with You." St. Brendan Today's Meditation "Whenever that sacrifice of Christ is memorialized in the Church, there is an application to a new moment in time and a new presence in space of the unique sacrifice of Christ Who is now in glory. In obeying His mandate, His followers would be representing in an unbloody manner that which He presented to His Father in the bloody sacrifice of Calvary. After changing the bread into His Body and the wine into His Blood: He gave it to them (Mark 14:22). By that communion they were made one with Christ, to be offered with Him, in Him, and by Him. All love craves unity. As the highest peak of love in the human order is the unity of husband and wife in the flesh, so the highest unity in the Divine order is the unity of the soul and Christ in communion."
—Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, p. 401-402
Cover image from the book, Life of Christ
An Excerpt From Life of Christ
Recommended Products Daily Verse "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23 | St. John Baptist de la Salle (1651-1719) was born in Rheims, France, to a noble family. He was pious and smart, and his parents took great care over his moral and intellectual training. He entered seminary and was ordained at the age of twenty-seven. In St. John Baptist's era, only the noble and wealthy classes had access to a good education. His work among the poor led him to establish a home and school for rough and illiterate orphaned boys. The institution was successful and soon a second was established. St. John Baptist then dedicated his life to the cause of education, giving his wealth to the poor and resigning his respectable position as canon at Rheims. He recruited and trained men to teach in free schools he founded for the poor, which grew into a brotherhood of young men who were attracted to a life of service in teaching and catechesis. This became the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, or Christian Brothers. They took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, but not Holy Orders. The Christian Brothers expanded, and in many parts of France parish priests sent young men to be trained by St. John Baptist to serve as schoolmasters in their villages. Although he was initially opposed in his innovative work, both inside and outside the Church, St. John Baptist's foundations and methods soon became the standard for education in France and spread internationally. St. John Baptist de la Salle is the patron of schoolteachers. His feast day is April 7th. | Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent Lectionary: 251
Reading I Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62 In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim,
who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna,
the daughter of Hilkiah;
her pious parents had trained their daughter
according to the law of Moses.
Joakim was very rich;
he had a garden near his house,
and the Jews had recourse to him often
because he was the most respected of them all. That year, two elders of the people were appointed judges,
of whom the Lord said, "Wickedness has come out of Babylon:
from the elders who were to govern the people as judges."
These men, to whom all brought their cases,
frequented the house of Joakim.
When the people left at noon,
Susanna used to enter her husband's garden for a walk.
When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk,
they began to lust for her.
They suppressed their consciences;
they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven,
and did not keep in mind just judgments. One day, while they were waiting for the right moment,
she entered the garden as usual, with two maids only.
She decided to bathe, for the weather was warm.
Nobody else was there except the two elders,
who had hidden themselves and were watching her.
"Bring me oil and soap," she said to the maids,
"and shut the garden doors while I bathe." As soon as the maids had left,
the two old men got up and hurried to her.
"Look," they said, "the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us;
give in to our desire, and lie with us.
If you refuse, we will testify against you
that you dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you." "I am completely trapped," Susanna groaned.
"If I yield, it will be my death;
if I refuse, I cannot escape your power.
Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt
than to sin before the Lord."
Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her,
as one of them ran to open the garden doors.
When the people in the house heard the cries from the garden,
they rushed in by the side gate to see what had happened to her.
At the accusations by the old men,
the servants felt very much ashamed,
for never had any such thing been said about Susanna. When the people came to her husband Joakim the next day,
the two wicked elders also came,
fully determined to put Susanna to death.
Before all the people they ordered:
"Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah,
the wife of Joakim."
When she was sent for,
she came with her parents, children and all her relatives.
All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping. In the midst of the people the two elders rose up
and laid their hands on her head.
Through tears she looked up to heaven,
for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly.
The elders made this accusation:
"As we were walking in the garden alone,
this woman entered with two girls
and shut the doors of the garden, dismissing the girls.
A young man, who was hidden there, came and lay with her.
When we, in a corner of the garden, saw this crime,
we ran toward them.
We saw them lying together,
but the man we could not hold, because he was stronger than we;
he opened the doors and ran off.
Then we seized her and asked who the young man was,
but she refused to tell us.
We testify to this."
The assembly believed them,
since they were elders and judges of the people,
and they condemned her to death. But Susanna cried aloud:
"O eternal God, you know what is hidden
and are aware of all things before they come to be:
you know that they have testified falsely against me.
Here I am about to die,
though I have done none of the things
with which these wicked men have charged me." The Lord heard her prayer.
As she was being led to execution,
God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel,
and he cried aloud:
"I will have no part in the death of this woman."
All the people turned and asked him, "What is this you are saying?"
He stood in their midst and continued,
"Are you such fools, O children of Israel!
To condemn a woman of Israel without examination
and without clear evidence?
Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her." Then all the people returned in haste.
To Daniel the elders said,
"Come, sit with us and inform us,
since God has given you the prestige of old age."
But he replied,
"Separate these two far from each other that I may examine them." After they were separated one from the other,
he called one of them and said:
"How you have grown evil with age!
Now have your past sins come to term:
passing unjust sentences, condemning the innocent,
and freeing the guilty, although the Lord says,
'The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.'
Now, then, if you were a witness,
tell me under what tree you saw them together."
"Under a mastic tree," he answered.
Daniel replied, "Your fine lie has cost you your head,
for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him
and split you in two."
Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought.
Daniel said to him,
"Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you,
lust has subverted your conscience.
This is how you acted with the daughters of Israel,
and in their fear they yielded to you;
but a daughter of Judah did not tolerate your wickedness.
Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together."
"Under an oak," he said.
Daniel replied, "Your fine lie has cost you also your head,
for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two
so as to make an end of you both." The whole assembly cried aloud,
blessing God who saves those who hope in him.
They rose up against the two elders,
for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury.
According to the law of Moses,
they inflicted on them
the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor:
they put them to death.
Thus was innocent blood spared that day. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 R. (4ab) Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
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. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
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. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
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. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side. Verse before the Gospel Ezekiel 33:11 I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord,
but rather in his conversion, that he may live. Gospel John 8:12-20 Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have
the light of life." So the Pharisees said to him, "You testify
on your own behalf, so your testimony cannot be verified."
Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I do testify
on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified,
because I know where I came from and where I am going.
But you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone.
And even if I should judge, my judgement is valid,
because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father
who sent me. Even in your law it is written
that the testimony of two men can be verified.
I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me."
So they said to him, "Where is your father?" Jesus answered,
"You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me,
you would know my Father also." He spoke these words
while teaching in the treasury in the temple area.
But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. | Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 It is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before the Lord. (Daniel 13:23) Susanna was trapped. She could give in to the lust-filled demands of two respected elders in her community. Or she could refuse and have them falsely accuse her of adultery—an offense that would condemn her to death. Risking her life, she chose to push them away and call for help. The odds were stacked against her: the two men's declarations were enough to condemn her, and her testimony alone wasn't enough to protect her. But even as she was led to her execution, Susanna placed her trust in God. She prayed out loud, commending her fate to the Lord as she declared her innocence. Just then, God led a young boy named Daniel to speak up and expose the lies of the elders, as well as all of their past corruption. Susanna was saved, and the elders were condemned. There are times in life when we, too, face difficult choices with unknown outcomes. Perhaps we have felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit to have a challenging conversation with someone, but we are unsure how the person will respond. Or we have seen the need to distance ourselves from an unhealthy friendship, but we are apprehensive about how we will fill the empty space left behind. Like Susanna, we can call out to the Lord for his help. We can trust that the One who holds our future in his hands will lead us. Maybe he'll even surprise us, as he did for Susanna! It can be easy to limit ourselves to what we think is possible. Either I will win or lose this argument; either I keep the peace or risk humiliation. But God is so much bigger than the possibilities that we see in front of us! He can use a young prophet to intervene; he can even speak through a donkey (Numbers 22:28)! So trust him today, even if your options seem bleak. Acknowledge his love and care for you, and watch how he comes through for you. "Lord, strengthen me to obey and follow you today, even in the hard choices. I trust you!" Psalm 23:1-6
John 8:12-20 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Hear AI Read it for u | From today's Holy Gospel: " Even in your law it is written
that the testimony of two men can be verified.
I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me."
So they said to him, "Where is your father?" Jesus answered,
"You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me,
you would know my Father also." He spoke these words
while teaching in the treasury in the temple area.
But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come......" - Word of the Lord! | From Roberto Juarez: "Jesus says, "He who follows me will not walk in darkness." This is a clear call to trust, follow-up and conversion. Following Jesus does not simply mean admiring him, but walking in his footsteps, letting his light illuminate our decisions, our doubts, our wounds.
Darkness is not only moral evil. They are also the confusions of the heart, fear, sadness, inner emptiness, loss of meaning. And Jesus promises not only knowledge, but life: a light that warms, that guides, that gives meaning.
Many times we can live in the midst of artificial lights: success, recognition, power, fleeting pleasures. But none of them can give what Christ alone offers: a light that does not go out, even in the night of the soul.
And if we ever feel that we do not see clearly, that our faith is weak or that we are lost, it is enough to turn our gaze to Him. Because Jesus is not a light that judges from on high, but a light that walks with us, that never tires of illuminating our path, step by step. Lord Jesus,
Light of the world,
Ignite your clarity in me.
Dispel my shadows,
heals my inner blindness,
And teach me to walk in your footsteps.
May my life reflect your light,
and that where there is darkness,
I carried your hope.
Amen......." end quote Roberto Juarez.
From Bishop Barron: "Friends, in our Gospel today, Jesus announces who he is: "I am the light of the world." In John's Gospel there are a series of "I am" statements: "I am the bread of life"; "I am the good shepherd"; "I am the way, the truth, and the life." And here Jesus issues another of those powerful claims: "I am the light." Christianity is, above all, a way of seeing. Everything else in Christian life flows from and circles around the transformation of vision. Christians see differently, and that is why their prayer, their worship, their action, their whole way of being in the world have a distinctive accent and flavor. And Jesus is the way to see. When we are grafted onto him, when we assume his mind and his attitude, when we live his life, we are able to see the world as it is and not through the distorting lens of our fear and our hatred. ......" end quote.
From brother Adrian:
"Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have
the light of life." So the Pharisees said to him, "You testify
on your own behalf, so your testimony cannot be verified." Thank God for the light. It is everything, isn't it? Light changes everything. Jesus changes everything. Light gives life. Jesus gives life, even to the dead as He sees fit. Light lets us see. Light lets us move in a clear path. Light is everything, right?
Can we use the light for the good? Light is good. Some of us spend our lives though, on the bad, the light of our souls, then begins to fade. In the story of the adulterous woman, Jesus said "neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more". I told some people, I think at the nursing home yesterday, that "it is us who condemn ourselves, our Lord did not come to condemn, but to offer up salvation, and mercy". An elderly lady then said to me "pastor, sir, can you sing Amazing Grace?". I am not a clergy pastor, but I guess people see that, when someone begins preaching. And then I had to do it again at a rosary for a funeral vigil last night, preaching and praying with strangers, it is hard, I was sweating, nervous, it is not easy, but, I trust in the Lord, and I pray to the Lord, that His light shines in the darkness, in the darkest of moments, and I had to offer hope, they lost their dad, and I have lost my dad, and my life serves as a living testimony, as I pointed them now, to Our Father, who is in Heaven, all of our Father, the one and true God, the very God that has given light, from the beginning of time, it has been burning for millions and billions of years, and we get to catch a mere glimpse of this amazing feat of immeasurable comprehension.
Lord, I want to let Your light shine in me ever more. Let me go to Penance, let me Receive grace and mercy, so that You might shine, not my life, but your mesmerizing and amazing life and light! | Random Bible Verse 1
John 6:27 "Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal."
Word of the Lord. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
