.: † "More Will Be Given To . ... "

Thursday, January 30, 2025

† "More Will Be Given To . ... "

† Quote of the Day

"In her voyage across the ocean of this world, the Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life's different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship but to keep her on her course." — St. Boniface

Today's Meditation

"God chose Joseph to shower Jesus with his love. God wanted Jesus to experience human love in a way that would prepare him for his ministry of mercy and compassion for all. As Joseph welcomed Jesus into the world with a kiss, he is inviting us to find God's fatherly love for us in the example of his life." –Katy Micheli, p.182
An excerpt from Every Day With Saint Joseph

Daily Verse
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near." — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Saint Martina Of Rome

St. Martina of Rome (d. 228 A.D.) was born to a noble Roman family and orphaned at a young age. She was zealous in the practice of her faith, remained a virgin, and, in preparation for the Christian persecutions sweeping the city, gave much of her inheritance to the poor. She was martyred under Roman Emperor Alexander Severus. According to the accounts of her martyrdom, she was discovered praying in a church and was arrested by Roman soldiers. She was ordered to pay homage to the pagan gods, which she refused. She was then cruelly tortured over several days. She was raked with iron hooks and scourged, and when a bright light enveloped her, some of her torturers were converted to the Faith amid her fervent prayers. She was then taken to the temple of Diana to be forced to offer sacrifice, but at her presence the temple's demon left with a scream. They next tried to throw her to a lion (it showed no interest in her) and to burn her alive, but she would not catch fire. Finally, she was beheaded. St. Martina's feast day is January 30.

Reading 1 Hebrews 10:19-25

Brothers and sisters:
Since through the Blood of Jesus
we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary
by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil,
that is, his flesh,
and since we have "a great priest over the house of God,"
let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust,
with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience
and our bodies washed in pure water.
Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope,
for he who made the promise is trustworthy.
We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works.
We should not stay away from our assembly,
as is the custom of some, but encourage one another,
and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Alleluia Psalm 119:105

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mark 4:21-25

Jesus said to his disciples,
"Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket
or under a bed,
and not to be placed on a lampstand?
For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible;
nothing is secret except to come to light.
Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear."
He also told them, "Take care what you hear.
The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you,
and still more will be given to you.
To the one who has, more will be given;
from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."

Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ!

Daily Meditation: Mark 4:21-25

Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear. (Mark 4:23)

Have you ever had someone listen to you but fail to really hear you? They may even be able to recite back the words you said to them but remain unable to understand what you truly meant. Something else may have been on their mind as you were speaking, or maybe they assumed they knew what you meant rather than paying close attention to you.

Chapter 4 of Mark's Gospel is all about listening but not hearing. First, Jesus tells the parable of the sower and the seed and explains its meaning to his disciples (4:1-9, 13-20). Then in today's passage, he warns, "Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear" (4:23). Jesus knows that it's possible to listen to the words he is saying but not let them take root. That's what "hearing" is all about: it begins with listening, but then we need to "accept" what we hear so that we can "bear fruit" (4:20).

Unfortunately, so much can get in the way of our hearing. The stresses and responsibilities of our lives, as well as the seemingly endless stream of noise and distractions of our screens, can be the rocky ground preventing God's word from taking root. Or we may find ourselves stuck in a routine, our spiritual senses dulled by familiarity.

If you find yourself struggling to really hear Jesus, here's a tried-and-true remedy: silence. Time spent quieting our minds and pursuing inner stillness is like tilling the soil of our hearts. It clears away the rocks and rubble of the world and gives space for God's word to penetrate and take deep root in our hearts. There are no shortcuts. Good soil and a fruitful harvest come only with time and persistence.

Jesus promises to give us as much of himself as we are willing to make room for. So take a moment today, even if it's just for five minutes, to silence your phone and be still. Let go of your worries and distractions and simply be present with Jesus. Know that he will meet you in the silence and plant the seed of his life ever more deeply in you.

"Lord, quiet my soul so that I can truly hear you."

Hebrews 10:19-25
Psalm 24:1-6

Reflections with Brother Adrian:

Hear AI Read it for u

From today's Holy Gospel:

"Jesus said to his disciples,
"Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket
or under a bed,
and not to be placed on a lampstand?
For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible;
nothing is secret except to come to light.
Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear."
He also told them, "Take care what you hear.
The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you,
and still more will be given to you.
To the one who has, more will be given;
from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."....." - Word of the Lord!

From Bishop Barron:
"Think of what happens when you suddenly shine a light into a dark corner in your basement or down a lonely alley. The bugs and the vermin reveal themselves. Unsavory things scurry about for cover, afraid of the light.
When you invite Jesus into your life, you are inviting the light into your life. Again, this is wonderful, but it is also frightening. Jesus will shine his light in every corner of your life, in every room of your house. Things that look okay in the dark or in the indirect light will suddenly stand out in all of their unpleasantness..." end quote Bishop Barron.

From Roberto Juarez:
"Am I allowing the light of Christ to shine through my words, my actions, and my testimony? Or am I hiding my faith out of fear or comfort?
Jesus invites us to reflect on how we judge, forgive, and act toward others. Am I using a generous and compassionate measure, such as I would like to receive from God?
"To him that hath shall be given" means that if I live and share God's word, I will grow more in my faith and in grace. But if I don't put into practice what I've received, I run the risk of losing it. Am I cultivating my spiritual life and sharing my gifts with others?......." end quote.

At the nursing homes we go to on Sundays, we always sing and pray and read the Gospel. And we always make sure we leave with a song that our 4 year old daughter loves to sing and dance to in front of them, "This little light of mine!" we sing. The song says "Hide it under a bushel? NO! I'm going to let it shine! Won't let Satan blow it out, NO! I'm going to let it shine! Let it shine! Let it Shine!"
The elderly love it, and we all benefit from the uplifting moments, even the staff is all ears I hear. And that's when the light goes beyond what even know.

You see, God's love, just like His light, knows no boundaries. It breaks apart what is hard. It makes for life to grow. And the more we can allow God's light to shine through us, the more will be availed to us, as we are turned into a larger and larger vessel of God's love, just like a vessel in our physical heart, we are to be His vessels of His heart. And what is God's heart? My theory is this: God's heart is Jesus. We must form and transform in Him, with Him, and through Him. And those who choose to shy away? Those who choose to hide the light of God's love, it will soon fade into an abyss of darkness. Use it or lose it. Amen? Use your heart, or it will go weak. Amen? Use your heart for the good of God's Kingdom. God is love. It shall be a Kingdom of Love of God and each other. All else is secondary.

Amen?