Quote of the Day "I have been all things unholy; if God can work through me, He can work through anyone." St. Francis of Assisi Today's Meditation "I think all Christians would agree with me if I said that though Christianity seems at first to be all about morality, all about duties and rules and guilt and virtue, yet it leads you on, out of all that, into something beyond. One has a glimpse of a country where they do not talk of those things . . . Every one there is filled full with what we should call goodness as a mirror is filled with light."
—C.S. Lewis, p. 149 Daily Verse "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the blood of Christ." Ephesians 2:13 | St. Simon Stock (1165-1265) was born in Kent, England. He was strongly drawn to God as a child, and at the age of twelve he began to live as a hermit in the hollow of an oak tree. After two decades of this solitary and penitential life, he entered the world again to study theology and become a priest. His studies complete, he then returned to his hermitage. At this time the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him, instructing him to join the Carmelite Order that was just entering England. St. Simon became a Carmelite in 1212. By 1215 he became the order's leader and worked to establish it across Europe, especially at the great universities. He also traveled to Rome and Mt. Carmel in the Holy Land, and revised the Carmelite Rule to make them mendicant friars instead of hermits. Tradition holds that the Virgin Mary appeared to him again and presented him with a brown scapular, the habit of his order, promising that those who wore it would not be eternally lost in hell. This apparition is known as Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and her "scapular promise" is that she will intercede with her Son to ensure that the wearer of the scapular obtains the grace of final perseverance, that is, of dying in a state of grace. This is the origin of the Brown Scapular devotion which soon spread to the laity to obtain the graces promised by Our Lady, a devotion later encouraged by many popes. St. Simon Stock's feast day is May 16th. | Reading 1 Acts 13:26-33 When Paul came to Antioch in Pisidia, he said in the synagogue:
"My brothers, children of the family of Abraham,
and those others among you who are God-fearing,
to us this word of salvation has been sent.
The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders failed to recognize him,
and by condemning him they fulfilled the oracles of the prophets
that are read sabbath after sabbath.
For even though they found no grounds for a death sentence,
they asked Pilate to have him put to death,
and when they had accomplished all that was written about him,
they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb.
But God raised him from the dead,
and for many days he appeared to those
who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem.
These are now his witnesses before the people.
We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you
that what God promised our fathers
he has brought to fulfillment for us, their children, by raising up Jesus,
as it is written in the second psalm,
You are my Son; this day I have begotten you." Responsorial Psalm Psalm 2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11ab R.(7bc) You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
"I myself have set up my king
on Zion, my holy mountain."
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD:
The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you."
R. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
"Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall rule them with an iron rod;
you shall shatter them like an earthen dish."
R. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
And now, O kings, give heed;
take warning, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;
with trembling rejoice.
R. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia John 14:6 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel John 14:1-6 Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father's house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way."
Thomas said to him,
"Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me." | Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: John 14:1-6 Do not let your hearts be troubled. (John 14:1) In today's Gospel, we witness an intimate moment between Jesus and his apostles on the night before he dies. While they are at table together, Jesus gazes at his friends and sees fear and confusion sweep across their faces. Did he just say that he is going away? Then he speaks some of the most consoling words in the Bible: "Do not let your hearts be troubled" (John 14:1). They could not understand, but they could try to trust in the Lord they knew and loved. Jesus' words of encouragement were not only for the apostles long ago; today, in this moment, he is speaking them to you. So in prayer, let him walk you through this Gospel passage in a personal way. First, hear him console you. Jesus knows the stress you carry; he knows when your heart is troubled. He knows better than you do what is causing your worries and your pain. He has the grace and strength and wisdom you need to walk through them. He looks you in the eye and smiles, saying, "Do not let your hearts be troubled" (John 14:1). I will try, Jesus, you reply. But how can your heart be at peace when your problems aren't solved and your needs aren't met? In your churning, Jesus gazes at you with love. You have seen that look before. He has provided for you before; he will take care of you now. He is the gift sent to you from God your Father. Nothing can separate you from his love. He is utterly trustworthy. He tells you, "Have faith also in me" (John 14:1). Tell him, I believe in you, Lord. Help my unbelief. If doubts arise about what to do next, hear Jesus as he says, "I am the way" (John 14:6). Perhaps he knows that your habit of walking another "way," of looking for security, happiness, or healing, has left your heart troubled. Perhaps your "way" is some plan for your future, some relationship, or a yearning for worldly success. But it still leaves you anxious, while Jesus' way leads to peace and freedom. Jesus is a faithful Savior; he will not fail you. He stretches out his hand and says, "Come, follow me. I am the way." Offer your ways to Jesus and proclaim, I will follow you, Lord! "Jesus, I believe in you. I hope and trust in you!" Acts 13:26-33
Psalm 2:6-11** | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Hear AI Read it for u | From today's Holy Gospel: In the Gospel we hear today:
"And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way."
Thomas said to him,
"Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me."........" - Word of the Lord! | Our Lord is going to prepare a place for us? In His Father's house?
That is interesting.
My dad, Lord rest his soul, always wanted us family together. I remember we were relocating our family business out of town on the other side of town, and later on, he mentioned the idea of building a "hacienda" the old style fort that housed all families within the same walls with an open interior. I thought it was a romantic idea, to keep everyone in a huddle, together, one big family. But the idea was never realized, and we built various, separate houses throughout the land including his and mom's. Today, about 3 years after his death, we still live out here, separately, but from Heaven, we can hear the same desire of God, that we all live in His house, with millions and billions of rooms. Someone actually figured the earth has enough room to fit all the previous existing souls that have ever lived within a comfortable square, but Our Father has no limits. He can seat to a number that is not countable, within realms that cannot be conceptualized in one sitting. This then is a sign, a message from God. "I want you in My house", and "I want us together", and "I Am Your Father, who desires you back within me".
This is an extravagant invite, written with His blood on a cross. We would call this super crazy and even idiotic love.
Yet, His foolishness, is supreme wisdom compared to what we dare to ponder about His infinite majesty, grace, and love.
His words go far, extremely deep into an unknown world. And for this, we are called on, individually, to explore worlds He has created within His heart, a mesmerizing place if we dare let ourselves be amazed, which is a true meaning of the fear of God. A true amazement and love that we can only begin to think about making true if only, we accept His invitation. Faith.
I am going. We will see each other again. |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
James 4:11–12 [James 4] 11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.1 The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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