† Quote of the Day ""God loves those who thank Him even in suffering."" -St. Arnold Janssen Today's Meditation "Chastity is the most unpopular of the Christian virtues. There is no getting away from it; the Christian rule is, 'Either marriage, with complete faithfulness to your partner, or else total abstinence.' Now this is so difficult and so contrary to our instincts, that obviously either Christianity is wrong or our sexual instinct, as it now is, has gone wrong. One or the other. Of course, being a Christian, I think it is the instinct which has gone wrong ... God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome. What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them. Before we can be cured we must want to be cured. Those who really wish for help will get it; but for many modern people even the wish is difficult ... We may, indeed, be sure that perfect chastity—like perfect charity—will not be attained by any merely human efforts. You must ask for God's help. Even when you have done so, it may seem to you for a long time that no help, or less help than you need, is being given. Never mind. After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up and try again. Very often what God first helps us towards is not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again. For however important chastity (or courage, or truthfulness, or any other virtue) may be, this process trains us in habits of the soul which are more important still. It cures our illusions about ourselves and teaches us to depend on God. We learn, on the one hand, that we cannot trust ourselves even in our best moments, and, on the other, that we need not despair even in our worst, for our failures are forgiven. The only fatal thing is to sit down content with anything less than perfection." —C. S. Lewis, p. 95
An excerpt from Mere Christianity Daily Verse "It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens." -Jeremiah 10:12 | St. Jerome (347 - 420) was born to a wealthy pagan family in Dalmatia. He was sent to Rome for his schooling and there converted to Christianity, being baptized by Pope Liberius. He studied theology and traveled widely to the important intellectual and theological centers across the newly-established Christian Empire. He was ordained a priest at Antioch and lived many years as a hermit in a nearby desert. He became an extraordinary scholar, considered to be the most learned of the Latin Church Fathers. Because of his many significant theological works, most notably the thirty years he spent writing the Latin translation of the Bible (the Latin Vulgate), he is one of the most influential and orthodox theologians in the life of the early Church. In his final years Saint Jerome lived in a monastery that he founded in the Holy Land near Bethlehem, where he worked on writing histories and biographies in addition to drawing deeper into a life of prayer and asceticism. For his important scholarly contributions St. Jerome was named a Doctor of the Church. He is the patron of libraries, archaeologists, students, and translators. St. Jerome's feast day is September 30th. | Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church • Readings for the Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church Reading 1 Zechariah 8:20-23 Thus says the LORD of hosts:
There shall yet come peoples,
the inhabitants of many cities;
and the inhabitants of one city shall approach those of another,
and say, "Come! let us go to implore the favor of the LORD";
and, "I too will go to seek the LORD."
Many peoples and strong nations shall come
to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem
and to implore the favor of the LORD.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
In those days ten men of every nationality,
speaking different tongues, shall take hold,
yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you." Responsorial Psalm Psalm 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7 R. (Zec 8:23) God is with us.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God! R. God is with us.
I tell of Egypt and Babylon
among those that know the LORD;
Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia:
"This man was born there."
And of Zion they shall say:
"One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High LORD." R. God is with us.
They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
"This man was born there."
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
"My home is within you."
R. God is with us. Alleluia Mark 10:45
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Luke 9:51-56 When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
"Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?"
Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village.
| Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Zechariah 8:20-23 Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. (Zechariah 8:23) One Sunday morning, a young girl was complaining to her mother about having to go to Mass. Her mother smiled and said, "Don't think of going to Mass as something you have to do; you get to do it!" A shift in perspective like that can make all the difference. Zechariah's words in the first reading were meant to have that effect on God's people. Zechariah ministered during the period after the exiles had returned to Jerusalem, when the Lord was asking them to rebuild the Temple. He was called to try to rouse them to keep up with the work. It wasn't that they had to rebuild the Temple; they got to do it! If they built the Temple, God would pour out his blessings on them. Not only would they have the joy of being in his presence and worshiping him, but people from all over the world would rush to Jerusalem to pursue the Lord (Zechariah 8:22). God's presence with Israel would be so compelling that people from every nation would grab hold of them and join them in seeking the Lord (8:23)! Picture yourself joining these throngs of people heading to the Temple. There's excitement in the air as you see the Lord's dwelling in the distance. You see all the Jews hurrying toward it and realize that God isn't just inviting Israel; he is inviting you to come to him! When you draw near to seek him, you realize that he was longing for you the whole time. It's not just your imagination or the power of positive thinking. It's God's grace. You really are one of those in that throng of people who have been invited to seek the Lord. Jesus has redeemed you and opened heaven to you. God's promises to welcome you and beckon you to himself are fulfilled. That means you get to seek the Lord—you are blessed to approach him and worship him. This truth can change your perspective; it can bring you joy and zeal. Other people will see it and want to join you! Because, as Zechariah described, the most attractive witness is someone who loves to be with the Lord. "Lord, thank you for welcoming me every time I pray. May my life reflect your love to everyone I meet." Psalm 87:1-7
Luke 9:51-56 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Ai Audio 2cents | From today's Holy Gospel: "When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem....." Word of the Lord. | Roberto Juarez said:
"How do I respond when I face challenges in my life of faith? Am I willing to follow Jesus, even when the road becomes difficult?" end quote.
When I go to Church, I'm doing what is hard.
When I pray, the rosary, or make a visit to the Blessed Sacraement, I am doing what is hard.
When I give up work and family to fulfill a ministry, it is hard.
When I ask people to come join me in these things...it is hard. The invitation is hard, and the answers are often hard to take. Rejection.
If it is hard to do these simple things, how much harder would it be to sacrifice myself totally like our Lord Jesus?
Therefore, when I go to Church, I see the strongest man I have ever heard of and seen for myself...Jesus.
He is strong. And He invites us to be strong.
It is hard to hear of catholic school kids being shot in catholic schools.
It is hard to hear of other churches being shot and burned, although it is more frequent in other countries, yet....people are showing to be strong in faith, like Charlie Kirk, unafraid to unite, unafraid to speak truth, unafraid to be caught....trying to do God's will.
Therefore...be resolute. To make a complete decision. I remember only one real resolute time in my life...when I would marry my wife. All my life prior, would never be the same, all my dedication would be resolute...to a new life with my wife.
This is the kind of resolute life God wants with us in Jesus. We are His wife, and He is absolutely dedicated and faithful to us. Why can't we be so dedicated and faithful back to Him? Why do we have to get anything back?
I told a class last night of adults learning to receive sacraments, that I had decided to wash dishes for my wife because I saw her Sunday evening cooking and piling dishes in the sink to wash at the same time. Unbelievable. The twofold job as I tried to relax and watch football, just moved me to the point that I said I'd wash dishes (which is rare!). But I told the class that this act of love would have been better if my wife was not there, to acknowledge and be thankful and appreciate.
No. It would have been better not to do it for any affection.
It's those moments that you make an absolute resolution to do things that nobody will be thankful for. Those are points in Heaven that count forever. Those moments of utter rejection...super points forever in eternity.
Jesus is strong. Jesus loves in secret. Jesus is rejected. Yet, he loves without end.
My Lord, there is no way to repay such love and acts of love. We can only hope to repay with what little we got...with great love.
Oh help us be resolute to truly love Thee! |  Audio of Random Verse | Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 50:14–15 [Psalm 50] 14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,1 and perform your vows to the Most High,
15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me." (Footnotes) [1] 50:14 Or Make thanksgiving your sacrifice to God
Word of the Lord! | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment