† Quote of the Day "You must speak to Jesus, not only with your lips, but also with your heart; actually, on certain occasions, you should speak with only your heart." -Saint Padre Pio Today's Meditation "Always be impartial and just in your deeds. Put yourself into your neighbor's place, and him in yours, and then you will judge fairly . . . Frequently, therefore, examine your heart, whether it is so disposed towards your neighbor, as you would have his disposed towards you, were you to change places; for this is the true test." —St. Francis de Sales, p. 226
An excerpt from An Introduction to the Devout Life Daily Verse "O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever." -1 Chronicles 16:34 | St Padre Pio Of Pietrelcina St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina (1887–1968) was born to peasant farmers in southern Italy. By the time he was 5 years old he practiced a life of penance and made the decision to give himself completely to God. He grew up working in the fields, and at the age of 19 joined the Capuchin Franciscan friars. His Franciscan spirituality was characterized by a life of poverty, love of nature, and charity to those in need, especially to those who were his "spiritual children." St. Padre Pio had many spiritual gifts and was a great miracle-worker. These were well-documented from multiple reliable sources and included bilocation, levitation, reading souls, and physical healing by touch. Word of his holiness spread and people both pious and curious flocked to see him, especially to have him hear their confession. He is the first priest known to have received the stigmata, for which he suffered suspicion and investigation. Because of the unusual supernatural phenomena surrounding his life, he is considered one of the great visionaries and mystics of the Church. Padre Pio died in 1968 at the age of 81. He was canonized by Pope St. John Paul II in 2002. Because of the many miracles he performed during his life, he is commonly invoked as a healing saint for various ailments. His feast day is September 23rd. | Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest • Readings for the Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest Reading 1 Ezra 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20 King Darius issued an order to the officials
of West-of-Euphrates:
"Let the governor and the elders of the Jews
continue the work on that house of God;
they are to rebuild it on its former site.
I also issue this decree
concerning your dealing with these elders of the Jews
in the rebuilding of that house of God:
From the royal revenue, the taxes of West-of-Euphrates,
let these men be repaid for their expenses, in full and without delay.
I, Darius, have issued this decree;
let it be carefully executed." The elders of the Jews continued to make progress in the building,
supported by the message of the prophets,
Haggai and Zechariah, son of Iddo.
They finished the building according to the command
of the God of Israel
and the decrees of Cyrus and Darius
and of Artaxerxes, king of Persia.
They completed this house on the third day of the month Adar,
in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
The children of Israel–priests, Levites,
and the other returned exiles–
celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.
For the dedication of this house of God,
they offered one hundred bulls,
two hundred rams, and four hundred lambs,
together with twelve he-goats as a sin-offering for all Israel,
in keeping with the number of the tribes of Israel.
Finally, they set up the priests in their classes
and the Levites in their divisions
for the service of God in Jerusalem,
as is prescribed in the book of Moses. The exiles kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
The Levites, every one of whom had purified himself for the occasion,
sacrificed the Passover for the rest of the exiles,
for their brethren the priests, and for themselves. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5 R. (1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem. R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD. R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. Alleluia Luke 11:28 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are those who hear the word of God
and observe it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Luke 8:19-21 The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him
but were unable to join him because of the crowd.
He was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside
and they wish to see you."
He said to them in reply, "My mother and my brothers
are those who hear the word of God and act on it."
| Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Ezra 6:7-8, 12, 14-20 From the royal revenue, . . let these men be repaid for their expenses. (Ezra 6:8) Why on earth would the Persian emperor Darius dedicate money from his own people's taxes to finance the rebuilding of a temple dedicated to the God of Israel? Why bother? He probably thought it was prudent to help the Jewish exiles who had recently returned to their homeland. Jerusalem was still under Darius' control, and he likely felt that the people would stay that way if he gave them back their old shrine. Little did he know that, in addition to exercising wise and compassionate statesmanship, he was also fulfilling the will of the one, true God! As far as the exiles were concerned, it was the Lord who provided them with the resources they needed to rebuild the place where God was glorified. And he did it, miraculously, through a pagan ruler! Have you ever felt inspired to do something special for the Lord or for someone close to you but hesitated in pursuing it? Maybe there were too many obstacles in your way, and you just gave up. Maybe you still wish you had acted. In any case, you can let this passage inspire you. God's people received his blessings and provision even while they were under the yoke of imperial domination—and at the hand of leaders who did not honor him! How much more, do you think, can he accomplish among a people who are actively seeking him? How much more, do you think, can he accomplish in your life! You can rely on this: God will provide what you need to accomplish his will, just as he provided for the Israelites. He will always reach into his endless treasury of grace and give you the resources that you cannot produce on your own: extra courage, deeper joy, unexpected insights and wisdom. You'll never know what it is until you receive it, and it will probably come as a great surprise to you. But you will know that it has come from the hand of a loving, generous God. Sometimes it can be very hard to believe this, but God truly does love you. He truly does want to bless you and do good things for you and through you. "Jesus, help me receive the gifts you want to give me. Show me how I can use them to build your kingdom." Psalm 122:1-5
Luke 8:19-21 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Ai Audio 2cents | From today's Holy Gospel: "The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him
but were unable to join him because of the crowd.
He was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside
and they wish to see you."
He said to them in reply, "My mother and my brothers
are those who hear the word of God and act on it."....." Word of the Lord. | From Roberto Juarez: "He said to them, 'My mother and my brothers are the ones who hear the word of God and do it.'" With this response, Jesus redefines what it means to be his family. He does not reject his mother or his relatives, but expands the concept of family beyond biological ties. For Jesus, his true family is made up of those who hear God's word and obey it.
This underscores the importance of active listening and obedience to God's word. Jesus is saying that the spiritual bond based on obedience to God is even more important than family blood ties. The family of Jesus, therefore, is every person who lives in communion with God through faith and the practice of his word." end quote.
Bishop Barron said: "Only when we make Christ the cornerstone of our lives are we truly ready for mission. Keep in mind that every encounter with God in the Bible conduces to mission, to being sent to do the work of the Lord. If we try to do this work while we are stuck to any number of attachments, we will fail. Period. " end quote.
Our Lord said: "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it."
Doers of the word, He says.
Actions, He says.
Not "faith alone" as other new denominations say.
Actions count. The will matters. The volition. The volunteering. The giving. The actual sacrifice.
Whence you enter into this Kingdom, this Will, this Holy Will of God, then, you enter this Holy Family, striving to "crowd Heaven" as Charlie Kirk was said to desire.
That we may desire what God desires.
So when they said to Him "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you", it was not blood relations as new denominations falsely believe, but God relations, those that are following Him, doing the will of God, those that are living the Word, being the Word, and in this manner the Word is made flesh, Christ is alive.
Christ is persecuted, but Christ is the Eternal love of God.
Christ is everything, He is for Catholics, the maximum, our Way to the Father, our life in the world, so that He may be our Life eternal.
My Lord, and My God! |  Audio of Random Verse | Random Bible Verse 1
Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
Word of the Lord! | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
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