† Quote of the Day "Patience smooths away lots of difficulties." — St. John Bosco Today's Meditation "Throughout Sacred Scripture, we find that when God's people fast, the power of their prayers is increased, especially when they are engaged in spiritual warfare. In the Old Testament, the Lord told Isaiah that a fast properly undertaken would 'loose the bonds of wickedness ... undo the thongs of the yoke ... let the oppressed go free' (Is. 58:6) ... In the New Testament, we find that Jesus fasted for forty days and nights in the wilderness in preparation for His battle with Satan, who came to tempt Him (see Lk 4:1-2) ... If prayer is a spiritual weapon, fasting is the spiritual whetstone on which it is sharpened. It's the spiritual muscle that, when exercised regularly, strengthens the thrust of that weapon to pierce the Enemy and drive him away." —Paul Thigpen, p. 42
An excerpt from Manual for Spiritual Warfare Daily Verse "My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world." — 1 John 2:1-2 | Saint Paul Miki And Companions St. Paul Miki (1562–1597) and his twenty-five companions, known as the Martyrs of Nagasaki, were crucified for the faith in Nagasaki, Japan, in 1597. A Japanese layman of great nobility and wealth, Paul was converted to Christianity by St. Francis Xavier. Although the Christian missionaries did not meet with opposition initially, the Japanese rulers eventually launched a brutal campaign to wipe out its progress. The twenty-six men were forced to march 600 miles to meet their death in Nagasaki. The group included Franciscan and Jesuit missionaries and Japanese converts. They were repeatedly offered freedom if they would renounce Christianity; they all declined. When the march ended the martyrs were tied to crosses. They prayed and sang while Paul Miki preached the Gospel in a loud voice. The martyrs were then stabbed to death while they hung on their crosses. The crowd who witnessed the testimony of Paul Miki and his companions would immortalize his words and use them to further spread Christianity in Japan. Their collective feast day is February 6th. | Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs Lectionary: 326
Reading 1 Hebrews 12:18-19, 21-24 Brothers and sisters:
You have not approached that which could be touched
and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness
and storm and a trumpet blast
and a voice speaking words such that those who heard
begged that no message be further addressed to them.
Indeed, so fearful was the spectacle that Moses said,
"I am terrified and trembling."
No, you have approached Mount Zion
and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
and countless angels in festal gathering,
and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven,
and God the judge of all,
and the spirits of the just made perfect,
and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant,
and the sprinkled Blood that speaks more eloquently
than that of Abel. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 48:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 9, 10-11 R. (see 10) O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, fairest of heights, is the joy of all the earth.
R. O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
Mount Zion, "the recesses of the North," the city of the great King.
God is with her castles; renowned is he as a stronghold.
R. O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
As we had heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts,
In the city of our God; God makes it firm forever.
R. O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
As your name, O God, so also your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.
Of justice your right hand is full.
R. O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple. Alleluia Mark 1:15 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mark 6:7-13 Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick
–no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.
He said to them,
"Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them."
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. | Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Mark 6:7-13 Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out. (Mark 6:7) Traveling always involves an element of risk, so most of us make careful plans. We make hotel reservations and a checklist of things to pack. We research area attractions. Some of us even buy travel insurance just in case something goes wrong beforehand. In today's Gospel, Jesus planned a different sort of trip for his disciples. He was sending them out to heal the sick and deliver the demon possessed! And yet he told them to take only a walking stick and the clothes on their back. That doesn't sound like a lot of preparation, does it? Well, let's look at what Jesus did send them with. He knew that a companion could ease the anxiety and loneliness of their journey, so he sent them "two by two" (Mark 6:7). He told them how to react to people who might not welcome them (6:8-11). And most important, he gave them his own spiritual "authority" over sickness and demons (6:7). So it turns out Jesus didn't leave them unprepared at all! Jesus was purposely teaching the disciples to put their trust in him. He knew how easy it is to forget about relying on him when we feel comfortable and all our needs are met. By putting the disciples in a position where they had to trust God for their basic needs, he was giving them the chance to strengthen their faith. We have all faced unfamiliar situations where we have felt ill-equipped to share our faith. For example, starting a new job might make you want to make a good first impression on your coworkers. So you pass over opportunities to witness about the Lord. Or your neighbor asks a question that could lead into sharing your faith, but you shift the conversation in a different direction to avoid any awkwardness. But the truth is, you're never really unprepared. You have the Spirit within you! He can help you find the right words to say and give you the courage to say them. He can even smooth over any mistakes you might think you made and give you the humility to try again. All he wants is for you, like these disciples, to open your mouth and try. With time and practice, you'll get better and better at it. "Lord, thank you for equipping me to share your good news!" Hebrews 12:18-19, 21-24
Psalm 48:2-4, 9-11 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Hear AI Read it for u | From today's Holy Gospel: "Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick
–no food, no sack, no money in their belts.....
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them."
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them....." - Word of the Lord! | From Bishop Barron today:
"Jesus, through his death and Resurrection, has won victory over these dark forces. And he has entrusted to his Church the means to apply this victory. These are the sacraments (especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation), the Bible, personal prayer, the Rosary, etc.
Jesus sent out the Twelve to battle dark spirits. He still empowers his Church to do the same. Don't be reluctant to use the weapons—and the healing balms—that he has given.............." end quote.
From Roberto Juarez:
"Jesus sent his disciples out with the bare minimum, teaching them to depend completely on God. Am I able to trust God in my daily needs, or do I put my security in material things?
Jesus sent the Twelve, but today he sends each one of us. How am I living my mission to take your message to others?
We will not always be welcome when we share our faith. Do I get discouraged in the face of opposition, or do I press forward with trust in God?......." end quote.
And a 2nd Spanish reflection ended:
"Finally, the passage underscores the importance of community in mission. Jesus sends out the apostles two by two, which highlights the communal dimension of missionary work. We are not called to evangelize alone, but in communion with others, sharing and strengthening the faith with one another.
Today, as yesterday, we are called to be missionary disciples. Mission is not just for a few, but for all followers of Christ. Following the example of the apostles, we must be willing to go out, preach the Gospel, live simply, and above all, trust that the Lord is with us in every step we take.
Alejandro Carbajo, ." end quote Alejandro Carbajo.
From the Lord our God, comes all good things, let us share the goodness of the Lord. But how will we share what we don't have? Do you want to be full of God's goodness? We can! Do you want to share God's goodness? We can! Our Lord has entered this crazy world that, He created in total goodness, but we turned crazy with sin. They said that in the time of Adam and Even, mortality was not an issue, they lived hundreds of thousands of years. But because of temptation, to what? We think sin, right? But the temptation was to doubt.
To doubt God's goodness. This is a fall from grace. A departure from God. A wedge between Heaven and earth. A disconnection from our lifeline of true goodness. Because the doubt was against good.
How can we restore our land, our nation, our faith? And I'm not speaking about a country, but a people of God!
We can restore it by living a life of grace lived in the Lord Himself. How can we restore this oil of life in love of God, in true faith?
It is not as hard, if you think of it this way... it is a decision. A cutting of the heart. A metanoia.
And then, with this grace, this life of grace, we can more willingly, and boldly go out to do the important things the Holy Church is designed for with the power of authority....heal the world.
Heal the crazy. Heal the lost. Heal the hurting. Heal the sick. Heal us from the malady of dark spirits. Heal the broken hearts. With oil, with grace, with the touch of the living God who desires to work through us, to heal through us, to love through us, to be mercy and forgiveness through us. We are a spectacular body of Chris to the tune of billions that are forming His Body. His body should be healthy, not weak in the faith...that is, in the very love of God, trust in God.
Lord, we have been weakening for decades.
Give us strength, for we must ask for what is good. We must receive from the eternal source of good. May we turn our labors and lives into good, so that the world will grow in the good. It is a formidable battle, but only when....we doubt. I love you O My God, O Help us love Thee more and more! All praise and adoration by Yours forever. |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Proverbs 16:12 12 It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
