† Quote of the Day "You will not see anyone who is truly striving after his spiritual advancement who is not given to spiritual reading." — St. Athanasius of Alexandria Today's Meditation "Christianity asserts that every individual human being is going to live forever, and this must be either true or false. Now there are a good many things which would not be worth bothering about if I were going to live only seventy years, but which I had better bother about very seriously if I am going to live for ever." —C.S. Lewis, p. 74 An excerpt from Mere Christianity Daily Verse "For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace." — James 3:16-18 | Blessed Fra Angelico Bl. Fra Angelico (1387-1455) was born Guido di Pietro in Tuscany, Italy. Little is known of his early life, but he became a famous early Italian Renaissance master painter. Fra Angelico would pray earnestly before he painted, being convinced that in order to paint Christ perfectly, one must also be Christlike. His paintings then became tools for contemplating the theological mysteries hidden in the biblical events he depicted. He joined the Dominican Order in 1407 and was given the name Brother John, often called "Angelic Brother John", or Fra Angelico (Angelic Friar) because of his holiness. He lived and worked in several friaries until moving to the Friary of San Marco in Florence. While in Florence he was surrounded by an artistic community, and, due to his great talent, gained the patronage of the famous Medici family. In 1445 he was summoned to Rome to work on St. Peter's Basilica in various chapels. From 1449 until shortly before his death, Fra Angelico was also prior of the convent in Fiesole. He passed away while working again in Rome and is buried in the Dominican church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Fra Angelico was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II and is the patron saint of Catholic artists. His feast day is February 18. | Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Reading I Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10 When the LORD saw how great was man's wickedness on earth,
and how no desire that his heart conceived
was ever anything but evil,
he regretted that he had made man on the earth,
and his heart was grieved.
So the LORD said:
"I will wipe out from the earth the men whom I have created,
and not only the men,
but also the beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air,
for I am sorry that I made them."
But Noah found favor with the LORD.
Then the LORD said to Noah:
"Go into the ark, you and all your household,
for you alone in this age have I found to be truly just.
Of every clean animal, take with you seven pairs,
a male and its mate;
and of the unclean animals, one pair,
a male and its mate;
likewise, of every clean bird of the air, seven pairs,
a male and a female,
and of all the unclean birds, one pair,
a male and a female.
Thus you will keep their issue alive over all the earth.
Seven days from now I will bring rain down on the earth
for forty days and forty nights,
and so I will wipe out from the surface of the earth
every moving creature that I have made."
Noah did just as the LORD had commanded him.
As soon as the seven days were over,
the waters of the flood came upon the earth. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 29:1a, 2, 3ac-4, 3b & 9c-10 R. (11b) The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Give to the LORD, you sons of God, give to the LORD glory and praise,
Give to the LORD the glory due his name; adore the LORD in holy attire.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters, the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty; the voice of the LORD is majestic.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The God of glory thunders, and in his temple all say, "Glory!"
The LORD is enthroned above the flood; the LORD is enthroned as king forever.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace. Alleluia John 14:23 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord;
and my Father will love him
and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mark 8:14-21 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread,
and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.
Jesus enjoined them, "Watch out,
guard against the leaven of the Pharisees
and the leaven of Herod."
They concluded among themselves that
it was because they had no bread.
When he became aware of this he said to them,
"Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread?
Do you not yet understand or comprehend?
Are your hearts hardened?
Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?
And do you not remember,
when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand,
how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?"
They answered him, "Twelve."
"When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand,
how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?"
They answered him, "Seven."
He said to them, "Do you still not understand?"
| Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Mark 8:14-21 Do you have eyes and not see? (Mark 8:18) Vincent van Gogh is one of the most celebrated artists in history. In his time, however, he was overlooked and unappreciated. When everyday people saw his paintings, they somehow missed the vision and passion behind his vibrant colors and layered textures. When art critics saw them, they failed to appreciate how groundbreaking his work was and how influential he would become. In today's Gospel, the disciples were in a similar situation. They had witnessed miracles—Jesus feeding thousands with a few loaves and fish, healing the sick, and calming storms—yet they couldn't grasp the significance of what he was doing. They were too focused on bread for their next meal (Mark 8:16). He kept trying to help them look beyond their immediate amazement to the deeper, more profound meaning behind these miracles. But they didn't understand. They had eyes, but they could not see (8:18). Jesus wants to give us a new way to perceive the world and his work in it. Are we looking just with our physical eyes, or are we learning to see more deeply? How do we look beyond the immediate and obvious and try to appreciate how the Holy Spirit—whom we cannot see—is at work? Sometimes our "vision problem" may be that we fail to slow down enough to look around! It's easy to become preoccupied with life's demands, busy with our daily routines, and lost in a sea of worries and anxieties. We forget to take the time to look for the bigger picture of God's work in the world—or we forget to ask him to help us see it. But as we make these efforts, the Spirit will open our eyes. Try giving yourself a spiritual vision test today. Ask yourself: "Do I see Jesus in the people I encounter, especially those in need? How often do I notice God's provision and care for me and those around me? When do I pause to thank God for his work in my life? In times of difficulty, do I ask Jesus where he might be leading me?" Ponder these questions. Thank God for the moments when you did look closely, and ask him to help you become even more attentive. Let Jesus, the Master Artist, open your eyes further so that you can behold the beauty of his work. "Come, Holy Spirit, and open my eyes today!" Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10
Psalm 29:1-4, 9-10 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Hear AI Read it for u | From today's Holy Gospel: "Are your hearts hardened?
Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?
And do you not remember,
when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand,
how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?"
They answered him, "Twelve."
"When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand,
how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?"
They answered him, "Seven."
He said to them, "Do you still not understand?"......." - Word of the Lord! | From Bishop Barron:
"Now, how in the world does one get this project off the ground? As should be clear to even the most naïve person, this never happens all at once, overnight. Rather, in small ways, people begin living according to the Lord's ways. And then, in God's time, this new community begins to have a leavening effect on the wider society......" end quote.
From Spanish Reflection of Roberto Juarez:
"Despite having witnessed the miracles of the multiplication of the loaves, the disciples still do not understand Jesus' teaching. Their lack of faith and understanding leads them to worry about the physical bread when Jesus offers them the bread of life.
• Am I truly attentive to God's voice or am my heart hardened?
• Do I allow myself to be surprised by God or do I take his blessings for granted?
Jesus reminds them of His miracles so that they understand that He has the power to provide. Many times we forget what God has done in our lives and we go back to worrying as if He never helped us.
• Am I aware of the blessings God has given me in the past?
• Do I have gratitude and confidence that God will continue to guide me?
Jesus invites us to open the eyes of faith and trust in his providence. We must not be carried away by the leaven of hypocrisy or self-reliance, but remember His works and trust that He always provides..." end quote.
How many times did our Lord feed thousands? Apparently more than once. And our Lord recalls how many baskets of bread were left over. An overabundance, the first time 12, then the next time He fed them they had 7 baskets left over.
The 12 disciples should know that 7 days a week, an eternal covenant is being made with them. And the message is that same from the mountain of Abraham and Isaac, "Yaweh Yireh", the Lord will provide, abundantly.
And then we forget.
And then we doubt.
And then we fear.
And then we regret.
And then we go around worrying, and then we frantically pray, like the disciples in the storm, saying "Lord where are You!"
Right?
HE is saying "Be still, and know that I AM God, I will be with you always". If this were not the case, His bonded Guardian Angel would not be with you through it all.
Lord, we need you, like a baby needs its mother, for protection, for nurturing, for that love we so much need in our world.
Help us grow in love and faith, this intimate trust, so that the world may know that we are the light of God our Father, an anchor together. |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 84:11 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
