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Quote of the Day "Human life - your life - and its humdrum, ordinary business, have a meaning which is divine, which belongs to eternity." — St. Josemaría Escrivá
Today's Meditation
"Of all the divine attributes, only God's omnipotence is named in the Creed: to confess this power has great bearing on our lives. We believe that his might is universal, for God who created everything also rules everything and can do everything. God's power is loving, for he is our Father, and mysterious, for only faith can discern it when it 'is made perfect in weakness.' The Holy Scriptures repeatedly confess the universal power of God. He is called the 'Mighty One of Jacob,' the 'Lord of hosts,' the 'strong and mighty' one. If God is almighty 'in heaven and on earth,' it is because he made them. Nothing is impossible with God, who disposes his works according to his will. He is the Lord of the universe, whose order he established and which remains wholly subject to him and at his disposal. He is master of history, governing hearts and events in keeping with his will: 'It is always in your power to show great strength, and who can withstand the strength of your arm?'" —The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 268-269
Daily Verse "We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves; let each of us please our neighbor for the good, for building up. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The insults of those who insult you fall upon me."" — Romans 15:1-3 | St. Emily de Vialar (1797–1856) was born in Gaillac, France to an aristocratic family in the years following the French Revolution. Because the Catholic faith was under severe persecution, she was baptized in secret by her parents and her religious instruction was given at home. She was a devout child who displayed an aptitude for prayer, and she shunned the luxuries of her state in life. After the death of her mother, her father arranged to find her a suitable husband when she reached 15 years of age. Emily, who desired to lead the religious life in service to the poor, resisted her father's attempts and endured his anger at her refusal. She desired also to repair the harm caused by the Revolution by catechizing the local children. Emily remained a virgin and privately consecrated herself to God while living in her father's home. When she was 21 she met a priest who helped her set up an out-patient service for the sick in her own home, which heightened her tense relationship with her father. When her grandfather died, Emily inherited a large fortune which allowed her independence in the service of God. She bought a large home in her town and began a religious order in service to the sick and poor, and to the education of children, which quickly flourished. In 40 years her order, called the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition, established 40 houses throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia. St. Emily de Vialar's feast day is June 17th. | Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 We want you to know, brothers and sisters, of the grace of God
that has been given to the churches of Macedonia,
for in a severe test of affliction,
the abundance of their joy and their profound poverty
overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
For according to their means, I can testify,
and beyond their means, spontaneously,
they begged us insistently for the favor of taking part
in the service to the holy ones,
and this, not as we expected,
but they gave themselves first to the Lord
and to us through the will of God,
so that we urged Titus that, as he had already begun,
he should also complete for you this gracious act also.
Now as you excel in every respect,
in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness,
and in the love we have for you,
may you excel in this gracious act also. I say this not by way of command,
but to test the genuineness of your love
by your concern for others.
For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that for your sake he became poor although he was rich,
so that by his poverty you might become rich. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 146:2, 5-6ab, 6c- 7, 8-9a R.(1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the LORD, my soul!
I will praise the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God while I live. R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD, his God,
Who made heaven and earth,
the sea and all that is in them. R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Who keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free. R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers. R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia John 13:34 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Matthew 5:43-48 Jesus said to his disciples:
"You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."
| Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Matthew 5:43-48 Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48) How would you describe a good teacher? Perhaps someone who makes learning fun or someone who gives you a free pass when you forget to do your homework? Most certainly a good teacher is able not only to impart knowledge but also to show you how to apply what you have learned. At first glance, it may be hard to see Jesus as this kind of teacher. After all, he teaches the impossible! "Be perfect," he tells us (Matthew 5:48). Who among us could ever do that? We all know we're imperfect human beings. Part of our challenge is with the word "perfect." We tend to think it means being flawless in everything we say and do. But the Greek word in this passage, teleios, actually means mature or attaining the purpose for which something was created. So according to Jesus, we are perfect when we fulfill God's purpose in creating us. Or to draw from today's passage, we are perfect when we love our enemies and pray for our persecutors (Matthew 5:44). Going back a little further, we are perfect when we turn the other cheek and when we are generous toward someone who asks for our help (5:39, 41). Of course, even this can seem impossible at times. But like a good teacher, Jesus didn't just issue his "impossible" commands from heaven and then step back to watch us fail. No, he entered into creation, took on our human weakness and frailty, and showed us what perfection looks like. All through his life, he loved his enemies, prayed for his persecutors, and turned the other cheek. In fact, he loved all of us "to the end" (John 13:1)—he offered his life on the cross to save us from the sin that kept holding us back. Then he gave us his Spirit, who fills us with his love and empowers us to live and to love as he does. What "impossible" thing has been weighing on you? Is there someone you are struggling to love or to forgive? Don't keep trying to do it by yourself! Ask Jesus, the "perfect" teacher, to soften your heart. Ask him to help you become perfect in the same way that he is—perfect in love. "Jesus, teach me how to fulfill your call to live in love." 2 Corinthians 8:1-9
Psalm 146:2, 5-9 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Hear AI Read it for u | From today's Holy Gospel: "But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? ... Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."...." | From Bishop Barron:
"Friends, today, in the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord commands us to love our enemies. What is the test of love? Jesus couldn't be clearer in the discourse he delivered the night before he died: "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." If love is willing the good of the other as other, this has to be the fullest expression, the final word, of love. There is another way to test love: the love of enemies, those who cannot or will not pay you back. This also takes place in the cross of Jesus. Jews, Romans, Pharisees, Sadducees, his own disciples—everyone betrays him, runs from him, denies him, actively arranges for his death. And yet these are the very people he loves, the very people for whom he gives his life. The final test is what Jesus does when he returns from the dead. To the very people that contributed to his demise he says, "Shalom." This is how we are loved; this is how we must love. Everything else is commentary." end quote.
They say the syllabus, the curriculum in this life, at the final test, will be all about love.
Why? How? Because, God Is Love.
Mother Angelica said that the only ones that can truly test our love is our enemies. Those are the opportunities to show the world the love of God.
Just look at our Lord, on the cross.
Just look at the Sacred Heart of Jesus, burning for love and yearning for souls.
It's like God can't get enough souls, and He will do anything to show us His way to Himself.
But they say, not everyone prances right into Heaven.
That is not God's fault. The Bar is Set To Perfection.
Is that fair? Are we doomed to fail? Are we doomed to die?
Of course not. We are called though, to perfection.
Not as the world deems perfection, but as God sees perfection.
I recently saw a near death experience of a lady on a video, and she grew up abused in all sorts of ways since she could remember, from the age of three. She died later in life and asked God how come He would allow that to happen to her? And then she was revealed how the will of God works, the accidents of free will, and how we run into them, then she had no further questions. But, one thing caught my attention. She saw a little girl, playing with lights, as it dribbled out of her hands, so fascinated, so cute, she said to herself "that baby is mine", but God said "No, that is you when you were little, I adored you so much, that is MY little girl". Can you imagine, someone who had grew up abused, was seeking Him in various churches, baptized in various churches, from a young age she wanted Jesus' salvation from her misery but never seemed to attain it. God knows what we do not. God sees what we do not. He sees a perfection we cannot fathom.
All I can say, is, Seek The Lord, while He is at Hand.
The Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Love, is at hand.
Let us tend to Our Father's business. |  audio | Amazing! Random Bible Verse 1
1 John 4:10–11 [1 John 4] 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
