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Quote of the Day "I urge you with all the strength of my soul to approach the Eucharistic Table as often as possible. Feed on this Bread of the Angels from which you will draw the strength to fight inner struggles."
— Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
Today's Meditation "Holy Scripture will be your bedside book. It is in this that you will be illuminated by the Word. It is the nourishment of choice. Read this with a humble heart—as when you receive Communion—with the same end: to find God. Taste Him, savor Him, verse by verse, as He finds Himself in your atmosphere of prayer. Every word dictated by God is full of Himself. Adore Him beneath the words. You will taste the inebriation of this communion with the Light, to the Word that God uttered in time, by words of eternal resonance. It is there that you will acquire the knowledge of the saints, with other knowledge accumulating to very little." — An Anonymous Carthusian Monk
Daily Verse "Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
— John 14:6 | Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925) was born in Turin, Italy, to a wealthy and prominent family. He was a vibrant, joyful, and athletic youth with an adventurous spirit and a strong zest for life. He loved mountain climbing, the theater, opera, and literature. He also had a deep spiritual life and a strong devotion to the Holy Eucharist and the Virgin Mary, even while his piety provoked criticism from his parents. He challenged his friends to a life of virtue, leading them in spiritual exercises such as daily Mass and the rosary. He joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society in 1918 and became a Lay Dominican in 1922. He was also politically active in resisting fascism and communism; he took part in public demonstrations and joined religious-political organizations such as the Catholic Students Federation and Catholic Action. He also spent much time caring for the sick and poor to a heroic degree, yet his parents punished him when they caught him giving away his money and possessions. While ministering to the sick he contracted polio and died just six days later at the age of 24. His family, thinking he suffered from a mild sickness, did not realize the seriousness of his condition until it was too late. At his funeral his parents were shocked to find thousands of the city's poor, whom their son had helped in some way, arrive to pay their respects. Pope St. John Paul II called Pier Giorgio Frassati a "man of the beatitudes" at his beatification in 1990. His feast day is July 4th. | Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Genesis 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67 The span of Sarah's life was one hundred and twenty-seven years.
She died in Kiriatharba (that is, Hebron)
in the land of Canaan,
and Abraham performed the customary mourning rites for her.
Then he left the side of his dead one and addressed the Hittites:
"Although I am a resident alien among you,
sell me from your holdings a piece of property for a burial ground,
that I may bury my dead wife." After the transaction, Abraham buried his wife Sarah
in the cave of the field of Machpelah,
facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham had now reached a ripe old age,
and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
Abraham said to the senior servant of his household,
who had charge of all his possessions:
"Put your hand under my thigh,
and I will make you swear by the LORD,
the God of heaven and the God of earth,
that you will not procure a wife for my son
from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live,
but that you will go to my own land and to my kindred
to get a wife for my son Isaac."
The servant asked him:
"What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land?
Should I then take your son back to the land from which you migrated?"
"Never take my son back there for any reason," Abraham told him.
"The LORD, the God of heaven,
who took me from my father's house and the land of my kin,
and who confirmed by oath the promise he then made to me,
'I will give this land to your descendants'–
he will send his messenger before you,
and you will obtain a wife for my son there.
If the woman is unwilling to follow you,
you will be released from this oath.
But never take my son back there!" A long time later, Isaac went to live in the region of the Negeb.
One day toward evening he went out . . . in the field,
and as he looked around, he noticed that camels were approaching.
Rebekah, too, was looking about, and when she saw him,
she alighted from her camel and asked the servant,
"Who is the man out there, walking through the fields toward us?"
"That is my master," replied the servant.
Then she covered herself with her veil. The servant recounted to Isaac all the things he had done.
Then Isaac took Rebekah into his tent;
he married her, and thus she became his wife.
In his love for her, Isaac found solace
after the death of his mother Sarah. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 106:1b-2, 3-4a, 4b-5 R. (1b) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD,
or proclaim all his praises? R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Blessed are they who observe what is right,
who do always what is just.
Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people. R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Visit me with your saving help,
That I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones,
rejoice in the joy of your people,
and glory with your inheritance. R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. Alleluia Matthew 11:28 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Matthew 9:9-13 As Jesus passed by,
he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, ""Follow me.""
And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
""Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?""
He heard this and said,
""Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."" | Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Genesis 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67 Never take my son back there. (Genesis 24:6) At the end of his long life, Abraham follows ancient tradition by leaving instructions for his steward on how to find a wife for his son. First, the steward must not choose a wife from among the Canaanites, where he lives (Genesis 24:3). Second, he must "never take my son back" to the land Abraham had originally come from (24:6). This might sound like unusual matchmaking advice! But when it comes to God's covenant, it was vital. As sojourners in the land of Canaan, Abraham's descendants might one day feel tempted to return to their ancestral homeland. But to return there was to give up on God's promise to give them a new land where they could be set apart as his very own people. As for not taking a wife from among the Canaanites, that instruction was intended to protect them from the temptation to adopt the Canaanite culture that surrounded them. Without getting into the specifics of Canaanite courtship and marriage, we can apply the principles behind these two instructions to our own spiritual journey. That's because every time we experience the love and mercy of God, we also sense a divine invitation to leave behind the "homeland" of our old life in exchange for the "promised land" of a new life in Christ. The Holy Spirit shows us that there's something greater than the culture of selfishness and greed that surrounds us, and he invites us to embrace it. As you reflect on this reading, consider what "back there" or your "old life" might mean for you. Also see if there are ways you have been "marrying into" elements of your culture that threaten to push you away from the Lord. Have you made little compromises with the world and adopted some of its less healthy habits and values? God has a marvelous plan for your future. He wants to heal you of past wounds. He wants to free you from guilt and shame over past sins. And he wants to fill you with the same joy and firmness of purpose that he gives to his greatest saints. So embrace the future he has for you. Don't go "back there"! "Jesus, you are my only true inheritance!" Psalm 106:1-5
Matthew 9:9-13 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Hear AI Read it for u | From today's Holy Gospel: ""Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?""
He heard this and said,
""Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."" ......" end quote. | From Bishop Barron:
"Matthew. I urge you to read it and meditate upon it this week, for it's about you. The Bible says that Jesus told Matthew, "Follow me." The call of Jesus is meant to get into your mind, and then past your mind into your body, and then through your body into your life, into your most practical decisions.
And then we hear that Matthew "got up and followed him." The verb used here in the Greek is the same verb used to describe the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead: Matthew rose. Conversion means a transition into a higher life, arising from a preoccupation with the goods of the world and a reorientation to the things of God.
Then we hear what happened after Matthew's conversion: "While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples." This deeply annoys the Pharisees, who ask of Jesus' disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" The answer is that Jesus loves sinners, and he doesn't require perfection before he approaches them." end quote from Bishop Barron.
My brothers and my sisters, we can see the calling of God, not just to Matthew, a despised "traitor" in the eyes of the Pharisees, a "sinner not to be socialized with", but to see deeper. The message goes super deep. Kind of like today when I was at Mass pondering the coming of our Lord. The second coming? Sure. It gets deep. He's already in the Catholic Holy of Holies tabernacle, yet, He comes AGAIN on the altar, this time...not to be adored and worshiped, but to be consumed as He wants to consume us with His blood and body, soul and purifying fire from Heaven. An incarnation. And the call of Saint Matthew (pray for us) is here to you and me.
"Come to me all who labor...and are burdened...and I WILL GIVE YOU rest". A rest called a joy, a joy called a grace, a grace that is called the life, and the life becomes the way, the truth by which we live to proclaim.
What's more...look at the example of Saint Matthew, of his repentance and conversion....he would NEVER be the same, and would NEVER look back again.
This is how it is to follow our Lord and our God with all our heart, mind, and soul. It is First Friday, our Lord invites us to visit Him in the Holy Tabernacle. Let us come adore Him! |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Matthew 18:5–6 [Matthew 18] 5 "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,1 it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
