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Quote of the Day "Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater developments and greater riches and so on, so that children have very little time for their parents. Parents have very little time for each other, and in the home begins the disruption of peace in the world." — St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Today's Meditation "There is, actually, only one person in all humanity of whom God has one picture and in whom there is a perfect conformity between what he wanted her to be and what she is, and that is his own mother. Most of us are a minus sign, in the sense that we do not fulfill the high hopes the heavenly Father has for us. But Mary is the equal sign. The ideal that God had of her, that she is, and in the flesh. The model and the copy are perfect; she is all that was foreseen, planned, and dreamed. The melody of her life is played just as it was written." —Archbishop Fulton Sheen, p. 15
Daily Verse "Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him." — James 1:12 | St. Alexius (d. 417 A.D.) was a native of Rome, the son of a distinguished Roman senator. His parents arranged a marriage for him, but he had a divine calling to a higher vocation. On the night of his wedding, with permission from his fiance, he secretly fled to Edessa in Syria to live in poverty and obscurity as a holy ascetic. He disguised himself as a beggar, unrecognized by all, even accepting alms from his own servants who were sent to look for him. St. Alexius lived in this way for seventeen years. A vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the church near his dwelling identified him as a "Man of God." When the fame of his sanctity spread in Edessa, he moved back to Rome so that he could continue his hidden life. He lived as a beggar under the very stairs of his father's palace, his true identity completely unknown to anyone. He lived in this way for another seventeen years. He was befriended by other Christians, shared his alms with the poor, and taught catechism to children. It was only after his death that his identity was revealed through a document that he secretly carried on his person. He was then venerated as a saint, and his father's palace was converted into a church in his honor. St. Alexius' feast day is July 17. | Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Exodus 3:13-20 Moses, hearing the voice of the LORD from the burning bush, said to him,
"When I go to the children of Israel and say to them,
'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,'
if they ask me, 'What is his name?' what am I to tell them?"
God replied, "I am who am."
Then he added, "This is what you shall tell the children of Israel:
I AM sent me to you." God spoke further to Moses, "Thus shall you say to the children of Israel:
The LORD, the God of your fathers,
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob,
has sent me to you. "This is my name forever;
this my title for all generations. "Go and assemble the elders of Israel, and tell them:
The LORD, the God of your fathers,
the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
has appeared to me and said:
I am concerned about you
and about the way you are being treated in Egypt;
so I have decided to lead you up out of the misery of Egypt
into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites,
Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites,
a land flowing with milk and honey. "Thus they will heed your message.
Then you and the elders of Israel
shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him:
"The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent us word.
Permit us, then, to go a three-days' journey in the desert,
that we may offer sacrifice to the LORD, our God. "Yet I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go
unless he is forced.
I will stretch out my hand, therefore,
and smite Egypt by doing all kinds of wondrous deeds there.
After that he will send you away." Responsorial Psalm Psalm 105:1 and 5, 8-9, 24-25, 26-27 R.(8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
make known among the nations his deeds.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered. R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations--
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac. R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He greatly increased his people
and made them stronger than their foes,
Whose hearts he changed, so that they hated his people,
and dealt deceitfully with his servants. R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He sent Moses his servant;
Aaron, whom he had chosen.
They wrought his signs among them,
and wonders in the land of Ham. R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia. 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 11:28-30 Jesus said:
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
| Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Exodus 3:13-20 I am who am. (Exodus 3:14) If you asked someone to draw a picture of God, chances are they would produce a sketch of an old man with white hair and a beard, wearing long flowing robes, seated on a throne. That's understandable. God is wise and loving and powerful. So it's easy to picture him with characteristics that convey those attributes. Imagine if you were to ask Moses to draw a picture of God based only on today's first reading! Moses has just asked God for his name, and God replies, "I am who am" (Exodus 3:14). What would Moses do with that? How do you draw a picture of The One Who Is? But that's the whole point. God is far more than the sum of the characteristics we can identify about him. He is far more than a superpowered version of us humans. We may call him "Father," "Creator," "Lord," or "Master," but even those words fail to capture his grandeur and vastness and glory. Here's how the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains it: God's name is "at once a name revealed and something like the refusal of a name, and hence it better expresses God as what he is—infinitely above everything that we can understand or say" (206). Infinitely above everything we can understand or say: that's a great place to start! Yes, we are made in God's image and likeness, but he is totally other than us. We who are created will never be able to fully comprehend the One who created us. We who have a beginning can't possibly encompass the One who is and who has never not been. He is the source of everything that exists. And amazingly enough, he is always with us, present to his people, always ready to save us. Today, take some time to ponder God's name: I am who am. Close your eyes and acknowledge that he is with you, all around you, supporting you and keeping you—and all things—in existence. Acknowledge that he's not just some vague life force. God is a Person who sees you, who cares about you, and who wants what's best for you. That's one of the main truths he was trying to tell Moses: The One Who Is has always been and will always be with his people! "Lord God, thank you that you are so much greater than I can comprehend, and yet you are with me!" Psalm 105:1, 5, 8-9, 24-27
Matthew 11:28-30 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Hear AI Read it for u | From today's Holy Gospel: "Jesus said:
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."...." end quote. | From Roberto Juarez:
"Why is its load soft and light? Because love lightens everything. When you love, even sacrifices make sense and produce peace. • Do I really trust that Jesus can give my soul rest? Jesus presents himself as meek and humble. It does not impose, it does not shout, it does not oblige. He teaches by his example, by his patience, by his tenderness. How much good would it do us to learn from his heart? We live in a world full of noise, haste, pride, and comparison. And Jesus shows us a different way: that of humility, meekness and interior rest. He does not dominate or impose, but invites us to learn from his lifestyle, based on humility and compassion. From there, the true rest of the soul is reached. • What does Jesus' style teach me – meek and humble – for my way of living, working and relating? The text is a gift for all of us who have ever felt tired, misunderstood or alone. Jesus does not promise us a life without a cross, but he does promise us a cross shared with him, out of love.
Today is a good day to respond to his invitation: "Come to me." Let us not be afraid to approach with our truth, with our tiredness. He is waiting to give us true rest." end quote.
From Bishop Barron:
"Friends, in today's Gospel, the Lord offers to relieve us of our burdens. He is identifying everyone who feels oppressed by the world: by sin, worries, suffering, injustice, the death of a relative or friend, the fear of death—whatever it may be. Relief comes when we submit to his kingship, his new way of ordering things. We are meant to imagine ourselves as pack animals who have been tied under a yoke and are under the command of a farmer. It seems rather demeaning, but this is what submission to Christ's lordship looks like: We serve his purposes and go where he wants us to go. Is Christ commanding your life in every detail? Is he the Lord of your family life? Of your recreational life? Of your professional life? Is he Lord of every room in your house, including the bedroom? Are you totally given over to him, under his lordship? I know that this may sound oppressive, but remember, "My yoke is easy, and my burden light." When we surrender to the path of love that he has laid out for us, our lives become infinitely lighter, easier, and more joyful, for we are moving with the divine purpose." End quote Bishop Barron.
Once someone surrenders to our Lord, as they say "give their life to the Lord", everything changes, if you choose to live life in grace and some call it "living in the Spirit of the Lord".
Clarity happens. Charity happens. Spontaneous miracles of love happen. Self sacrificing begins. This is the yoke our Lord asks of us...the life of the cross...
And the life of the cross is not easy. To apply yourself...to God's Kingdom.
Ministries are poorly tended to. Volunteers are hard to find that are committed. Yesterday we were told that we are still short many teachers for the upcoming CCD year in our parish. I said what our Lord said "the harvest is plenty...but the laborers are few".
Those that truly live a life of grace find it an honor to serve the Lord.
Those that are in disgrace feel shame in serving the Lord.
Our Lord said "Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." Luke 9:26.
And so, the task at hand, is humility in love, true love of God, and His business.
I've noticed many people are too busy for God. Even those that do not have a job seem to preoccupy themselves and excuse themselves.
This is shameful. Where is the love of our Lord? Where is the sacrifice? He gave it His all! How can we not give more time, treasure, and talent to His Kingdom? You will not gain a penny out of it...but His Kingdom will shine more beautiful...on earth....as it is .... in Heaven! |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Proverbs 22:4 [Proverbs 22] 4 The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life.1 | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
