† Quote of the Day "We find rest in those we love, and we provide a resting place for those who love us." — St. Bernard of Clairvaux Today's Meditation "And so the idea of peace came down to do the work of peace: The Word was made flesh and even now dwells among us. It is by faith that he dwells in our hearts, in our memory, our intellect and penetrates even into our imagination. What concept could man have of God if he did not first fashion an image of him in his heart? By nature incomprehensible and inaccessible, he was invisible and unthinkable, but now he wished to be understood, to be seen and thought of. But how, you ask, was this done? He lay in a manger and rested on a virgin's breast, preached on a mountain, and spent the night in prayer. He hung on a cross, grew pale in death, and roamed free among the dead and ruled over those in hell. He rose again on the third day, and showed the apostles the wounds of the nails, the signs of victory; and finally in their presence he ascended to the sanctuary of heaven. How can we not contemplate this story in truth, piety and holiness?" —St. Bernard, p. 186 Daily Verse "Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account." — Hebrews 4:12-13 | St Bernard Of Clairvaux St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) was one of seven children born to a noble family in Burgundy, France. All seven children, six sons and one daughter, were offered to the service of God by their devout mother. Before St. Bernard was born, a holy man foretold of his great sanctity. As a child Bernard was given an excellent education. He excelled at his studies, and also possessed a personal charm that attracted many people to him. He prayed about his vocation, and at the age of twenty-two left his worldly wealth to become a Cistercian monk. Four of his brothers joined him at the monastery in Citeaux, along with many others belonging to the Burgundian nobility. He later founded and became abbot of the Abbey of Clairvaux, which rapidly grew to over 700 monks and 160 daughter-houses. Bernard, with his natural charisma, was also a skilled arbiter and counselor who proved to be instrumental in the support of the true pope of Rome against the schism of a rival anti-pope. Bernard's reputation for holiness and piety was widely known. He traveled throughout Europe as a preacher and became one of the most famous and influential men of his century. He was a man of reform, and was effective in opposing the appointment of unworthy men to episcopal offices, while others reformed themselves at his censure. St. Bernard composed many theological works and wrote tenderly on devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He is a Doctor of the Church, and the patron of beekeepers and candlemakers. His feast day is August 20th. | Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church • Readings for the Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church Reading 1 Judges 9:6-15 All the citizens of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together
and proceeded to make Abimelech king
by the terebinth at the memorial pillar in Shechem. When this was reported to him,
Jotham went to the top of Mount Gerizim and, standing there,
cried out to them in a loud voice:
"Hear me, citizens of Shechem, that God may then hear you!
Once the trees went to anoint a king over themselves.
So they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'
But the olive tree answered them, 'Must I give up my rich oil,
whereby men and gods are honored,
and go to wave over the trees?'
Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come; you reign over us!'
But the fig tree answered them,
'Must I give up my sweetness and my good fruit,
and go to wave over the trees?'
Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come you, and reign over us.'
But the vine answered them,
'Must I give up my wine that cheers gods and men,
and go to wave over the trees?'
Then all the trees said to the buckthorn, 'Come; you reign over us!'
But the buckthorn replied to the trees,
'If you wish to anoint me king over you in good faith,
come and take refuge in my shadow.
Otherwise, let fire come from the buckthorn
and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'" Responsorial Psalm Psalm 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 R. (2a) Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
O LORD, in your strength the king is glad;
in your victory how greatly he rejoices!
You have granted him his heart's desire;
you refused not the wish of his lips. R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
For you welcomed him with goodly blessings,
you placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked life of you: you gave him
length of days forever and ever. R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
Great is his glory in your victory;
majesty and splendor you conferred upon him.
You made him a blessing forever,
you gladdened him with the joy of your face. R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad. Alleluia Hebrews 4:12 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern the reflections and thoughts of the heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Matthew 20:1-16 Jesus told his disciples this parable:
"The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,
he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o'clock,
he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.'
So they went off.
And he went out again around noon,
and around three o'clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o'clock,
he found others standing around, and said to them,
'Why do you stand here idle all day?'
They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.'
He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.'
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
'Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.'
When those who had started about five o'clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,
but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,
'These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day's burden and the heat.'
He said to one of them in reply,
'My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?'
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."
| Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Matthew 20:1-16 Are you envious because I am generous? (Matthew 20:15) A third-grade class at the local elementary school had a substitute teacher who mistakenly gave the class an extra recess. The second and fourth graders heard about it and were outraged. They complained for the rest of the afternoon. It wasn't fair! Today's parable might prompt a similar reaction in us. The landowner goes to the marketplace throughout the day to find workers for his vineyard. He hires them at different intervals yet pays them all the same wage at the end of the workday. Not surprisingly, those who worked the whole day are upset. Shouldn't they receive more than those hired just before the workday ended? They feel resentful and envy the other workers' good fortune in receiving a full day's wage. It seems unfair! But Jesus tells this parable to help us understand the Father's kindness. Think about the salvation God offers us: it was first for the Jews, who "labored in the field" the longest, and then for the Gentiles, who joined "late in the day." Both received the same priceless gift! And that reveals the extravagant "unfair" generosity of God, who "wills everyone to be saved" (1 Timothy 2:4). Just imagine if those grumbling workers in today's parable could have seen the joy and relief on the faces of the late-hired workers and their families as they received a full day's wage! What if they saw that the landowner's generosity meant that these workers would bring home food for their hungry children? Or what if they glimpsed the delight the landowner felt in providing so generously for his workers? Putting ourselves in another person's shoes is a good exercise for us, too. Because we can be like those workers in this parable, upset at someone else's good fortune. Whether it's a coworker who is promoted before us or the "deathbed conversion" of a notorious criminal, we might envy their blessings. So ask the Holy Spirit to give you a sense of the joy of your promoted coworker or that lost soul who has been found. And see the Father's delight as he generously offers his gifts to all his children. "Holy Spirit, help me to share in my neighbors' joy as they receive God's provision!" Judges 9:6-15
Psalm 21:2-7 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Hear AI Read it for u | From today's Holy Gospel: "'My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?'
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last......" Word of the Lord. | Bishop Barron said today, "....But God knows everything about everything. Our knowledge is comparatively minuscule in both depth and breadth. What we can see of God's canvas is laughably small. And yet we make bold to declare certain things just or unjust. Recall the story of the gangster who called for a priest as he lay dying on the street in New York. The priest declared him forgiven, and there was a flood of protest: How could this be fair to all of those who had been good and devout Christians all of their lives? My ways are not your ways, says the Lord. Let us have the humility to allow God to distribute his graces as he sees fit. And let us not ask "why" in a spirit of rebellion, but "why" in a spirit of awe and expectation." end quote.
Roberto Juarez said:
"Jesus concludes the parable with the statement, "So shall the last be first, and the first last." This phrase encapsulates the central message of the parable: the Kingdom of Heaven operates according to principles that differ from those of the world, and God's generosity does not follow our expectations of justice and reward.
The fact that all workers receive equal pay symbolizes equality in the Kingdom of God. there are no distinctions in terms of time or effort; all are welcome and all receive the same reward: eternal life. This equality challenges us to value and treat everyone with equal dignity and respect, regardless of their background or "achievements" in the spiritual life. How do we treat others in our community? Do we see everyone as equal before God?
Jesus calls us to trust in God's grace, to avoid envy and comparisons, and to embrace the divine justice that is manifested in his mercy and love for all. With this passage we are invited to live with grateful and generous hearts, reflecting God's goodness in our relationships with others and in our own life of faith." end quote.
Our whole life, many of us are striving to be perfect, with lots of effort, lots of blood sweat and tears for some, all to strive to enter God's Kingdom of Heaven forever, many for decades. And a few will enter sooner than others as God sees fit. And some, as a last ditch effort, will enter without seemingly having done anything! Like the good thief! All the good thief did was steal all his life, he was a thief that caused much heartaches all his life, and yet, he stole Heaven! How? God sees the heart, He sees it like we can never understand. I remember a story of a near death experience of a lady that said she always sought God, was baptized in so many different churches, because she wanted to be clean, probably because she was abused as a child in dark ways. She died, met our Lord and cried out "WHY! Why did I have to go through that disgusting abuse!?" and our Lord showed her the circumstances that we live by chance and are unavoidable. And she said she saw in the afterlife a pretty little girl, so cute, playing with a light as if with water, and she said she wanted so much to just pick her up and hug her and make her hers, and our Lord said to her "this is what I saw in all those years of abuse". WOW! You see, God sees otherwise. We see terrible circumstances, and He sees otherwise. We see calamity, and He sees peace. But it would be better for us to settle ourselves now, rather than leaving things for chance. Settle for peace with God, and through each other. It will cost you....forgiveness. It will cost you a trip to make amends. It will cost you so much to give generously. Oh yes, they messed you up, God knows! Oh yes, they owe you very much! God knows! But it would be better to enter God as the biggest loser...having lost all pride and vanity and greed, and all the worldly riches....than to be full of oneself. Wouldn't we rather appear broken...like our Lord? Stripped down, beaten black and blue? Wouldn't we rather have scars in heaven? Battle scars? Yes. We are being tested through fire.
Yes, we are run through a gauntlet. Yes, tending to God's sheep is work.
Yes, we suffer calamity, but the bible, our Lord tells us that God proves those He loves. He disciplines them. If I do not discipline my children, it could be because I do not love them. But I notice, if I discipline them, something happens, they become more aware...more obedient, and in the end...more loving and connected. If I discipline with love and justice, like our Lord.
You see, a father in a family represents the Father we desire to see in Heaven. Much rests on the shoulders of a parent. God's very own children that are baptized and those that ought to be made His in His baptism. Lord, let us drop all senses that fail us. Let us grow in love, in faith in You.
Lord, that we might rejoice like You did on the cross when Dismas, the good thief turned to You as a child and said "I'm so sorry, have pity, I suffer with thee". I AM WITH YOU. |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
1 John 4:10–11 "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." end quote. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
