† Quote of the Day "The devotion to the Eucharist is the most noble, because it has God as its object; it is the most profitable for salvation, because it gives us the Author of Grace; it is the sweetest, because the Lord is Sweetness Itself." — St. Pius X Today's Meditation "The life of faith is nothing less than the continued pursuit of God through all that disguises, disfigures, destroys and, so to say, annihilates Him. It is in very truth a reproduction of the life of Mary who, from the Stable to the Cross, remained unalterably united to that God whom all the world misunderstood, abandoned, and persecuted. In like manner faithful souls endure a constant succession of trials. God hides beneath veils of darkness and illusive appearances which make His will difficult to recognize; but in spite of every obstacle these souls follow Him and love Him even to the death of the Cross." —Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade, p. 25
An excerpt from Abandonment to Divine Providence Daily Verse "Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble. Do not return evil for evil, or insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing." — 1 Peter 3:8-9 | Pope St. Pius X (1835-1914) was born Giuseppe Melchiore, one of ten children from an impoverished family living in Venetia, then under the political control of the Austrian Empire. His parents valued education and ensured that Giuseppe walked nearly four miles to school every day. Drawn to the priesthood, he received a scholarship to enter one of the best seminaries of his day, and was ordained in 1858. After the death of Pope Leo XIII, who made him cardinal, he was elected Supreme Pontiff in 1903. Saint Pius X was a man of virtue, sanctity, and zeal, and a great defender of the Catholic faith against heresy. He ranks as one of the greatest reforming popes in history. In his eleven-year pontificate he contributed to reforms in papal elections, seminary life, Eucharistic practice, liturgy, biblical studies, the Divine Office, catechesis, the organization of the Roman Curia, and canon law. He was also known as a pastoral pope for encouraging Catholic social action as well as the development of personal holiness, piety, and a daily lifestyle which reflected deep Christian values. He promoted the reading of Sacred Scripture by all the lay faithful, and harshly denounced the evil of Modernism as "the summation of all heresies." He also lowered the age of First Holy Communion to the age of reason. He was particularly devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Confidence. Pope St. Pius X is the patron of pilgrims and first communicants. His feast day is August 21st. | Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope • Readings for the Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope Reading I Judges 11:29-39a The Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah.
He passed through Gilead and Manasseh,
and through Mizpah-Gilead as well,
and from there he went on to the Ammonites.
Jephthah made a vow to the LORD.
"If you deliver the Ammonites into my power," he said,
"whoever comes out of the doors of my house
to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites
shall belong to the LORD.
I shall offer him up as a burnt offering."
Jephthah then went on to the Ammonites to fight against them,
and the LORD delivered them into his power,
so that he inflicted a severe defeat on them,
from Aroer to the approach of Minnith (twenty cities in all)
and as far as Abel-keramim.
Thus were the Ammonites brought into subjection
by the children of Israel.
When Jephthah returned to his house in Mizpah,
it was his daughter who came forth,
playing the tambourines and dancing.
She was an only child: he had neither son nor daughter besides her.
When he saw her, he rent his garments and said,
"Alas, daughter, you have struck me down
and brought calamity upon me.
For I have made a vow to the LORD and I cannot retract."
She replied, "Father, you have made a vow to the LORD.
Do with me as you have vowed,
because the LORD has wrought vengeance for you
on your enemies the Ammonites."
Then she said to her father, "Let me have this favor.
Spare me for two months, that I may go off down the mountains
to mourn my virginity with my companions."
"Go," he replied, and sent her away for two months.
So she departed with her companions
and mourned her virginity on the mountains.
At the end of the two months she returned to her father,
who did to her as he had vowed. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 40:5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10 R. (8a and 9a) Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust; who turns not to idolatry or to those who stray after falsehood. R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not; then said I, "Behold I come." R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me.
To do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!" R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know. R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will. Alleluia Psalm 95:8 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Matthew 22:1-14 Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables
saying, "The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
'Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet,
my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast."'
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then the king said to his servants, 'The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.'
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to meet the guests
he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
He said to him, 'My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?'
But he was reduced to silence.
Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet,
and cast him into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'
Many are invited, but few are chosen."
| Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Matthew 22:1-14 The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast. (Matthew 22:2) Jesus came to earth to usher in a new kingdom, the kingdom of heaven, and he wanted his followers to know what it was like. In today's Gospel, he presents a parable to the chief priests and elders about this kingdom. And that parable can help us better understand the kingdom God is calling us to enter. Jesus speaks of a king who sends out servants with invitations to his son's wedding feast (Matthew 22:3). Many are invited, but only a few decide to come. So he invites a second and then a third set of guests. What does this say about God's kingdom? That our Father is continually sending out invitations to come and join him. Many will say they are too busy to bother; others may even injure his messengers (22:5-6). But God is relentless: though he is rejected, he will not stop inviting people to this great feast! But there's a twist: one man at the wedding feast is not wearing the proper garment. God's kingdom is filled with people who have made sure that they are properly "dressed." They have received his forgiveness for their sins and are now clothed in the garment of grace made "white in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:14). They are "worthy to come" into his kingdom (Matthew 22:8). Jesus ends his parable with a warning: "Many are invited, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14). God wants everyone to live in his kingdom. Yet the choice is up to us. We entered God's kingdom at our Baptism, but every day, we need to receive the love, mercy, and grace that will keep our wedding garment clean. If we do, we can be assured that we can experience the joy of living as a citizen of God's kingdom—even now! This is what the kingdom of heaven is like. So today, say yes once again to God's invitation. If you feel unworthy, ask for his forgiveness and let him make you worthy. And worship your great King, who sent his only Son to earth so that you could rejoice and celebrate, both now and for all eternity, at the "wedding day of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:7)! "Father, I accept your invitation. Clothe me in your grace today!" Judges 11:29-39
Psalm 40:5, 7-10 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Hear AI Read it for u | From today's Holy Gospel: "He said to him, 'My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?'
But he was reduced to silence.
Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet,
and cast him into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'
Many are invited, but few are chosen......" Word of the Lord. | From Roberto Juarez spanish reflections:
"Participating in the Kingdom of God requires proper preparation, symbolized by the wedding garment. Are we clothed with God's grace and justice? Do we live in a way that is consistent with our faith?
The man without the wedding garment represents those who, though invited, have not allowed God's grace to transform their lives. Are we willing to change, to leave sin behind, and to live according to Kingdom values?
Jesus concludes the parable with this phrase that sums up the central message: although the invitation to the Kingdom is universal, not everyone responds appropriately, and only those who do are the elect. This emphasizes the need for an active and sincere response to God's call.
Although God calls everyone, the answer is up to us. We are free to accept or reject God's grace, and our salvation depends on our response. How do we respond to the grace God offers us daily? Are we among the elect because we have responded in faith and faithfulness?
We are invited to review our lives, to make sure we are properly "dressed" for the banquet of the Kingdom, and to respond faithfully and committedly to God's generous invitation." end quote.
From Bishop Barron today:
"Friends, today's Gospel likens the kingdom of heaven to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. Notice that the father (God the Father) is giving a banquet for his son (God the Son), whose bride is the Church. Jesus is the marriage of divinity and humanity—and we his followers are invited to join in the joy of this union. The joyful intimacy of the Father and Son is now offered to us to be shared. Listen to Isaiah to learn the details of this banquet: "On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines." Now there is an edge to all of this. For it is the king who is doing the inviting, and it is a wedding banquet for his son. We can see how terribly important it is to respond to the invitation of the King of kings. We have heard the invitation of God to enter into intimacy with him, to make him the center of our lives, to be married to him in Christ—and often we find the most pathetic excuses not to respond. " end quote.
The man in the parable is kicked out of the banquet for not being dressed right. It is a disturbing view for all of us if we are considering the Father is the King and we like to think of God as a pushover, super soft, or some of us think of Him as very harsh, and unapproachable. So which is it? Not either, but He can be both.
The man that was not dressed made a mockery of the whole feast that took much time and effort in preparation, a place of honor....to honor the groom and bride just by the way they dress! It's like he didn't care it seemed, or was careless in judgement. That is our conscious. We have to have a well formed conscientiousness in order to avoid this same catastrophe for ourselves when we attempt to knock on Heaven's doors. Not long ago we heard and will hear again on Sunday about a narrow gate, and about the King saying "depart from me you evildoers....I do not know you". OUCH! Again! Let's avoid that horrible moment. I don't want to be that person.
Last night we led a new pilot bible study for adults, and I brought this up, and I told the story of how this past weekend we went to a family conference and I saw one of my favorite theologian speakers and bible scholar Dr. Brant Pitre, I said "I hear his talks, I have studied his programs, I feel like I know him so well! And then, at the hotel, at the conference, I was getting in the elevator with my sons to go to the conference and before the doors closed, Dr. Pitre walked right in, along with Science of Sainthood Matthew Leanard. Dr. Brant Pitre walks in, does not acknowledge me, turns around, and starts talking with Matthew. It was awkward for me. LOL ". Yet, this is EXACTLY how it will be for all of us who think we know our Lord, Jesus. This is His feast. This is His wedding. This is His world to save. We are then...His, as He wants us in the Father's house, to fill the banquet hall, eternally, and even more...the rooms in His house to live forever!
The Mass is the eternal banquet.
How do you go receive Him? With filth in your soul?
That is not good.
Or do you even go to Mass at all? This is a complete rejection of God's invitation, and actually a COMMAND to honor the Sabbath by uniting, assembly with Him and His Body. Not everyone doing their own thing.
At to reject Him outright, is a mortal sin. How will He ever know you if you are not intimate with Him?
Remember that book of Heaven? A frail sickly dying woman is in continuous agony, yet with Jesus, always with him and He is with her through it all... and this is how it shall be, a uniting of Divine Will with our human will. And this shall be....on earth...as it is in Heaven. |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Romans 8:31 God's Everlasting Love 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be1 against us? | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
