† Quote of the Day "In everything, whether it is a thing sensed or a thing known, God Himself is hidden within." — St. Bonaventure Today's Meditation "Worrying appeals to us because it gives us a sense that we are in control of what might happen–that by thinking through what could happen, we could somehow stave off potential harm or damage. There can be advantages to thinking problems through and trying to prepare ourselves for whatever may come, but we can often take it to an extreme, leading to decision making based on fear and anxiety rather than balance and trust." –Carrie Gress and Noelle Mering, p.71 An excerpt from Theology of Home II: The Spiritual Art of Homemaking Daily Verse "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible."" — Matthew 19:23-26 | St. Orontius of Lecce (1st c.) was the son of the Roman imperial treasurer in Lecce, Italy. Upon his father's death he inherited the position. Orontius was converted to the Christian faith along with his nephew, Fortunatus, by Justus, a disciple of St. Paul the Apostle. Orontius was later denounced to the authorities as a Christian and was ordered to sacrifice to the pagan gods. He refused and was arrested, removed from his office, tortured, and exiled to Corinth together with Fortunatus. In Corinth the pair met St. Paul the Apostle, who consecrated Orontius as the first bishop of Lecce. When Orontius and Fortunatus returned to Lecce they were persecuted and imprisoned again, but were released and ordered to stop preaching. They continued to preach in the surrounding cities, and were arrested a third time and executed. St. Orontius' feast day is August 26th. | Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 You yourselves know, brothers and sisters,
that our reception among you was not without effect.
Rather, after we had suffered and been insolently treated,
as you know, in Philippi,
we drew courage through our God
to speak to you the Gospel of God with much struggle.
Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives,
nor did it work through deception.
But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel,
that is how we speak,
not as trying to please men,
but rather God, who judges our hearts.
Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know,
or with a pretext for greed–God is witness–
nor did we seek praise from men,
either from you or from others,
although we were able to impose our weight as Apostles of Christ.
Rather, we were gentle among you,
as a nursing mother cares for her children.
With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you
not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well,
so dearly beloved had you become to us. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 139:1-3, 4-6 R. (1) You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar. R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know the whole of it.
Behind me and before, you hem me in
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
too lofty for me to attain. R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord. Alleluia Hebrews 4:12 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Matthew 23:23-26 Jesus said:
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin,
and have neglected the weightier things of the law:
judgment and mercy and fidelity.
But these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You cleanse the outside of cup and dish,
but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup,
so that the outside also may be clean."
| Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Matthew 23:23-26 You . . . strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! (Matthew 23:23-24) Swallowing a camel! Is that even possible? Obviously, Jesus was speaking metaphorically. Jewish purity laws forbade unclean food and drink, so observant Jews often strained their wine to avoid accidentally swallowing any gnats or other unclean insects. By using this image, Jesus was highlighting how these scribes and Pharisees focused so narrowly on small points of the Law—like tithing garden herbs—that they overlooked the "weightier things" that God had commanded (Matthew 23:23). It was as if they had failed to see that they were swallowing one of the largest unclean animals, a camel! It's interesting how that works, isn't it? With good intentions, we, like these scribes and Pharisees, can become convinced of the importance of one of the finer points of devotion or obedience to God. Maybe it's how we dress, or the kind of music we prefer for prayer. In our minds, it becomes an important expression of our faith, so important that we make it a yardstick by which we judge other people. And when we make judgments based on these finer points, we run the risk of "swallowing a camel!" Our observances are not bad in themselves. Jesus didn't tell the Pharisees not to do the small things like straining gnats or tithing dill. He corrected them for treating these peripheral things as if they were the central focus. We can do something similar to these scribes and Pharisees. The choices we make about how we express our faith can demonstrate our reverence for the Lord. But we shouldn't make every choice into a universal, hard-and-fast law that everyone should follow. Let's allow room for the people around us to be led by the Lord in how they respond to him. Let's give them the gift of our patience and graciousness when their choices don't match ours. Because if we're holding other people up to our own yardstick, we're missing the "weightier things of the law." Which are? Choosing to trust God's judgment instead of our own and showing his mercy and faithfulness to everyone around us (Matthew 23:23). That's the heart of the gospel! "Jesus, help me to keep you at the center of all the little ways I express my faith!" 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Psalm 139:1-6 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Hear AI Read it for u | From today's Holy Gospel: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You cleanse the outside of cup and dish,
but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup,
so that the outside also may be clean........" Word of the Lord. | From Bishop Barron: "Friends, in today's Gospel, Jesus forcefully calls the Pharisees (and us) to change their hearts and behavior. St. Augustine defines sin as incurvatus in se—that means "caved in around oneself." To be in sin is to be "caved in" around the ego and its narrow concerns. When the Lord says, "Reform your life," he means move from that old mind and make him the center of your life. We must know and feel in our bones what is wrong in us; we must look it in the face and acknowledge it with uncompromising honesty. Without this journey into our own inner hell, we will not feel the compunction to shift our way of being and seeing. And we must awaken to what is godlike in us, what is rich and unbroken, what is united with the saving designs of God. Without this clear sense, we will fall into complacency and see metanoia as, at best, a cruel illusion." end of quote.
Our Lord was harsh, right? Or was it just truth that hits us harshly? He is just speaking truth!
"You cleanse the outside of cup and dish,
but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup,
so that the outside also may be clean".
And why does it seem harsh? Because it hits a chord inside of us that needs to be struck. It should be an eye opener. Just like teh evil one screams at you, it is his job, the accuser, the accuser will come at you, especially if you are trying to follow the Way, the Truth, and live the Life of Christ, and you will hear you get accused "You Hypocrite!". Ouch!
Has anyone ever called you that? I have, many times! Sometimes it may be partly true! Sometimes it is a thwarted lie. Either way, we need to hear the truth, and we are called to live a truth, a life that very few hardly desire... purity, and holiness.
Our Lord does not like two faces. He likes only the child of God face. He does not like the ugly face we are disfigured with when in sin.
So, how can we cleanse the inside...of our lives, the inside of our hearts? It is a decision. Love itself, is a decision.
My little daughter is cute when she mistakenly sings "I'm so excited, to follow Jesus" with me at the nursing homes. And I said this past Sunday to the people there "...we must not sing excited, but with a decision...we must DECIDE to follow Jesus". And then we sing "I have DECIDED to follow Jesus...no turning back, NO TURNING BACK!".
And something happens when we pray and sing with the folks there. Their weight seems to lighten. Their hope seems to brighten. I can see it. Wilting flowers, regain strength, the vigor of faith, the very love of God, it is strengthened.
We strengthen the weak. That is our job in the world. To help each other to grow in faith and love of God. But how, if we paralyze ourselves with fear and sin? How will we do God's will if inside we are blocked to the very grace and mercy of God? How can He work or do anything in a soul that is not truly disposed to His will?
This goes for all, clergy and laity alike.
Sure, on the outside we can seem holy, but on the inside....malice exists, the kind that just don't care, the kind of malice that is brooding grounds for evil...the evil of neutrality. Lukewarm faith is two faced. On the one hand, you appear to be good, but on the other, you don't really care, and this is a setup and open door for evil to work.
The message, the Truth has hit us right between the eyes, with the stone the architects of the world have rejected.
And it is the same stone that is the cornerstone of our life.
For, the truth will set you free. |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Proverbs 20:9 [Proverbs 20] "Who can say, "I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin"? Word of the Lord. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
