† Quote of the Day "May the Holy Spirit enkindle you with the fire of His Love so that you may persevere, unfailingly, in the love of His service. Thus you may merit to become, at last, a living stone in the celestial Jerusalem." -St. Hildegard von Bingen Today's Meditation You have never begrudged the martyrs their triumph but rather trained them for it. And so I am asking you to be consistent with the lessons you teach them. Just beg for me the courage and endurance not only to speak but also to will what is right, so that I may not only be called a Christian, but prove to be one. For if I prove myself to be a Christian by martyrdom, then people will call me one, and my loyalty to Christ will be apparent when the world sees me no more. Nothing you can see is truly good. For our Lord Jesus Christ, now that he has returned to his Father, has revealed himself more clearly. Our task is not one of producing persuasive propaganda; Christianity shows its greatness when it is hated by the world." —St. Ignatius of Antioch, p. 194 Daily Verse "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace." -Numbers 6:24-26 | St. Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179) was born to a large and noble German family. She began to have mystical visions at the age of three which continued throughout her life. Her parents, promising her to the service of God, sent her to be educated at the Benedictine Abbey by an anchoress when she was about eight years of age. At the age of fourteen she became a consecrated nun attached to the Abbey, where she lived a quiet life of prayer for many years. At the age of 38, after the anchoress' death, she was chosen as the new leader of a growing group of nuns. Hildegard led a remarkable and unusual life for a woman of her day. She was an avid composer of sacred music and liturgy, in addition to poems and plays. She also wrote heavily on theology, natural medicine, and natural science. At the age of 42, at the command of God, Hildegard began writing down what she saw in her visions. Her works were widely read, even by the Pope, and leaders around the world sought her council. Her fame as a mystic and prophetess grew, earning her the name "Sibyl of the Rhine." More nuns flocked to join her, causing Hildegard to establish a new monastery at Rupertsberg. She wrote proficiently on the harmony of created nature and man's need to live in balance with it, especially in virtue, morality, and the love of God, which led Pope Benedict XVI to declare her the fourth female Doctor of the Church in 2012 alongside Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, and Thérèse of Lisieux. Because her works were far ahead of her time she is regarded as a historical phenomenon. Hildegard of Bingen is considered the founder of scientific natural history in Germany. Her feast day is September 17th. | Wednesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 445
Reading 1 1 Timothy 3:14-16 Beloved:
I am writing you,
although I hope to visit you soon.
But if I should be delayed,
you should know how to behave in the household of God,
which is the Church of the living God,
the pillar and foundation of truth.
Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion, Who was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated in the spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed to the Gentiles,
believed in throughout the world,
taken up in glory. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 111:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 R.(2) How great are the works of the Lord!
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights. R. How great are the works of the Lord!
Majesty and glory are his work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD. R. How great are the works of the Lord!
He has given food to those who fear him;
he will forever be mindful of his covenant.
He has made known to his people the power of his works,
giving them the inheritance of the nations. R. How great are the works of the Lord!
Alleluia See John 6:63c, 68c R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life,
you have the words of everlasting life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Luke 7:31-35 Jesus said to the crowds:
"To what shall I compare the people of this generation?
What are they like?
They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.
We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.' For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine,
and you said, 'He is possessed by a demon.'
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said,
'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'
But wisdom is vindicated by all her children." | Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Luke 7:31-35 Wisdom is vindicated by all her children. (Luke 7:35) There's just no winning for Jesus and his forerunner in today's Gospel passage—at least not as far as his detractors are concerned! They discredit John the Baptist for his rigorous fasting and his unrelenting calls to repentance. That's too harsh and negative! But then in the very next breath, they discredit Jesus for showing mercy and compassion to people long derided as sinners and enemies of God. He's probably a fake. He spends all his time with those people just so he can keep drinking and partying with them. Nothing seems to satisfy them! It's too bad these critics missed the point of both John and Jesus' ministries. John wasn't being harsh; he was pleading with his fellow Israelites to turn away from their sins so that they could welcome the Messiah and embrace the kingdom of God. What was wrong with that? As for Jesus, he wasn't playing fast and loose with the Law of Moses. He was spending time with the "sinful" so that he could win them over. He was showing them his Father's love by treating them with respect, listening to them, and sharing his heart with them. In responding to his critics' complaints, Jesus didn't engage in a long, passionate self-defense. He simply said, "Wisdom is vindicated by all her children" (Luke 7:35). You can imagine him gesturing toward the crowd gathered before him (7:29) as a sign of all the "children" who have been attracted to him because of his "wisdom" (7:35). All these people—sinners who have repented and are hanging on to Jesus' every word—are proof that John's call for conversion and Jesus' attitude of welcome toward sinners are the true path toward holiness. It's easy to be like the detractors in today's Gospel who focused on other people's supposed failings so that they could ignore their own faults. But Jesus wants us to be children of wisdom. He wants us to embrace the wisdom of repenting for our sins that John taught and the wisdom of showing mercy to everyone else that he taught. He knows that as we do, we'll become attractive to others, just as he was, and we will show them the wisdom of following him. "Jesus, help me to live as a child of your wisdom and not the wisdom of the world!" 1 Timothy 3:14-16
Psalm 111:1-6 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Ai Audio 2cents | From today's Holy Gospel: "Jesus said to the crowds:
"To what shall I compare the people of this generation?
What are they like?
They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.
We sang a dirge, but you did not weep...." Word of the Lord. | From Bishop Barron: "The Church is the Mystical Body of Jesus, the living organism that makes present Christ's mind and will in the world. It is his love made flesh throughout the ages, his hands and feet and eyes and heart. We are all, through baptism, members of that Body. Our purpose is his purpose—to carry the nonviolent and forgiving love of God to a hungry world; to go to the darkest places, to the far country in quest of sinners; to be both judge (sign of contradiction) and bearer of salvation." end quote.
From Roberto Juarez:
"Jesus' generation was not willing to change or open itself to the newness of the Kingdom of God. This challenges us to examine ourselves and ask ourselves if we are being resistant to God's voice, perhaps because it does not fit our expectations or because it makes us uncomfortable. Am I open to God's work, even when it is presented in ways I don't expect or that challenge me?
Jesus reminds us that God's wisdom may be difficult to comprehend from a human perspective, but it is manifested in the transformation of those who embrace it. This calls us to trust God's ways, even when they seem paradoxical or difficult to understand. How can I learn to trust God's wisdom more, even when I don't fully understand it?
The contrast between John and Jesus shows us that God can act in very different ways, and both can be legitimate and necessary. This invites us to be flexible and not to reject the truth just because it is not presented in the way we prefer. Am I willing to accept and respond to God's call, no matter what form it takes?" end quote.
From Brother Adrian: Our Lord said "Jesus said to the crowds:
'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.
We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.'
What's a dirge? A quick look up says "a lament for the dead, especially one forming part of a funeral rite." I sing at funerals. I sing at weddings. I sing at every moment of life in the choir. I witness what song can do. But you know what is the hardest part to see as a choir, prayer leader?
To see faces stone cold, hearts unmoved.
At the time of Mass, when it is time to sing the Psalms, that everyone should be repeating and praying, I will even say it on the microphone before singing "everyone please". But it falls on deaf ears. Their thoughts, their hearts, where are they?
And in my studies of what our Lord is saying, He says that this bothers Him, it hurts Him, for this, His words, His message, His heart is reaching out to us, and we are obstinate? We are too preoccupied with other interests? Why is it so hard to focus on prayers? Why is it so hard to listen to Him? Why aren't we moved?
Is it the priest's boring homily? Why don't we let the Holy Spirit speak to us regardless?
Is it the horrible songs the choir sings? Why don't we sing with our heart? Is it the Scriptures you do not understand? Or the lectors that read them poorly? Why don't you pray to understand? Why don't you strive to understand?
Is it that you do not have faith? Why don't you ask for faith?
Is it too hard to pray? Why don't you ask for help?
Is it because ultimately....we don't care?
Why don't we ask for God's love and fervor and Sacred Heart to burn in us and live in us?
You see? The message of the cross is folly, it is foolishness to those who are perishing.
But the message of the cross for a lover of Christ, God's heart, it means everything. It means He was here, and realized our cruel hearts. It means He saw this and decided to pierce open His heart, so that the revelation of God's love would be poured on us, literally, physically, spiritually, mentally....everything. Lord, help us be attentive, to Your every beckoning word, and Holy Will. Give us the love, the grace to be truly one with You, in You, and through You...both now and forever. |  Audio of Random Verse | Random Bible Verse 1
1 Peter 2:11
"Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul."
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God Bless You! Peace | | |
