† Quote of the Day "A word or a smile is often enough to put fresh life in a despondent soul." -St. Therese of Lisieux Today's Meditation "Prayer, for me, is simply a raising of the heart, a simple glance towards Heaven, an expression of love and gratitude in the midst of trial, as well as in times of joy; in a word, it is something noble and supernatural expanding my soul and uniting it to God. Whenever my soul is so dry that I am incapable of a single good thought, I always say an Our Father or a Hail Mary very slowly, and these prayers alone cheer me up and nourish my soul with divine food." —St. Therese of Lisieux, p. 141
An excerpt from The Story of a Soul Daily Verse I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. -Romans 12:1-2 | St. Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897) was the last of nine children born to Saints Louis and Zelie Martin in Alencon, France. Her family was devoutly religious, and all five surviving siblings, all daughters, entered the convent. From an early age Therese desired to give herself totally to Jesus. Her happy childhood gave way to trial following the death of her mother when she was four years old. This event changed her personality from merry and bright to withdrawn and sensitive. She also suffered a strange illness that brought her near death. Her sisters prayed for her recovery, and Therese was completely healed after she saw the Virgin Mary statue in her room smile down on her. Just before her 14th birthday, on Christmas Eve, Therese had a mystical experience of the Child Jesus. Her sensitiveness disappeared and her faith was greatly fortified. She attended daily Mass with her father and cultivated her strong desire for the salvation of souls. At the age of 15 she obtained special permission to enter the Carmelite convent in Lisieux where two of her sisters were professed. Recognizing her youth and weakness, and unable to do the great things for God in the world that her heart desired, she determined that she would follow the path of spiritual childhood at the feet of Jesus, as his "Little Flower", and instead focus on small acts of kindness for love of Jesus and interior acts of self-denial, a spirituality called "The Little Way." Therese died of Tuberculosis at the age of 24, and her high degree of holiness was discovered through her autobiography, Story of a Soul. Her "Little Way" became profoundly influential around the world, and although she was not a learned scholar, her deep theological life caused Pope St. John Paul II to declare her a Doctor of the Church. She is the patron against sickness, tuberculosis, and loss of parents, as well as of pilots, air crews, florists, missionaries, and the sick. St. Therese of Lisieux's feast day is October 1st. | Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church • Readings for the Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church Reading 1 Nehemiah 2:1-8 In the month Nisan of the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,
when the wine was in my charge,
I took some and offered it to the king.
As I had never before been sad in his presence,
the king asked me, "Why do you look sad?
If you are not sick, you must be sad at heart."
Though I was seized with great fear, I answered the king:
"May the king live forever!
How could I not look sad
when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins,
and its gates have been eaten out by fire?"
The king asked me, "What is it, then, that you wish?"
I prayed to the God of heaven and then answered the king:
"If it please the king,
and if your servant is deserving of your favor,
send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors' graves,
to rebuild it."
Then the king, and the queen seated beside him,
asked me how long my journey would take
and when I would return.
I set a date that was acceptable to him,
and the king agreed that I might go. I asked the king further: "If it please the king,
let letters be given to me for the governors
of West-of-Euphrates,
that they may afford me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah;
also a letter for Asaph, the keeper of the royal park,
that he may give me wood for timbering the gates
of the temple-citadel and for the city wall
and the house that I shall occupy."
The king granted my requests,
for the favoring hand of my God was upon me. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6 R. (6ab) Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
By the streams of Babylon
we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.
On the aspens of that land
we hung up our harps. R. Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
Though there our captors asked of us
the lyrics of our songs,
And our despoilers urged us to be joyous:
"Sing for us the songs of Zion!" R. Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
How could we sing a song of the LORD
in a foreign land?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
may my right hand be forgotten! R. Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
May my tongue cleave to my palate
if I remember you not,
If I place not Jerusalem
ahead of my joy. R. Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you! Alleluia Philippians 3:8-9 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I consider all things so much rubbish
that I may gain Christ and be found in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Luke 9:57-62 As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding
on their journey, someone said to him,
"I will follow you wherever you go."
Jesus answered him,
"Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head."
And to another he said, "Follow me."
But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father."
But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead.
But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God."
And another said, "I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home."
Jesus answered him, "No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God."
| Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Nehemiah 2:1-8 Send me to Judah, to . . . rebuild. (Nehemiah 2:5) As cupbearer for the Persian King Artaxerxes, Nehemiah held a high-ranking position in the royal court. But when he heard that the Jews in his homeland were suffering and that the walls of Jerusalem had been breached, he was devastated. He longed to see his city restored, so he prayed for a way to help (Nehemiah 1:3-4, 11). Today we read how Nehemiah, strengthened by his prayer, asked the king to let him return to Jerusalem. The king agreed, and Nehemiah left immediately (Nehemiah 2:3-6). When he got there, he saw that God's people had abandoned all attempts to rebuild. So he rallied the leaders and urged them to place their faith in "the God of heaven" (2:20). Nehemiah was so successful that the city walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt in only fifty-two days (6:15)! Is there any "rebuilding" that the Lord is calling you to do? Often he does this by putting a situation on our hearts that grieves us, as he did with Nehemiah. Our sorrow leads us to prayer and then to opportunities to begin the work that needs to be done. This work doesn't always involve restoring a structure. Often it's a relationship that needs to be rebuilt—perhaps with a family member, friend, or coworker. We may see that we are estranged from our parish or the Church at large—or even from the Lord himself. Whatever it is, God wants to bring healing! Perhaps you need to take the first step toward reconciliation. Or if it's your relationship with God that needs rebuilding, begin by asking for forgiveness and the grace to return to him. Nehemiah accomplished a great work, but he didn't do it alone. God gave him the courage to ask the king for help and the wisdom and stamina to see the work to completion. With his grace, God can do the same for you! "Lord, show me what I need to rebuild, and help me to do it!" Psalm 137:1-6
Luke 9:57-62 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Ai Audio 2cents | From today's Holy Gospel: "And to another he said, "Follow me."
But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father."
But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead.
But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God."
And another said, "I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home."
Jesus answered him, "No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God."....." Word of the Lord. | From Bishop Barron:
"Friends, today's Gospel invites us to follow Jesus above all. The heart of the message is the claim that he is everything, the one for whom a totalizing decision has to be made. I want to consider in detail how one man in our Gospel responded to the Lord's call to discipleship. Jesus simply said, "Follow me," and the man replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father." Well, then as now, nothing would seem more reasonable! Of course you have to take care of your own father's funeral. What could be more important, especially in a family-centric culture like that of ancient Israel? Jesus answers with devastating laconicism: "Let the dead bury their dead." We're stunned by this deeply insensitive answer! This violates every sense of ethics and decorum that we have. Be honest: If you heard this from a religious teacher, wouldn't you be tempted to leave him? Here's the point: Jesus hasn't one little thing against family obligations. But he will insist that our relationship to him is more important than even those most sacred of obligations. Even this most precious thing must fall away if we are to make him absolutely first. " end quote.
From Roberto Juarez:
The last third of his daily reflection: "This Gospel confronts us with a decisive question: do we really want to follow Jesus? Not as a nice idea, but as a life decision.
• To follow him means to give up the comfort of settling in and living on the road, light on luggage.
• To follow him means to give him absolute priority, even above human affections and securities.
• To follow him means not to look back, but to walk with our gaze fixed on Christ, trusting that he is leading us.
It is not a question of being perfect, but of being willing, of living in constant conversion.
1. What human securities prevent me from following Christ more freely?
2. Does Jesus really take first place in my decisions, or is he someone I turn to only when it suits me?
3. Do I live looking back, with nostalgia or fear, or do I move forward confidently on the path of the Kingdom? 'Lord Jesus,
You call us to follow you unconditionally,
with a free and available heart.
Free us from the fear of losing security,
Teach us to put you at the center of it all,
and give us the grace to move forward without looking back,
trusting that You are our way,
our peace and our life.'
Amen." end quote.
From Bro. Adrian:
Sounds like our Lord came to earth, yes, grew up in a family, with the early loss of a father, stepfather, and lots of struggles, but, when it was time, He knew, He was on a mission from Heaven.
And at the end of Holy Mass, we are co-missioned, to be on mission with Him, because we are taught that life on earth is a pilgrimage, a journey.
Amen?
We do not belong here, no! We belong with our Lord, the focus of all and all.
He is the "I AM", He is, the "Holy Presence" and the eternal being, of the eternal now.
Remember yesterday....be resolute in the way you face life...with Him.
Why are you looking back at failures for His Kingdom? God knows exactly what He is doing with them. Why is it any of your concern? Are you faithless?
He calls for fidelity. There is perfection in this faithfulness. That is the path. This is the Life of Christ. This is to yoke with Him, to join Him, in His struggles. Even if right now it simply means struggling with life itself. Has that struggle been because of your choices for self?
I invite you to the struggles for His Kingdom.
His cross. His way. His direction. The Good Shepherd is calling. |  Audio of Random Verse | Random Bible Verse 1
Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
Word of the Lord! | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
