† Quote of the Day "Humility, obedience, meekness, and love are the virtues that shine through the Cross and the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. O my Jesus, help me imitate you!" -St. Anthony Mary Claret Today's Meditation "In the old days, people demanded 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,' and to repay evil for evil. Patience was not yet on the earth, because faith was not on the earth either. Of course, impatience made full use of the opportunities the Law gave it. That was easy when the Lord and Master of patience was not here. But now that he has come and put the grace of faith together with patience, we are no longer allowed to attack someone even with a word—not even to call someone a fool without facing the danger of judgment. The Law found more than it lost when Christ said, 'Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven' (Matthew 5:44-45). This most important commandment summarizes in a word the universal discipline of patience, since it does not allow us to do evil even to people who deserve it." —Tertullian, p. 104
An excerpt from A Year with Church Fathers Daily Verse "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help". -Hebrews 4:14-16 | St Anthony Mary Claret St. Anthony Mary Claret (1807–1870) was born in Spain, the fifth of eleven children, the same year Napoleon invaded the country. He took up his father's trade of weaving before entering the priesthood. He served as a parish priest with a missionary's zeal for the salvation of souls. He often preached multiple sermons in a single day, traveled to preach parish missions and retreats for the clergy, and heard confessions for hours on end. His labors were rewarded by many people returning to a fervent practice of the Catholic faith, especially as a result of his meek and gentle manner. He was made Archbishop of Santiago and sent to Cuba from 1849-1857. His great reforms of the neglected diocese, both ecclesiastically and socially, were so sweeping and effective that his life was threatened. He was recalled back to Spain as confessor to the queen, where his tireless and fruitful priestly work continued. To increase his apostolic efforts he founded the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, known today as the Claretians. He also founded a major Catholic publisher in Spain, and wrote or published hundreds of books. He was so opposed in his efforts that he was severely persecuted and eventually exiled to Paris, along with the Spanish queen, by revolutionary enemies of religion. He took part in the First Vatican Council, his wisdom and sanctity being evident to all, before suffering a stroke and dying in exile in France. During his life St. Anthony Marie Claret had the gift of prophesy and reading of consciences, in addition to performing many miracles. A resplendent light was also observed to shine from his face as he offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. His feast day is October 24th. | Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Romans 7:18-25a Brothers and sisters:
I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh.
The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not.
For I do not do the good I want,
but I do the evil I do not want.
Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it,
but sin that dwells in me.
So, then, I discover the principle
that when I want to do right, evil is at hand.
For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self,
but I see in my members another principle
at war with the law of my mind,
taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
Miserable one that I am!
Who will deliver me from this mortal body?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94 R. (68b) Lord, teach me your statutes.
Teach me wisdom and knowledge,
for in your commands I trust. R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
You are good and bountiful;
teach me your statutes. R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants. R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight. R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Never will I forget your precepts,
for through them you give me life. R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
I am yours; save me,
for I have sought your precepts. R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Alleluia See Matthew 11:25
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Luke 12:54-59 Jesus said to the crowds,
"When you see a cloud rising in the west
you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does;
and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south
you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is.
You hypocrites!
You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky;
why do you not know how to interpret the present time? "Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate,
make an effort to settle the matter on the way;
otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge,
and the judge hand you over to the constable,
and the constable throw you into prison.
I say to you, you will not be released
until you have paid the last penny." | Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Romans 7:18-25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 7:25) We have spent the past two weeks reading from St Paul's Letter to the Romans. Saints and scholars throughout the ages have called Romans his theological masterpiece—and they have studied it and argued over it for just as long! But as dense as it can appear at times, at its heart it is nothing but good, good news. So today, let's join Paul in crying out with joy: "Thanks be to God!" Thanks be to God that while I was still a sinner, you sent Jesus to die for me! When I was laboring under the weight of my sins, my heart cried out, "Who will deliver me?" (7:24). I had no hope, no way out of the chains I had forged for myself. But you heard my cry and did for me what I could never do for myself. You bent down, took up my sins, and put them to death on your cross. Thanks be to God that you rescued me and brought me into your own kingdom. Now, freed from the curse of sin and death, I can meet you in prayer. I can walk in your presence wherever I go. And I can shine the light of your love on everyone I meet. Thanks be to God that my "old self was crucified" with you when I was baptized into your death and resurrection! Jesus, your cross has set me free from "slavery" to the lure and the power of sin (Romans 6:6). I can rise above every temptation that comes my way. Even when it feels impossible, you tell me that I can say no to sin. By your Spirit dwelling in me, I can "conquer overwhelmingly" every dark impulse that threatens to separate me from you and the people you've placed in my life (8:37). Thanks be to God that while "the wages of sin is death," you offer something far greater than "wages": your "gift" of "eternal life" (Romans 6:23). You have freely given me something greater than what I could earn on my own: eternal, unending, joy-filled life in your presence! Together with the angels and saints, I'll finally see you as you are—and I'll become like you (1 John 3:2). All my tears will be wiped away, all my fears removed, all my deepest desires fulfilled. What else can I say but . . . "Thanks be to you, O Lord, for your great love for me!" Psalm 119:66, 68, 76-77, 93-94
Luke 12:54-59 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Ai Audio 2cents | From today's Holy Gospel: "..Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate,
make an effort to settle the matter on the way;
otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge,
and the judge hand you over to the constable,
and the constable throw you into prison.
I say to you, you will not be released
until you have paid the last penny...." Word of the Lord. | From Roberto Juarez:
"Jesus invites us to interpret the signs of the times with the same care with which we observe the physical world. He urges us to reconcile with God and with each other before judgment comes, reminding us that the time to do so is now. This gospel challenges us not to delay our conversion, to be ever attentive to God's will in our lives, and to act promptly in the pursuit of justice and peace.
Are we willing to discern the spiritual signs in our lives and to act urgently in reconciliation and the following of Christ? May this passage inspire us to live with an active faith, prepared to respond to God's call in every moment." end quote.
Our Lord said today: "You hypocrites!
You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky;
why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"
The "present time" ?
How do we interpret the present time?
Discernment. Right? Is it hard? Many who go into religious life have a hard time with discernment.
And for us that are not in the religious life, we too have a hard time discerning what God's will is, right?
I read a book by Fr. Mitch Pacwa titled "How to Listen When God Is Speaking: A Guide for Modern-Day Catholics". It is a practical guide that helps readers develop their prayer life and learn to discern God's will in the midst of daily noise, drawing on scripture and the tradition of St. Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises, and I did it to just to try to tune into God's will better. Did it help? Well, let me read it again to tell you, LOL!
As a matter of fact, I have a daily struggle with listening. I try hard. I pray about it, even today in daily Holy Mass upon consuming the Lord, I asked again to speak more clearly, His will into me.
All I can say to this, is strive! Try! Always. Seek Him, and He will reveal Himself more and more. It is what I call the beauty of life. Seek Him in the struggle. I struggle in many things, but this seeking Him is of the greatest. I encourage you to the same. I pray interiorly, "What is going on Lord? Why so much trouble in ministries? Why so much trouble in doing Your will? Even to pray daily and steadily, why?". Does He play hard to get? Or do we play hard to get? I would say, most of the obstacles are self caused. I know have huge debts, it is not God's fault. I allowed certain things to be, and now I have to suffer for it. I was not careful, and now, I have to learn from my mistakes. In the ministries that are failing, really, now looking back, it is because we do not gather to pray first. The ones that are thriving are actually uniting in prayer. So which ones are worth fighting for? And the fight I mean is of sacrifice and surrender to. The one where egos have to be beaten out, with fasting and prayer, mercy, and grace. We have to be strong, in God's ways.
The end times readings continue. To consider the end, to make corrections and amends, to reconcile with God and to reconcile with each other. To stop ignoring the tenets of God's desire, to listen to Him, through people, through Scripture, and the beautiful subtle signs of peace that permeates the joy, the very love of God our Father.
Because He is coming. He has come. He is here. But, He is coming! Has your heart prepared a room for Him? Why not the entire house? |  Audio of Random Verse | Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer."
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God Bless You! Peace | | |
