† Quote of the Day ""There are two ways of knowing how good God is: one is never to lose Him, and the other is to lose Him and then to find Him."" -Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Today's Meditation "We must beg God constantly in our prayers to uphold us by His hand; we should keep ever in our minds the truth that if He leaves us, most certainly we shall fall at once into the abyss, for we must never be so foolish as to trust in ourselves. After this I think the greatest safeguard is to be very careful and to watch how we advance in virtue; we must notice whether we are making progress or falling back in it, especially as regards the love of our neighbor, the desire to be thought the least of all and how we perform our ordinary, everyday duties. If we attend to this and beg Our Lord to enlighten us, we shall at once perceive our gain or loss." —St. Teresa of Avila, p.98-99
An excerpt from Interior Castle Daily Verse "But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not be so, my brothers." -James 3:8-10 | St. Winebald (701-761 A.D.) - also known as Winibald or Wynbald - a Saxon prince born into a holy and royal family in England. His father, St. Richard the King, and his mother, St. Wunna of Wessex, are both saints, as well as his brother, St. Willibald, his sister, St. Walburga, and his uncle, St. Boniface. After making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with his father and brother, and then spending many years in Rome, Winebald was recruited by his uncle, Boniface, to join him in evangelizing Germany. Winebald was ordained a priest and worked as a missionary across Germany, Holland, France, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg, leaving behind many flourishing churches and monasteries under the Rule of St. Benedict. St. Winebald was an important figure in laying the foundations of Christianity across much of Europe. After his death, his tomb became a pilgrimage shrine. His feast day is December 18. | Thursday of the Third Week of Advent Lectionary: 194
Reading 1
Jeremiah 23:5-8 Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David;
As king he shall reign and govern wisely,
he shall do what is just and right in the land.
In his days Judah shall be saved,
Israel shall dwell in security.
This is the name they give him:
"The LORD our justice." Therefore, the days will come, says the LORD,
when they shall no longer say, "As the LORD lives,
who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt";
but rather, "As the LORD lives,
who brought the descendants of the house of Israel
up from the land of the north"–
and from all the lands to which I banished them;
they shall again live on their own land. Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19 R. (see 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king's son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment. R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save. R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous deeds.
And blessed forever be his glorious name;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory. R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Alleluia R. Alleluia, alleluia. O Leader of the House of Israel,
giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power! R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Matthew 1:18-25 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
"Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us."
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus. | Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Matthew 1:18-25 They shall name him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us." (Matthew 1:23) How often Joseph must have heard this prophecy from Isaiah proclaimed in his synagogue (7:14)! But now instead of hearing it, he finds himself face-to-face with its fulfillment. What was once just one of many prophecies from Israel's ancient past was now becoming a present reality, something that would shape the rest of his life. Now, because of the angel's words in a dream, Joseph was being invited into a personal relationship with the One who would "save his people from their sins"—someone whom Joseph himself would raise as his own child (Matthew 1:21). As it was once revealed to Joseph, so now it has been revealed to us: in Jesus, God has become present to his people. The angel's words to Joseph are words to us as well: Jesus, Emmanuel, the One conceived by the Holy Spirit, has come to save each of us from our sins. What a wondrous moment when this truth comes to life in our hearts! What hope, also, the angel's words can give us! Almighty God is inviting each of us—including you—to encounter and to know deeply the One who came to save us. Our salvation is not just a doctrine of our faith. It's not just something that happened centuries ago in Jerusalem. It is meant to become a present reality today. It's meant to open the door for us to know Jesus as "God with us." As God with you. You don't have to be a great saint like Joseph to experience the closeness of Emmanuel. Jesus is eager to spend time with you. He is waiting for you to reach out to him in prayer. He wants you to believe that he is present with you right here and right now. He is close at hand, a true and faithful friend who wants you to open your heart to him. So thank him for the many blessings you have experienced. Share with him the situations and challenges and fears that trouble your heart. Marvel that the infinite, eternal God has become man so that he could be close to you. Simply draw near to the God who has chosen to draw near to you! "Jesus, I believe you are God with me. Let me know you as deeply as I know my closest friend." Jeremiah 23:5-8
Psalm 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Audio of 2 Cents | From today's Holy Gospel: "...Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
"Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins." ..." Word of the Lord. | From Bishop Barron:
" But then an angel appears to him in a dream and tells him, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home." He realizes at that moment that these puzzling events are part of God's much greater plan. What appears to be a disaster from his perspective is meaningful from God's perspective. Joseph was willing to cooperate with the divine plan, though he in no way knew its contours or deepest purpose. Like his wife, Mary, at the annunciation, he trusted and let himself be led." end quote.
From Roberto Juarez reflections:
"Fear is the great enemy of faith. God does not explain all the details to you, but reveals the essential: what happens comes from Him. Joseph does not receive proof, he receives a word. And that is enough for him. Here is the center of the gospel: Joseph trusts and obeys. It does not ask, it does not demand guarantees, it does not set conditions. He accepts a mission that does not put him at the center, that does not give him prominence, but that is fundamental." end quote.
From Brother Adrian:
Can dreams come true? Yes. It is in the bible! LOL. Right?
It did for Saint Joseph.
Yes, we don't hear really any words said by Joseph Himself, no great verses or quotes or parables. All we hear about...are his actions.
Father Calloway has written a book and a consecration to Saint Joseph. I do recommend his talks and books on Saint Joseph, as they are sorely needed. We seen him couple weeks ago at a Fullness of Truth conference again. And the talks are on point...on faith.
And this is where Saint Joseph leads the way.
The Holy Scriptures always point us to this way, the way of Faith, and now, the greatest way, is that of Jesus.
And Jesus is Lord and Savior, His Name shall only be used in reverence and prayer, not in small light talk.
And surely, our Lord learned faith through Holy and gentle Saint Joseph, His father on earth, chosen, before time began, just like Mother Mary, and here, we could venture off into "pre-destination" but not really. We are all destined to the same, in different parts of the body. We need not doom some to hell, or send some to Heaven...God knows more, and God our Father knows best.
He has come to pronounce the Divine Truth from Heaven, of which, He wants to join in our bodies and souls to continue the message from Heave, and at the center...God, Whom IS All Knowing, and ALL LOVE. Something we do not grasp as Humans. The reason for the gift shall be Love.
The gift bundled up for us in Christmas my friends...is Love from Heaven. The Body of Christ proven by scientists, the Eucharist, is Heart, and we all know when we speak about heart, of souls, we speak not only about life, the source of life, but about...love. Life is Love, and Love is Life.
What a most inexplicable, and unfathomable feat for us who tend to look away from the truth, the light, the life, and the way. How much love you feel, does not matter, I am sad to report...because, if you go on feelings, you will be let down.
And so, God Himself, made a choice, for all humanity.
And He sent us the most precious gift for us weaklings, to be strong, in this aspect...Love for Love, life for life, through Him, with Him, and in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God...forever, and ever. Amen. Saint Joseph, what you did mattered more than what you spoke. Pray for us, we need that model of obedience, gentleness, a true love that self sacrificed...in the end for Love, the most Precious Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Pray for us our Foster Father on Earth! |  Click for Audio | Random Bible Verse 1
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 "Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." . . . . . . . . Word of the Lord! | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
