†Saint Quote:“Put your heart at His feet. It is the gift He loves most.” -St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Today’s Meditation"The profession of faith of the robber crucified with Christ is one of the most extraordinary events recorded in history. It is difficult to imagine anything so unlikely. When this robber looked at Jesus, he saw One who was apparently a criminal, condemned by His own people and the Roman authorities, dying now on a cross, reviled and mocked by all but a few helpless friends in a little group nearby. Yet he professed his belief that Jesus was the Messiah and begged Him to remember him at the time of His glorious return in His Messianic kingdom...He could see that Jesus was not dying like a criminal. He noted His silence, patience, and goodness. He heard Him address God familiarly as His Father and ask pardon for those who had crucified HIm. All this helped to prepare him for the very special divine grace that alone could account for his sudden conversion from sinner to saint." —Fr. Ralph Gorman, C.P., p. 255-256
An excerpt from The Last Hours of Jesus - From Gethsemane to Golgotha Daily VerseDo not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be." Matthew 6:19-21 -Matthew 6:19-21
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EWTN Daily Saint
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St. Anselm (1033–1109) was born into a noble family in the Lombardy region of Italy. The example of his pious mother led him to great faith, and he sought to enter the monastery at age 15. However, the abbot refused him due to Anselm's stern father. After his mother's death Anselm left home and settled in Normandy to study under the direction of a famed monk named Lanfranc. Upon the death of his father, Anselm became a Benedictine monk at the age of 27. Due to his brilliance, Anselm became a teacher at the abbey's school and prior of the monastery. He went on to become the most learned theologian, philosopher, and mystic of his generation, the greatest since St. Augustine of Hippo. Anselm's fame led to his appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury in England, succeeding Lanfranc in this office, where he went on to correct abuses against the Church at the hand of the English kings. Twice he was banished from the island while appealing to Rome for assistance, and twice he returned to Canterbury to carry on his duties until his death. His abilities as an extraordinary theologian, negotiator, and statesman greatly supported the cause of the Church. As archbishop he continued his monastic lifestyle and intellectual pursuits. He composed several philosophical and theological treatises, as well as a series of beautiful prayers and meditations, which led him to be proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Clement XI in 1720. His feast day is celebrated on April 21st.
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Tuesday of the Third Week of EasterLectionary: 274 Reading IActs 7:51—8:1a Stephen said to the people, the elders, and the scribes:
“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears,
you always oppose the Holy Spirit;
you are just like your ancestors.
Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute?
They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one,
whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.
You received the law as transmitted by angels,
but you did not observe it.” When they heard this, they were infuriated,
and they ground their teeth at him.
But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit,
looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God
and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
and Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened
and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
But they cried out in a loud voice,
covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.
The witnesses laid down their cloaks
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out,
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice,
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them”;
and when he said this, he fell asleep. Now Saul was consenting to his execution. Responsorial PsalmPsalm 31:3cd-4, 6 and 7b and 8a, 17 and 21ab R. (6a) Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake you will lead and guide me.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
My trust is in the LORD; I will rejoice and be glad of your mercy.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your kindness.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence from the plottings of men.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R. Alleluia. AlleluiaJohn 6:35ab R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the bread of life, says the Lord;
whoever comes to me will never hunger.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. GospelJohn 6:30-35 The crowd said to Jesus:
“What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?
What can you do?
Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” So Jesus said to them,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven;
my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.” So they said to Jesus,
“Sir, give us this bread always.”
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
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Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ!
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From Word Among Us WAU.org
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Daily Meditation: Acts 7:51–8:1Lord, do not hold this sin against them. (Acts 7:60) How could Stephen possibly forgive the people who were stoning him to death? Perhaps the answer is that this disposition of mercy did not come out of nowhere. Scripture describes Stephen as someone “filled with the Spirit and wisdom” who was working “great wonders and signs” (Acts 6:3, 8). Clearly, the Holy Spirit had transformed his life—to the point that Stephen had become like his master, Jesus, who had also asked his Father to forgive his killers. Can you imagine the reaction of the men stoning Stephen when they heard these words? Instead of cursing them for what they were doing and calling down God’s vengeance on them, Stephen was doing the exact opposite! Forgiveness is a hallmark of the Christian life. It’s the heart and soul of the gospel message, and everyone who experiences it is moved in some way or another. Yet in many ways, it can be unsettling—especially when we read stories of people who have the grace to forgive terrible crimes against themselves or their loved ones. It can even feel unnatural to forgive; resentment, anger, and even vengeance come so much easier and seem more “normal” to us. It may feel unnatural, but forgiveness is not optional for believers. God actually commands us to forgive those who have sinned against us. He expects us to forgive minor offenses, such as someone who snubs us, ignores us, or directs a sarcastic remark at us. Even though it can be very difficult and can take time, he also wants us to forgive family members or friends who have hurt us, betrayed us, or failed to help us when we most needed it. If you are struggling to forgive someone, know that the grace of Jesus’ resurrection is available to you. If the offense is so serious that you don’t see how you could possibly forgive, just take the first step and ask God to forgive that person for you. Then, day by day, ask him to help you extend the same forgiveness. Ask your pastor or a close friend or counselor for help if you need to. It might be hard at first, but over time you will experience not only freedom from anger but also the joy of the risen Lord. “Lord, help me to forgive anyone who has wronged me!” Psalm 31:3-4, 6-8, 17, 21
John 6:30-35
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Reflections with Brother Adrian:
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Audio of 2 Cents
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From today's Holy Gospel: "... So Jesus said to them,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven;
my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.” So they said to Jesus,
“Sir, give us this bread always.”
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
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From Roberto Juarez: "Today the Lord invites us to take a step further, to move from looking for signs to living in faith, to move from the material to the profound, to go from asking for things... to welcome Christ.
Let us ask that our hunger for God may increase, that we may not be satisfied with the superficial, and that we may learn to turn to Jesus of Nazareth as the true food. So that our life does not remain empty... but, nourished by Him, we may experience this promise: "He that cometh unto Me shall not go hungry." end quote.
From Bishop Barron: “The crowd said to Jesus: ‘What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? . . . Our ancestors ate manna in the desert.’”
They were appealing to the miracle by which Yahweh fed the children of Israel during their forty years in the desert. But Jesus wants them to understand that he is offering a food that will nourish them in a more abiding way: “Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.”
“Heavenly bread” catches much of the paradox of the orthodox teaching concerning the Eucharist: Though it remains, as far as the eye can see, ordinary bread, the Eucharist in fact participates in a properly transcendent mode of existence and possesses, consequently, the power to produce eternal life." end quote.
Our Lord says "I AM the bread of Life."
Why?
Because, they approached Him with: "What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?
What can you do?
Our ancestors ate manna in the desert..."
Our Lord said "I AM THE BREAD" that came from Heaven.
It's as if to say "I AM The Gift of Life!".
Right?
Yesterday I was glimpsing on "how to videos" to teach myself some techniques for work. And a "short" video clip caught my attention with its title: "He Told Me to Put My Phone Away" by Father Dan Reehil.
The quick video shows how he had to trust God's word...although he still had doubts about making his flight, it became clearly evident...God was right.
But what I found more heartening in the video, was the fact that the reason he was in the predicament in the first place...was to make Holy Mass for the day. "The most important moment of anyone's life" is what I heard, because that is the truth for me. What else could be more important than the sustenance of God coming down from Heaven? That we might eat. That we might live....forever. That we might be there for the daily incarnation, and in Spanish this word means "to become flesh".
God is coming from Heaven daily. In the Holy Mass. In His most purest form, and the form is the Holy Spirit in the Eucharist.
I cannot see it in me, but God can. I cannot see a heart on fire for God...but God can. This is the light of Christ.
And the Sacred Heart burns to light the world on fire....
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Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 73:28 "But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works."
Word of the Lord!
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