† Saint Quote:“The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.” -St. Thomas More Today’s Meditation"A sculptor who wishes to carve a figure out of a block uses his chisel, first cutting away great chunks of marble, then smaller pieces, until he finally reaches a point where only a brush of hand is needed to reveal the figure. In the same way, the soul has to undergo tremendous mortifications at first, and then more refined detachments, until finally its Divine image is revealed. Because mortification is recognized as a practice of death, there is fittingly inscribed on the tomb of Duns Scotus, Bis Mortus; Semel Sepultus (twice died, but buried only once). When we die to something, something comes alive within us. If we die to self, charity comes alive; if we die to pride, service comes alive; if we die to lust, reverence for personality comes alive; if we die to anger, love comes alive." —Fulton J. Sheen, p. 219
An excerpt from Peace of Soul Daily VerseGive ear to my words, O Lord; give heed to my groaning. Hearken to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to thee do I pray. O Lord, in the morning thou dost hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for thee, and watch. For thou art not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not sojourn with thee. -Psalm 5:1-4
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EWTN Daily Saint
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St ElmoSt. Elmo (d. 303 AD), also known as St. Erasmus of Formia, was an Italian bishop during the reign of Roman Emperors Diocletian and Maximian. During their brutal persecution against Christians, St. Elmo left his diocese and fled to Mount Lebanon where he lived for seven years. An angel advised him to return to his diocese in order to vanquish his enemies. As he traveled there he was stopped and questioned by Roman soldiers. After declaring himself to be a Christian, he was brought to stand trial before Diocletian himself. St. Elmo confessed his faith in Christ and denounced the emperor for his impiety. For this rebuke he was tortured and thrown into prison, but an angel miraculously freed him so that he could continue on his journey and save many souls along the way. Two more times St. Elmo would endure the cycle of working miracles, baptizing thousands of people, getting arrested and mercilessly tortured, and being miraculously freed before arriving back in his own diocese. During his travels he suffered many horrible tortures at the hands of his enemies, but according to the oldest tradition he died at peace in Formia, though later accounts have him being martyred there by disembowelment. St. Elmo is the patron of mariners and sailors, abdominal pain, intestinal cramps, and women in labor. The electrical discharge on ships at sea, "St. Elmo's Fire," is named for him. His feast day is June 2nd.
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Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary TimeLectionary: 354 Reading 12 Peter 3:12-15a, 17-18 Beloved:
Wait for and hasten the coming of the day of God,
because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames
and the elements melted by fire.
But according to his promise
we await new heavens and a new earth
in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you await these things,
be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.
And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation. Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned,
be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled
and to fall from your own stability.
But grow in grace
and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. Amen. ResponsorialPsalm 90:2, 3-4, 10, 14 and 16 R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Before the mountains were begotten
and the earth and the world were brought forth,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Seventy is the sum of our years,
or eighty, if we are strong,
And most of them are fruitless toil,
for they pass quickly and we drift away.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Let your work be seen by your servants
and your glory by their children.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. AlleluiaEphesians 1:17-18 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
that we may know what is the hope
that belongs to his call.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. GospelMark 12:13-17 Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent
to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech.
They came and said to him,
“Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man
and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion.
You do not regard a person’s status
but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?
Should we pay or should we not pay?”
Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them,
“Why are you testing me?
Bring me a denarius to look at.”
They brought one to him and he said to them,
“Whose image and inscription is this?”
They replied to him, “Caesar’s.”
So Jesus said to them,
“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God.”
They were utterly amazed at him.
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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: 2 Peter 3:12-15, 17-18Be on your guard. (2 Peter 3:17) Like sailors at sea, the Christians who received the message in today’s first reading were navigating stormy, uncertain waters. For some, their faith was being shaken because Christ had not yet returned in glory. Others were simply drifting away from the Lord, and still others were beginning to follow teachers who offered what seemed to be an easier path than that of Jesus and the apostles. So it’s not surprising that Peter would warn all of them, “Be on your guard not to be led into . . . error” (2 Peter 3:17). We’re in good company with these early Christians! In a world where many feel adrift or storm-tossed, we might wonder how we can maintain our own “stability” in faith (2 Peter 3:17). Peter gives us three words of advice. First, “Be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace” (2 Peter 3:14). Sin, which blemishes our hearts, only serves to weaken us spiritually. The more we indulge in it, the more susceptible we become to the philosophies of the world. By holding fast to the call to holiness and by turning back to the Lord in repentance when we do fall, we build up our strength so we can weather the storms of life. Second, Peter tells us, “Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). The Christian life isn’t only about avoiding sin. It’s also about deepening our relationship with Jesus so that we become more like him. It’s about spending time with him in prayer and immersing ourselves in his word so that he can continually shape our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Finally, the call to discipleship is a call both to “wait” patiently for the Lord and to “hasten” his “day” by actively sharing the gospel, praying for the coming of the kingdom, and caring for the people he has placed in our lives (2 Peter 3:12). It’s a call to stand firm in faith no matter the storms that come to us. So “be on your guard” (2 Peter 3:17). Let your hope in Christ become the anchor that steadies you and helps preserve your peace. Place your trust in him, and he will help you find safe passage. “Lord, help me to be always on my guard as I both wait for and hasten the day of your coming!” Psalm 90:2-4, 10, 14, 16
Mark 12:13-17
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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: ".... They brought one to him and he said to them,
“Whose image and inscription is this?”
They replied to him, “Caesar’s.”
So Jesus said to them,
“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God.”
They were utterly amazed at him..... ”
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From Roberto Juarez:
"This Gospel invites us to ask ourselves: What am I giving to God? Not only: do I go to Mass? Do I pray? Do I follow certain religious practices? But something deeper: Do I give my heart to Him? My decisions? My concerns? My projects? My talents? Because God does not want only some aspects of our lives. He wants our whole person.
Every time we celebrate the Eucharist we perform, in some way, this gesture of returning ourselves to God. We present our work, our joys, our sufferings, our whole life. And Christ binds them to his own offering to the Father. Mass is the time when we remember who we are and who we belong to.
Today the Lord invites us to recognize with humility that all that we are comes from God. Let us ask him to help us to fulfill our duties in the world responsibly, but never forgetting that our hearts belong to the Lord. And that we may live in such a way that, when we look at our lives, others will discover in us the image of God that we have engraved since our Baptism." end quote.
Our Lord was presented with a question, and He replied with a question: "Whose image and inscription is this?" when looking at a coin. He said to repay it back to the owner of whose image was on the coin.
Hold on here...it is about to get real deep.
When we are baptized, we are engraved with His image.
We are to give back to Him what belongs to Him...Your very self!
How? The answer is quite simple. Your time, talent, and treasure.
What do you spend your time on? What do you spend your time thinking about? Is it God the Father...in every person?
What do you spend your talent on? Is it to do God's Holy will?
What do you spend your treasure on? Your heart.
There is something nice about spending all this on loved ones, yes, that is expected. But to do the unexpected...this is the aim. To love God together. Yes. Pray together. That time spent...together...on God. That treasure spent for Him. That heart that has His image engraved in us....offered to Him.
The purpose is for Him then. This way the light shines in the dark. Your life becomes one together, in a transformation that is so much needed.
Because we see so much darkness means we need that much more light.
I recently bought a solar outdoor parking lot light. It is made up of many powerful LED bulbs. At night, now my kids are safer to play, we can see any critters lurking. They can enjoy the fresh afternoon playing.
The Sun charges each light in the day, and at night, we get to see with the power from above.
Now, the Son of God is the sunlight. And we are like those LED bulbs. Together, we shine bright, joined in prayer. Notice how difficult it is to get together to pray! We are against a formidable darkness!
But light from light we pray in the creed. God from God. We are to join our lights to make Him shine! Love from love.
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Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 1:1–3 [Psalm 1]
Book One
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked 1 " Blessed is the man1 who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law2 of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."
Word of the Lord!
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