† Saint Quote“You know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them.” -St. Therese of Lisieux Today’s Meditation"We live in a fallen world. We must therefore work out our destiny under the conditions created by sin. Did we but realize this truth, we would accept each of life’s trying changes in the same spirit in which we accept the penance from the confessor. Were we truly convinced that our hope of pardon, and consequently our salvation, depends upon repentance, we would willingly undergo all the sufferings of life’s warfare." —John A. Kane, p. 81
An excerpt from How to Make a Good Confession Daily VerseBeloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. -1 John 3:2
Daily Mass Readings
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EWTN Daily Saint
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Sts Gervase And ProtaseJuliana Falconieri was born in Florence, Italy in 1270. Her family was wealthy and active in the affairs of the city. When Juliana's father died, her uncle, Alessio Falconieri, helped take care of her. Alessio had dedicated his life to God and was one of the founders of the Servants of Mary (the Servites). His vocation had a profound effect on Juliana and she, too, began to wear the habit and serve the poor. At the young age of sixteen, she became a Servite Tertiary. After her mother died in 1304, Juliana gathered like-minded women, wrote a rule, and founded the Sisters of the Third Order of Servites. Juliana and her sisters offered fasting and many sacrifices in atonement for the violence that was common in Florence during the Middle Ages. Towards the end of her life, Juliana became ill and was unable to eat solid food. Eventually, she was unable to swallow any food. This made it impossible for her to receive the Holy Eucharist. As her death drew near, a priest came to administer Last Rites and give her Viaticum. Juliana asked for a corporal to be spread across her chest and the Blessed Sacrament was placed there, close to her heart. When Juliana died, the Sacred Host disappeared! On Juliana's chest, at the place where the Blessed Sacrament had rested, appeared a cross similar to the one that had been on the host. The Servites continue to include this symbol of the Eucharistic miracle on their religious habit. St Juliana Falconieri died in 1341 and was canonized by Pope Clement XII in 1737. Her feast day is June 19.
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Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary TimeLectionary: 369 Reading I2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20 When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah,
saw that her son was dead,
she began to kill off the whole royal family.
But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah,
took Joash, his son, and spirited him away, along with his nurse,
from the bedroom where the princes were about to be slain.
She concealed him from Athaliah, and so he did not die.
For six years he remained hidden in the temple of the LORD,
while Athaliah ruled the land. But in the seventh year,
Jehoiada summoned the captains of the Carians
and of the guards.
He had them come to him in the temple of the LORD,
exacted from them a sworn commitment,
and then showed them the king’s son. The captains did just as Jehoiada the priest commanded.
Each one with his men, both those going on duty for the sabbath
and those going off duty that week,
came to Jehoiada the priest.
He gave the captains King David’s spears and shields,
which were in the temple of the LORD.
And the guards, with drawn weapons,
lined up from the southern to the northern limit of the enclosure,
surrounding the altar and the temple on the king’s behalf.
Then Jehoiada led out the king’s son
and put the crown and the insignia upon him.
They proclaimed him king and anointed him,
clapping their hands and shouting, “Long live the king!” Athaliah heard the noise made by the people,
and appeared before them in the temple of the LORD.
When she saw the king standing by the pillar, as was the custom,
and the captains and trumpeters near him,
with all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets,
she tore her garments and cried out, “Treason, treason!”
Then Jehoiada the priest instructed the captains
in command of the force:
“Bring her outside through the ranks.
If anyone follows her,” he added, “let him die by the sword.”
He had given orders that she
should not be slain in the temple of the LORD.
She was led out forcibly to the horse gate of the royal palace,
where she was put to death. Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD as one party
and the king and the people as the other,
by which they would be the LORD’s people;
and another covenant, between the king and the people.
Thereupon all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal
and demolished it.
They shattered its altars and images completely,
and slew Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars.
Jehoiada appointed a detachment for the temple of the LORD.
All the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet,
now that Athaliah had been slain with the sword
at the royal palace. Responsorial PsalmPsalm 132:11, 12, 13-14, 17-18 R. (13) The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
The LORD swore to David
a firm promise from which he will not withdraw:
“Your own offspring
I will set upon your throne.”
R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
“If your sons keep my covenant
and the decrees which I shall teach them,
Their sons, too, forever
shall sit upon your throne.”
R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
For the LORD has chosen Zion;
he prefers her for his dwelling.
“Zion is my resting place forever;
in her will I dwell, for I prefer her.”
R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
“In her will I make a horn to sprout forth for David;
I will place a lamp for my anointed.
His enemies I will clothe with shame,
but upon him my crown shall shine.”
R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling. AlleluiaMatthew 5:3 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are the poor in spirit;
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. GospelMatthew 6:19-23 Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do 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. “The lamp of the body is the eye.
If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light;
but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness.
And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”
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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: Matthew 6:19-23Store up treasures in heaven. (Matthew 6:20) Earthly treasures—we all know what those are. We can see and touch the shiny sports car, the elegant evening dress, the big new home, and all the other creature comforts that money can buy. Compared to vague and elusive heavenly treasures, these things seem so real and attractive, especially when a neighbor has them. Why would Jesus warn us about these earthly treasures that seem to make so many people happy? The answer to this may be summed up in two words: “temporary” and “shortsighted.” We are destined for eternity, but the treasures of the world are not. It’s shortsighted to set our hearts on things that will fade away. What will last forever, Jesus says, is the treasure of heaven. This treasure really is worth seeking because it’s the only one that will truly satisfy and last forever. The heavenly treasure Jesus promises has two aspects. First, there are the rewards waiting for us at the end of time. At the Last Judgment, we will each receive our recompense for every act of love and obedience to Christ—every cup of water for the thirsty, every sinful thought brought captive to Christ, every moment submitted to his will. Jesus has prepared a place for us in the beautiful new Jerusalem, where there is no darkness, sickness, or pain. He will reign there as Lord, and we will see him face-to-face! What a day of rejoicing that will be! The second aspect of heavenly treasure is what we can experience here and now. For those who follow Christ, life on earth is filled with glimpses of heaven. Freedom from guilt. Power over persistent sin. A dynamic, personal relationship with the Creator of the universe. Clarity and purpose for living. Deep friendships with brothers and sisters in the Lord. Conviction of the truth and clarity about right and wrong. The ability to forgive. Strength in weakness. Peace in times of trial. Joy in the knowledge of salvation. Hope for the future. Divine wisdom for everyday situations. Healing and miracles. When you stop to think about it, no luxury car or mansion can possibly compare! “Jesus, thank you for filling me with the good gifts of your kingdom!” 2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20
Psalm 132:11-14, 17-18
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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: ".... Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do 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. ... ”
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From Bishop Barron:
"Think of a gorgeous firework that bursts open like a giant flower and then, in the twinkling of an eye, is gone forever. Everything is haunted by nonbeing; everything, finally, is that firework. But this is not meant to depress us; it is meant to redirect our attention precisely to the treasures of heaven, to the eternity of God. Once we see everything in light of God, we can learn to love the things of this world without clinging to them and without expecting too much of them. Think of how much disappointment and heartache could be avoided if we only learned this truth!" end quote.
From Roberto Juarez:
"When we look at the lives of the Saints, we discover that many of them had very little material possession. And yet, they were immensely wealthy. Why? Because their treasure was Christ. And whoever has Christ possesses a wealth that no one can destroy. They could lose their health, fame, property, even their lives. But they could not lose what occupied the center of their hearts.
Every time we celebrate the Eucharist, Jesus reminds us again where the true treasure is. Not in the things that happen. but in him. Here we receive food that does not spoil. Here we find a love that does not age. Here we discover a wealth that no thief can steal. The Eucharist educates our hearts to seek the goods of heaven as we continue to live responsibly on earth.
Today's Gospel invites us to review the map of our hearts. Where is our treasure? What comes first in our lives? With what gaze do we contemplate the world? Let us ask the Lord to purify our desires. May he grant us a heart free from the bondage of things. May he give us a clean look to discover his presence in everyday life. And may we learn to accumulate those treasures that will never disappear: faith, hope, charity and love lived in every gesture of our existence. Because, at the end of life, we will not be judged by what we have accumulated, but by the love with which we will have lived." end quote.
Amazing things our Lord says...truths they say. Do you believe?
He speaks about treasure.
He points to us at what we should be treasuring.
I spoke with a relative I ran into at a store. He mentioned how they were going away with the grandkids in their RV for the weekend. Yes the RV costs money he said, it is a toy, but to get away and make memories, it is priceless.
That is nice, and I do that too, purposely take all our 8 kids on RV trips in our trailer too, to live like nomads, on an adventure, like when one trip, the trailer came unlatched on the busiest stretch of the interstate, and by mere miracle hung on by a chain and was stuck under our truck ruining the jack system and so forth. Adventures cost. Is it worth all the trouble? Is it easier to avoid all that trouble and just stay home all the time?
Everything worth something costs something.
So, what does it cost to gain God's Kingdom?
It costs what we value the most.
I caution people, and I often get backlash, about loving your family...more than God.
Why? Is that wrong to say?
Because...we worship God...and God is LOVE. To love with your ideas of love will fail...in the long run...in eternal realms.
Spoil the kids, make them happy on earth, let them sleep in on Sundays, let them decide for themselves what is good...and it could be cause for eternal doom and gloom.
What is your treasure?
The answer is...WHO is your treasure.
Show me your checkbook so I can see what you love the most.
Show me your phone so I can investigate who you love the most.
Show me your household, and what it stands on, so I can see who you are living for.
Show me your calendar, so I can see who you love the most.
Show me what enthralls you and show me what makes you suffer.
For some, it is absolute torture to have to pray.
For some, the thought of getting up on a Sunday morning, is something to think about twice, or a few more times to try to avoid...the sacrifice.
Why? There is no love.
There is no love of sacrifice. There is no loving for the sake of Love...Himself.
And so they argue like the dark side..."did God really mean to do this or that? I mean, what is He REALLY trying to say" so we can bend the law and truth of Love to suit us.
Store up in Heaven treasures. What treasures?
The answer is...what God treasures.
His Holy Will Be Done....FOREVER.
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Proverbs 28:10 "Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance."
Word of the Lord!
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