A great number of Christians perished at the hands of the Roman Emperor Nero during the terrible persecution that lasted from 64-68 A.D. This was the first of many major persecutions of the newly founded Church at Rome. The holy men and women who first died for the Gospel of Jesus Christ are also called the “Protomartyrs of Rome.” Some were burned as living torches in the Emperor’s gardens; some were crucified; others were fed to wild animals. Many died even before Sts. Peter and Paul, and therefore it is said of them that they are the “Disciples of the Apostles ... whom the Holy Roman Church sent to their Lord before the Apostles’ death." God used the sacrifice of these holy men and women, who suffered like their savior Jesus Christ, to lay the indestructible foundation of His Church. Their bold witness for the Christian faith as they endured a brutal death won many converts and caused the Church to grow and spread throughout the world. The feast day of the First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church is June 30th.
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EWTN Daily Saint
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Blessed Gennaro SarnelliBl. Gennaro Sarnelli (1702 – 1744) was born to a noble family in Naples, Italy. He was very well educated, and completed his doctorate in civil and canon law at the age of 20. He gave much of his time to caring for the incurably sick, through which he discerned a call to the priesthood. He was ordained in 1732. He became good friends with St. Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the Redemptorists. Shortly afterward, Blessed Gennaro became a Redemptorist priest. Gennaro's special work was preaching to those who were the most spiritually deprived, while also caring for the temporal needs of impoverished children. He was a great defender of the dignity of women, and worked intensely to free women and girls from forced prostitution. Blessed Gennaro was also a talented writer, penning over 30 books ranging in subjects such as theology, law, prayer, spiritual direction, and contemporary moral issues. He worked so hard that his health suffered, and he died when he was only 42 years old. He was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II in 1996. His feast day is June 30.
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Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary TimeLectionary: 378 Reading 1Amos 3:1-8; 4:11-12 Hear this word, O children of Israel, that the Lord pronounces over you,
over the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt: You alone have I favored,
more than all the families of the earth;
Therefore I will punish you
for all your crimes.Do two walk together
unless they have agreed?
Does a lion roar in the forest
when it has no prey?
Does a young lion cry out from its den
unless it has seized something?
Is a bird brought to earth by a snare
when there is no lure for it?
Does a snare spring up from the ground
without catching anything?
If the trumpet sounds in a city,
will the people not be frightened?
If evil befalls a city,
has not the Lord caused it?
Indeed, the Lord God does nothing
without revealing his plan
to his servants, the prophets.The lion roars--
who will not be afraid!
The Lord God speaks--
who will not prophesy! I brought upon you such upheaval
as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah:
you were like a brand plucked from the fire;
Yet you returned not to me,
says the Lord. So now I will deal with you in my own way, O Israel!
and since I will deal thus with you,
prepare to meet your God, O Israel. Responsorial PsalmPsalm 5:4b-6a, 6b-7, 8 R. (9a) Lead me in your justice, Lord.
At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you.
For you, O God, delight not in wickedness;
no evil man remains with you;
the arrogant may not stand in your sight.
R. Lead me in your justice, Lord.
You hate all evildoers;
you destroy all who speak falsehood;
The bloodthirsty and the deceitful
the Lord abhors.
R. Lead me in your justice, Lord.
But I, because of your abundant mercy,
will enter your house;
I will worship at your holy temple
in fear of you, O Lord.
R. Lead me in your justice, Lord. AlleluiaPsalm 130:5 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I trust in the Lord;
my soul trusts in his word.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. GospelMatthew 8:23-27 As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,
so that the boat was being swamped by waves;
but he was asleep.
They came and woke him, saying,
“Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?”
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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 8:23-27Lord, save us! (Matthew 8:25) If you’ve ever had trouble sleeping, you might envy Jesus in this scene in today’s Gospel. Wouldn’t it be nice to be as calm as he was during that storm? If only you had the same kind of trust that he had, you wouldn’t have so many fears and anxieties keeping you awake! But to think that faith can automatically banish every fear might be unrealistic. Note that while Jesus did point out the disciples’ weak faith, he didn’t tell them, “You’re overreacting.” On one level, their reactions made sense: this was a “violent” and sudden storm, so extreme that the boat was getting “swamped by waves” (Matthew 8:24). It’s a rare person who wouldn’t experience fear in such a setting! So what should we make of this story? First, it confirms that God won’t always shield us from things that strike fear in our hearts. Whether it’s danger, tragedy, or an unexpected and immediate threat, terrible things happen that trigger our fight-or-flight reaction. Situations like these can do more than just test our faith; they can draw us closer to the Lord and help forge our character. No one becomes courageous, after all, without having to face and deal with their fears! Second, it will sometimes seem that Jesus is distant, and even asleep, as we face challenges. But that doesn’t mean he has left us. He is always “in the boat” with us, no matter what. He will provide us with the kind of help he knows we truly need—and at the time he knows we truly need it. Third, just because Jesus seems distant doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep praying. The disciples cried out, “Lord, save us!” even when it seemed that he might not (Matthew 8:25). They might have been men “of little faith,” but they exercised the faith that they did have, and Jesus saved them (8:26). Even when we feel unworthy, Jesus still loves us. He still cares for us. And he still wants to save us—again, according to his wisdom and his timing. So don’t let fear overwhelm you. Find your voice again. And find the courage and faith you need to cry out to the Lord. “Jesus, I know my faith is weak—but so do you. Lord, I still trust that you will save me!” Amos 3:1-8; 4:11-12
Psalm 5:4-8
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Reflections with Brother Adrian:
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From today's Holy Gospel: ".. They came and woke him, saying,
“Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?”.... ”
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From Bishop Barron:
"Continuing to read the story at a spiritual level, we see that it is none other than this divine power that successfully calms the waves: He “rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm.” This beautiful narrative seems to suggest that if we but awaken to the presence of God within us, if we learn to live and to see at a deeper level, if we live in basic trust rather than fear, then we can withstand even the most frightening storms." end quote.
From Roberto Juarez: "But the boat also represents our personal lives. Each one has a different boat. A family, a vocation, a job, a concrete path. And we all experience moments when it seems like water is coming in from everywhere. Perhaps today some of us are experiencing precisely one of those storms. This Gospel tells us: Do not be afraid, Christ is with you. Even if he seems to be silent. Even if you still don't understand what's going on. He is still present.
The disciples believed that the problem was the storm. Jesus shows them that the real problem was the fragility of their trust. Many times we also expect God to immediately change circumstances. And yet, sometimes the first thing it wants to transform is our heart. Because a mature faith does not consist in living without difficulties. It consists in discovering that God remains faithful even in the midst of them.
Every time we celebrate the Eucharist we go back into the boat with Christ. We bring our concerns. Our fears. Our uncertainties. And he says to us again: "Do not be afraid." Perhaps it will not immediately make all our storms disappear. But he always grants us something greater: His presence. And he who sails with Christ is never truly lost.
Dear brothers and sisters, we all go through moments when the waves seem too big and our strength too small. Today's Gospel does not promise us a life without storms. He promises us a presence. The presence of the One who has power over the wind, the sea, and also over the storms of our hearts. Let us ask him today for a deeper faith. A faith that knows how to turn to him in difficult moments. A faith that does not confuse God's silence with his absence. And a faith that, even when the sea is rough, can rest in the certainty that Christ continues to sail with us and will never allow the boat of our life to sink as long as we remain united to Him." end quote.
Our Lord said: "Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
Oh boy.
How hard is it to have faith? What if you are really terrified? Is He saying stop being terrified? Is He telling you to stop being anxious? Is He asking you to stop being depressed? Is He asking you to stop all these feelings?
What is He saying here to you?
Have you ever taught a person something, say swimming? And they are afraid of water? They are terrified! And you are a professional, but they are terrified! And you are in shallow water!
This is how it is with our Lord. He is Your Father. He has you. He has you right where He wants you, for this purpose, you may not see it but He knows.
You may feel pointless but He sees the fruit He desires from your position in life...your very...mission in life.
Today, our Lord is asking us to take His hand.
Where was He when you needed Him? People ask and leave God.
They leave Him in the very boat that was rocking at that moment of their life.
He is everywhere, and desires to reside in your life that can rock sometimes. Because He is Father. He is our God, creator of the seas and the universe.
Lord I do believe! Help our disbelief! Help us truly trust and love Thee...
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Random Bible Verse 1
Romans 6:14 "For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace."
Word of the Lord!
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