† Totally love Him, Who gave Himself totally for your love. St. Clare of Assisi
Today's Meditation“In the hustle and bustle of our lives, it is a great consolation that the Lord Jesus takes the initiative and approaches us. The providence of God, His fatherly care for us, is a humbling mystery that allows us to know of His presence in our lives. The Lord shows us this providence and comes directly to us “on the road” of our lives, of our suffering, confusion, anxiety, and of our joys, accomplishments, and hopes. The Lord is with us. Just as He asked the disciples about the events in Jerusalem, the Lord asks us: “What is happening in your lives?” He walks with us, listens to us, cares for us, and desires to be with us along the road of our lives.”
—Father Jeffrey Kirby, STL, p.101-102
Daily VerseThe Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
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EWTN Daily Saint
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St. Clare of AssisiPatron Saint of: Television, eye disease sufferers, and goldsmiths
Feast Day: August 11 St. Clare (1194–1253) was born in Assisi, Italy, to an aristocratic family, the daughter of a wealthy count. From childhood she was pious after the example of her mother, and as she grew up her longing for God increased. When she was eighteen she heard St. Francis of Assisi preach a Lenten mission in the local church. His holy example kindled her desire to renounce the world and follow Christ. She secretly begged Francis to help her live as he did, in simplicity according to the Gospel. St. Francis agreed. On Palm Sunday, Clare attended High Mass in all her finery for the final time. There she received a mystical experience which confirmed her desire to renounce the world and follow Christ after the example of St. Francis. That same night she secretly fled her father’s house, along with two companions, to a chapel where St. Francis awaited her with his friars. She exchanged her fine clothes for a rough tunic and veil, and had her hair cut off. Francis placed Clare for a time with Benedictine nuns to escape the wrath of her family. She was soon joined by her sister, Agnes, and other young women whom St. Francis inspired. He permanently housed the women, with Clare as abbess, in the Church of San Damiano outside Assisi. This became the first foundation of the Poor Clare nuns. St. Clare lived there for the next forty years in prayer, penance, and fasting. She is the patroness of eyes and eye diseases, the telephone, and television. Her feast day is August 11th.
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Memorial of Saint Clare, VirginLectionary: 414 Reading 1Ezekiel 2:8-3:4 The Lord GOD said to me:
As for you, son of man, obey me when I speak to you:
be not rebellious like this house of rebellion,
but open your mouth and eat what I shall give you. It was then I saw a hand stretched out to me,
in which was a written scroll which he unrolled before me.
It was covered with writing front and back,
and written on it was:
Lamentation and wailing and woe! He said to me: Son of man, eat what is before you;
eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel.
So I opened my mouth and he gave me the scroll to eat.
Son of man, he then said to me,
feed your belly and fill your stomach
with this scroll I am giving you.
I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.
He said: Son of man, go now to the house of Israel,
and speak my words to them. Responsorial PsalmPsalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131 R. (103a) How sweet to my taste is your promise!
In the way of your decrees I rejoice,
as much as in all riches.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!
Yes, your decrees are my delight;
they are my counselors.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!
How sweet to my palate are your promises,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!
Your decrees are my inheritance forever;
the joy of my heart they are.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!
I gasp with open mouth,
in my yearning for your commands.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise! AlleluiaMatthew 11:29 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. GospelMatthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14 The disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?”
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever becomes humble like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.
What is your opinion?
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,
will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills
and go in search of the stray?
And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it
than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.
In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father
that one of these little ones be lost."
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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: Ezekiel 2:8–3:4It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. (Ezekiel 3:3) How could the Lord’s word to Ezekiel be sweet? God had given him a scroll—a message to his people exiled in Babylon—and told him to eat it. This scroll contained words of “lamentation and wailing and woe” (Ezekiel 2:10). Instead of offering the exiles consolation, Ezekiel was called to pronounce punishment. That seems more bitter than sweet! But as a prophet, Ezekiel wanted to do the Lord’s will, and so he spoke God’s word, no matter the consequences. And as he did, he found sweetness in knowing that he was doing his best to tell the people what God knew they needed to hear. God doesn’t call many of us to deliver a prophetic message of woe and judgment. But there are times when we need to stand up for what’s right. And it can be challenging to know how to speak the right word—the word that you believe God wants to be made known. Maybe it’s at your job, when your coworker wants to avoid responsibility for an error by subtly shifting the blame on someone else. You know it’s wrong to lie, but how do you talk to them about it? Or maybe you can see that a loved one is on the brink of making a bad decision. Do you say something? If so, what and how? The key to knowing how to respond is in consuming God’s word on a daily basis. As we “eat” his word, it begins to form us. Our minds and hearts are changed, and we start to see things the way the Lord does. The Scriptures can help us begin to grasp God’s thoughts and share in his love for his people. Instead of considering it a harsh message, we can find the sweetness in communicating with love a message that will be for the good of our hearers. So spend time reading God’s word. Let it change you. Listen for his direction in situations when you’re not sure which way to go. Let his love guide your words when you don’t know how to stand up for what is right—even if it means being direct. You can find the sweetness that Ezekiel tasted as he proclaimed the Lord’s word. And that sweetness can sustain you, just as it did for him! “Lord, help me to welcome your word so that I can find sweetness in speaking the truth in love.” Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131
Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
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Reflections with Brother Adrian:
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From today's Holy Gospel: "...See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.
What is your opinion?
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,
will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills
and go in search of the stray?
And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it
than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.
In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father
that one of these little ones be lost...”
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From Bishop Barron: "What .”
From a Spanish Reflection from a Roberto Juarez:
"Today's Gospel leaves us with three very concrete invitations. The first: to make ourselves small before God, living with humility and childlike confidence. The second: to welcome and value the little ones, discovering in them the very face of Christ. And the third: to have a good shepherd's heart, which never tires of seeking out those who have been lost.
Let us ask the Lord to free us from pride, from the desire to stand out and from all indifference towards our brothers and sisters. May he grant us a simple heart, capable of trusting like a child in the Father's love. And may we go out into the world reflecting the joy of the Good Shepherd, who never ceases to seek his sheep and is filled with joy when he finds a single one that was lost. May the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd and Mother of the little ones, teach us to live with humility, to serve with joy and never to lose hope in God's infinite mercy." end quote.
From Brother Adrian: In the book of Revelation, we hear about the chosen, Son of God, to come for our salvation.
This one, lamb, had to come for that one lost lamb on earth.
And let me propose to you, something strange: that God created this world for you to live in, and that all the circumstances we see around us, have God's eyes on you.
They say that what we see on earth, has a metaphysical effect, meaning, something outside of us as well as inside of us is being affected. This is perhaps why sometimes you can "feel someone looking at you". Now we are talking spiritual realms.
Now we are talking about eternal realms.
Have I digressed? What is it about the lamb, and being a child of God now?
Because today, they asked our Lord, who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?
In the book of Heaven, which I am about 20 volumes in, and I do not suggest this for beginners, now I am hearing about Kingdom realms, 3 different realms. For the first time in the volumes, I believe I will have to repeat, re-read this portion. It is mind boggling, the Kingdom and how it works in different realms. And so our Lord is teaching us on earth, how it is in Heaven. This reality we know, this realm, as it is compared to Heaven. Is there any comparison?
We would like to believe that what we enjoy on earth should be enjoyable in Heaven, food, friends, and fun, right?
But in reality, Heaven enjoys what we do not enjoy...anymore.
Recall what a child does, they leap around, skip around, arms in the air, so free...but we do not enjoy that as adults, for "what will people think of me?" and "I have no wish to skip around, arms in the air", right?
See how a child is, as they anticipate the next child they meet to be their next best friend.
Perhaps some men in the cursillo experienced this from others.
A heart open to love encounters a heart, being opened to love.
And God IS LOVE.
Recall a child, now, that believes the stories you tell them, and they remember them and take them to heart.
Recall how a child is treated, and at times even mistreated.
How do they react? Meekness.
To be meek is not to be weak.
To be meek and humble, is to be Christ.
To take the abuse with a grain of salt, to turn the cheek, and still search inside that soul for that child of God, this is to know the Kingdom of Heaven, because then, you are sacrificing for the Love of God. A message from the heart of God on the cross.
And then you can say like the Apostles at the Transfiguration...
"Lord, it is good that we are here".
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Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 37:27–29 " Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever.
28 For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever."
Word of the Lord!
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God Bless You! Peace
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