Quote: "When we pray, the voice of the heart must be heard more than the proceedings from the mouth."" -St. Bonaventure Today's Meditation "O my soul, how much joy and solace shall you know when you are permitted to perceive such a vast multitude of beings who are all so noble, splendid, and gracious! How unspeakably wonderful if you attain to the blessed destiny of joining this celestial assembly [the angels]! For they are like princes of heaven and children of God–and you shall be as a brother or a sister, and a peer among them!" –St. Aloysius Gonzaga, p.37-38
An excerpt from Meditations on the Holy Angels Daily Verse "Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near." -Philippians 4:4-5 |  EWTN Daily Saint | | St. Aquilinus of Milan (d. 1015 A.D.), also known as St. Aquilinus of Cologne, was born to a noble family in Bavaria, Germany. He received his education in Cologne, Germany and was ordained to the priesthood. He was offered the bishopric of Cologne, but turned it down in order to be a missionary priest and itinerant preacher. He traveled through various European cities fighting against the dangerous and spreading heresies of the Cathars, Manichaeans, and Arians. He was also known to work miracles by healing people from disease, especially during a cholera epidemic. He eventually settled in Milan, Italy, and was so effective in his preaching against the Arian heretics that they stabbed him to death and threw his body in the city sewer. His body was recovered and buried in the Basilica of San Lorenzo, in a chapel which now bears his name. His feast day is January 29. | Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 320 Reading I 2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29 After Nathan had spoken to King David,
the king went in and sat before the LORD and said,
"Who am I, Lord GOD, and who are the members of my house,
that you have brought me to this point?
Yet even this you see as too little, Lord GOD;
you have also spoken of the house of your servant
for a long time to come:
this too you have shown to man, Lord GOD! "You have established for yourself your people Israel as yours forever,
and you, LORD, have become their God.
And now, LORD God, confirm for all time the prophecy you have made
concerning your servant and his house,
and do as you have promised.
Your name will be forever great, when men say,
'The LORD of hosts is God of Israel,'
and the house of your servant David stands firm before you.
It is you, LORD of hosts, God of Israel,
who said in a revelation to your servant,
'I will build a house for you.'
Therefore your servant now finds the courage to make this prayer to you.
And now, Lord GOD, you are God and your words are truth;
you have made this generous promise to your servant.
Do, then, bless the house of your servant
that it may be before you forever;
for you, Lord GOD, have promised,
and by your blessing the house of your servant
shall be blessed forever." Responsorial Psalm Psalm 132:1-2, 3-5, 11, 12, 13-14 R. (Lk 1:32b) The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
LORD, remember David and all his anxious care;
How he swore an oath to the LORD, vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob.
R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
"I will not enter the house where I live, nor lie on the couch where I sleep;
I will give my eyes no sleep, my eyelids no rest,
Till I find a home for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."
R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
The LORD swore an oath to David a firm promise from which he will not withdraw:
"Your own offspring I will set upon your throne."
R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
"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 God will give him the throne of David, his father.
For the LORD has chosen Zion, he prefers her for his dwelling:
"Zion is my resting place forever; in her I will dwell, for I prefer her."
R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father. Alleluia Psalm 119:105 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mark 4:21-25 Jesus said to his disciples,
"Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket
or under a bed,
and not to be placed on a lampstand?
For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible;
nothing is secret except to come to light.
Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear."
He also told them, "Take care what you hear.
The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you,
and still more will be given to you.
To the one who has, more will be given;
from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." | Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Mark 4:21-25 Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed? (Mark 4:21) A light under a bed? It's kind of a strange image, isn't it? If you put it under your bed, you'd be defeating the whole purpose of a lamp to illuminate a room. Not to mention, your bed would catch fire! The point of Jesus' question is that just as light is meant to shine, our calling as his followers is to shine with the light of his presence. But how do we do that? We can sometimes feel so overwhelmed by all the obstacles and challenges to being the light of Christ that we'd rather just keep it to ourselves. Maybe we think we're not smart enough or eloquent enough to share the gospel. Or we might be afraid that no one will listen if we do step out and proclaim our faith. Or maybe we think that our light doesn't shine brightly enough in the first place! So many of these worries can get overblown in our minds. Whether we are eloquent or plainspoken, whether our light seems bright or dim, or no matter how intelligent we think we are or aren't, the only question that really matters is whether we are trying to bring Christ's light wherever we go. That's because the light of Christ—his presence—is alive within us. So if you want to be an authentic witness to Christ, the most important thing is to keep the light of Christ burning within you. Don't let it grow dim! Stay connected to Jesus in prayer, in your worship at Mass, and in acts of love and generosity. It is the joy and the peace that you radiate—more than your words—that will lead people to the Lord. Of course, don't shy away from speaking when the opportunity arises. If a friend opens up and shares a serious problem with you, tell them you will pray for them—or offer to pray with them right then and there. If a coworker is struggling with someone in their life, share about a time when the Lord helped you through a difficult relationship. Share from your heart, and be confident that every effort will have an impact. Because the light of Christ is in you—and you are not trying to hide it under your bed! "Lord, show me how I can shine your light today!" 2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29
Psalm 132:1-5, 11-14 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Audio of 2 Cents | From today's Holy Gospel: "... Jesus said to his disciples,
"Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket
or under a bed,
and not to be placed on a lampstand?
For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible;
nothing is secret except to come to light.
Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear."
He also told them, "Take care what you hear.
The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you,
and still more will be given to you. ...." Word of the Lord. | From Roberto Juarez last part of reflection:
"The Lord also invites us to a fundamental attitude: attentive listening. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." It is not enough to hear externally; it is necessary to welcome, to meditate, to let the Word transform. And here a very clear spiritual law appears: "With the measure with which you measure it will be measured to you." That is, according to the openness of our hearts, so will the fruitfulness of the Word be in us. Those who listen superficially receive little. Those who listen deeply receive more. Not because God is stingy, but because he respects our freedom. God always gives, but each one welcomes according to his or her interior disposition. This gospel challenges us as believers and as a community. Are we a light for others or do we prefer to go unnoticed? Does our faith illuminate our choices, our way of treating others, our way of facing difficulties? Being light does not mean imposing oneself or dazzling. It means giving clarity, offering hope, guiding in the dark. The Christian light does not humiliate or judge; accompanies, warms and gives life. Jesus reminds us that even little can grow: "To him who has it will be given." When we share faith, it is not lost, but strengthened. When we hide the light, it goes out. When we put it in the limelight, it illuminates our own path as well. Let us ask the Lord to grant us attentive ears and an open heart. Let us not hide the light that He has kindled in us. May our lives be a humble but true reflection of the Gospel." end quote.
Bishop Barron said in his reflection:
"Friends, in today's Gospel, Jesus says the measure that you use will be measured out to you. He is speaking about the loop of grace. God's love can truly dwell in us only in the measure that we give it away. If we try to cling to it, it will never work its way into our own hearts. But if we give it away as an act of love, then we get more of it, entering into a delightful stream of grace. If you give away the divine love, then you keep it. Love is described in the Christian tradition as a theological virtue, a habit or capacity that comes as a gift from God. This is true because love is a participation in the divine life. God is uniquely capable of love in the complete sense, since he alone can fully will the good of the other as other. What makes real love possible among humans is only a sharing in the love with which God loves, some participation in the divine to-be. When we root ourselves in the God who has no need, who exists in radical self-sufficiency, we can begin to love the other as he does." end quote.
From your brother Adrian: In the things of the Lord, we cannot fathom fully what He sees. This is where faith comes in.
That light that our Lord speaks of. Can people see your light? That faith? Can they see that you are a true child of God?
And then, it equates to grace. In the things of the Lord, they say, you cannot keep what you do not give.
It is that chiseling away at self, so more Divine Grace can live and be flowed through your soul.
He is the life source, are we the channels of His Life? Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Holy Grace, so people I encounter may see Your Holy Face! |  Click for Audio | Random Bible Verse 1
John 8:32 " and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
. . . . . . . . Word of the Lord! | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
