Quote: "You must accept your cross; if you bear it courageously it will carry you to Heaven." -St. John Vianney Today's Meditation "Souls who spread the honor of My mercy I shield through their entire lives as a tender mother her infant, and at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Savior. At that last hour, a soul has nothing with which to defend itself except My mercy. Happy is the soul that during its lifetime immersed itself in the Fountain of Mercy, because justice will have no hold on it." —Jesus to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1075
An excerpt from Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska - Divine Mercy in My Soul Daily Verse "If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with Him in glory." -Colossians 3:1-4 |  EWTN Daily Saint | | St. Juliana of Nicomedia (c. 270 A.D.), also known as St. Juliana of Cumae, was the daughter of noble pagan parents, born in Nicomedia, a Greek city in ancient Turkey. Although her father was hostile to Christians, Juliana secretly accepted baptism. Her father arranged her marriage to a pagan nobleman and Roman senator. When the time for her wedding came, Juliana refused her consent to be married unless her betrothed converted to the Christian faith. Her father retaliated by mercilessly abusing her, but Juliana would not give in. Her betrothed then denounced her as a Christian before the tribunal under the persecutions of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. St. Juliana was unwavering in her faith, even after the devil himself appeared to tempt her during her sufferings. She was then publicly tortured by being burned, boiled in oil, and finally beheaded. Some accounts say she died together with St. Barbara. Many were converted to the Christian faith upon witnessing her fortitude in the face of her tortures. St. Juliana is the patron saint of sickness and bodily ills. Her feast day is February 16th. | Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 335 Reading 1 James 1:1-11 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings. Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters,
when you encounter various trials,
for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
And let perseverance be perfect,
so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
But if any of you lacks wisdom,
he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly,
and he will be given it.
But he should ask in faith, not doubting,
for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea
that is driven and tossed about by the wind.
For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,
since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways. The brother in lowly circumstances
should take pride in high standing,
and the rich one in his lowliness,
for he will pass away "like the flower of the field."
For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass,
its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes.
So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 119:67, 68, 71, 72, 75, 76 R. (77a) Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I hold to your promise.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
You are good and bountiful;
teach me your statutes.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
that I may learn your statutes.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
I know, O LORD, that your ordinances are just,
and in your faithfulness you have afflicted me.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live. Alleluia John 14:6 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mark 8:11-13 The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus,
seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.
He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said,
"Why does this generation seek a sign?
Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."
Then he left them, got into the boat again,
and went off to the other shore. | Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! |  click to see website | |  wau.org | Daily Meditation: Mark 8:11-13 No sign will be given. (Mark 8:12) Jesus had just come from Tyre and Sidon, where he had healed a Syrophoenician woman's daughter (Mark 7:24-30). He then passed through the region of the Decapolis and healed a man who could not hear or speak (7:31-35). Then, crowds thronged to him as news of his miracles spread, and when they became hungry, he fed four thousand people with seven loaves and a few fish (8:1-10). He had given so many signs of the kingdom of God! So when Jesus came to the region of Dalmanutha, and some Pharisees asked for a sign, why wouldn't he oblige them? Because he knew they were testing him. They were challenging him to prove that he was the Messiah according to their own conditions. They wanted to see a sign from heaven—some kind of validating miracle—that would overwhelm them. But hadn't they been paying attention? It's hard to imagine that these Pharisees didn't know about the signs that Jesus had been performing throughout the region. When they asked Jesus to perform another sign, just for them, it was as if they were saying that they would believe him only if he "forced" them to. They simply didn't want to put their faith in Jesus. So he said no. This central truth has always been the case. God never forces anyone to accept him. He invites us into relationship with him. His mercy is a free gift, and he is looking for our free response. He's not a vending machine with buttons to push and a guaranteed result. Rather, he is constantly offering us opportunities to respond to what he has done and to surrender to him more deeply. The Pharisees should have known this, too. After all, God had loved and sustained their ancestors through the whole exodus from Egypt, even though "they [did] not trust me, despite all the signs I have performed among them" (Numbers 14:11). So what signs have you seen in your life? What stories have you heard about Jesus' work in other people's lives? It may be something as simple as a fresh insight from Scripture or as dramatic as a physical healing. No matter what, each one is an invitation from Jesus to a deeper relationship with him. Answer that invitation, and put your trust in him today. "Jesus, you are all the 'sign' I need! I believe!" James 1:1-11
Psalm 119:67-68, 71-72, 75-76 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Audio of 2 Cents | From today's Holy Gospel: "... The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus,
seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.
He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said,
"Why does this generation seek a sign?
Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."
Then he left them, got into the boat again,
and went off to the other shore. ....." Word of the Lord.
| From Roberto Juarez:
"Today too there is this temptation: to turn faith into a demand for proof, into a negotiation with God. But God does not impose himself. It is offered. It does not oblige; invites. It is significant that Jesus does not perform the sign they ask of him. Silence and departure are also a response. God respects human freedom. If the heart is hardened, not even the greatest wonder will open it. However, we know – in the light of the whole Gospel – that there was indeed a definitive sign: the cross and the resurrection. The supreme sign was not a spectacle in heaven, but love taken to the extreme. The true sign of God is not dazzling power, but surrender.
This gospel invites us to review our spiritual attitude: • Do we seek God to welcome him or to examine him? • Do we ask for signs to strengthen faith or as a condition of believing? • Do we recognize the small everyday signs of their presence? Because there are silent signs that go unnoticed: the patience we receive in a difficulty, the inner light in the face of a decision, the unexpected peace in the midst of pain, the word that comes at the right time.
Mature faith learns to read these humble signs.
Jesus' sigh can also be interpreted as God's sorrow at our practical unbelief. It is not just a matter of denying its existence, but of living as if it were not present. Perhaps today the Gospel invites us to change the question. Instead of saying, "Lord, give me a sign," we might say, "Lord, open my eyes to recognize the signs you already give me." Faith is not seeing to believe; it is believing to see. May the Lord soften our hearts, remove from us the hardness that demands constant trials, and grant us a simple and persevering trust.
And may we be able to recognize, in the supreme sign of his self-giving love, God's definitive answer." end quote.
From Bishop Barron:
"Friends, in today's Gospel, the Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign from heaven. They are testing him because they have no faith or trust in him.
Faith is an attitude of trust in the presence of God. Faith is openness to what God will reveal, do, and invite. It should be obvious that in dealing with the infinite, all-powerful God, we are never in control.
This is why we say that faith goes beyond reason. If we can figure it out, calculate precisely, predict with complete accuracy, we're in charge—and by definition, we are not dealing with a person. Would you use any of those descriptors in talking about your relationship with your husband, wife, or best friend? Instead, you enter into an ever-increasing rapport of trust with such people.
One of the most fundamental statements of faith is this: Your life is not about you. You're not in control. This is not your project. Rather, you are part of God's great design. To believe this in your bones and to act accordingly is to have faith." end quote.
From your bro, Adrian.
Is it wrong to seek a sign?
No.
As a matter of fact, the bible tells us, "seek the Lord that He might be found" and then our Lord comes to fulfill the Word and said "Knock and it shall be opened".
So what was wrong with the Pharisees approaching Jesus demanding a sign?
That was the issue. They were demanding a sign, not to believe, but to win an argument. They demanded a sign so they wouldn't have to believe first. Because that was their problem...they did NOT want to believe.
Today, millions flock to places of miracles. Why? To believe? Some go as spectators. Some go to be healed. Some go to try to see if God exists.
Many reporters leave these places unchanged. Some change their lives forever after seeing miracles.
And you?
What about you? Do you go to Mass where there is a miracle taking place on the altar?
What happens to you then? Do you leave also, unchanged? Or do you go to receive something and don't always get what you want? Some, like me, have seen the miracle, and have been changed forever. What did I see? Even if I told you, would you believe the witness story?
You see, the Bible is full of eye witness stories. Did those stories help you believe? Do stories help you? What about true eye witnesses?
Have I become a perfect saint after seeing a miracle on the altar? No, but it makes me want to try harder now. Perfection is quite something to attain.
But the best miracle is the one we can do for our Lord. Yes, we too can surprise Him and amaze Him. Just like a little kid catches us off guard with something they thought of or noticed, so too, we can amaze God and delight our Heavenly Father.
Such opportunities will come our way by way of trials and tribulations naturally but the ones we make happen, like in Lent, things efforts make love come alive. And God is revealed. |  Click for Audio | Random Bible Verse 1
1 John 4:14 "And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world." . . . Word of the Lord! | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
