†Saint Quote:“The limitless loving devotion to God, and the gift God makes of Himself to you, are the highest elevation of which the heart is capable; it is the highest degree of prayer."” -St. Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) Today’s Meditation"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Even though the Disciples suffered persecution, they were filled with joy. One would have expected them to be depressed or angry or resentful. The very fact that they responded to persecution with joy is a sign that the Spirit was guiding their actions. We can use that same test with our own words and actions." —Rev. Jude Winkler, O.F.M., p. 11
An excerpt from Daily Meditations With the Holy Spirit Daily Verse"But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind." -Job 12:7-10
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EWTN Daily Saint
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St GeorgeSt. George (d. 303 A.D.) was born in Palestine to noble Christian parents. Like his father, he enlisted as a soldier in the Roman army serving under Emperor Diocletian. He was renowned for his bravery and outstanding military prowess, and was a favorite of the Emperor. Many fantastical legends are ascribed to him, however, none are known to be true with any certainty. The most famous legend is St. George and the Dragon, where St. George, after making the Sign of the Cross, saved a king's daughter from being devoured by a man-eating dragon. St. George killed the elusive dragon, and by this feat persuaded many souls to accept baptism. He also admonished the king, in gratitude for his princess being saved by Christ's power, to support the cause of the Church. What is known with certainty is that St. George, after confessing and refusing to renounce his faith in Christ, was martyred in Palestine during the Christian persecution of Diocletian. He became a highly venerated saint in antiquity, and many early churches were dedicated in his honor. St. George is the patron of many causes and countries, including soldiers, knights, chivalry, horsemen, farmers, Canada, England, and Germany, to name a few. His feast day is April 23.
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Thursday of the Third Week of EasterLectionary: 276 Reading 1Acts 8:26-40 The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip,
"Get up and head south on the road
that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route."
So he got up and set out.
Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch,
a court official of the Candace,
that is, the queen of the Ethiopians,
in charge of her entire treasury,
who had come to Jerusalem to worship, and was returning home.
Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
The Spirit said to Philip,
"Go and join up with that chariot."
Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said,
"Do you understand what you are reading?"
He replied,
"How can I, unless someone instructs me?"
So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.
This was the Scripture passage he was reading: Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who will tell of his posterity?
For his life is taken from the earth. Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply,
"I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this?
About himself, or about someone else?"
Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this Scripture passage,
he proclaimed Jesus to him.
As they traveled along the road
they came to some water,
and the eunuch said, "Look, there is water.
What is to prevent my being baptized?"
Then he ordered the chariot to stop,
and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water,
and he baptized him.
When they came out of the water,
the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away,
and the eunuch saw him no more,
but continued on his way rejoicing.
Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news
to all the towns until he reached Caesarea. Responsorial PsalmPsalm 66:8-9, 16-17, 20 R.(1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Bless our God, you peoples,
loudly sound his praise;
He has given life to our souls,
and has not let our feet slip.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare
what he has done for me.
When I appealed to him in words,
praise was on the tip of my tongue.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed be God who refused me not
my prayer or his kindness!
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia. AlleluiaJohn 6:51 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord;
whoever eats this bread will live forever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. GospelJohn 6:44-51 Jesus said to the crowds:
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,
and I will raise him on the last day.
It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.
Not that anyone has seen the Father
except the one who is from God;
he has seen the Father.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
this is the bread that comes down from heaven
so that one may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my Flesh for the life of the world."
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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: Acts 8:26-40Get up and head south on the road. (Acts 8:26) Arlene was on her way home from work when she noticed a motorcycle accident and felt the Lord urging her to stop. She pulled over and knelt beside a biker lying on the street. He was in bad shape but still alive. Leaning close to his ear, she began to pray with him. He whispered that he remembered his mom’s active and fervent faith in Jesus. So Arlene helped him recommit his life to the Lord. She stayed with him until an ambulance arrived, praying with him and calming his fears. When she got home hours later with blood on her clothes, her daughters were alarmed. All she could say was, “I knew I had to stop.” We see something similar in today’s first reading when the Lord tells Philip to take the desert road toward Gaza. It might seem strange that God would give him such specific directions. But Philip had been learning to listen to such promptings. Having fled persecution in Jerusalem, he had already been preaching and working wonders in Samaria. So he had become familiar with how God worked when he responded with obedience to his direction. In this case, Jesus was inviting Philip to be part of a life-changing event for an Ethiopian court official. As Philip saw the chariot and heard what the man was reading, he saw the Lord’s plan unfolding. So seizing the chance to tell him about Jesus, he approached and spoke to the man inside. And the official’s life was forever changed. These stories may seem extreme. But God loves to guide us as we strive to bring him to the world. Think back on your own life. Perhaps a line from Scripture stirred your heart and led you to invite a friend to a Bible study or start serving at a food bank. Or you heard a message in a homily that brought you comfort, so you shared it with a coworker who was struggling. Maybe you ran into someone at the store and struck up a conversation that led you to share about Jesus. The Lord might guide you to do something “big” like Arlene or Philip. But every day, he will surely show you more ordinary opportunities to follow his lead and share his good news. So open your heart and listen for his promptings today. “Jesus, help me to follow your lead today.” Psalm 66:8-9, 16-17, 20
John 6:44-51
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YouTube Video BACK TO THE GARDEN
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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: "...I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
this is the bread that comes down from heaven
so that one may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my Flesh for the life of the world." ... ”
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Roberto Juarez ends today with: "Let us ask that we be able to recognize how God draws us, that we may have a heart available to listen, and that we may deeply value the gift of the Eucharist. So that, nourished by Jesus of Nazareth, we can already live that life that does not end. For whoever allows himself to be drawn by the Father and is nourished by Christ... He has eternal life in himself." end quote.
Bishop Barron ends today with: "What is the Eucharist, this heavenly food, but a participation in the love between the Father and the Son? In the Eucharist, the sacrifice of Christ is made present, and the sacrifice of Christ is the fullest expression of the love of the Father and the Son. " end quote.
Every day, work day at least, I write to you, busy as ever, always busy, but I am writing to you as a priority.
I pour myself out here, reading many reflections before writing to you. I study. I ponder. I meditate. I sacrifice.
I send it out to a large list of people in high hopes all would read the message from God, at the very least, His Gospel, His Word.
Yet, about 2 out of 10 read it from what I can see in my contacts. And out of those, even fewer go deep.
Why am I saying this?
Well, I am pouring myself out for you, and the effort goes to the trash for 8 out of 10.
I am pouring myself out to you, yet, the deeper message goes to the wayside.
But, this is nothing, compared, to the very Eucharist, the very Body and Blood of Christ on earth.
How we receive Him can be very sad, if we even go see Him at all in Mass or adoration.
You see, even your prayers can be almost meaningless.
Your confession can be for nothing, if there is no true heart in it.
Our Lord sees with what heart you approach.
God is reaching every soul through every soul that allows it to happen.
And as I ponder the Eucharist, the reality, the material things, the spiritual things, the metaphysical things, what does it all mean?
The answer: "it is all about the meaning".
It is not a symbol...but a reality.
God speaks, and the meaning of it becomes a reality, in Genesis, and still this very day.
And He desires that our will becomes one with His. How else will people see and hear Him?
HE IS ALIVE!
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Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 103:2–5 "2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."
Word of the Lord!
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God Bless You! Peace
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