.: 05/18/26

Monday, May 18, 2026

† "..“Do you believe now? "

†
“In this life our lot is not to enjoy God, but to do his holy will.” -St. Teresa of Avila

Today’s Meditation

"Most persons have temptations to anger. There is hardly anyone who does not at times become peevish, irritable, or impatient; and these are the beginning of more serious faults. Now we all know the harm and very serious results of anger. There is no example that makes clearer its ruinous effects than the Crucifixion of Our Lord...We have also seen how anger has brought families into discord and even permanent separation. We have read how nations have been led to war. The surprising fact is that though each and every one has had brought to his attention the fruits of anger—the sufferings, the discord, the unhappiness—sill there is much that could be sought by most persons in regard to meekness and something of meekness that could be sought by everybody." —Matt Fradd, p.75-76
An excerpt from Rooting Out Hidden Faults - How the Particular Examen Conquers Sin

Daily Verse

So Pilate said to him, 'Then you are a king?' Jesus answered, 'You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.' -John 18:37

EWTN Daily Saint

St. Felix of Cantalice (d. 1587) was born to a pious peasant family in Italy. He grew up tending sheep and was hired out to work for a farmer at the age of nine, which he did for twenty years. He evidenced signs of holiness and spent his free time in prayer. He had a friend read him the lives of the saints from which he drew much inspiration. Felix eventually joined the Capuchin Franciscans and served in Rome as the Order's official beggar. Although he could not read, and received no formal study, he had great influence over the Roman people because of his piety and the labors he undertook to convert even the most hardened sinners. Felix also encouraged those he met to lead greater lives of virtue, regardless if they were dignitaries or peasants. Men who lived scandalous lives retreated from his presence, lest he convict them of their sins. St. Felix's special apostolate was among the children of the city to whom he gave religious instruction with childlike humility and simplicity. He was a contemporary and friend of St. Philip Neri, who declared Felix to be the Church's greatest living saint. St. Felix served in this way for 42 years. He was beatified immediately after his death, becoming the first Capuchin Franciscan ever canonized. His body rests under an altar dedicated to him in the church of the Immaculate Conception in Rome. His feast day is May 18.

Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Lectionary: 297

Reading 1

Acts 19:1-8

While Apollos was in Corinth,

Paul traveled through the interior of the country

and down to Ephesus where he found some disciples.

He said to them,

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”

They answered him,

“We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

He said, “How were you baptized?”

They replied, “With the baptism of John.”

Paul then said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance,

telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him,

that is, in Jesus.”

When they heard this,

they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

And when Paul laid his hands on them,

the Holy Spirit came upon them,

and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

Altogether there were about twelve men.

He entered the synagogue, and for three months debated boldly

with persuasive arguments about the Kingdom of God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab

R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

or:

R. Alleluia.

God arises; his enemies are scattered,

and those who hate him flee before him.

As smoke is driven away, so are they driven;

as wax melts before the fire.

R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

or:

R. Alleluia.

But the just rejoice and exult before God;

they are glad and rejoice.

Sing to God, chant praise to his name;

whose name is the LORD.

R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

or:

R. Alleluia.

The father of orphans and the defender of widows

is God in his holy dwelling.

God gives a home to the forsaken;

he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.

R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Alleluia

Colossians 3:1

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

If then you were raised with Christ,

seek what is above,

where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

John 16:29-33

The disciples said to Jesus,

“Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech.

Now we realize that you know everything

and that you do not need to have anyone question you.

Because of this we believe that you came from God.”

Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now?

Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived

when each of you will be scattered to his own home

and you will leave me alone.

But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.

In the world you will have trouble,

but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ!

From Word Among Us WAU.org

Daily Meditation: Acts 19:1-8

We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. (Acts 19:2)

When Paul arrived in Ephesus, he met a group of people who had been followers of John the Baptist but who had not yet received the Holy Spirit. They had never even heard that there was a Holy Spirit! They believed in the God of Israel and followed John’s words about repentance and preparing for the Messiah, but that’s all. So Paul told them about Jesus and offered to baptize them in his name. They agreed, and the Holy Spirit did the rest! He filled their hearts, transformed their lives, and set the stage for the whole city to hear the good news.

That’s quite a reaction from these new believers, isn’t it? But it wouldn’t be difficult to imagine them giving Paul a different kind of reception: “Thanks, Paul, but we’d rather not be baptized into this Christ you are preaching. We’re pretty content with what we have.”

Thank God that didn’t happen! Instead, they received Paul’s words with striking humility. As soon as they realized how limited their experience had been, they were ready to welcome the Holy Spirit. Who knows? Maybe they were following one of John the Baptist’s most important statements about Jesus: “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30).

It takes a certain degree of humility to acknowledge that we need more from the Lord. It takes an open heart and a willingness to change to welcome the Spirit in and ask him to reveal more of God’s will, his love, or his wisdom to us. This might sound challenging, but the blessings we receive when we ask far outweigh the cost. God fills us with greater freedom from sin, greater confidence, a deeper sense of peace, and fresh new insights into God’s will and his desires for our lives.

God sent Paul to these believers to offer them something they were lacking. Do you feel there’s something missing in your relationship with the Lord? Reach out to him in prayer and ask for it. Remember Jesus’ promise: “If you . . . know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (Luke 11:13).

“Father, help me to be humble enough to welcome your Spirit today!”

Psalm 68:2-7

John 16:29-33

Reflections with Brother Adrian:

Audio of 2 Cents

From today's Holy Gospel:

".......Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived

when each of you will be scattered to his own home

and you will leave me alone.

But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.

In the world you will have trouble,

but take courage, I have conquered the world..... ”

From Roberto Juarez:

"Today the Lord invites us to live courageously, without naivety, knowing that there will be difficulties but also knowing that Christ has won.
Let us ask the Lord not to be discouraged in trials, to remain united to Him, and for the Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith. And when fear, uncertainty or weariness appear, let us listen in our hearts to these words of Jesus of Nazareth: "Have courage: I have overcome the world." For those who walk with the Risen Christ can go through even the darkest nights without losing hope." end quote.

Are you experiencing trouble? Do you need to take heart? Our Lord says "take courage". In spanish the we heard the the word "valor" in place of courage.
We were in a prison retreat this weekend. They too are experiencing constant trouble. And for many, the torments are in the mind. Constant torture. But it is the same for many that are not in prison. Many of our youth are in a constant strife in their mind. In our neck of the woods, they are trying to build another multi million dollar facility to help with mental illness.

So the question is, how do we take heart? How can we have courage? It's like our Lord is asking us to walk, when we have just been crawling. "Courage". "Be brave".

How hard this can be for someone who is just tormented, mentally, spiritually, everything that can affect us physically as well.
That is why the Holy Church offers us not one, but three healing Sacraments, three out of seven of the Sacraments are for our healing! The Church is a place then, for healing. We need this! God KNOWS we need this!

A shepherd takes care of the flock and a major part is to be their doctor as well. Often, in vocations to the religious priesthood, I keep hearing of how much the priests love being a priest because of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the confessional, where they get to experience the loving touch of Christ to His child. And yet, the majority of us are afraid to go for the healing, just like the saying of how the wolf likes to hold the prey by the throat so it will not go and squeal and alert the rest of the flock.
Take Courage! I know this is hard, just to hear, especially when you are in duress, right in the middle of the ordeal.

I am reminded of the terrible 40 days of watching my dad suffer in the hospital. My best friend, my dad, my boss, the center of our family life it seemed, and there he finally succumbed after the fight for life. Yeah, it knocks the wind out of your sails. Yeah, it is heart wrenching. Yeah, it is one of the worst things ever. Yeah. After years of thinking about it, yes it still hurts.

I remember the next day, I went to work. Since he was the boss, I needed to go tend the labor, the hands, our family business. When I walked into my office, our dispatcher of many years had hung up a poster he bought and hung it in my office. Atop, it reads until today,
"Be Strong (when you are weak).

Be Brave (when you are scared)
Be Humble (when you are victorious)
Be Awesome (every day)"
It hurt to read it, but I still look at it in my office. The one that says be humble, has a knight kneeling, facing down.

Yes, being humble means the cross.
Being strong, not possible, without God.
We need Him for all the strength and humility.
We need Him, everything that means love...
the very Holy Spirit of God.