†Only in Christ can men and women find answers to the ultimate questions that trouble them. Only in Christ can they fully understand their dignity as persons created and loved by God. ▪ Pope St. John Paul II
Today's Meditation “And so, in the redemptive economy of grace, brought about through the action of the Holy Spirit, there is a unique correspondence between the moment of the Incarnation of the Word and the moment of the birth of the Church. The person who links these two moments is Mary: Mary at Nazareth and Mary in the Upper Room at Jerusalem. In both cases her discreet yet essential presence indicates the path of ‘birth from the Holy Spirit’. Thus she who is present in the mystery of Christ as Mother becomes—by the will of the Son and the power of the Holy Spirit—present in the mystery of the Church. In the Church too she continues to be a maternal presence, as is shown by the words spoken from the Cross: ‘Woman, behold your son!’; ‘Behold your mother.'” —Pope St. John Paul II, p. 94
Daily Verse †We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us, while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us. This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit. 1 John 4:6
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EWTN Daily Saint
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Pope Saint John Paul IIPatron Saint of: Families, youth, and World Youth Day
Feast Day: October 22 Pope St. John Paul II (1920–2005) was born in Poland and was a vibrant, athletic, and intelligent child. His deeply religious father played an important role in his spiritual formation after his mother’s death when he was 8 years old. He studied literature, poetry, and theater before his studies were interrupted by the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939. He answered the call to the priesthood, and after entering a clandestine seminary was ordained in 1946. He completed his doctoral studies in Rome and returned to Poland where he ministered in a special way to young people. He was ordained a bishop in 1958 and attended the Second Vatican Council in 1962. He is well known for his leadership in encouraging a spiritual and cultural resistance to the Communist occupation of Poland. He was elected Supreme Pontiff in 1978, the first non-Italian pope in over 450 years, and had the second-longest pontificate in history. He was a remarkable theologian and philosopher and a guardian of orthodoxy. During his time as Holy Father he gave a multitude of important contributions to the Church including his teaching on the Theology of the Body, his emphasis on the Universal Call to Holiness, and his strong devotion to the Virgin Mary. He is also known as the “Pope of the Family.” During his pontificate he beatified 1338 people and canonized 482 saints. He also visited 129 countries, making him one of the most well-traveled world leaders in history. He was canonized by Pope Francis in 2014. His feast day is October 22nd.
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Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary TimeLectionary: 476 Reading 1Ephesians 3:14-21 Brothers and sisters:
I kneel before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory
to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine,
by the power at work within us,
to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Responsorial PsalmPsalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19 R. (5b) The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. AlleluiaPhippians 3:8-9 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I consider all things so much rubbish
that I may gain Christ and be found in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. GospelLuke 12:49-53 Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,
and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.
From now on a household of five will be divided,
three against two and two against three;
a father will be divided against his son
and a son against his father,
a mother against her daughter
and a daughter against her mother,
a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
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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: Luke 12:49-53Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? (Luke 12:51) In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that he has come not to bring peace on earth but division, even within families (Luke 12:51). This might sound shocking and harsh and hard to reconcile with other things Scripture says about him. Division, not peace? Isn’t Jesus the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6; Luke 2:14)? Yes, Jesus’ gospel is indeed an invitation to peace with God and one another. But his gospel of peace is a call to be a disciple, to be with him and become like him. We can't coerce or force someone into this relationship. They can only enter it freely, by faith. Jesus calls each of us to make a choice, and that choice, ironically, may at times result in division. Jesus’ declaration is actually an expression of his love and care for his disciples. He knows what lies ahead for them, and he wants them—and us—to know that choosing to follow him will sometimes put us at odds with the people we love most. He warns us so that we can be prepared, allow God to purify our own hearts, and respond to their indifference or even hostility as he did: with patience, love, and prayer. Our closest relationships can bring us the greatest joy but also the greatest pain. When our family members or friends misunderstand us, oppose us, or dismiss us because of our faith, we can face the temptation to lash out and “give as good as we get.” Jesus knows what that opposition feels like because he faced it himself (Mark 3:21). And so he exhorts us to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) and to serve, love, and especially forgive (18:21-22). If years pass and we don’t see our loved ones opening their hearts to the Lord, we may feel tempted to give up. But Jesus urges us to pray without ceasing. He wants us to trust that his word can—perhaps after a long time and without our knowledge—accomplish its purpose in any human heart, as it did for the “good thief” crucified beside Jesus (Luke 23:39-45). Let’s embrace Jesus’ hard but merciful message today. Let’s ask the Lord to show us any “divided” relationships that are in need of his grace. And let’s treat our loved ones with patience, prayer, and forgiveness, as our Prince of Peace has done for us. “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.” Ephesians 3:14-21
Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19
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Reflections with Brother Adrian:
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“Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,
and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division. ”
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From Roberto Juarez end of his reflection: "Perhaps today we need to put out a fire of anger that is damaging a relationship while also stoking the fire of charity. Perhaps we need to abandon a selfish attitude, reclaim prayer, or take a concrete step to reconcile with someone. Let us ask the Lord to grant us to distinguish between the conflicts that are born of our pride and the difficulties that arise from trying to live the gospel faithfully. May he give us humility to correct ourselves when we are wrong and strength to stand firm when a person's truth, justice, or dignity is at stake.
Let us also ask him to grant us to be instruments of true peace: a peace founded on justice, on respect for the dignity of each person and on the sincere will to reconcile. May we know how to defend the truth without needlessly hurting, correct without humiliating and maintain our convictions without closing our hearts to others. May the fire of the Holy Spirit ignite our hearts, purify our intentions and enable us to bring the light of Christ to our families and to our world." end quote.
From Bishop Barron:
"Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus declares his desire to spread eternal life among human beings. He says, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” What is that fire? His forerunner, John, gave us a clue: “I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. . . . He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Jesus came in order to torch the world with the heat and light of the divine Spirit, which is none other than the love shared by the Father and the Son, the very inner life of God. Jesus is a prophet because he teaches; he is a king because he leads and shepherds; but he is a priest because he is the spreader of the sacred fire. Every one of the baptized shares in the priesthood of Christ and is therefore obligated to be a conduit of holiness, a bearer of the divine life, a spreader of the fire that sets the world ablaze." end quote.
- - - Your Brother Adrian. What happens when light enters the room? Darkness scatters.
And this will happen when our Lord enters our life. It is good, but darkness wants to remain. The truth falls on deaf ears. I think of an argument. It could be about anything, but if one of the parties does not listen, or hear the other, there is no getting through. And so, if our Lord speaks and is not getting through to us, there will be a division.
And darkness works to divide.
Our Lord came from Heaven, with a purpose…a fire. Our Lord Jesus, is the ultimate everything.
He is the Ultimate: Priest. Ultimate, Prophet. And He is the Ultimate King.
With this said, He came to prophesy and make an eternal offering, and atonement for sin, yes. But He does this both now and forever. It is happening NOW. The Kingdom of God is happening RIGHT NOW.
As we speak, there are factions, and divisions, especially where the devil works best in, government, and universities, but now, it is getting spread into beyond high schools, but to middle schools, a fast and furious tempter in social media.
But, on the other side, we have a slow, and growing fire of our Lord, people living in the Holy Spirit.
And there is going to be division, and wars. Sorry to break it to you, but have you noticed that wars have not stopped, just like Our Lord said would happen?
He did say that, and then said "but TAKE HEART! I HAVE Conquered the world!".
Take heart, and take His side. Yes, there is suffering if you follow Him, but if it is for Love, suffering for love..of God and neighbor…we are on the side of life and victory.
You are assured of this, and nothing else.
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Random Bible Verse 1
1 John 2:28 Children of God "And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming."
Word of the Lord!
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