The Word: The Millionaire’s Folly

 
August 1, 2010
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time




Luke 12: 13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me." He replied to him, "Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?" Then he said to the crowd, "Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions." Then he told them a parable. "There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, 'What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?' And he said, 'This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, "Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!" But God said to him, 'You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?' Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God."

Introductory Prayer:  Lord Jesus, I believe you want me to have faith in you, faith that hearkens to your words without any second guessing. I hope in your words, not relying solely on my own strength or reasoning. I love you. You continue to astonish me by showing me that your ways are not my ways.



Petition

Lord, may I love you with all my heart, mind, soul and strength.

1. Guarding Against Greed
“Take care to guard against all greed.…” Greed arises when our heart loves material things and possessions in selfish and disordered ways. God created “things” – material reality – for a purpose: to help us fulfill our mission in this life. Our heart can grow to love these things and to love accumulating wealth for its own sake, not for the sake of using it to fulfill our mission and save our soul.

2. One Heart, One Love
Jesus has called us to “love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole soul, with all your strength and with all your mind.” But we only have one heart, one soul, one will and one mind. If I love material wealth in a disordered way, then my one heart, one soul, etc. will be divided and pulled in many directions simultaneously. Not only will I not be able to love God with a total, faithful, focused love, I will not be able to love anyone in this way. No matter whom I love, my love will always be weakened and diluted by a divided heart.

3. Late Have I Loved…
“Late have I loved You, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved You. You were within me, and I looked outside; I sought you, and miserable as I was, I longed for creatures, I was detained by the wonderful works of your hands” (St. Augustine, Confessions). What dilutes my love is disordered affection for the things God created. Our heart is capable of loving multiple persons and things (God, parents, children, friends), but only to the degree it is capable of focusing on one of them. Loving God first is like using a magnifying glass: The rays of sunlight, like the  affection and love we have for numerous persons and things, are united by the glass and magnified into a more powerful beam. When we love God first, our love for others and the world increases in intensity.



Conversation with Christ

Lord, you created my heart to love. Often I fall in love with the things you created. I can even begin to love them more than you, to forget that you are their Creator and that you have given them to me to lead me to you. Help me to love you above them all, and to thank and bless you in a thousand ways.



Resolution

Today I will take stock of my loves to make sure they don’t compete with my love for God.



Challenge

Take stock of your loves to make sure they don’t compete with my love for God.


 


Father Patrick Murphy, LC 

Catholic.net


Bkg. Courtesy of
Christian Backgrounds  

WÜSTE

Wüste muss jeder erleben, der Frucht tragen soll.

Sel. Charles de Foucauld

Täglich Leben für Senioren: Richter 7: 17 - 18

"Watch me," sagte Ihnen, [Gideon]. "Follow my Lead. Wenn ich an den Rand des Lagers, tun genau wie ich. Wenn ich und alle, die mit mir sind unsere Trompeten Schlag, dann von allen rund um das Camp Blasen Sie verkaufen zu und schreien Sie, "Für den Herrn und für Gideon." Richter 7: 17 - 18 Everyday Jüngerschaft für Ordinary People schrieb Stuart Briscoe:    "In der bei der Beerdigung von ein Kriegsveteran war einer meiner jungen Kollegen amtiert. Die toten Mannes militärischen Freunde wollte einen Teil im Dienst an den Bestattungsunternehmen, haben, so dass Sie den Pastor Sie nach unten zu der Sarg, führen angefordert stehen mit Ihnen für ein feierlicher Moment der Erinnerung, und dann führen Sie durch die seitliche Abdeckung.    "Er ging zu tun, aber leider war der Effekt ein wenig getrübt, wenn er die falsche Tür abgeholt. Das Ergebnis war, dass Sie generalstabsmäßig in einem Besen-Schrank, in vollem Blick auf die Trauergäste marschierten, und hatte einen übereilten Rückzug, bedeckt mit Verwirrung zu schlagen.   "Diese wahre Geschichte illustriert eine Kardinalspflicht oder zwei. Wenn du gehst, zu führen, stellen Sie zunächst sicher, dass Sie wissen, wohin Sie gehen. Zweitens, wenn du gehst, zu folgen, stellen Sie sicher, dass Sie jemand, der weiß, was er tut, folgende sind!" In der Bibel wählte Gott Gideon, ein Israelitischen Richter, um eine Gruppe von Männern in die Midianiter überholen zu führen. Über und über, wies der Herr Gideon auf was zu tun und welche Schritte Sie ergreifen. Weil Gott seine Schritte befahl und er Gehorsam folgte, besiegte Gideon die Midianiter mit nur 300 Männer. Wissen Sie, wer Sie folgenden sind? Ist es Ihr Pastor, Bibel Studie Führer oder Freund? Ist er oder Sie nach Herrn gehorsam? Wenn Sie in einer Führungsposition, führen Sie nach Herrn treu und damit andere auf dem richtigen Weg? Wissen Sie, wer Sie folgenden sind und wohin Sie gehen. Und wenn andere führende, dem Herrn folgen, so dass Sie immer die richtige Tür durchlaufen werden. Gebet-CHALLENGE Zu beten Sie, für diejenigen führt Sie in Leben, und bitten Sie Gott, Ihnen die richtigen Türen zeigen, die Sie durch zu gehen, wenn andere führende sind. Täglichen Leben für Senioren

 

St. Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (406-450)

Start:

Jul 30, '10

SAINT PETER CHRYSOLOGUS
Bishop and Doctor of the Church
(406-450)

Born about 400, bishop of Ravenna. His preaching was famous,
and more than 180 sermons, mainly on scripture and the liturgical year,
have survived. He died about 450.


The Weekday Missal (1975)


Daily Gospel

The Word: "Is this not the carpenter's son?"

 July 30, 2010
Friday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Matthew 13:54-58

And coming to his own country he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?" And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

Meditation

Are you critical towards others, especially those who are close to you?

The most severe critics are often people very familiar to us, a member of our family, a relative, neighbor, student, or worker we rub shoulders with on a regular basis. Jesus faced a severe testing when he returned to his home town, not simply as the carpenter's son, but now as a rabbi with disciples. It would have been customary for Jesus to go to the synagogue each week during the Sabbath, and when his turn came, to read from the scriptures during the Sabbath service. His hometown folks listened with rapt attention on this occasion because they had heard about the miracles he had performed in other towns.

What sign would he do in his hometown?

Jesus startled them with a seeming rebuke that no prophet or servant of God can receive honor among his own people. The people of Nazareth took offense at him and refused to listen to what he had to say. They despised his preaching because he was a carpenter from the working class, and a mere layman untrained by religious scholars. They also despised him because of his family background. After all, Joseph was a tradesman as well and Mary had no special social distinctions.

How easily familiarity breeds contempt. Jesus could do no mighty works in his hometown because the people who were familiar with him were closed-minded and despised his claim to speak and act in the name of God. If people come together to hate and refuse to understand others different than themselves, then they will see no other point of view than their own and they will refuse to love and accept others.

How do you view those who are familiar to you?

With kindness and respect or with a critical and judgmental spirit?

The Lord Jesus offers us freedom from sin, prejudice, contempt, and fear. His love and grace sets us free to love others with the same grace and mercy which he has shown to us. Only Jesus can truly set us free from the worst tyranny possible — slavery to sin and the fear of death. His victory on the cross brings us pardon and healing, and the grace to live holy lives by the power of the Holy Spirit. Do you know the joy and freedom which Christ's love brings to our hearts?

"Lord Jesus, your love conquers every fear and breaks the power of hatred and prejudice. Flood my heart with your mercy and compassion, that I may treat my neighbor with the same favor and kindness which you have shown to me."

Psalm 68:1-8, 32-35

Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him!
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before fire, let the wicked perish before God!
But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God;  let them be jubilant with joy!
Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds;  his name is the LORD, exult before him!
Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
 God gives the desolate a home to dwell in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity;  but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
 O God, when thou didst go forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness, [Selah]
the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, at the presence of God;  yon Sinai quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord, [Selah]
 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; lo, he sends forth his voice, his mighty voice.
 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and his power is in the skies.
 Terrible is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel, he gives power and strength to his people.  Blessed be God!

Daily Reading & Meditation
 Don Schwager

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Christian Backgrounds

SAINT MARTHA Virgin (1st century)

 

Thursday, 29 July 2010

SAINT MARTHA
Virgin
(1st century)

     

  St. John tells us that "Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus," and yet but few glimpses are vouchsafed us of them. First, the sisters are set before us with a word. Martha received Jesus into her house, and was busy in outward, loving, lavish service, while Mary sat in silence at the feet she had bathed with her tears. Then, their brother is ill, and they send to Jesus, "Lord, he whom Thou lovest is sick." And in His own time the Lord came, and they go out to meet Him; and then follows that scene of unutterable tenderness and of sublimity unsurpassed: the silent waiting of Mary; Martha strong in faith, but realizing so vividly, with her practical turn of mind, the fact of death, and hesitating: "Canst Thou show Thy wonders in the grave?" And then once again, on the eve of His Passion, we see Jesus at Bethany. Martha, true to her character, is serving; Mary, as at first, pours the precious ointment, in adoration and love, on His divine head.

      

According the tradition we find the tomb of St. Martha, at Tarascon, in Provence. When the storm of persecution came, the family of Bethany, with a few companions, were put into a boat, without oars or sail, and borne to the coast of France. St. Mary's tomb is at St. Baume; St. Lazarus is venerated as the founder of the Church of Marseilles; and the memory of the virtues and labors of St. Martha is still fragrant at Avignon and Tarascon.

Reflection

When Martha received Jesus into her house, she was naturally busy in preparations for such a Guest. Mary sat at His feet, intent alone on listening to His gracious words. Her sister thought that the time required other service than this, and asked our Lord to bid Mary help in serving. Once again Jesus spoke in defence of Mary. "Martha, Martha," He said, "thou art lovingly anxious about many things; be not over-eager; do thy chosen work with recollectedness. Judge not Mary. Hers is the good part, the one only thing really necessary. Thine will be taken away, that something better be given thee." The life of action ceases when the body is laid down; but the life of contemplation endures and is perfected in heaven.

Daily Gospel

Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]

 

Bkg. by LovingHim
Christian Backgrounds

St Pantaleon, Martyr

Start:

Jul 27, '10

SAINT PANTALEON
Martyr
(† c. 303)

St. Pantaleon was physician to the Emperor Galerius Maximianus, and a Christian, but, deceived by often hearing the false maxims of the world applauded, was unhappily seduced into an apostasy. But a zealous Christian called Hermolaus awakened his conscience to a sense of his guilt, and brought him again into the fold of the Church.

The penitent ardently wished to expiate his crime by martyrdom; and to prepare himself for the conflict, when Diocletian's bloody persecution broke out at Nicomedia, in 303, he distributed all his possessions among the poor. Not long after this action he was taken up, and in his house were also apprehended Hermolaus, Hermippus, and Hermocrates. After suffering many torments, they were all condemned to lose their heads.

St. Pantaleon suffered the day after the rest. His relics were translated to Constantinople, and there kept with great honor. The greatest part of them are now shown in the abbey of St. Denys near Paris, but his head is at Lyons.
-Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894].

~www.dailygospel.org

Sts. Nazarius and Celsus, Martyrs, St. Victor, Pope and Martyr, St. Innocent I, Pope and Confessor

Start:

Jul 28, '10

SAINTS NAZARIUS and CELSUS
Martyrs
(1st century)

St. Nazarius' father was a heathen, and held a considerable post in the Roman army. His mother, Perpetua, was a zealous Christian, and was instructed by St. Peter, or his disciples, in the most perfect maxims of our holy faith. Nazarius embraced it with so much ardor that he copied in his life all the great virtues he saw in his teachers; and out of zeal for the salvation of others, he left Rome, his native city, and preached the Faith in many places with a fervor and disinterestedness becoming a disciple of the apostles.

Arriving at Milan, he was there beheaded for the Faith, together with Celsus, a youth whom he carried with him to assist him in his travels. These martyrs suffered soon after Nero had raised the first persecution. Their bodies were buried separately in a garden without the city, where they were discovered and taken up by St. Ambrose, in 395.

In the tomb of St. Nazarius, a vial of the Saint's blood was found as fresh and red as if it had been spilt that day. The faithful stained handkerchiefs with some drops, and also formed a certain paste with it, a portion of which St. Ambrose sent to St. Gaudentius, Bishop of Brescia.

St. Ambrose conveyed the bodies of the two martyrs into the new church of the apostles, which he had just built. A woman was delivered of an evil spirit in their presence. St. Ambrose sent some of these relics to St. Paulinus of Nola, who received them with great respect, as a most valuable present, as he testifies.
-Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894].


Saint Victor I
Pope and Martyr
(† 198)
Third Class

Pope St. Victor governed the Church in the time of the Emperor Severus. He confuted Theodotus Coriarius and wrote on the question of Easter.

Crowned with martyrdom, he was buried on Vatican hill on the fifth day before the Calends of August.
-The Roman Breviary (1964).


Saint Innocent I
Pope
(† 417)

Pope St. Innocent, after condemning Pelagius and Caelestius, issued a decree against their heresy.

His body was buried in the cemetery called "Ad Ursum pileatum" [Bear with the Cap.]
-The Roman Breviary (1964).


~www.dailygospel.org

The Word: Yes, I Believe

 

July 29, 2010 Saint Martha John 11: 19-27 And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise." Martha said to him, "I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world." Introductory Prayer Heavenly Father, once again I renew my faith in your plan for my life. I trust in your loving providence, and I know that no one can snatch me from your hands. You know well that I love you. I wish to be more open and docile to your plan and action in my life. Take this time that I now set aside for prayer. Take my mind, will and heart; take my gifts and talents. I lay them at your feet through this prayer. Do with me today according to your holy and loving plan. Amen. Petition Lord Jesus,  deepen my faith in your resurrection. 1. Do You Believe This? This is the fundamental question in our life of faith: do we, in fact, believe it all? Do we really believe that the human race was mysteriously subjected to the catastrophic consequences of our first parents’ disobedience to the divine will? Do we really believe what we say in the Creed every Sunday? Do we believe that Jesus of Nazareth died and rose from the dead to conquer sin, and now lives to draw all people to himself as their savior? The great challenge for the Christian in our thoroughly post-modern, post-Christian, technical age is to unabashedly say “Yes!” 2. Keep It Simple One of the greatest challenges in the Christian life is to keep our faith simple. Our tendency is toward sophistication and complication. While certainly the ability to think and reason well is a gift and has its place in the Christian life, we must be equally aware that the in-born tendency to rationalism can be a non-starter for a genuine life of faith. We cannot afford to fall into today’s error of trying to size God down according to our meager perceptions and self-centered attitudes. Christ is much more; God ways are far more sublime than what our limited vision can create. A simple faith is so pleasing to God because then he has leeway for his supernatural action. Then he can do something within us and through us. 3. Spiritual Finest Training This simple faith can and must launch us upward and outward in the task of bringing Christ’s love to every soul. Our simple faith can rapidly ignite and convert us into relentless apostles of the Kingdom, like St. Paul. We need to make his words our own: “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? (…) No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39). Conversation with Christ   Lord Jesus, give me strength to bear the burden of drawing others closer to you. Let me feel, with St. Paul, the sting of “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!” And when I do set out to give others reasons for my faith, accompany me with your Holy Spirit to give success to my poor efforts. Resolution   For love of Jesus, I will renew, refresh and invigorate the act of faith with which I begin every day in my morning offering. Challenge For love of Jesus, renew your daily act of faith. Father Alex Yeung, LC Catholic.net

 

 

The Word: Baffling Images?

July 26, 2010

Memorial of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Matthew 13:31-35

Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds. "The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches." He spoke to them another parable. "The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened." All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world.

Introductory Prayer

  Lord, I come into your presence seeking to know you better. I believe that you take the lead in seeking me. You want me to find you. I trust that in your mercy you will bring me to intimacy with you. I open my heart today to receive your friendship.

Petition

Lord, teach me to long for your Kingdom and your holiness.

1. Silently Becoming Strong
The Kingdom of Christ is not a very visible and flashy organization in the world. It is above all a spiritual force. It works quietly yet powerfully in the hearts of those who receive it. By living faith, hope and charity, Christians discover that the generous response to the voice of Christ in their consciences builds a life that has strength and substance. Living the Christian faith makes a person strong in the midst of difficulties and even able to sustain others in their life’s journey.

Am I allowing the Kingdom to grow in my heart in such a way that I can quietly sustain others by my values and my charity?

2. Hidden Expansion
As we allow Christ to reign in our hearts more each day, we find that his influence affects not only our internal attitudes but also the people around us. This world becomes more of a caring, compassionate place. Truth is sown. People are reminded of God’s presence and love. This world becomes more a place where others can find God. It is a quiet transformation of the world, but relentless, like the rising of the dough through the action of yeast.

Am I constant in allowing the values of the Kingdom to transform the way I deal with others?

Do I have confidence in the transforming power of the Gospel?

3. Revealing Hidden Secrets
By speaking in in parables Christ helps us understand that God’s kingdom is real and accessible. God has a plan to reign in our hearts, and the fulfillment of this plan is within our reach through his grace. The secret to fruitfulness in our lives lies in our openness and cooperation with God’s grace. It is within our grasp if we would exercise our faith. Christ has come to open our horizons to God’s grace.

Are we showing our thankfulness by doing his will?

Conversation with Christ

  Lord, I believe in your kingdom. I know that it continues to grow by the power of your grace. Help me to work with confidence today, knowing that by sowing with faith, hope and love, I am allowing you to do great things in the world around me.

Resolution

Today I will speak of God’s goodness explicitly with someone whom I meet.

Challenge

Today, speak of God’s love to someone.




Father Ernest Daly, LC
Catholic.net

Picture of Mustard Tree

from Flickr.com

Bkg. Courtesy Of  Christian Backgrounds

Sonntags-Evangelium nach Lukas-u.Kommentar 25.07.10

Evangelium nach Lukas 11,1-13.

Jesus betete einmal an einem Ort; und als er das Gebet beendet hatte, sagte einer seiner Jünger zu ihm: Herr, lehre uns beten, wie schon Johannes seine Jünger beten gelehrt hat. Da sagte er zu ihnen: Wenn ihr betet, so sprecht: Vater, dein Name werde geheiligt. Dein Reich komme. Gib uns täglich das Brot, das wir brauchen. Und erlaß uns unsere Sünden; denn auch wir erlassen jedem, was er uns schuldig ist. Und führe uns nicht in Versuchung. Dann sagte er zu ihnen: Wenn einer von euch einen Freund hat und um Mitternacht zu ihm geht und sagt: Freund, leih mir drei Brote; denn einer meiner Freunde, der auf Reisen ist, ist zu mir gekommen, und ich habe ihm nichts anzubieten!, wird dann etwa der Mann drinnen antworten: Laß mich in Ruhe, die Tür ist schon verschlossen, und meine Kinder schlafen bei mir; ich kann nicht aufstehen und dir etwas geben? Ich sage euch: Wenn er schon nicht deswegen aufsteht und ihm seine Bitte erfüllt, weil er sein Freund ist, so wird er doch wegen seiner Zudringlichkeit aufstehen und ihm geben, was er braucht. Darum sage ich euch: Bittet, dann wird euch gegeben; sucht, dann werdet ihr finden; klopft an, dann wird euch geöffnet. Denn wer bittet, der empfängt; wer sucht, der findet; und wer anklopft, dem wird geöffnet. Oder ist unter euch ein Vater, der seinem Sohn eine Schlange gibt, wenn er um einen Fisch bittet, oder einen Skorpion, wenn er um ein Ei bittet? Wenn nun schon ihr, die ihr böse seid, euren Kindern gebt, was gut ist, wieviel mehr wird der Vater im Himmel den Heiligen Geist denen geben, die ihn bitten.

Auszug aus der liturgischen Übersetzung der Bibel

Kommentar des heutigen Evangeliums

Johannes Paul II
Dives in misericordia, Kap. 8,15

«Wenn nun schon ihr, die ihr böse seid, euren Kindern zu geben pflegt, was gut ist - um wieviel mehr der Vater im Himmel?»


Je mehr das menschliche Bewusstsein der Säkularisierung erliegt und so den Sinn sogar für die Wortbedeutung von « Erbarmen » verliert, je mehr es sich von Gott entfernt und somit auch vom Geheimnis des Erbarmens, desto mehr hat die Kirche das Recht und die Pflicht, „mit lautem Schreien“ den Gott des Erbarmens anzurufen. Dieses „laute Schreien“ muss gerade die Kirche unserer Zeit kennzeichnen...

Der Mensch von heute stellt sich oft die angsterfüllte Frage nach der Lösung der entsetzlichen Spannungen, die sich über der Welt zusammengeballt haben und das Leben der Menschen durchziehen. Und wenn er manchmal nicht den Mut hat, das Wort „Erbarmen“ auszusprechen, oder in einem areligiösen Bewusstsein auch kein entsprechendes findet, muss es die Kirche umso nachdrücklicher aussprechen, nicht nur in ihrem eigenen Namen, sondern auch im Namen aller Menschen von heute. Es ist also notwendig, dass es ununterbrochen zu einem inbrünstigen Gebet wird, zu einem Aufschrei, der das göttliche Erbarmen anfleht entsprechend den Notwendigkeiten des Menschen in der Welt von heute.

Dieser Schrei muss die ganze Fülle der Wahrheit über das Erbarmen in sich tragen, welche in der Schrift und in der Tradition sowie im authentischen Glaubensleben so vieler Generationen des Volkes Gottes so reichen Ausdruck gefunden hat. Mit diesem Schrei wenden wir uns, wie die Beter des Alten Bundes, an Gott, der nichts von dem, was er geschaffen hat, verachten kann, der sich selbst, seinem Vater-sein und seiner Liebe treu ist

FREUDE

Die Seele nährt sich von dem, worüber sie sich freut.

Hl. Augustinus

The Word: "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you"

Luke 11:1-13     He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." And he said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation."      And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves;  for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him';  and he will answer from within, `Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything'? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Meditation Do you pray with joy and confidence? The Jews were noted for their devotion to prayer. Formal prayer was prescribed for three set times a day. And the rabbis had a prayer for every occasion. It was also a custom for rabbis to teach their disciples a simple prayer they might use on a regular basis. Jesus' disciples ask him for such a prayer. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray he gave them the disciple's prayer, what we call the Our Father or Lord's Prayer. What does Jesus' prayer tell us about God and about ourselves? First, it tells us that God is both Father in being the Creator and Author of all that he has made, the first origin of everything and transcendent authority, and he is eternally Father by his relationship to his only Son who, reciprocally is Son only in relation to his Father. (Matthew 11:27) All fatherhood and motherhood is derived from him. (Ephesians 3:14-15) In Christ we are reborn and become the adopted children of God. (John 1:12-13; 3:3) Jesus teaches us to address God as "our Father" and to confidently ask him for the things we need to live as his sons and daughters. We can approach God our Father with confidence and boldness because Jesus Christ has opened the way to heaven for us through his death and resurrection. When we ask God for help, he fortunately does not give us what we deserve. Instead, he responds with grace and mercy. He is kind and forgiving towards us and he expects us to treat our neighbor the same. We can pray with expectant faith because our heavenly Father loves us and treats us as his children. He delights to give us what is good. His love and grace transforms us and makes us like himself. Through his grace and power we can love and serve one another as Jesus taught -- with grace, mercy, and loving-kindness. Do you treat others as they deserve, or do you treat them as the Lord would with grace and mercy? Jesus' prayer includes an injunction that we must ask God to forgive us in proportion as we forgive those who have wronged us. Are you ready to forgive as Jesus forgives? What can we expect from God, especially when we recognize that he doesn't owe us anything and that we don't deserve his grace and favor? Jesus used the illustration of late-night guest to teach his listeners an important lesson about how God treats us in contrast to the kind of treatment we might expect from good neighbors. The rule of hospitality in biblical times required the cooperation of the entire community in entertaining an unexpected or late-night guest. Whether the guest was hungry or not, a meal would be served. In a small village it would be easy to know who had baked bread. Bread was essential for a meal because it served as a utensil for dipping and eating from the common dishes. Asking for bread from one's neighbor was both a common occurrence and an expected favor. To refuse to give bread would bring shame because it was a sign of inhospitality. If a neighbor can be imposed upon and coerced into giving bread in the middle of the night, how much more hospitable is God, who, no matter what the circumstances, is generous and gracious to give us what we need. In conclusion Jesus makes a startling claim: How much more will the heavenly Father give! The Lord is ever ready to give us not only what we need, but more than we can expect. He gives freely of his Holy Spirit that we may share in his life and joy. Do you approach your heavenly Father with confidence in his mercy and kindness? "Heaven Father, you are merciful, gracious and kind. May I never doubt your love nor hesitate to seek you with confidence in order to obtain the gifts, graces, and daily provision I need to live as your disciple and child." Psalm 138 I give thee thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing thy praise;  I bow down toward thy holy temple and give thanks to thy name for thy steadfast love and thy  faithfulness;  for thou hast exalted above everything thy name and thy word.  On the day I called, thou didst answer me, my strength of soul thou didst increase.  All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, for they have heard the words of thy mouth;  and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.  For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he knows from afar.  Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou dost preserve my life;  thou dost stretch out thy hand against the wrath of my enemies, and thy right hand delivers me.  The LORD will fulfil his purpose for me; thy steadfast love, O LORD, endures for ever.  Do not forsake the work of thy hands. Daily Reading & Meditation Don Schwager   A Bee Bg

 

 

 

St. John the Baptist Parish Church

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH CHURCH
CALAMBA, LAGUNA
PHILIPPINES


JULY 8, 2009




John the Baptist was a Jewish preacher in the time of Pontius Pilate (AD 26-36). He called the people to repentance and to a renewal of their covenant relation with God. He was imprisoned and eventually put to death by Herod Antipas (son of Herod the Great, who was king when Jesus was born) for denouncing Herod's marriage to Herodias, the wife of his still-living brother Philip. In order to marry Herodias, Herod divorced his first wife, the daughter of King Aretas of Damascus, who subsequently made war on Herod, a war which, Josephus tells us, was regarded by devout Jews as a punishment for Herod's murder of the prophet John.
In the Book of Acts, we find sermons about Jesus which mention His Baptism by John as the beginning of His public ministry (see Acts 10:37; 11:16; 13:24). We also find accounts (see Acts 18:24; 19:3) of devout men in Greece who had received the baptism of John, and who gladly received the full message of the Gospel of Christ when it was told them.

Luke begins his Gospel by describing an aged, devout, childless couple, the priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth. As Zechariah is serving in the Temple, he sees the angel Gabriel, who tells him that he and his wife will have a son who will be a great prophet, and will go before the Lord "like Elijah." (The Jewish tradition had been that Elijah would herald the coming of the Messiah = Christ = Annointed = Chosen of God.) Zechariah went home, and his wife conceived. About six months later, Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary, a kinswoman of Elizabeth, and told her that she was about to bear a son who would be called Son of the Most High, a king whose kingdom would never end. Thus Elizabeth gave birth to John, and Mary gave birth six months later to Jesus.

After describing the birth of John, Luke says that he grew, and "was in the wilderness until the day of his showing to Israel." The people of the Qumran settlement, which produced the Dead Sea Scrolls, sometime use the term "living in the wilderness" to refer to residing in their community at Qumran near the Dead Sea. Accordingly, it has been suggested that John spent some of his early years being educated at Qumran.

All of the gospels tell us that John preached and baptized beside the Jordan river, in the wilderness of Judea. He called on his hearers to repent of their sins, be baptized, amend their lives, and prepare for the coming of the Kingship of God. He spoke of one greater than himself who was to come after. Jesus came to be baptized, and John told some of his disciples, "This is the man I spoke of." After His baptism by John, Jesus began to preach, and attracted many followers. In fact, many who had been followers of John left him to follow Jesus. Some of John's followers resented this, but he told them: "This is as it should be. My mission is to proclaim the Christ. The groomsman, the bridegroom's friend, who makes the wedding arrangements for the bridegroom, is not jealous of the bridegroom. No more am I of Jesus. He must increase, and I must decrease." (John 3:22-30)

The Word: Rolling Up the Sleeves and Gathering the Sheaves

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July 24, 2010 Saturday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 13: 24-30 Jesus proposed another parable to them. "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. The slaves of the householder came to him and said, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?' He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' His slaves said to him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' He replied, 'No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, "First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn."'" Introductory Prayer Lord, I believe in your Church. I believe that it is the sacrament of salvation, and that you have chosen to lead me to heaven. Lord, I hope in you. I hope in you because you have gone to prepare a place for me in heaven. Lord, I love you because you loved me first. I love you for giving yourself up for me on the cross. Petition Forgive me, Lord, for offending you, and help me to make reparation. 1. Verdant Farm or Barren Wasteland? Lord, you have given me the gift of Baptism and of being your child. “Baptism is God's most beautiful and magnificent gift” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1216). This gift you have given me is something that I do not deserve. I was born with original sin, and yet, out of your infinite goodness and mercy, you have chosen to nourish my barren field and offer me the Kingdom of heaven. Through the life-giving waters of the sacrament of Baptism, you have taken my field that used to be wasteland and desert and have made it flourish. You have sown wheat in my field so that it may yield abundant fruit. 2. A Tainted Field? Lord, even though you have grafted me into your family through Baptism, there are times when I forget the goal of my life, which is heaven. I am weak, and because of my weakness, at times I taint my field with weeds. “Certain temporal consequences of sin remain in the baptized, such as suffering, illness, death, and such frailties inherent in life as weaknesses of character, and so on, as well as an inclination to sin that Tradition calls concupiscence, or metaphorically, ‘the tinder for sin’ (fomes peccati); since concupiscence ‘is left for us to wrestle with, it cannot harm those who do not consent but manfully resist it by the grace of Jesus Christ.’ Indeed, ‘an athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1264). 3. God Never Gives Up on Me Lord, even though I have let weeds grow in my field where there was once only wheat, you have given me time to let the good grain grow. You know that all is not lost. There is still hope, and there is still time. Even though I have offended you because of my sins, and even though I have not conquered myself and my tendency to sin, I still experience your love and your mercy. You have not given up on me, although it seems to me that I have often given up on myself. You have given me the gift of time for me to weed my field and to increase the good wheat that is within it, so that the harvest I bear may be fruitful and rich. Conversation with Christ Lord, thank you for the gift of your mercy. Thank you for being patient with me, for loving me for who I am, and for encouraging me to continue to grow as I should. Resolution I shall take some time to prepare to make a good confession. Challenge Prepare to make a good confession. Father Robert DeCesare, LC Catholic.net     A Bee Bg

 

 

 

PRAYER REQUEST FOR COMPLETE HEALING

Sept. 22, 2009


My dear brothers and sisters, I am asking for prayers. Please help me pray for complete healing.




MRI OF THE CERVICAL SPINE RESULT


Severe spinal canal and bilateral neural foraminal stenosis, C6/C7 secondary to central and both paracentral disc protrusion.

Spinal canal and bilateral neural foraminal stenosis, C4/C5 and C5/C6 secondary to central and both paracentral disc bulge.

Disc dessication, C3-T1

Degenerative disc disease, C6/C7




Yesterday, I went to St. Luke's Hospital and consulted  an Orthopedic Surgeon. After evaluation of my medical history, and my latest MRI, the doctor said, 50%, of my feet is on surgery. This is a very delicate surgery
.
One replacement of one disc will cost me $10 thousand. If I choose the other option, they will get a bone on my hip, transplant it and put a plate to keep it in place, the plate will cost me P200 thousand. The effect is not as good as the no.1 option because I can not move it so freely. The doctor's fee will vary to the extent of the damage of my spinal disc and on how delicate the procedure will be.

I asked the consequence if I will not undergo surgery. The doctor said, eventually, my lower extremities will be numb and can not do it's functions anymore. I will have terrible pains that in time, no pain killers can relieve it but morphine or sedatives to make me sleep (maybe 5 yrs. from now, according to my doctor)

The surgery, according to the doctor is not 100% safe as all doctors say. If I will undergo surgery, I will put my family in great financial obligations. After the surgery I might be in a coma or be paralyzed, who knows?

You might think, I am being negative, no, I am just being real. I just like to serve the Lord in the smallest way of spreading His Words to the last drop of my blood.

Doctors, are human beings too. They have limitations and they are also susceptible for mistakes like us, even how great they are in their field but OUR GREAT DOCTOR IS ALMIGHTY, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR AND DO ONLY GOOD THINGS FOR HIS CHILDREN.

I DECIDED NOT TO UNDERGO SURGERY BECAUSE I HOLD ON TO OUR GOD'S PROMISE THAT HE WILL TAKE CARE OF HIS PEOPLE.


Thank you for having time to read this post, and praying for me....so help me God!

♥ ♥ ♥

Bkg. Courtesy of Aalie