WHISPER JESUS - John Starnes at his best in a truly GREAT worship song

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Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

Wednesday, August 24, 2011





Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:

1st. Reading:  Revelation 21:9b-14
2nd. Reading:  Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18

Gospel:  John 1:45-51


Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”  Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”  Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”  Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”  Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”  Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”  And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”



A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Most of us appreciate a person who is straightforward, one who is reliable.

Life becomes complicated when you're working with a person who is otherwise. Your level of trust can waiver. We get an example of this at election time. We spend a lot of time just trying to figure out if the candidates are consistent in their behavior, if their promises match their past behavior.

Young children are wonderful that way. Generally they tell it like it is, whether we want to hear it or not. Questions like: "why does your neck look like a turkey?" help you realize the aging process is moving along. They are not subtle or "politically correct." It's refreshing!

In the gospel reading for today we hear that "Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him" and said of him: "Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him." (John 1:47)

If we are to be a follower of Jesus, who is truth itself, we need to take the challenge very seriously, that we too, like Nathanael, are consistent in our behavior. We might fool those around us for awhile, but eventually the truth comes out.




::: Joan of Jesus, OCDS
The Catholic Calendar
and Daily Meditation
 

 


Bkg. Courtesy of
Christian Backgrounds

 

 

Herzlichen Glückwunsch liebe Heidi

  Liebe Heidina  

Mitten im "Packen" will ich es nicht versäumen, dir von ganzem Herzen zu deinem Geburtstag zu gratulieren!

Möge dir Gottes Schutz und Gnade in deinem neuen Lebensjahr weiterhin in guter Gesundheit,

Zufriedenheit und Freude im Herzen geschenkt sein!

Für reichlich Sonne hat Petrus gesorgt- und in diesem Sinne wünschen wir dir einen wunderbaren Geburtstag!

Mit frohen und ganz herzlichen Grüssen

deine Liliane  und Heinz  mit  Suny

ZU MARIA HIMMELFAHRT

Maria Himmelfahrt

Welche Bedeutung hat Maria für uns heute?

Neue und zeitgemässe religiöse Erfahrungen, die zum christlichen Glauben führen, haben mit den Grundkräften des Menschen zu tun. In Jesus hat sich ganz besonders die Barmherzigkeit Gottes, das Mitgefühl, die Zärtlichkeit und Zuwendung Gottes gezeigt. Im besonderen Masse finden wir diese Kräfte in einer liebenden Mutter, die das Kind schützt, es zärtlich berührt, in Gebet, Gedanken und Taten unterstützt und begleitet. Durch ein Kind kommt immer etwas Neues in die Welt. Diese Liebe der Mutter zum Sohn (oder zur Tochter) ist in der Liebe Jesu zu den Menschen aufgeblüht.

Das Christentum überzeugt(e) dort, wo es diese konkrete Liebe Gottes zur Entfaltung bringt und brachte. Die Entfaltung der christlichen Religion vollzieht sich deswegen überall dort, wo Menschen dieser Liebe Einfluss gewähren. Das Betrachten der Muttergottes, das Vertrauen auf ihre Fürsprache und die Meditation über ihr Austragen und Mittragen des göttlichen Sohnes bilden Öffnungen, wodurch Christus selber auch heute in die Welt kommt. Die gesunde Maria-Verehrung ermöglicht demnach eine fortlaufende und damit gegenwärtige Offenbarung Christi. Maria war offen für das Neue. Sie vermittelt, ermöglicht Offenheit und Bereitschaft.

Wer sich mit Maria verbindet, verbindet sich mit Christus. Ein solcher Mensch darf Heil und Heiligung an Leib und Seele erfahren. Er bringt seinen göttlichen Geist in Einklang mit der göttlich-geistigen Welt. Auf diesem Hintergrunde ist auch die Weihe unserer Kirche in Wolfwil zu sehen. Wir feiern unsere Würde als Menschen mit Leib, Seele und Geist. Wir feiern letztlich, dass wir in der Liebe Gottes bleiben und diese in Ewigkeit mit uns ist. Wir feiern unsere Erhaltung und „Erneuerung“ durch Gott.

 Pfr. Urs-Beat Fringeli

Geschichte des Festes

Schon früh glaubten die Christen. dass Maria, die Mutter Jesu,  am Ende ihres Lebens mit Leib und Seele in die Herrlichkeit Gottes aufgenommen wurde. Diese Vorstellung betont die besondere Würde, die Maria als Mutter des Herrn zusteht und ihren Anteil am Werk und der Erlösungstat ihres Sohnes.

Durch ihr JA konnte die Menschwerdung Gottes geschehen, in ihr und durch sie konnte Jesus geboren werden.

So findet man Hinweise auf den Festgedanken von Maria Himmelfahrt schon in der Frühzeit der Kirche. Bereits beim Konzil von Ephesus in Jahre 431 wurde Maria der Titel „Gottesgebärerin“ zugestanden. Die römische Kirche feiert das Fest seit dem 7. Jahrhundert.

Die Wurzeln dieses Festes reichen bis in ins 5. Jahrhundert zurück. Es betont die besondere Würde, die die Gemeinschaft der Kirche Maria schon seit je her zugedacht hat.

Durch die Verkündigung des Dogmas von der leiblichen, also ganzheitlichen Aufnahme Mariens in den Himmel im Jahre 1950 wurde seine Bedeutung nochmals gestärkt.

Darstellungen von Maria Himmelfahrt sind jenen von Christi Himmelfahrt teilweise sehr ähnlich. Luft, „Wolken“, umgeben die Gestalt von Maria, die sich zum Himmel aufschwingt.

Mystische Bedeutung

Das Fest Maria Himmelfahrt verweist aber nicht nur auf Maria und ihre zentrale Rolle, es weist weit über sich hinaus. In ihm wird exemplarisch deutlich, wozu wir letztlich alle berufen sind: Wir alle sind Gottes- bzw. Christusträgerinnen- und gebärerinnen und haben, Maria gleich, Anteil am Werk Jesu und dürfen somit auch auf Aufnahme in den Himmel am Ende unseres Lebens hoffen.

Angelus Silesius hat diesen Gedanken von der Geburt Christi in jedem einzelnen  Menschen in wunderbare Worte gefasst:

„Und wäre Christus tausendmal in Betlehem geboren, und nicht in dir, du wärst doch ewiglich verloren.“    

                                                                            

 

MEDITATIONS ON HOPE FOR TODAY ( AUG. 14)

Start:

Aug 14, '11

The heart knows the direction it must go in,
in order to further the purposes of wholeness.

Enter the silence and ask your deepest heart
what is most important.
Be aware, listen, trust.




MEDITATIONS ON HOPE
and Transformation

The Word: "Great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire."

Aug 12, '11 8:01 PM for masuzette's contacts

Sunday (August 14)




Matthew 15:21-28

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us."  He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.




Meditation

Do you ever feel "put-off" or ignored by the Lord?

This passage describes the only occasion in which Jesus ministered outside of Jewish territory. (Tyre and Sidon were fifty miles north of Israel and still exist today in modern Lebanon.) A Gentile woman, a foreigner who was not a member of the Jewish people, puts Jesus on the spot by pleading for his help. She addressed Jesus as Lord and Son of David. She recognized that Jesus was God's annoined one who would bring healing and salvation, not only to the people of Israel, but to the Gentiles as well. She asks Jesus to show mercy and compassion to her tormented daughter. At first Jesus seemed to pay no attention to her, and this made his disciples feel embarrassed. Jesus does this to test the woman to awaken faith in her.

When she persisted in asking Jesus to heal her daughter, Jesus answered by saying one shouldn't take food prepared for their children and throw it to the dogs.

What did Jesus mean by this expression?

 The Jews often spoke of the Gentiles as "unclean dogs" since they worshipped idols, offered sacrifices to demons, and rejected the true God. For the Greeks the "dog" was a symbol of dishonor and was used to describe a shameless and audacious woman.

Matthew 7:6 records the expression: do not give dogs what is holy. Jesus was sent from the Father in heaven to first feed the children of Israel with the true bread of life that would bring healing, reconciliation, and lasting union with God. This humble Canaanite woman was not put-off by Jesus' refusal to give her what she asked for. In desparation and hope for her tormented child, she pleads with Jesus to give some of the "crumbs that fall from the table" to the "little dogs".


    "See her humility as well as her faith! For he had called the Jews 'children,' but she was not satisfied with this. She even called them 'masters,' so far was she from grieving at the praises of others. She said, 'Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table.' Behold the woman's wisdom! She did not venture so much as to say a word against anyone else. She was not stung to see others praised, nor was she indignant to be reproached. Behold her constancy. When he answered, 'It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs,' she said, 'Yes, Lord.' He called them 'children,' but she called them 'masters.' He used the name of a dog, but she described the action of a dog.

Do you see the woman's humility? ...Do you see how this woman, too, contributed not a little to the healing of her daughter?

For note that Christ did not say, 'Let your little daughter be made whole,' but 'Great is your faith, be it done for you as you desire.' These words were not uttered at random, nor were they flattering words, but great was the power of her faith, and for our learning. He left the certain test and demonstration, however, to the issue of events. Her daughter accordingly was immediately healed." [The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 52.3]

Jesus praised this woman for her faith and for her love because she made the misery of her child her own. She was willing to suffer rejection in order to obtain healing for her loved one. She also had indomitable persistence. Her faith grew in contact with the person of Jesus. She began with a request and she ended on her knees in worshipful prayer to the living God. No one who ever sought Jesus with faith – whether Jew or Gentile – was refused his help.

Do you seek Jesus with expectant faith?



"Lord Jesus, your love and mercy knows no bounds. May I trust you always and pursue you with indomitable persistence as this woman did. Increase my faith in your saving power and deliver me for all evil and harm. "




Psalm 67:1-7

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, [Selah]
2 that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. [Selah]
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us.
7 God has blessed us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!






Daily Reading & Meditation
 Don Schwager

Bible Picture by Sis. Mareesha

 Bkg. by LovingHim
Christian Backgrounds

 

MEDITATIONS ON HOPE FOR TODAY ( AUG. 12)

Start:

Aug 12, '11

The wholeness and beauty of who you are is meant
to shine as a star.
There is no part of you that is not of God.
Allow all parts to join in sacredness.




MEDITATIONS ON HOPE
and Transformation

The Word: Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Friday, August 12, 2011
St. Jane Frances de Chantal





First Reading: Joshua 24:1-13

Second Reading: Psalm 136:1-3, 16-18, 21-22 and 24



Gospel: Matthew 19:3-12

Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’[b]? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”



A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Whoever can accept this teaching ought to do so.

Jesus didn't always, or even often, preach what was nice and easy. As Tina Turner would say, God's word is often "nice and rough." That is, some of the things He has to teach us we have a hard time accepting. We either do not listen or listen in such a way as we hear only what we want to hear.

This is true for each of us in different ways. Some find this teaching on divorce difficult; some find difficult His teaching on how to treat one's neighbor or who one's neighbor is. Each of us is wounded in a unique way and that will make certain teachings hard.

But nothing is too hard with God. God sends us this message over and over again. Jesus, who had a choice in the matter, was able to endure the hardest, most difficult death with God's help. And so it is true of these teachings that disturb us. If we are willing to accept the hard teaching, even if we cannot do so on our own, He will help us. No teaching is too hard, no command impossible, because He is there to help us every step of the way.






 

The Catholic Calendar
and Daily Meditation

 


Bkg. Courtesy of
Christian Backgrounds

MEDITATIONS ON HOPE FOR TODAY ( AUG. 11)

Start:

Aug 11, '11

Beloved, you are a vast being with many
levels of awareness.
For this reason, it is possible to long for something
with the conscious mind, while desiring something
different at the level of the soul.

When this happens, what you wish for may
not take place.
This is because a higher part of you is directing
the flow toward a greater good.


MEDITATIONS ON HOPE
and Transformation

The Word: Monday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

 Monday, August 8, 2011
St. Dominic, priest, founder of the Order of Preachers






Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:

1st. Reading: Numbers 12:1-13
2nd. Reading: Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 6cd-7, 12-13


Gospel

 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said.   Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

(Matthew 14:22-36)



A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today's First Reading, Moses asks the Israelites, "What does the LORD, your God, ask of you?" It is a question not just for the House of Israel, but for us, too.

Without knowing exactly the answer Moses proffered, what answer would YOU give?

It might be an expansive answer like, "Love God and love my neighbor," or something more specific like, "Put down the laptop and do the laundry."

It isn't hard to uncover ways to love our neighbor. But what about loving God? How do we do that?

What can we give to God, the unimaginable, all-powerful One who created and "owns" all things?

Doesn't He already have and exercise dominion over everything?

There is only one thing that God does not own, unless we give it to Him. It is our love, our heart, our will. Knowing that, will we withhold our love from God, He Who has already given us everything that He has, including His Heart, His Love, His Will?










Donna Raye Nelson, OCDS
The Catholic Calendar
and Daily Meditation
 



Bkg. Courtesy Of
Christian Backgrounds

Sonntags-Evangelium nach Matthäus- u. Kommentar 07.08.11

Evangelium nach Matthäus 14,22-33.

Gleich darauf forderte er die Jünger auf, ins Boot zu steigen und an das andere Ufer vorauszufahren. Inzwischen wollte er die Leute nach Hause schicken.
Nachdem er sie weggeschickt hatte, stieg er auf einen Berg, um in der Einsamkeit zu beten. Spät am Abend war er immer noch allein auf dem Berg.
Das Boot aber war schon viele Stadien vom Land entfernt und wurde von den Wellen hin und her geworfen; denn sie hatten Gegenwind.
In der vierten Nachtwache kam Jesus zu ihnen; er ging auf dem See.
Als ihn die Jünger über den See kommen sahen, erschraken sie, weil sie meinten, es sei ein Gespenst, und sie schrien vor Angst.
Doch Jesus begann mit ihnen zu reden und sagte: Habt Vertrauen, ich bin es; fürchtet euch nicht!
Darauf erwiderte ihm Petrus: Herr, wenn du es bist, so befiehl, daß ich auf dem Wasser zu dir komme.
Jesus sagte: Komm! Da stieg Petrus aus dem Boot und ging über das Wasser auf Jesus zu.
Als er aber sah, wie heftig der Wind war, bekam er Angst und begann unterzugehen. Er schrie: Herr, rette mich!
Jesus streckte sofort die Hand aus, ergriff ihn und sagte zu ihm: Du Kleingläubiger, warum hast du gezweifelt?
Und als sie ins Boot gestiegen waren, legte sich der Wind.
Die Jünger im Boot aber fielen vor Jesus nieder und sagten: Wahrhaftig, du bist Gottes Sohn.

Auszug aus der liturgischen Übersetzung der Bibel 

Kommentar zum heutigen Evangelium 

Hl. Johannes Chrysostomos (ca. 345-407), Priester in Antiochia und später Bischof von Konstantinopel, Kirchenlehrer 

Homilien zum Matthäusevangelium, Nr. 50, 1-2 

«O du Kleingläubiger, warum hast du gezweifelt?»

Die Jünger sind wieder Spielzeug der Wellen und ein weiterer Sturm, dem ersten gleich (Mt 8,24), bricht los. Damals hatten sie jedoch Jesus bei sich im Boot, während sie diesmal allein und sich selber überlassen sind... Ich glaube, dass der Retter auf diese Weise ihre Herzen wieder beleben wollte, die schläfrig geworden waren. Er versetzte sie in Todesangst, verstärkte in ihnen das Verlangen nach seiner Anwesenheit und bewirkte, dass sie ständig an ihn dachten. Deshalb kam er ihnen auch nicht sofort zu Hilfe, sondern „kam in der vierten Nachtwache zu ihnen; er ging auf dem See“...

Petrus, der immer temperamentvoll und den anderen Jüngern immer einen Schritt voraus war, sagte zu ihm: „Herr, wenn du es bist, so befiehl, dass ich auf dem Wasser zu dir komme“... Er sagte nicht zu ihm: „Befiel, dass ich auf dem Wasser gehen soll“, sondern: „dass ich zu dir kommen soll“; denn keiner liebte Jesus so wie er. Nach der Auferstehung Jesu tat er dasselbe: er konnte es nicht ertragen, nicht schneller als die anderen zu sein: So sprang er in das Wasser, um ihnen zuvor zu kommen und seiner Liebe zu Christus zu genügen... Petrus stieg also aus dem Kahn und ging auf Jesus zu, glücklicher darüber, ihm näher zu kommen als darüber, auf dem Wasser gehen zu können. Als er aber mit der größten Gefahr, nämlich der, die von dem Wasser ausging, fertig geworden war, fiel er einer weniger großen Gefahr, nämlich der, die ihm vom Sturm drohte, beinahe zum Opfer. So ist die menschliche Natur: wir überstehen ernste Gefahren und erliegen dann kleineren Gefahren... Petrus war noch nicht frei von jeglicher Angst, obwohl Christus in seiner Nähe war. Es nützt also nichts, Christus neben sich zu haben, wenn man ihm nicht durch den Glauben nahe ist. Das machte deutlich, welche Distanz zwischen dem Meister und dem Jünger bestand...

„O du Kleingläubiger, warum zweifelst du? Wenn sein Glaube nicht schwächer geworden wäre, hätte Petrus den Wind leicht aushalten können. Und der Beweis dafür: Jesus greift nach Petrus und lässt den Wind weiter wehen... Christus verfährt mit Petrus wir eine Vogelmutter mit ihrem Jungen, das sich vorzeitig daran gemacht hat, das Nest zu verlassen und nun herauszufallen droht: sie hält es mit ihren Flügeln fest und bringt es ins Nest zurück.

The Word: Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Wednesday

August 3, 2011

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:

Exodus 34:29-35
Psalm 99:5, 6, 7, 9
Matthew 13:44-46

 

 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."

(Matthew 13:44-46A)

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

It's gratifying to hear stories of parental sacrifice for children. We become horrified when the opposite is true. Jesus knew the depth of love the Canaanite woman had for her daughter as she persevered in requesting help from Jesus.

In an era when we expect "instant" everything, with drive-thru's for food and banking, with text messages and more, we have fewer occasions in life to be patient and to persevere in our prayer life. Jesus challenged the faith of the Canaanite woman and He rewarded her by healing her daughter.

We realize that Jesus knows our needs even before we recognize them ourselves. He waits for us to turn toward Him always, not just because of our needs, but because it is the relationship that is of primary importance. He does not force Himself on any of us.

Let us not miss the opportunities life provides to turn to Him as His heart is open to us around the clock. What a friend!

The Catholic Calendar
and Daily Meditation

Bkg. Courtesy of Aalie

Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Start:

Aug 1, '11

St. Alphonsus Liguori, bishop and doctor of the Church


Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:

Numbers 11:4b-15
Psalm 81:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

Matthew 14:22-36


22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.



A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Again Holy Scripture reminds us of something very important, namely to stop complaining and be grateful.

Being grateful doesn't mean we pretend that things are perfect but recognize that they could always be much worse and are happy they're not.

The Israelites quickly forgot that they had been delivered from Pharaoh and that the Lord had worked great wonders in their midst. All they could think of was their bellies and how much they longed for food that would please them. They were as Thoreau said,"Determined to be starved before they were hungry."

God sent them manna from heaven, and like ungrateful children, they turned up their noses wanting something better.

Are we like that, always complaining about everything, or are we mindful of the great wonders the Lord has worked for us?

If we are not, we risk falling into a serious state - forgetful of God's goodness and lacking thankfulness for it.



The Catholic Calendar
and Daily Meditation