THE WORD: "The foolish will miss heaven’s wedding feast."

Matthew 25:1-13 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, `Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise replied, `Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut.  Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, `Lord, lord, open to us.'  But he replied, `Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Meditation Are you missing out on what's most important in life? Being unprepared can lead to unnecessary trouble and even disaster! What good is a life-jacket left on the shore when the boat is sinking? Jesus’story of ten single ladies waiting for a wedding procession in the middle of the night seems strange to most westerners today. But Jesus' audience knew all too well how easily this could happen to them. Wedding customs in ancient Palestine required extra vigilance and preparation for everyone involved. (Some near eastern villages still follow this custom.) The bride and groom did not go away for their honeymoon, but celebrated for a whole week with their family and friends. It was the custom for the groom, in company with his friends, to come at his discretion and get his bride and bring her to their new home. They would take the longest route possible so that many villagers along the way could join in the wedding procession. Once they arrived and closed the doors, no one else could be admitted. If the groom decided to come and bring his bride at night, then lights were required by necessity to guide the travelers through the dark and narrow streets. No one was allowed on the village streets at night without a lamp! To show up for a wedding party without proper attire and travel arrangements is like trying to get into a special event today that requires a prearranged permit or reservation. You just don’t get in without the proper pass. Can you imagine the frustration travelers might experience when going abroad and finding out that they can’t get into some country because they dont have the right visa or a valid passport. Jesus warns us that there are consequences for being unprepared. There are certain things you cannot obtain at the last moment. For example, students cannot prepare for their exams when the day of testing is already upon them. A person cannot get the right kind of character, strength, and skill required for a task at hand unless they already possess it, such as a captain with courage and nautical skills who must steer a ship through a dangerous storm at sea. When the Lord Jesus comes to lead you to his heavenly banquet will you be ready to hear his voice and follow? Our eternal welfare depends on our hearing, and many have trained themselves to not hear. We will not be prepared to meet the Lord, face to face, when he calls us on the day of judgment, unless we listen to him today. The Lord invites us to feast at his heavenly banquet table. Are you ready? “Lord Jesus, make me vigilant and attentive to your voice that I may heed your call at all times. May I find joy in your presence and delight in doing your will.” Psalm 33:1-5,10-11 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.  Praise the LORD with the lyre, make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!  Sing to him a new song, play skilfully on the strings, with loud shouts.  For the word of the LORD is upright; and all his work is done in faithfulness.  He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. 0 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nought; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.  The counsel of the LORD stands for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Daily Reading & Meditation  Don Schwager    A Bee Bg

The Word: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites."

 

 

 

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites." (Matthew 23:27-32) First Reading 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18 We instruct you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to shun any brother who walks in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us. For you know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you, nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you. Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us. In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat. May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. This greeting is in my own hand, Paul’s. This is the sign in every letter; this is how I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 128:1-2, 4-5 R. (1) Blessed are those who fear the Lord. Blessed are you who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways! For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; blessed shall you be, and favored. R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord. Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you from Zion: may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord. Holy Gospel Matthew 23:27-32 Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous,  and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets; now fill up what your ancestors measured out!” Catholic.net

 

 

THE POWER OF THE HOLY MASS

 

THE POWER OF THE HOLY MASS

At the hour of death the Holy Masses you have heard devoutly will be your greatest consolation.

    Every Mass will go with you to Judgement and will plead for pardon for you.

    By every Mass you can diminish the temporal punishment due to your sins, more or less, according to your fervour.

    By devoutly assisting at Holy Mass you render the greatest homage possible to the Sacred Humanity of Our Lord.

 

  Through the Holy Sacrifice, Our Lord Jesus Christ supplies for many of your negligences an omissions.

 

  He forgives you all the venial sins which you are determined to avoid. He forgives you all your unknown sins which you never confessed. The power of Satan over you is diminished.

   

By piously hearing Holy Mass you afford the Souls in Purgatory the greatest possible relief.

 

  Through Holy Mass you are preserved from many dangers and misfortunes which would otherwise have befallen you. You shorten your Purgatory by every Mass.

  

Through the Holy Mass you are blessed in your temporal goods and affairs.

 

  When you hear Holy Mass devoutly, offering it to Almighty God in honour of any particular Saint or Angel, thanking God for the favours bestowed on him, etc., you afford that Saint or Angel a new degree of honour, joy and happiness, and draw his special love and protection on yourself.

  

Every time you assist at Holy Mass, besides other intentions, you should offer it in honor of the Saint of the day.

  

"The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer!"
    ~Pope Paul VI~

  

For each Mass we hear with devotion, Our Lord sends a saint to comfort us at death.
    ~revelation of Christ to St. Gertrude the Great~

   

Once, St. Teresa was overwhelmed with God's Goodness and asked Our Lord "How can I thank you?" Our Lord replied, "ATTEND ONE MASS."

   

The Blessed Virgin Mary once told Her faithful servant Alain: "My Son so loves those who assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that, if it were necessary He would die for them as many times as they've heard Masses."

  

"The Holy Mass would be of greater profit if people had it offered in their lifetime, rather than having it celebrated for the relief of their souls after death."
    ~Pope Benedict XV~

  

A great doctor of the Church, St. Anselm, declares that a single Mass offered for oneself during life may be worth more than a thousand celebrated for the same intention after death. St. Leonard of Port Maurice supports this statement by saying that one Mass before death may be more profitable than many after it.

 

  "When we receive Holy Communion, we experience something extraordinary - a joy, a fragrance, a well being that thrills the whole body and causes it to exalt."
    ~ Saint Jean Vianney~

 

  "The celebration of Holy Mass is as valuable as the death of Jesus on the cross."
    ~Saint Thomas Aquinas~

 

  "If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy."
    ~ Saint Jean Vianney~

  

"There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us."
    ~ Saint Jean Vianney~

 

  "It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do without Holy Mass. "
    ~St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), stigmatic priest~

 

  "When we have been to Holy Communion, the balm of love envelops the soul as the flower envelops the bee."
    ~ Saint Jean Vianney~

 

  "The heavens open and multitudes of angels come to assist in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. "
    ~Saint Gregory~

  

"The angels surround and help th priest when he is celebrating Mass."
    ~ St. Augustine ~

 

   "When Mass is being celebrated, the sanctuary is filled with countless angels who adore the divine victim immolated on the altar."
    ~ St. John Chrysostom~

 

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    Please pass on and tell your friends about the importance of attending  Mass.

Bkg. Courtesy Of  Christian Backgrounds

Sonntags-Evangelium nach Lukas- u. Kommentar 22.08.10

Evangelium nach Lukas 13,22-30.

Auf seinem Weg nach Jerusalem zog er von Stadt zu Stadt und von Dorf zu Dorf und lehrte. Da fragte ihn einer: Herr, sind es nur wenige, die gerettet werden? Er sagte zu ihnen: Bemüht euch mit allen Kräften, durch die enge Tür zu gelangen; denn viele, sage ich euch, werden versuchen hineinzukommen, aber es wird ihnen nicht gelingen. Wenn der Herr des Hauses aufsteht und die Tür verschließt, dann steht ihr draußen, klopft an die Tür und ruft: Herr, mach uns auf! Er aber wird euch antworten: Ich weiß nicht, woher ihr seid. Dann werdet ihr sagen: Wir haben doch mit dir gegessen und getrunken, und du hast auf unseren Straßen gelehrt. Er aber wird erwidern: Ich sage euch, ich weiß nicht, woher ihr seid. Weg von mir, ihr habt alle Unrecht getan! Da werdet ihr heulen und mit den Zähnen knirschen, wenn ihr seht, daß Abraham, Isaak und Jakob und alle Propheten im Reich Gottes sind, ihr selbst aber ausgeschlossen seid. Und man wird von Osten und Westen und von Norden und Süden kommen und im Reich Gottes zu Tisch sitzen. Dann werden manche von den Letzten die Ersten sein und manche von den Ersten die Letzten. 

Auszug aus der liturgischen Übersetzung der Bibel 

Kommentar des heutigen Evangeliums 

Hl. Anselm (1033 – 11099, Mönch, Bischof, Kirchenlehrer 

Proslogion, 25-26 

„Platz nehmen beim Festmahl im Reich Gottes“

    Welch großes Glück, das Reich Gottes zu besitzen! Was für eine Freude für dich, Menschenherz, du armes Menschenherz, an Leid gewöhnt und von Unheil zermalmt: wenn du überfließen würdest von solchem Glück!... Und dennoch würde sich deine Freude verdoppeln, wenn noch jemand, den

du liebst wie dich selbst, teilhätte an eben diesem Glück; denn du würdest dich für ihn nicht weniger freuen als für dich. Und wenn zwei oder drei oder noch mehr am selben Glück teilhaben könnten, würdest du dich für jeden genauso freuen wie für dich selbst; denn du hättest ja jeden genauso lieb wie dich selbst.

    So wird also in dieser Liebesfülle, in der die unzähligen Seligen vereint sind – und wo keiner den Anderen weniger liebt als sich selbst -  ein jeder sich am Glück des Anderen genauso freuen wie am eigenen Glück. Und das Menschenherz, das seine eigene Freude kaum fassen kann, wird in den Ozean vieler großer Glückseligkeiten eintauchen. Nun wisst ihr ja, dass man sich über jemandes Glück in dem Maße freut, wie man ihn liebt. In diesem Zustand vollkommener Seligkeit, wo jeder Gott unvergleichlich mehr liebt als sich selbst und alle ande

ren, wird also das unendliche Glück Gottes für jeden eine Quelle unvergleichlicher Freude sein.

Herzlichen Glückwunsch liebe Heidi

Liebe Heidi  Ganz herzliche Gratulation zu deinem Geburtstag! Wir wünschen dir von Herzen ein frohes Fest und für die nächsten 365 Tage rundum nur das Allerbeste für gute Gesundheit an Leib und Seele, viele frohe Stunden, die dein Herz erfreuen- und vor allem Gottes reichen Segen, auf allen deinen Wegen! Alles Liebe- und frohe Geburtstagsgrüsse deine Drei aus Luzern Heinz und Liliane mit Suny

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