theJourney(beginning)

20030928

 

The second year of the Daily Meditations weblog contines at this new location.

joachim 8:52 PM

20030819

 

The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, August 19, 2003
The Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
St. John Eudes, priest

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Judges 6:11-24
Psalm 85:9,11-14
Matthew 19:23-30

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first." (Matthew 19:30)

Today's readings reinforce and expand on the idea in last Tuesday's Scripture regarding the weak and strong, the humble and prideful, and God's choosing His leaders from among those whom the world thinks of as "lesser people." Gideon considered himself "the lowliest in his father's house" and totally incapable of saving Israel from Midian. Of course, he was absolutely right about this, for of himself he was indeed helpless in the face of a strong enemy. Gideon requested a sign and was given his sign by an angel as a reminder that God Himself, by His almighty power, would deliver His people through His servant Gideon. The latter had temporarily lost sight that all things are possible to God.

Just as our sense of smallness and helplessness can hinder doing God's bidding, so can greatness and personal power. We see this in the rich young man in today's Gospel as one who possessed much but had also become possessed by his possessions. Each of us has hindrances in our lives that may stand in the way of totally giving ourselves to God, trusting in His provision for all those who answer, "yes" to His call. Too easily we forget that the things of this world will pass away, that we are not our own, and that our first obligation is to Him who created us for one purpose: to share in His blessed and eternal life.

That this world is filled with suffering, hatred and violence is the direct result of our stiff-necked and prideful refusal to admit that without God we are only the dust of the earth, devoid of His love and truth and therefore incapable of living in peace, harmony and justice. By insisting upon remaining the "first" we are actually delegating ourselves to being the "last" and suffering all the painful consequences of being our own little gods.

Loving Father, help us to see that without You we are lost. Let us realize that this world's sufferings are man-made, that it is our sin, a prideful separation from You that is destroying us. Amen.

- Marie Bocko, ocds

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:48 AM

20030818

 

The Catholic Calendar for Monday, August 18, 2003
Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Jane Frances de Chantal, religious

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Judges 2:11-19
Psalm 106:34-37,39-40,43-44
Matthew 19:16-22

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

I will never cease to be amazed at God's love for His people. Look what He has done!

The Israelites built a golden calf and He still loved them and took them back. They turned to Baal and countless other Idols and He still loved them and took them back. The great king David sinned and He still loved him and took him back. St. Peter denied Him and He still loved him and took him back. Numerous saints throughout the ages sinned and He still loved them and took them back. The story never ends.

In fact, the entire story from Genesis to Revelation is the same: salvation. And like the Israelites, the patriarchs and the saints, we too have sinned and He still loves us and takes us back.

Alleluia!

- Don Claunch, SFO

____________________

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:03 AM

20030817

 

The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, August 17, 2003
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Joshua 24:1-2,15-18
Psalm 34:2-3,16-23
Ephesians 5:21-32
John 6:60-69

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Once again another week has passed, and I've barely survived a week of assaults from the world, the flesh and the devil. By the grace of God, I find spiritual consolation in the reassuring wisdom of scripture as it details the groundwork laid by Moses and Joshua his successor, by the prophets and holy people of the Old Testament.

Today's gospel is the final of five in a series which teach us unquestionably that Jesus has come to be the Bread of Life, our salvation: the holy, mystical means of our salvation through Divine Grace. Even today many have not received that grace of faith from God to accept this core teaching from Jesus. (see John 6:65)

We who have been blessed with the faith to believe this truth, should understand that this is a signal grace from God -- a great sign of His incredible love for us, despite our unworthiness. Let's remember to thank God today for His great gift of Faith given to us.

- Joachim

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:10 AM

20030816

 

The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, August 16, 2003
The Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Stephen of Hungary

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Joshua 24:14-29,
Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-8,11.
Matthew 19:13-15

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Jesus' love for children is our lesson in today's Gospel. For those of us who are parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, we have experienced the same love that Jesus has for children. A family summer gathering brings out the pure innocence of a child. A favorite Aunt or Uncle receives most of the attention because they probably don't see their nieces and nephews everyday and besides they play with them and they rarely scold them.

Jesus was tired and went to rest. The disciples knew how tired he felt and were trying to keep Jesus from being disturbed by the children. But Jesus had other plans! If you're tired or just plain weary from the drudgery of your day, children all around you during the summer months all day, every day, remember how much you love your children. For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. (see Mt.19:14)

[Editors note: Deacon Bill and his wife are parents of nine children and have sixteen grandchildren.]

- Deacon Bill Powers (uujpow at aol dot com)

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 5:01 AM

20030815

 

The Catholic Calendar for Friday, August 15, 2003
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
[Holy Day of Obligation]

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Revelation 11:19;12:1-6,10
Psalm 45:10-12,16
1 Corinthians 15:20-27
Luke 1:39-56

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

As I sit down to write this meditation I wonder what readings the Church will choose to celebrate this great solemnity: the Assumption of our blessed Mother into heaven. Without reading anything, I know in my heart they will be an expression of love, a declaration of the reward of a faithful follower of Christ.

How often have you wanted to give up, to lapse into laziness, to begin making excuses for unloving attitudes and actions. As often as you resist giving up, you become as dear to Christ as His holy mother who He saw fit to assume into heaven without the corruption of sin and death.

Unlike His mother, we have sinned and can never merit such divine intervention; but, we're assured that on the Last Day, we too will rise and if found faithful, will enjoy with her and all the saints, the blessed vision of His glory forever.

So what do the Holy Scriptures say?

While Jesus was speaking to the crowd, a woman called out, "Blest is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!”
"Rather,” He replied, "blest are they who hear the word of God and keep it.”
(Luke 11:27-28)

Hail Mary,
full of grace,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds (drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

____________________

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 5:20 AM

20030814

 

The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, August 14, 2003
Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Maximilian Kolbe, priest, martyr

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Joshua 3:7-11,13-17
Psalm 114:1-6
Matthew 18:21--19:1

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Our saint for the day, St. Maximilian Kolbe, is one of the greatest saints of our century--a martyr to the power of satanic evil in Nazi-occupied Poland. At the age of ten, Our Lady appeared to him, offering him two garlands--one red and one white. She told him that the white one meant that he would remain pure, while the second meant that he would die a martyr. "Which do you want?" she asked him. "I'll take both", he replied, to which she smiled and faded from sight. He was a great promoter of devotion to Mary, his "Immaculata", throughout his whole life through the ministry of the printing press. From the horrors of his cell in Auschwitz, voluntarily taking the place of a Jewish man with a family who had been condemned to die, singing burst forth from his lips in praise of God. That same Jew attended his canonization! What am I willing to give today in praise of my gracious and merciful savior who has saved me from death, and promised me heaven?

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore (smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

____________________

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:26 AM