Water-Walking

Days' Saints
Hippolytus, Martyr
Anastasius the Monk, Martyr

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 115

1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a
At the mountain of God, Horeb,
Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter.
Then the LORD said to him,
"Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;
the LORD will be passing by."
A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains
and crushing rocks before the LORD—
but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake—
but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake there was fire—
but the LORD was not in the fire.
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.
When he heard this,
Elijah hid his face in his cloak
and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Gospel Mt 14:22-33

After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat

and precede him to the other side,

while he dismissed the crowds.

After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.

When it was evening he was there alone.

Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,

was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night,

he came toward them walking on the sea.

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.

"It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear.

At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."

Peter said to him in reply,

"Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."

He said, "Come."

Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.

But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;

and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter,

and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

After they got into the boat, the wind died down.

Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,

"Truly, you are the Son of God."

+

Peter had already transcended the laws of nature by walking on the water to come to Jesus, and was distracted by the storm and began to sink, at which point he cried out to Jesus to save him, and was saved. When they were aboard the boat, the weather calmed, and everyone was astonished. This came immediately after feeding the crowds.

The Lord has pointed out to me, that He has given each of us everything we need to believe in Him and love Him so that we can obey His Will. Why then, are we so distracted as to forget to continue moment to moment to do His Will ? His Will is stronger than ours, a condition He continually works to improve every day, moment to moment.

Why do we have secrets that we hide from one another? I ask because Peter must certainly been able to swim, and the narrative does not say how far away Jesus was when Peter began to walk toward Him. Otherwise, he might not have been distracted and begun to sink.

As a teaching moment, Jesus did not doubt HE could walk the whole distance to the boat, and calm the wind that so frightened the disciples. There are many movies about Gallilee and from what I gather, the lake is not very deep, and I can see very easily why one might not catch many fish there; they probably were farther out where it was deeper and the water fresher. As a fisherman myself, there is a certain wisdom that asserts itself when fishing, that dictates where to fish for success. One fishes when the surface is freshened by the wind so the fish can't be seen, and not on a slack tide, but when the tide is growing and water with more oxygen increases. On the other hand, even  when the water is ideal for a catch, if the fish are not hungry, you will waste your worms. A succesful fisherman can think like the fish and rest in cool deep pools full of light and oxygen. You don't fish in a rapids, and not for bottom fish, but trout.

I spent a lot of time fishing by myself after I had returned from Vietnam. I needed the solitude and the peaceful quiet to heal. The lake nearby is unfit; there is no outlet for the water; it only fills when there is sufficient rain and the runoff gathers in the lake, as the lowest point in the local topography. Otherwise, in the summer months when it gets very warm, the water evaporates rapidly. The lilypads thrive at the southern tip  of the lake, and at certain times, introduced carp and koi gather for mating, as the female deposits her eggs into the water to settle on the bottom, and the make fertilises the eggs by emitting sperm to cover the eggs. After that, you won't see them again until next year at the same time.

Because of sewage spills, the fish are not safe to eat, so if you catch anything, it is best to throw them back into water to live another day.

Jesus, in the narrative, went to pray in the afternoon, by Himself, and the disciples went fishing. God does not intrude, but is a gentleman. He will leave us to our preoccupations, and we must guard against ease lest the preoccupations become excuses to be lazy and we lose our privilege of easilly encountering Him and His consolations unnecessarilly.

In the first reading, Elijah came to shelter in a cave on Mt. Horeb. The Lord told him to stand on the mountain, and the wind came up strong enough to break rocks, but Elijah did as he was told. We need to pay heed; Elijah saw that God was not in the wind, nor the earthquake, nor the fire, but only in the small, still voice in the peace. In our day of upheavals and distractions, we need so very much to be listening for the footsteps of the Lord.

We still have horrendous wind storms that tear the trees up and break them off at their base, and rains that obscure every feature in their intensity, and finally, when everything has calmed down again, the Lord approaches speaking softly, and we can stand in the entrance to our cave, life Elijah, waiting on the Lord, to do what He says. He calls us not when we are resting in the cave, but when we are outside, not sheltered but attending on the Lord in the midst of everything, seeking that still small voice. It is there, and His peace is abundant, and the Garden is cool and pleasant when He bids us come enar Him. He does not crush us in the wind, not shake us off our feet in the earthquakes, nor threaten our destruction when a fire breaks out to consume everything that can burn.

So if you are struggling, and life is fearful and you are hungry for His peace, do not doubt that He is there, but be at peace and He will reveal Himself to you again, and you will rest with Him in the Garden. Do not fall asleep, or you will miss what He has to say.

Water-Walking

Days' Saints
Hippolytus, Martyr
Anastasius the Monk, Martyr

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 115

1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a
At the mountain of God, Horeb,
Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter.
Then the LORD said to him,
"Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;
the LORD will be passing by."
A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains
and crushing rocks before the LORD—
but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake—
but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake there was fire—
but the LORD was not in the fire.
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.
When he heard this,
Elijah hid his face in his cloak
and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Gospel Mt 14:22-33

After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat

and precede him to the other side,

while he dismissed the crowds.

After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.

When it was evening he was there alone.

Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,

was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night,

he came toward them walking on the sea.

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.

"It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear.

At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."

Peter said to him in reply,

"Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."

He said, "Come."

Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.

But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;

and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter,

and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

After they got into the boat, the wind died down.

Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,

"Truly, you are the Son of God."

+

Peter had already transcended the laws of nature by walking on the water to come to Jesus, and was distracted by the storm and began to sink, at which point he cried out to Jesus to save him, and was saved. When they were aboard the boat, the weather calmed, and everyone was astonished. This came immediately after feeding the crowds.

The Lord has pointed out to me, that He has given each of us everything we need to believe in Him and love Him so that we can obey His Will. Why then, are we so distracted as to forget to continue moment to moment to do His Will ? His Will is stronger than ours, a condition He continually works to improve every day, moment to moment.

Why do we have secrets that we hide from one another? I ask because Peter must certainly been able to swim, and the narrative does not say how far away Jesus was when Peter began to walk toward Him. Otherwise, he might not have been distracted and begun to sink.

As a teaching moment, Jesus did not doubt HE could walk the whole distance to the boat, and calm the wind that so frightened the disciples. There are many movies about Gallilee and from what I gather, the lake is not very deep, and I can see very easily why one might not catch many fish there; they probably were farther out where it was deeper and the water fresher. As a fisherman myself, there is a certain wisdom that asserts itself when fishing, that dictates where to fish for success. One fishes when the surface is freshened by the wind so the fish can't be seen, and not on a slack tide, but when the tide is growing and water with more oxygen increases. On the other hand, even  when the water is ideal for a catch, if the fish are not hungry, you will waste your worms. A succesful fisherman can think like the fish and rest in cool deep pools full of light and oxygen. You don't fish in a rapids, and not for bottom fish, but trout.

I spent a lot of time fishing by myself after I had returned from Vietnam. I needed the solitude and the peaceful quiet to heal. The lake nearby is unfit; there is no outlet for the water; it only fills when there is sufficient rain and the runoff gathers in the lake, as the lowest point in the local topography. Otherwise, in the summer months when it gets very warm, the water evaporates rapidly. The lilypads thrive at the southern tip  of the lake, and at certain times, introduced carp and koi gather for mating, as the female deposits her eggs into the water to settle on the bottom, and the make fertilises the eggs by emitting sperm to cover the eggs. After that, you won't see them again until next year at the same time.

Because of sewage spills, the fish are not safe to eat, so if you catch anything, it is best to throw them back into water to live another day.

Jesus, in the narrative, went to pray in the afternoon, by Himself, and the disciples went fishing. God does not intrude, but is a gentleman. He will leave us to our preoccupations, and we must guard against ease lest the preoccupations become excuses to be lazy and we lose our privilege of easilly encountering Him and His consolations unnecessarilly.

In the first reading, Elijah came to shelter in a cave on Mt. Horeb. The Lord told him to stand on the mountain, and the wind came up strong enough to break rocks, but Elijah did as he was told. We need to pay heed; Elijah saw that God was not in the wind, nor the earthquake, nor the fire, but only in the small, still voice in the peace. In our day of upheavals and distractions, we need so very much to be listening for the footsteps of the Lord.

We still have horrendous wind storms that tear the trees up and break them off at their base, and rains that obscure every feature in their intensity, and finally, when everything has calmed down again, the Lord approaches speaking softly, and we can stand in the entrance to our cave, life Elijah, waiting on the Lord, to do what He says. He calls us not when we are resting in the cave, but when we are outside, not sheltered but attending on the Lord in the midst of everything, seeking that still small voice. It is there, and His peace is abundant, and the Garden is cool and pleasant when He bids us come enar Him. He does not crush us in the wind, not shake us off our feet in the earthquakes, nor threaten our destruction when a fire breaks out to consume everything that can burn.

So if you are struggling, and life is fearful and you are hungry for His peace, do not doubt that He is there, but be at peace and He will reveal Himself to you again, and you will rest with Him in the Garden. Do not fall asleep, or you will miss what He has to say.

Feeling

Day's Saints
Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Carmelite Martyr
Blessed John of Alvernia, Hermit

Gospel Mt 15: 21-28

At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,
"Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!
My daughter is tormented by a demon."
But he did not say a word in answer to her.
His disciples came and asked him,
"Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us."
He said in reply,
"I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
But the woman came and did him homage, saying, "Lord, help me."
He said in reply,
"It is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs."
She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps
that fall from the table of their masters."
Then Jesus said to her in reply,
"O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish."
And her daughter was healed from that hour.

+

I would rather the lance in my side than
the cold indifference of men.

We read of the confidences of Jesus to St. Padre Pio and are inspired to offer ourselves to Him, for His investment in us is something we cannot repay.

The awesome fact that we can offer anything to Jesus that is worthy is motivating. So if you are moved to respond to His complaints, what can you offer?

Love Him as He deserves, asking for His grace to do what is not possible for unaided mortals. Love one another, and forgive from the heart, offering that emptiness to be filled with His love, regardless of consequence.

Men often gambol for money or power, sometimes taking human lives in the process, and they do not see the evil they have committed and so continue committing crime upon crime until there is no hope of salvation for them.

As they do so, they feel less and less, and so nothing stands in the way of continuing to be disaffected toward God, and following only their own evil appetites, until they are worth nothing and are discarded in the trash heap of hell.

If you feel the cold of your indifference, quickly offer your love and plead with the Lord to enkindle you again, so you may be one with Him.

The loving care and committment to the Sacred Heart is worth whatever pleasure you might wish to exchange for His love so that you are most certainly united to Him in your affections, for the pleasures you forego out of love enkindle love, so that whatever you offer will never be rejected, and indifference is overcome by supernatural flames of divine love which perfects all things forever.

If you are afraid, do not hesitate to reveal that to your Lord who is Himself the remedy for your misgivings. Once you have felt His love, do not fear that you will never feel it more again, for that would be impossible.

"I cannot forget you; on the contrary, my Heart remembers all those who grew cold in the satisfactions that were gained by sins in the world. I forgave all, and resolved never to forget those who loved me, even when they grew distant. Now is the time while there is no one to restrain you, to offer yourself to me as a holocaust of love in which I may join you. Offer yourself as love, to me, and you will always be remembered and I will not stand afar from you, but will approach repeatedly until you can give yourself to me without reserve, and I will protect and defend you so you may serve me in a pleasing way."

"So do not be saddened by the thought of how you were treated by my servants, even though you offered me all you could give, and to bear the woundedness of my Heart because you loved me. Could my Heart ignore such an offering? Indeed, such holocausts cannot be ignored, and you will be rewarded."

"Even if I seem distant, and I seem not to console you anymore, do not believe that you are lost, but draw close to me anyway, so that you may be closer to me. Am I less than your feelings? Can feelings bar you from my Heart? No, I tell you, because I feel you moving in my Heart and being as a child is felt in its mother's womb. Therefore the mother finds the strength and courage to give birth in spite of pain, and once the child is in her arms, she loves the baby with all she is. Love me again and again and do not grieve over feelings because they do not think they only feel, and are part of the weakness of human beings which they overcome to please me."

"Pray that you may see the victory over evil, and the coming of the New Heavens and Earth. Pray so that I may know the bliss of listening to the sound of your voice. Cold, indifferent men cannot feel what you feel, and so they are ill-informed and lack understanding, otherwise they would grieve for what they did and you would see your vindication." "You are my servant, and I love my servants because they love me. Therefore, always love me, and you will have served me."

Feeling

Day's Saints
Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Carmelite Martyr
Blessed John of Alvernia, Hermit

Gospel Mt 15: 21-28

At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,
"Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!
My daughter is tormented by a demon."
But he did not say a word in answer to her.
His disciples came and asked him,
"Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us."
He said in reply,
"I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
But the woman came and did him homage, saying, "Lord, help me."
He said in reply,
"It is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs."
She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps
that fall from the table of their masters."
Then Jesus said to her in reply,
"O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish."
And her daughter was healed from that hour.

+

I would rather the lance in my side than
the cold indifference of men.

We read of the confidences of Jesus to St. Padre Pio and are inspired to offer ourselves to Him, for His investment in us is something we cannot repay.

The awesome fact that we can offer anything to Jesus that is worthy is motivating. So if you are moved to respond to His complaints, what can you offer?

Love Him as He deserves, asking for His grace to do what is not possible for unaided mortals. Love one another, and forgive from the heart, offering that emptiness to be filled with His love, regardless of consequence.

Men often gambol for money or power, sometimes taking human lives in the process, and they do not see the evil they have committed and so continue committing crime upon crime until there is no hope of salvation for them.

As they do so, they feel less and less, and so nothing stands in the way of continuing to be disaffected toward God, and following only their own evil appetites, until they are worth nothing and are discarded in the trash heap of hell.

If you feel the cold of your indifference, quickly offer your love and plead with the Lord to enkindle you again, so you may be one with Him.

The loving care and committment to the Sacred Heart is worth whatever pleasure you might wish to exchange for His love so that you are most certainly united to Him in your affections, for the pleasures you forego out of love enkindle love, so that whatever you offer will never be rejected, and indifference is overcome by supernatural flames of divine love which perfects all things forever.

If you are afraid, do not hesitate to reveal that to your Lord who is Himself the remedy for your misgivings. Once you have felt His love, do not fear that you will never feel it more again, for that would be impossible.

"I cannot forget you; on the contrary, my Heart remembers all those who grew cold in the satisfactions that were gained by sins in the world. I forgave all, and resolved never to forget those who loved me, even when they grew distant. Now is the time while there is no one to restrain you, to offer yourself to me as a holocaust of love in which I may join you. Offer yourself as love, to me, and you will always be remembered and I will not stand afar from you, but will approach repeatedly until you can give yourself to me without reserve, and I will protect and defend you so you may serve me in a pleasing way."

"So do not be saddened by the thought of how you were treated by my servants, even though you offered me all you could give, and to bear the woundedness of my Heart because you loved me. Could my Heart ignore such an offering? Indeed, such holocausts cannot be ignored, and you will be rewarded."

"Even if I seem distant, and I seem not to console you anymore, do not believe that you are lost, but draw close to me anyway, so that you may be closer to me. Am I less than your feelings? Can feelings bar you from my Heart? No, I tell you, because I feel you moving in my Heart and being as a child is felt in its mother's womb. Therefore the mother finds the strength and courage to give birth in spite of pain, and once the child is in her arms, she loves the baby with all she is. Love me again and again and do not grieve over feelings because they do not think they only feel, and are part of the weakness of human beings which they overcome to please me."

"Pray that you may see the victory over evil, and the coming of the New Heavens and Earth. Pray so that I may know the bliss of listening to the sound of your voice. Cold, indifferent men cannot feel what you feel, and so they are ill-informed and lack understanding, otherwise they would grieve for what they did and you would see your vindication." "You are my servant, and I love my servants because they love me. Therefore, always love me, and you will have served me."

Flesh and Rock

Day's Saints
Feast of the Transfiguration
Maria Francesca Rubatto,Martyr

Dn 7:9-10, 13-14
As the visions during the night continued, I saw:
One like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Gospel Mt 17:1-9

Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John,

and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

And he was transfigured before them;

his face shone like the sun

and his clothes became white as light.

And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,

conversing with him.

Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,

"Lord, it is good that we are here.

If you wish, I will make three tents here,

one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

While he was still speaking, behold,

a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,

then from the cloud came a voice that said,

"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;

listen to him."

When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate

and were very much afraid.

But Jesus came and touched them, saying,

"Rise, and do not be afraid."

And when the disciples raised their eyes,

they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain,

Jesus charged them,

"Do not tell the vision to anyone

until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

+

A "wound" in a rock. Let your hearts be soft in His Love.

Lies and deceit cannot overcome the work of God, and God cannot be overcome. The world is writhing, bitten by a vile serpent, longing to be freed from the evil. Behold the Lord puts evil to death and confines him where he cannot depart for relief. The children of God are protected by their Mother, and the Father is strong so that He cannot be overcome, and evil will be destroyed with all its works so that the work of the Lord Himself shines forth in grandeur un hindered and brilliant.

Know, also, that God will see to it His children are suitably purified so that they may be assured participation in His rest. He will heal what you ask Him to, so that the children of God may have just reason to praise God. The wisdom of the little ones will be unassailable, and when they see the glory of God and the power of His hand, they will stand awe-struck at the holiness of God and rejoice in Him.

Raise your eyes toward heaven, and lift up your hearts to God who sent His Only Son into the world to instruct and reveal, to heal and to free. Those who serve Him will do the same, and will gather His children to Himself and teach them to worship Him in freedom and peace.

Some He will teach how to participate in His passion-life, and they will be afflicted but will participate in the very peace of God, rejoicing to bear in themselves the sufferings of the Lord, offering themselves as a perfect offering to God, created from the beginning of time for the purpose, just as Jesus came into our midst to bring about salvation.

Corruption has no place in the Body of Christ, and He will clean the floor with His broom, and the children of God will worship there in peace. Ask that He accomplish His will swiftly so all things can be concluded in God and brought to a finnish, for the whole universe waits for the completion of His work.

Proceed in peace and do not hurry, for the maelstrom rages at your back, but cannot touch you because the Lord has placed you in a safe place just ahead of the storm. 

It is His Will that the children of God abide and worship Him there in peace; do not be afraid of snarling beasts, nor pay any heed to voices luring you away from the Lord. The Lord is mighty to forgive, and He will heal His children of their sins so they may rest in Him in peace, warm in the fires of His love. He will reveal the truth to every heart, and those who are just will be lifted up in the flames of His love, and all will marvel at His goodness before all things.

All things are accomplished and we wait to be justified by Him and know Him as He is.

Flesh and Rock

Day's Saints
Feast of the Transfiguration
Maria Francesca Rubatto,Martyr

Dn 7:9-10, 13-14
As the visions during the night continued, I saw:
One like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Gospel Mt 17:1-9

Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John,

and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

And he was transfigured before them;

his face shone like the sun

and his clothes became white as light.

And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,

conversing with him.

Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,

"Lord, it is good that we are here.

If you wish, I will make three tents here,

one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

While he was still speaking, behold,

a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,

then from the cloud came a voice that said,

"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;

listen to him."

When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate

and were very much afraid.

But Jesus came and touched them, saying,

"Rise, and do not be afraid."

And when the disciples raised their eyes,

they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain,

Jesus charged them,

"Do not tell the vision to anyone

until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

+

A "wound" in a rock. Let your hearts be soft in His Love.

Lies and deceit cannot overcome the work of God, and God cannot be overcome. The world is writhing, bitten by a vile serpent, longing to be freed from the evil. Behold the Lord puts evil to death and confines him where he cannot depart for relief. The children of God are protected by their Mother, and the Father is strong so that He cannot be overcome, and evil will be destroyed with all its works so that the work of the Lord Himself shines forth in grandeur un hindered and brilliant.

Know, also, that God will see to it His children are suitably purified so that they may be assured participation in His rest. He will heal what you ask Him to, so that the children of God may have just reason to praise God. The wisdom of the little ones will be unassailable, and when they see the glory of God and the power of His hand, they will stand awe-struck at the holiness of God and rejoice in Him.

Raise your eyes toward heaven, and lift up your hearts to God who sent His Only Son into the world to instruct and reveal, to heal and to free. Those who serve Him will do the same, and will gather His children to Himself and teach them to worship Him in freedom and peace.

Some He will teach how to participate in His passion-life, and they will be afflicted but will participate in the very peace of God, rejoicing to bear in themselves the sufferings of the Lord, offering themselves as a perfect offering to God, created from the beginning of time for the purpose, just as Jesus came into our midst to bring about salvation.

Corruption has no place in the Body of Christ, and He will clean the floor with His broom, and the children of God will worship there in peace. Ask that He accomplish His will swiftly so all things can be concluded in God and brought to a finnish, for the whole universe waits for the completion of His work.

Proceed in peace and do not hurry, for the maelstrom rages at your back, but cannot touch you because the Lord has placed you in a safe place just ahead of the storm. 

It is His Will that the children of God abide and worship Him there in peace; do not be afraid of snarling beasts, nor pay any heed to voices luring you away from the Lord. The Lord is mighty to forgive, and He will heal His children of their sins so they may rest in Him in peace, warm in the fires of His love. He will reveal the truth to every heart, and those who are just will be lifted up in the flames of His love, and all will marvel at His goodness before all things.

All things are accomplished and we wait to be justified by Him and know Him as He is.

Kingdom

DAY'S SAINTS

Peter Julian Eymund, Marist Father
Eusebius of Vercelli, Martyr

Gospel Mt 13:44-46
Jesus said to his disciples:
"The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it."

+

A people who sees the Mother of God weeping
should be a repentant prayerful people in order
to find safety from coming sorrows.

The former president does not like being indicted; he threatens uproar and civil unrest if he does not avoid prosecution and the consequneces that follow. I think it is a disgrace for the nation to be dragged though the muck by the fool, I would remind people of two things:

 Number one, the Lord used us with our allies to overcome exactly the same issues, at the cost of millions dead, and complete destruction of what had existed prior to the war.

Number two, in many other countries I can think of, the man would have been dead already, and possibly with only a maniacal show trial. 

It is not our fault he has the mental issues he has, nor are the egregious issues of his political party anyone else's problem but their own.

I remind people that what the Lord wants, and has expressed for those who could perceive His message, was, that political parties be purified and those that hate others and work to degrade the lives of others should be removed from power in favor of those who will talk to the other side and work together for a mutually agreeable solution to national problems.

I remind people as well, that a beneficial national leadership is not the prerogative of ANY political party, but a GIFT from GOD for being attendant to His Will, and receptive to His affections toward us as His children, the children of God.

There should be no doubt or discussion, but action should  be taken by His children, otherwise, we may be subject to a great deal worse. That action should be to reunite ourselves to God, not to engage in worldly politics which only tend toward disorder.

We do not have the luxury of putting off the renewal of our love of God, being indifferent or outrightly rejecting God or His rule. Where He rules, there is peace and brothers love one another out of the revelation of His love for us.

The historical events which culminated in two uses of atomic weapons were set in motion by those who wanted total power over other human beings at the cost of death to those who dissented from that movement. They have even been used as excuses for a modern day invasion of another country, and those who engineered that are not friends of the human race, because friends of the children of God do not threaten the children of anyone else with nuclear annihilaton because the political aims of those involved differed from what the children of God embrace.

We might ask ourselves if we have as yet found the "pearl of great price", and what our reaction to it might be. Certainly, it is not anything of this world because all such things reveal their worthlessness by vanishing just when their promise was most needed by children who love God.

I wanted to take up using the Liturgy of the Hours, but I cannot find the Guide that helps you navigate trhough the Four Week cycle used in conjunction with it. I contacted an abbey not far from here, but in spite of the fact that they have a bookstore, they are sold out of the needed Guide. A commercial enterprise I contacted simply did not stock the Guide. I wait on the Lord to lead me where I might find what I need.

We should all wait on the Lord and be open to immediately doing His Will. Any solution which relies on intimidation and violance or lies is unsuitable. Those who should step down ought to do so quickly rather than waiting for someone else to act.