Longs For Us

Day's Saints
Therese of Lisieux, Carmelite
Blessed Cecilia Eusepi, Servants of Mary

Gospel Mt 21:28-32
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people:
"What is your opinion?
A man had two sons.
He came to the first and said,
'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'
He said in reply, 'I will not,'
but afterwards changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, 'Yes, sir, 'but did not go.
Which of the two did his father's will?"
They answered, "The first."
Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him."

+

Reflected in the earth below, we are known to Him
and He longs for us.

Youtube video of inside St. James church Medjugorija.

Perhaps tax collectors and prostitutes were awakened to their sin being so great, so that they could see the gravity of their position and knew they dare not squander the grace of the Lord.

If they were awakened by the virtue and austerity of one man, what if all men were so virtuous and austere?

Therese knew her position and a great love of Jesus was awakened in her that served her through her whole life and the martyrdom of painful death she endured, winning countless souls for Christ.

The Lord knows how little I count for, and how little I am worth, and how it grieves me when I have no suffering to offer Him for love and to make atonement for souls in purgatory and those in most need of His mercy. Then again, the pain I suffer in the body is little enough that if He did not give me something, I should have to face Him on judgement day with nothing in my hands. He offers me the little I have and i embrace it, knowing that embracing it is the same as obeying His Will, and He is pleased. Whether those for whom I suffer will reap their reward in Christ I have no way to know, but then it is not an offering whose outcome I am given to know; I do not merit so much, and it is not supposed to be a personal gratification if they are saved, but to give joy to the Lord, and nothing for myself.

His honor is resplendent, and if we share in it, that is reward enough, but for each and every soul, there is a great reward waiting, which God Himself will bestow with His own gentle hands to complete our eternity of happiness in Him.

Do not live for anything earthly, but live for Jesus who loved you enough to die a real death of agony on the cross. Love Him for that, and let Him lift you up and hold you in the insubstantial air of joy, gazing into the most resplendent light.

I wanted to bleed in truth for Him, but the injuries that befell me were not sufficient to shed my blood, and my pain was humbling, just enough misery to be real, and just enough suffering to be substantial enough to give Him like a cup of water on the cross. So long as I could do that much I am content, but there are days when my life seems completely worthless and nothing I can even think seems to suffice. When He has thus granted me the crucifixion I desired, crushing me entirely, He comes to me, and it is enough to cause me to renew my desire to suffer with Him on the cross. One day all the bruises and the pain and whatever suffering will be at an end, and I trust that He will accept what I was capable of carrying for Him as sufficient, since I was little enough in my life as to be inconsequential altogether.

Sometimes the cross is so heavy, I cannot breathe for the weight of it and He must come to relieve me. So He does, and I carry on until I am overcome again. Neither sleep nor pleasure are enough to help me bear the weight, and if He did not help me I would be completely helpless. It adds up over time, and the loneliness that assaults me is enough to want to give up. But He does not allow me to give up, and insists I start again until I will have one day finished the course and stand waiting at the foot of the cross.

Sometimes I feel utterly lost, in the midst of my familiar place. Then I feel what the dying beggars felt as crowds passed them by, willing to let them die anonymously and obscurely. In Jerusalem that day, He was nailed to the cross when He would have rather eaten a feast, and skipped the whole torture completely. But that is not what He did. Rather He consecrated bread to become His Body and Blood. The Blood shed in the midst of Jerusalem fell in the dusty dirt at the foot of the cross, and He breathed a last breath and cried out for the anonymous, obscure beggars dying in the world or no more consequence that dust on His feet.

How full is the union with my Lord when He rescues me. Then there is no spot in all my being unwilling to do His desire. Obscurity and anonymity had their way with me, and now He must fulfill me, having taken away all unworthiness.

Blessed is the man who accepts all that crucifixion means and anticipates nothing worldly along the way. Leave an imprint in the vail, catch a drop of falling Blood and gather it in a fine linen cloth, and come closer to him dying up above. Hear the last breath and the rest commence, for in three days all this immense labor that was begun will culminate in resurrection for us all.

Not a single star is unknown or unnamed, for having created them, He knew them all. He knows all of us, and in His mind is room enough to know all our most inmost details. Each one being a glinting bit of His passion-life, He cannot forget us or how He made us and redeemed us, bringing everything to fulfillment and completion in His time.

I stand waiting before Him, to take His place, if that be required. Too few are willing to but stand inert and lifeless before Him when He longs for our living warmth and love. Stand and wait for the glad light of day, and the dawn will rise before us in glory.

Longs For Us

Day's Saints
Therese of Lisieux, Carmelite
Blessed Cecilia Eusepi, Servants of Mary

Gospel Mt 21:28-32
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people:
"What is your opinion?
A man had two sons.
He came to the first and said,
'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'
He said in reply, 'I will not,'
but afterwards changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, 'Yes, sir, 'but did not go.
Which of the two did his father's will?"
They answered, "The first."
Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him."

+

Reflected in the earth below, we are known to Him
and He longs for us.

Youtube video of inside St. James church Medjugorija.

Perhaps tax collectors and prostitutes were awakened to their sin being so great, so that they could see the gravity of their position and knew they dare not squander the grace of the Lord.

If they were awakened by the virtue and austerity of one man, what if all men were so virtuous and austere?

Therese knew her position and a great love of Jesus was awakened in her that served her through her whole life and the martyrdom of painful death she endured, winning countless souls for Christ.

The Lord knows how little I count for, and how little I am worth, and how it grieves me when I have no suffering to offer Him for love and to make atonement for souls in purgatory and those in most need of His mercy. Then again, the pain I suffer in the body is little enough that if He did not give me something, I should have to face Him on judgement day with nothing in my hands. He offers me the little I have and i embrace it, knowing that embracing it is the same as obeying His Will, and He is pleased. Whether those for whom I suffer will reap their reward in Christ I have no way to know, but then it is not an offering whose outcome I am given to know; I do not merit so much, and it is not supposed to be a personal gratification if they are saved, but to give joy to the Lord, and nothing for myself.

His honor is resplendent, and if we share in it, that is reward enough, but for each and every soul, there is a great reward waiting, which God Himself will bestow with His own gentle hands to complete our eternity of happiness in Him.

Do not live for anything earthly, but live for Jesus who loved you enough to die a real death of agony on the cross. Love Him for that, and let Him lift you up and hold you in the insubstantial air of joy, gazing into the most resplendent light.

I wanted to bleed in truth for Him, but the injuries that befell me were not sufficient to shed my blood, and my pain was humbling, just enough misery to be real, and just enough suffering to be substantial enough to give Him like a cup of water on the cross. So long as I could do that much I am content, but there are days when my life seems completely worthless and nothing I can even think seems to suffice. When He has thus granted me the crucifixion I desired, crushing me entirely, He comes to me, and it is enough to cause me to renew my desire to suffer with Him on the cross. One day all the bruises and the pain and whatever suffering will be at an end, and I trust that He will accept what I was capable of carrying for Him as sufficient, since I was little enough in my life as to be inconsequential altogether.

Sometimes the cross is so heavy, I cannot breathe for the weight of it and He must come to relieve me. So He does, and I carry on until I am overcome again. Neither sleep nor pleasure are enough to help me bear the weight, and if He did not help me I would be completely helpless. It adds up over time, and the loneliness that assaults me is enough to want to give up. But He does not allow me to give up, and insists I start again until I will have one day finished the course and stand waiting at the foot of the cross.

Sometimes I feel utterly lost, in the midst of my familiar place. Then I feel what the dying beggars felt as crowds passed them by, willing to let them die anonymously and obscurely. In Jerusalem that day, He was nailed to the cross when He would have rather eaten a feast, and skipped the whole torture completely. But that is not what He did. Rather He consecrated bread to become His Body and Blood. The Blood shed in the midst of Jerusalem fell in the dusty dirt at the foot of the cross, and He breathed a last breath and cried out for the anonymous, obscure beggars dying in the world or no more consequence that dust on His feet.

How full is the union with my Lord when He rescues me. Then there is no spot in all my being unwilling to do His desire. Obscurity and anonymity had their way with me, and now He must fulfill me, having taken away all unworthiness.

Blessed is the man who accepts all that crucifixion means and anticipates nothing worldly along the way. Leave an imprint in the vail, catch a drop of falling Blood and gather it in a fine linen cloth, and come closer to him dying up above. Hear the last breath and the rest commence, for in three days all this immense labor that was begun will culminate in resurrection for us all.

Not a single star is unknown or unnamed, for having created them, He knew them all. He knows all of us, and in His mind is room enough to know all our most inmost details. Each one being a glinting bit of His passion-life, He cannot forget us or how He made us and redeemed us, bringing everything to fulfillment and completion in His time.

I stand waiting before Him, to take His place, if that be required. Too few are willing to but stand inert and lifeless before Him when He longs for our living warmth and love. Stand and wait for the glad light of day, and the dawn will rise before us in glory.

Vision

DAY'S SAINTS
Archangels Gabriel, Michael and Raphael
John of Dukla, Franciscan Hermit
Blessed John of Ghent, Hermit

Dn 7:9-10, 13-14
As I watched:
Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
His throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.
The court was convened, and the books were opened.
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,
He received dominion, glory, and kingship;
nations and peoples of every language serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Gospel Jn 1:47-51

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,

"Here is a true child of Israel.

There is no duplicity in him."

Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"

Jesus answered and said to him,

"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."

Nathanael answered him,

"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."

Jesus answered and said to him,

"Do you believe

because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?

You will see greater things than this."

And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you,

you will see heaven opened

and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

+

Presumably, Daniel knew Jesus was the Son of God in the vision, and He was recognized when He was presented to the Father. Otherwise, how are we to take the passage describing the vision?

Jesus saw Nathaniel under the tree, although evidently, Jesus was not close enough to have actually seen him?

In both cases, things hidden can easily be seen by God, and perhaps we can avoid sin by remembering that God sees everything we do. If we are forgiven our sins, He does not remember them any more. Think well on this when you are angry with your brother, before you take action. He is everywhere, and sees everything and can remember what we can not. Blessed are we when He points out our sins and faults to us, because then we might take action to atone before we die.

Perhaps those who abandoned the Church can take the meaning of the visions too, that the absence of His children grieves Him, and we impoverish ourselves when we forsake our Mother.

God can do marvelous things with us in an instant. We can be snatched up to heaven in ecstasy to accomplish His Will and Purpose. What we suffered for years can be undone in an instant so we are perfect again. If He forgives our sins, we shall be perfect again.

If the world is a frightening place, we should pray for protection and ask to be defended as His child.

If the world is a frightening place, perhaps it could be different if we became different, close to God and of a like disposition, loving and affectionate toward our Creator.

I have a warning for the world; it is time to reconcile with your brothers and make peace where there is war, so that on the day He comes to reveal Himself to us, we may be as He intended we should be seen, as His children and beloved of Him. 

The Lord did not dismiss or excuse Himself from the passion, but embraced the cross and won our redemption. Let not war exist between our brothers and sisters, nor in any conclave, allow dissension and vileness pervade the friendship intended. Those who deliberately try to do others harm will be punished and what was entrusted to them will be removed. Then you must make a deal with the enemy to provide for yourself, and if you do, you will be cast out into darkness and fury.

Vision

DAY'S SAINTS
Archangels Gabriel, Michael and Raphael
John of Dukla, Franciscan Hermit
Blessed John of Ghent, Hermit

Dn 7:9-10, 13-14
As I watched:
Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
His throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.
The court was convened, and the books were opened.
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,
He received dominion, glory, and kingship;
nations and peoples of every language serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Gospel Jn 1:47-51

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,

"Here is a true child of Israel.

There is no duplicity in him."

Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"

Jesus answered and said to him,

"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."

Nathanael answered him,

"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."

Jesus answered and said to him,

"Do you believe

because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?

You will see greater things than this."

And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you,

you will see heaven opened

and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

+

Presumably, Daniel knew Jesus was the Son of God in the vision, and He was recognized when He was presented to the Father. Otherwise, how are we to take the passage describing the vision?

Jesus saw Nathaniel under the tree, although evidently, Jesus was not close enough to have actually seen him?

In both cases, things hidden can easily be seen by God, and perhaps we can avoid sin by remembering that God sees everything we do. If we are forgiven our sins, He does not remember them any more. Think well on this when you are angry with your brother, before you take action. He is everywhere, and sees everything and can remember what we can not. Blessed are we when He points out our sins and faults to us, because then we might take action to atone before we die.

Perhaps those who abandoned the Church can take the meaning of the visions too, that the absence of His children grieves Him, and we impoverish ourselves when we forsake our Mother.

God can do marvelous things with us in an instant. We can be snatched up to heaven in ecstasy to accomplish His Will and Purpose. What we suffered for years can be undone in an instant so we are perfect again. If He forgives our sins, we shall be perfect again.

If the world is a frightening place, we should pray for protection and ask to be defended as His child.

If the world is a frightening place, perhaps it could be different if we became different, close to God and of a like disposition, loving and affectionate toward our Creator.

I have a warning for the world; it is time to reconcile with your brothers and make peace where there is war, so that on the day He comes to reveal Himself to us, we may be as He intended we should be seen, as His children and beloved of Him. 

The Lord did not dismiss or excuse Himself from the passion, but embraced the cross and won our redemption. Let not war exist between our brothers and sisters, nor in any conclave, allow dissension and vileness pervade the friendship intended. Those who deliberately try to do others harm will be punished and what was entrusted to them will be removed. Then you must make a deal with the enemy to provide for yourself, and if you do, you will be cast out into darkness and fury.

Disappointment

Day's Saints
Justina of Antioch, Martyr
Blessed Kasapr Stanggassinger, Martyr
Gospel Lk 8:19-21
The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him
but were unable to join him because of the crowd.
He was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside
and they wish to see you."
He said to them in reply, "My mother and my brothers
are those who hear the word of God and act on it."

+

What did you come out into the desert to see, a
reed shaken in the wind?

Disappointment can be difficult to endure. Expectations only heighten one's anticipation, and when things do not turn out the way we wanted them to do, it is easy to get disgusted and let down. This can even happen regarding spiritual things. Mary was disappointed that She could not get to see Her Son. That does not mean we will not be compensated, but we must not give up hope in the life that awaits us.

This life can be bitter, cold and dreary, just like the weather, but just like the weather, things can change in a heartbeat. One of the delights in life is when something changes in an instant into a moment that lifts up the soul out of itself into God.

God, on His part, does not wish us to be disappointed or to get discouraged, and for that reason, after testing us, He gives us what we wanted, but better than our expectations. 

Do not tire of praying for one another, and trying to encourage those who have despaired. Do not grow tired of higher expectations, because when God fulfills us, we will never be hungry in that way again.

Disappointment

Day's Saints
Justina of Antioch, Martyr
Blessed Kasapr Stanggassinger, Martyr
Gospel Lk 8:19-21
The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him
but were unable to join him because of the crowd.
He was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside
and they wish to see you."
He said to them in reply, "My mother and my brothers
are those who hear the word of God and act on it."

+

What did you come out into the desert to see, a
reed shaken in the wind?

Disappointment can be difficult to endure. Expectations only heighten one's anticipation, and when things do not turn out the way we wanted them to do, it is easy to get disgusted and let down. This can even happen regarding spiritual things. Mary was disappointed that She could not get to see Her Son. That does not mean we will not be compensated, but we must not give up hope in the life that awaits us.

This life can be bitter, cold and dreary, just like the weather, but just like the weather, things can change in a heartbeat. One of the delights in life is when something changes in an instant into a moment that lifts up the soul out of itself into God.

God, on His part, does not wish us to be disappointed or to get discouraged, and for that reason, after testing us, He gives us what we wanted, but better than our expectations. 

Do not tire of praying for one another, and trying to encourage those who have despaired. Do not grow tired of higher expectations, because when God fulfills us, we will never be hungry in that way again.

Companions

Day's Saints

Gunthildis Of Sufferheim
Blessed Joseph Marchandon, Martyr

Gospel Lk 8:1-3
Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another,
preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.
Accompanying him were the Twelve
and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,
Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza,
Susanna, and many others
who provided for them out of their resources.

+

What sign will we leave behind that we existed at all?

The Lord kept interesting company. They, in their turn, showed their respect and gratitude and surpassing belief. Anyone who wants salvation must do likewise.

Perhaps none can fathom deeply enough, the love of God for His children than those who were possessed and lived to see the light of day again.

Likewise, those afflicted by evil know full well, how beautiful is the love of Our Lord.

We may not be called to great or memorable deeds, but if we have lived a life that blessed His Name in every circumstance, we have done well, and certainly, those around such people benefitted greatly, for the world has little concern for them.

Indeed, it is said that early Christians were notable for their love and charity toward the poor and destitute. And if anything can be distributed to the poor, it is because someone gathered the wherewithal to feed the hungry out of their wealth. St. Francis knew full well the pleasures of wealth, and it is thus notable that he made such a radical change in his own circumstances to attend to the needs of the poor. If his preaching had any effect, it was only because of that change in attitude, for those charged with leading the faithful had been unfaithful in their duty, and those who were doing what the leaders should have been doing, were a breath of fresh air in a Church grown cold and stagnant.

Let us ask the Lord to refresh us so that our brothers and sisters in the world might renew the face of the earth. The world is in so much despair that it has grown frozen and rigid and needs the warmth of the blood of His followers in truth. Jesus left us an example in the shedding of His very last drop of Blood on the hill of His execution. Whatever He asks us to do, we must do fearlessly on account of His spilled Blood.

Do we have the courage to do as He asks?