† " Who Provided For Them ."
†Saint Quote "The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of se
"The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace."
— St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
"You have never begrudged the martyrs their triumph but rather trained them for it. And so I am asking you to be consistent with the lessons you teach them. Just beg for me the courage and endurance not only to speak but also to will what is right, so that I may not only be called a Christian, but prove to be one. For if I prove myself to be a Christian by martyrdom, then people will call me one, and my loyalty to Christ will be apparent when the world sees me no more. Nothing you can see is truly good. For our Lord Jesus Christ, now that he has returned to his Father, has revealed himself more clearly. Our task is not one of producing persuasive propaganda; Christianity shows its greatness when it is hated by the world."
— St. Ignatius of Antioch, p. 194
Witness of the Saints
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace."
Numbers 6:24-26
ST. HILDEGARD VON BINGEN
St. Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179) was born to a large and noble German family. She began to have mystical visions at the age of three which continued throughout her life. Her parents, promising her to the service of God, sent her to be educated at the Benedictine Abbey by an anchoress when she was about eight years of age. At the age of fourteen she became a consecrated nun attached to the Abbey, where she lived a quiet life of prayer for many years. At the age of 38, after the anchoress' death, she was chosen as the new leader of a growing group of nuns. Hildegard led a remarkable and unusual life for a woman of her day. She was an avid composer of sacred music and liturgy, in addition to poems and plays. She also wrote heavily on theology, natural medicine, and natural science. At the age of 42, at the command of God, Hildegard began writing down what she saw in her visions. Her works were widely read, even by the Pope, and leaders around the world sought her council. Her fame as a mystic and prophetess grew, earning her the name "Sibyl of the Rhine." More nuns flocked to join her, causing Hildegard to establish a new monastery at Rupertsberg. She wrote proficiently on the harmony of created nature and man's need to live in balance with it, especially in virtue, morality, and the love of God, which led Pope Benedict XVI to declare her the fourth female Doctor of the Church in 2012 alongside Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, and Thérèse of Lisieux. Because her works were far ahead of her time she is regarded as a historical phenomenon. Hildegard of Bingen is considered the founder of scientific natural history in Germany. Her feast day is September 17th.
Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
1 Tm 6:2c-12
Beloved:
Teach and urge these things.
Whoever teaches something different
and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ
and the religious teaching
is conceited, understanding nothing,
and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes.
From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions,
and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds,
who are deprived of the truth,
supposing religion to be a means of gain.
Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain.
For we brought nothing into the world,
just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.
If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.
Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap
and into many foolish and harmful desires,
which plunge them into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is the root of all evils,
and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith
and have pierced themselves with many pains.
But you, man of God, avoid all this.
Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion,
faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life,
to which you were called when you made the noble confession
in the presence of many witnesses.
49:6-7, 8-10, 17-18, 19-20
R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Why should I fear in evil days
when my wicked ensnarers ring me round?
They trust in their wealth;
the abundance of their riches is their boast.
Yet in no way can a man redeem himself,
or pay his own ransom to God;
Too high is the price to redeem one's life; he would never have enough
to remain alive always and not see destruction.
Fear not when a man grows rich,
when the wealth of his house becomes great,
For when he dies, he shall take none of it;
his wealth shall not follow him down.
Though in his lifetime he counted himself blessed,
"They will praise you for doing well for yourself,"
He shall join the circle of his forebears
who shall never more see light.
See Mt 11:25
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
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.
Daily Meditation: 1 Timothy 6:2-12
. . . a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes. (1 Timothy 6:4)
You don't have to look very far to find what St. Paul is talking about. Unhealthy interest in arguments? Verbal disputes that lead to rivalry and insults? That could describe a lot of what you see in the news or on social media. Even closer to home, we can see friction that comes from suspicion or envy in our neighborhoods and families. It seems that everywhere we go, there are situations that can drag us into negativity.
But it doesn't have to be that way. As St. Paul exhorted his young friend Timothy, we can "avoid all this" (1 Timothy 6:11). We don't have to give in to the negative influences that surround us or the harmful tendencies within us. We can make things better both in our own lives and for the people around us.
How? By following Jesus' example. He never engaged in pointless argumentation. Even when he disagreed with people, his goal was to reveal the merciful heart of his heavenly Father. So when you face conflict, look to him so that you can receive the love he has for you and for the people you disagree with. Stay close to him; let his holiness help sweep aside any unhealthy rivalry or irritation that might have a hold on you.
Then you can take that uplifted attitude with you when you are interacting with other people. With your eyes fixed on Christ, you can find the grace to be positive and encouraging, even when you're talking to people you disagree with. You can show them the loving and merciful heart of God and bring Jesus' light into a distrustful or emotionally charged situation. It's not always easy, and it takes some practice, but you might be surprised to see how you can diffuse some of the negative things that St. Paul describes today.
You are a child of God, and he rejoices in helping you pursue righteousness. He loves it when you bring the light of his presence wherever you go.
"Lord, help me put aside useless argumentation. I want to bring your presence with me wherever I go today."
Psalm 49:6-10, 17-20
Luke 8:1-3
From Saint Paul:
"Beloved:
and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes."
And then he goes on to say:
"For we brought nothing into the world,
Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap..."
And the root of evil is money, and I'd add that pride is the cause...to want more, more than what God offers.
Let us pray the Psalms:
" Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!"
In the Holy Gospel in Luke we heard:
"Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.
who provided for them out of their resources."
The 12 Disciples were chosen, the men, by Christ Himself.
The women seemingly have come along in great gratitude, and this following on their own will speaks volumes for mankind. This is the true desire of God, that we should come in gratitude, not because you've been told what to do.
And so these women are amazing.
Now I am going to speak of women from a man's perspective.
I am a man. I am not a woman. The Theology of mankind says that God imparts onto Man something unique. Makes Wo-Man, which means From Man.
A woman in my perspective, thinks different than man. Thank God we do not think alike.
A woman is susceptible to temptation, but a woman that is grateful gives her life to Man. Woman is meant to be Holy.
A woman has the capability to endure much more pain than a man they say. Woman is strong.
And a woman has the capability to be much more compassionate than a man, they say. A woman therefore is in charge of the fruit.
A woman is intrinsically brought for a specific purpose that a man is not. It is not merely to bear the child of Man, but to bring something that is not available intrinsically in man. The design is extremely interesting.
There is a drawing to the wo-man and the wo-man to man.
And the unification of the two is a communion, a bringing together of gifts.
If it were not for the women in my life, I wouldn't be the man I am today. And I am speaking about my faith, and my life as a Christ follower. I am speaking of my mother, my grandmother, my wife, and some elderly women that have showed me to Christ, and even a persistent one that nagged me into a Cursillo (christianity courses in Catholicity), which turned into an encounter with our Lord.
The women we heard about were those who were cured and delivered from demons, and they became grateful souls, turning into holy souls for God almighty.
I am one of those, that was ill, and delivered, and I am here now grateful, and striving for holiness.
Do you see the correlation? God is Man. Jesus calls Himself, the Son of Man. And we are of Man, and He becomes one for us, and with us, and unites Himself to us, and takes us Up with Him. Think deliverance, think resurrection, think Ascension.
Now we are forming Church. Now we are forming the body of Christ. God has implemented Himself in us in the Holy Eucharist. The Wo-Man has received the seed, the Word, made flesh, and we are to bring fruit, from here on out.
Lord, I thank You.
I thank You because I am made from nothing.
I thank You because I am not forgotten.
I thank You for being and for me being made to know You, Love You, and Serve You.
I thank you for healing and delivering me unto Yourself.
I am Yours, and Yours I wish to be....forever.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.