The Ministry Center will be closed Tuesday, January 1st in observance of the New Year.
When the days for Jesus’ being taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
“Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?”
Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.
As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him,
“I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus answered him,
“Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”
And to another he said, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”
But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead.
But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
And another said, “I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home.”
To him Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:51-62
#dailyingodsword
Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions,
and all who heard him were astounded
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them;
and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
Luke 2:41-51
#dailyingodsword
🎨 Immaculate Heart of Mary by L. Williams
Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord,
and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart. Matthew 11:29
#dailyingodsword
#solemnityofthesacredheartofjesus
📸 Detail of a mosaic in San Lorenzo fuori le mura in Rome of Christ the Good Shepherd, combined with an image of the Sacred Heart.
Fr. Lawrence OP
Happy Feast of the Sacred Heart!
How blessed is our church to be named after God’s own heart!
Most sweet Jesus, redeemer of the human race, look down upon us, humbly before your altar. We are yours and yours we wish to be; but to be more surely united with you, behold each one of us freely consecrate ourselves to your most sacred heart. Many, indeed, have never known you, many too have rejected you. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to your sacred heart. Be you king, O Lord, not only of the faithful, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned you; grant that they may quickly return to their father's house. Be you king of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one shepherd. Be you king also of all those who sit in the ancient superstitions, and refuse not you to deliver them out of darkness into the light and kingdom of God. Grant, O Lord, to your Church, assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the divine heart that wrought our salvation; to you be glory and honour forever. Amen.
– Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903, pope from 1878 until his death), Prayer of Consecration to the Sacred Heart
God loved you before you were born, and God will love you after you die. In Scripture, God says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” This is a very fundamental truth of your identity. This is who you are whether you feel it or not. You belong to God from eternity to eternity. Life is just a little opportunity for you during a few years to say, “I love you, too.” -Henri Nouwen
"The creator of the heavens obeys a carpenter; the God of eternal glory listens to a poor virgin. Has anyone ever witnessed anything comparable to this? Let the philosopher no longer disdain from listening to the common laborer; the wise, to the simple; the educated, to the illiterate; a child of a prince, to a peasant." ~ Anthony of Padua
Thursday, Jun 23, 2022
Give birth to possibilities
Today is the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, one of the earliest feast days established in the church. John the Baptist is the only person outside of Jesus and Mary whose birth is honored with a feast day, indicating his importance. His unlikely birth to the aged Elizabeth has long been a popular subject for artists. It has miraculous parallels to the birth of Isaac (born to the aged Sarah and Abraham) and to the birth of Christ himself (born to a virgin). Let John’s birth remind you that God continuously brings forth life out of seemingly impossible situations.
SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST
Luke 1:57-66, 80.
“‘Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’”
#dailyingodsword
#takefiveforfaith
Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord;
whoever remains in me will bear much fruit. John 15:4
#dailyingodsword
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the Law and the Prophets.
“Enter through the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,
and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few.”
Matthew 7:12-14
#dailyingodsword
🎨Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), Golden Rule, 1961
