The Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath

What does the commandment "keep holy the Sabbath" require of us?

Or better yet, what is the primary intention behind this command? The religious leaders confronted Jesus on this issue. The "Sabbath rest" was meant to be a time to remember and celebrate God's goodness and the goodness of his work, both in creation and redemption. It was a day set apart for the praise of God, his work of creation, and his saving actions on our behalf. It was intended to bring everyday work to a halt and to provide needed rest and refreshment. Jesus' disciples are scolded by the scribes and Pharisees, not for plucking and eating corn from the fields, but for doing so on the Sabbath. In defending his disciples, Jesus argues from the scriptures that human need has precedence over ritual custom.

When David and his men were fleeing for their lives, they sought food from Ahimelech the priest (1 Samuel 21:1-6). The only bread he had was the holy bread offered in the Temple. None but the priests were allowed to eat it. In their hunger, David and his men ate of this bread. Jesus reminds the Pharisees that the Sabbath was given for our benefit, to refresh and renew us in living for God. It was intended for good and not for evil. Withholding mercy and kindness in response to human need was not part of God’s intention that we rest from unnecessary labor. Do you honor the Lord in the way you treat your neighbor and celebrate the Lord's Day?

Lord Jesus, may I give you fitting honor in the way I live my life and in the way I treat my neighbor. May I honor the Lord's Day as a day holy to you. And may I always treat others with the same mercy and kindness which you have shown to me. Free me from a critical and intolerant spirit that I may always seek the good of my neighbor.

source: From the desk of Don Schwager, 

hosted by Kairos Europe and the Middle East

Good night prayer to Guardian Angel

Good night, my Guardian Angel,

The day has sped away, Well spent or ill,

its story is written down for aye.

And now, of God's kind Providence,

Thou image pure and bright,

Watch over me while l'm sleeping.

My Angel dear.... Good night. Amen.

Jesus is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament the Sacred Host

"Jesus has remained in the Sacred Host for us! So as to stay by our side, to sustain us, to guide us. And love can only be repaid with love."

"How could we not turn to the Blessed Sacrament each day, even if it is only for a few minutes, to bring him our greetings and our love as children and as brothers? "

~ St Josemaria Escriva ~

Forgive us Lord

Teach us to have an authentic desire to serve you. Send your HOLY SPIRIT and form us to be like your faithful servants. Stay with us and Protect us from every evil, teach us to sober-minded as St.Peter shared in...

1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

Keep us always in your loving arms. Amen.

It is so hard ....

Thank you Lord for everything

Read this in silence!.. 

Thank you Lord for everything.

Forgive me of all of my sins. 

Heal me from the hurts from my past.

I love You and need You! 

Cover me with Your precious and Holy Blood, 

my family, my friends, my life projects. 

Give me Your dreams Lord. 

Bless and protect everyone that seeks You, 

needs You and believes in You. 

If you love God 

and you are not ashamed of Him, 

share or post this for a day 

and you will see what He will do. 

THANK YOU LORD.

First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

“In the excess of the mercy of my Heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.” 

ACT OF REPARATION 

TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS 

Sacred Heart of Jesus, animated with a desire to repair the outrages unceasingly offered to Thee, we prostrate before Thy throne of mercy, and in the name of all mankind, pledge our love and fidelity to Thee! The more Thy mysteries are blasphemed, the more firmly we shall believe them, O Sacred Heart of Jesus! The more impiety endeavours to extinguish our hopes of immortality, the more we shall trust in Thy Heart, sole hope of mankind! The more hearts resist Thy Divine attractions, the more we shall love Thee, O infinitely amiable Heart of Jesus! The more unbelief attacks Thy Divinity, the more humbly and profoundly we shall adore It, O Divine Heart of Jesus! The more Thy holy laws are transgressed and ignored, the more we shall delight to observe them, O most holy Heart of Jesus! The more Thy Sacraments are despised and abandoned, the more frequently we shall receive them with love and reverence, O most liberal Heart of Jesus! The more the imitation of Thy virtues is neglected and forgotten, the more we shall endeavour to practice them, O Heart of Jesus, model of every virtue! The more the devil labours to destroy souls, the more we shall be inflamed with desire to save them, O Heart of Jesus, zealous Lover of souls! The more sin and impurity destroy the image of God in man, the more we shall try by purity of life to be a living temple of the Holy Spirit, O Heart of Jesus! The more Thy Holy Church is despised, the more we shall endeavour to be her faithful children, O Sweet Heart of Jesus! The more Thy Vicar on earth is persecuted, the more we will honour him as the infallible head of Thy Holy Church, show our fidelity and pray for him, O kingly Heart of Jesus! O Sacred Heart, through Thy powerful grace, may we become Thy apostles in the midst of a corrupted world, and be Thy crown in the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

Make the Choice ~ Key to your Life

Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, be like the Magi ~ January 6, 2019

On this feast of Epiphany, the Church celebrates today is the manifestation of our Lord Jesus to the whole world, after being made known to the shepherds of Bethlehem. He is revealed to the Magi who have come from the East to adore Him. Jesus is revealed as God. Jesus comes as a baby born of Mary, we rejoice that Christ is born, King of the Jews and King of all who seek salvation. The Epiphany experience reveals to us that God exists and God seeks us actively to draw us into union with Him.

The Magi “talk little and journey much,” and once they arrive at the manger they gave gifts, imitating Jesus who came to the world to offer His life. “To give freely, for the Lord’s sake, without expecting anything in return: this is the sure sign that we have found Jesus, to do good without counting the cost, even when unasked, even when you gain nothing thereby, even if it is unpleasant. That is what God wants.” ~ Pope Francis

Several moments in Christ’s early life and ministry have been celebrated as “epiphanies,” including his birth in Bethlehem, the visit of the Magi, his baptism by John, and his first miracle at Cana.

Gospel

Matthew 2:1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,

in the days of King Herod, 

behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 

"Where is the newborn king of the Jews?

We saw his star at its rising

and have come to do him homage."

When King Herod heard this,

he was greatly troubled, 

and all Jerusalem with him.

Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, 

He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, 

for thus it has been written through the prophet:

And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

since from you shall come a ruler,

who is to shepherd my people Israel."

Then Herod called the magi secretly 

and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance.

He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 

"Go and search diligently for the child.

When you have found him, bring me word, 

that I too may go and do him homage."

After their audience with the king they set out.

And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, 

until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.

They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 

and on entering the house

they saw the child with Mary his mother.

They prostrated themselves and did him homage.

Then they opened their treasures 

and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, 

they departed for their country by another way.

Abbreviations of the Books of the Bible

OLD TESTAMENT 

Amos Am 

Baruch Bar

1 Chronicles 1 Chr

2 Chronicles 2 Chr 

Daniel Dn

Deuteronomy Dt

Ecclesiastes Eccl

Esther Est

Exodus Ex

Ezra Ezr

Ezekiel Ez

Genesis Gn

Habakkuk Hb

Haggai Hg

Hosea Hos

Isaiah Is

Jeremiah Jer

Job Jb

Joel Jl

Jonah Jon

Joshua Jos 

Judges Jgs 

Judith Jdt 

1 Kings 1 Kgs 

2 Kings 2 Kgs

Lamentations Lam

Leviticus Lv

1 Maccabees 1 Mc

2 Maccabees 2 Mc

Malachi Mal

Micah Mi

Nahum Na

Nehemiah Neh

Numbers Nm

Obadiah Ob

Proverbs Prv

Psalm(s) Ps(s)

Ruth Ru

1 Samuel 1 Sm

2 Samuel 2 Sm

Sirach Sir

Song of Songs Sg

Tobit Tb

Wisdom Wis

Zechariah Zec

Zephaniah Zep

NEW TESTAMENT 

Acts of the Apostles Acts 

Colossians Col 

1 Corinthians 1 Cor

2 Corinthians 2 Cor

Ephesians Eph 

Galatians Gal 

Hebrews Heb

James Jas 

John (Gospel) Jn 

1 John 1 Jn

2 John 2 Jn

3 John 3 Jn

Jude Jude 

Luke Lk

Mark Mk

Matthew Mt

1 Peter 1 Pt

2 Peter 2 Pt

Philemon Phlm

Philippians Phil

Revelation Rv

Romans Rom

1 Thessalonians 1 Thes

2 Thessalonians 2 Thes

1 Timothy 1 Tm

2 Timothy 2 Tm

Titus Ti