Daily Scripture Reading (from the Catholic Bible)

[kyuusai]

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Thursday (9/2: "Who is this about whom I hear such things?"
Scripture: Luke 9:7-9

7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, 8 by some that Eli'jah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen. 9 Herod said, "John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?" And he sought to see him.

Meditation: Who do you most admire? People with power, influence, fame or wealth? Scripture warns us of such danger (see Proverbs 23:1-2). King Herod had respected and feared John the Baptist as a great prophet and servant of God. John, however did not fear to rebuke Herod for his adulterous affair with his brother's wife. Herod, however, was more of a people pleaser than a God pleaser. Herod not only imprisoned John to silence him, but he also beheaded him simply to please his family and friends. Now when reports of Jesus' miracles and teaching reach Herod's court, Herod becomes very troubled in conscience. He thinks that John the Baptist has risen from the dead! Herod sought to meet Jesus more out of curiosity and fear than out of a sincere desire to know God's wisdom and truth.

Who is most influential in your life? And who do you most want to be like? We naturally look up to other people we want to imitate. If we truly want to be like God and to live as his sons and daughters, then it greatly helps us to have models and examples of godly people who show us how to live in the power of God's love and holiness. God's grace frees us from the tyranny of fear and the pressure to please others rather than to please God. Do you allow God's grace to fill you with faith and courage to choose what is good and pleasing to him and to reject whatever would keep you from embracing his love and will for your daily life?

"Heavenly Father, form in me the likeness of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and deepen his life within me that I may be like him in word and in deed. Increase my eagerness to do your will and help me to know the saving power of your love."

Psalm 90:3-6, 12-16

3 Thou turnest man back to the dust, and sayest, "Turn back, O children of men!"
4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
5 Thou dost sweep men away; they are like a dream, like grass which is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.
12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on thy servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with thy steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad as many days as thou hast afflicted us, and as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let thy work be manifest to thy servants, and thy glorious power to their children.

[thisbe.ara]

Thursday, September 28, 2006
Feria


First Reading:Ecclesiastes 1:2-11
Psalm:Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, 17
Gospel:Luke 9:7-9

For almighty God. . ., because he is supremely good, would never allow any evil whatsoever to exist in his works if he were not so all-powerful and good as to cause good to emerge from evil itself.

-- St. Augustine, Enchiridion 3, 11

[thisbe.ara]

in its crudest definition the bible is literature. The word literature is defined as "creative writing of recognized artistic value". But we both know its not just literature and the bible was certainly not created for artistic value. That would be heresy, my friend. So unless the words writen here are treated as literature i.e analyzed and criticed AS literature in a philosophycal and scolarly manner then this probably fits somewhere else where these words can be given meaning and properly taken to heart.

and yes i am a christian...

just my 2 cents...

alright, i hear you.. and thank you for that, i know your side already. whether this be in arts and lit or in the religious forum, that would be the call of the moderators. i wouldn't question either whether the scripture is considered as an art or whatever-- that, my friend, we will discuss in the Religious forum. :mrgreen:

[thisbe.ara]

Friday, September 29, 2006
Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels (Feast)


First Reading: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 or Revelation 12:7-12
Psalm: Psalm 138:1-5
Gospel:John 1:47-51

47 Jesus saw Nathan'a-el coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"
48 Nathan'a-el said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
49 Nathan'a-el answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these."
51 And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."




You should never praise anyone until you see how how it turns out in the end.

-- St. Francis of Assisi

[thisbe.ara]

Saturday, September 30, 2006
St. Jerome, Priest, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

First Reading: Ecclesiastes 11:9 -- 12:8
Psalm: Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, 17
Gospel: Luke 9:43-45

43 And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples,

44 "Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men."

45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.


What prayer could be more true before God the Father than that which the Son, who is Truth, uttered with His own lips?

-- St. John Chrysostom

[thisbe.ara]

Sunday, October 1, 2006
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary time

First Reading: Numbers 11:25-29
Psalm: Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-14
Second Reading: St. James 5:1-6
Gospel: Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us."(3 But Jesus said, "Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.(39) Whoever is not against us is for us.(40) For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.(41) If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.(42) If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell1, to the unquenchable fire.(43) . . ,2
"And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell".(45) . . , 2
" And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell,(47) where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched".(4


Our Lord gives to souls of prayer a deep understanding of Himself. He never deceives them.

-- St. Peter Julian Eymard

[belle]

Saturday, September 2, 2006

"Pardon me, O perfections of my God, for having preferred imperfect

-- St Ignatius of Loyola

First Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Psalm: Psalm 33:12-13, 18-21
Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30

14 "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property;
15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more.
17 So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more.
18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, `Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'
21 His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, `Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'
23 His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, `Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow;
25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'
26 But his master answered him, `You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed?
27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29 For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'

[thisbe.ara]

OT: bespren belle, September 2? you're a month late. hehehe..

Monday, October 2, 2006
Guardian Angels (Memorial)

First Reading: Exodus 23:20-23
Psalm: Psalm 91:1-6, 10-11
Gospel: Matthew 18:1-5, 10

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them,
3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me;
10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.


The garden of the Lord, brethren, includes - yes, it truly includes - includes not only the roses of martyrs but also the lilies of virgins, and the ivy of married people, and the violets of widows. There is absolutely no kind of human beings, my dearly beloved, who need to despair of their vocation; Christ suffered for all. It was very truly written about him: who wishes all men to be saved, and to come to the acknowledgement of the truth.

-- St. Augustine

[kyuusai]

OT: post lang ko sa meditation... hehehe..

Monday (10/2): "Their angels always behold the face of my Father"
Scripture: Matthew 18:1-5, 10 (alternate reading: Luke 9:46-50)

Meditation: Jesus warned his disciples to "not despise the little ones." God dwells with the lowly and regards them with compassion. His angels watch over them as guardians. "For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways" (Psalm 91:11). God has not left us alone in our struggle "to refuse evil and to choose good" (Isaiah 7:15). The angels are his "ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation" (Heb. 1:14). Scripture is full of examples of how the angels serve as messengers and protectors. When Peter was chained in prison and kept under guard, an angel woke him in middle of the night, released his chains, and brought him safely out of prison, past several guards and through locked gates. When Peter realized he wasn't dreaming, he exclaimed: "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me" (Acts 12:11). When Daniel was thrown into a den of hungry lions, an angel protected him from harm.

John Chrysostom, a 5th century church father, compared the guardian angels to the troops garrisoned in cities on the frontiers of the empire to defend it from the enemy. Basil the Great said, "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life." Angels ministered to Jesus after his temptation in the wilderness and during his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. The angels will be present at Christ's return, which they will announce, to serve at his judgment (Matt. 25:31). The angels tell us that this universe is not just materialistic. The fallen angels, led by Satan, seek our destruction. If they cannot induce us to disown our faith and allegiance to Christ, they attempt to divert us from doing the will of God by distracting us with good things that weigh us down and make us indifferent towards the things of God. God gives us the help of his angelic hosts and he gives us spiritual weapons, the shield of faith and the breastplate of righteousness (see Ephesians 6:1-11), to resist the devil and his lies. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we, too, join with angelic choirs in singing the praises of God. Do you thank the Lord for his daily guidance and protection?

"Lord, you are our refuge and strength. May we always know your guiding hand and the help of your angels in protecting us from all that is evil. Give me strength to refuse what is evil and to choose what is good."

Psalm 91:1-6, 10-11

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty,
2 will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust."
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;
4 he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
11For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways.

[belle]

Tuesday, October 3, 2006

In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal.

-- St Bernard

First Reading: Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23
Psalm: Psalm 88:2-8
Gospel: Luke 9:51-56


51 When the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him;
53 but the people would not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.
54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?"
55 But he turned and rebuked them.
56 And they went on to another village.