Daily Bible Verse 101: The Feast of St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

Monday, July 31, 2023

The Feast of St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

"Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

"He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom.

"The weeds are the children of the Evil One, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil.

"The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

"Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.

"The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.

They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

"Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

(Matthew 13: 36 - 43).

Tuesday August 1st 2023 in the 17th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

St Alphonsus Liguori (1696 - 1787) is Italian. Bishop and Doctor of the Church. St Alphonsus founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists). Trained in civil and canon law, he was a great moral theologian and sought after for his gifts as a confessor and spiritual director. St Alphonsus Liguori is the patron saint of moral theologians.

St Alphonsus Liguori is an imminent Canon and Civil lawyer, writer and publisher of many book. He was gifted exceptionally by God. He was also a very sick man most of his long life. St Alphonsus Liguori is one of my favorite patron saints.

One of the most delightful contributions of St Alphonsus Liguori is his teaching on the precious doctrine of Divine Providence. God's mighty, merciful and mysterious Providence governs all things. There is no exception to this divine law.

I read and reread his small book: UNIFORMITY WITH GOD'S WILL.

In the Gospel of today, we are presented again the interpretation of the Parable of the Weeds. As I read and reflect on the message, I think of the Weeds of Abortion.

I ask myself: what if we are too impatient to uproot these weeds at all cost? What if we have been fighting the wrong battle out of pride and impatience? What if this unwinnable war is tearing the Church to pieces and preventing the Great Commission of Jesus to the Church: "Go to all the nations and preach the Good News to everyone." (Cf Matthew 28: 16 - 20).

Just a few anxious thoughts on the Gospel that the Holy Spirit presents the Church to ruminate.

Below is what one of our great Bishops wrote on June 25th 2022 apropos the "Demonic Trojan Horse that is Abortion hidden in the belly of the Church to prevent the real work of Evangelization."

"Friends, today is a time to rejoice as we celebrate the Supreme Court's decision to overturn “Roe v. Wade,” a deeply unjust law that has resulted in over 60 million lost lives. We mourn those unborn children and we reaffirm the Church's dedication to caring for people at all stages of life. We also redouble our efforts to care for all women and children in need.

"It is my hope that, in the coming days, our divided country avoids spiraling into further violence and instead we are able to find peace. May God bless all those who have worked tirelessly to promote the dignity of life, and may the Lord continue changing hearts and minds so that life will be accepted, valued, and cared for at all stages of existence."

August is the Month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary says: "In the end. My Immaculate Heart will triumph." I love this.