THE FEAST OF ST APOLLINARIS, BISHOP AND MARTYR.
"The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.
"When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many people followed him, and he cured them all, but he warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet:
"Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
"He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope. (Matthew 12: 14 - 21).
Saturday July 20th in the 15th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Apollinaris.
St Apollinaris. (Bishop and Martyr). Syrian. Died 79 AD in Ravenna, Italy where he was Bishop. Two things are outstanding about our saint:
#1 The Apostle Peter himself ordained him a Bishop.
#2 St Apollinaris had an extraordinary gift of healing. The pagan Roman priests were so jealous of him that they persuaded Emperor Claudius to put him to death.
In our key Scripture for today, the Prophet Isaiah revealed how the Messiah will fulfill His great Mission.
"He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory."
In other words, the Messiah will be a Pastor, not a politician. He is a Good Shepherd drenched with the smell of the sheep.
The disciples will find it impossible to fill the shoes of the Shepherd-Messiah. But no fear, no worry, no doubt. This is the mission of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will prepare the disciples for this role. He will abide in them, teach them and comfort them in the missionland.
The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July.
'In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace." (Ephesians 1: 7).
Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ purify and heal us.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions for the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ click the link below:
KEEP HOLY THE LORD'S DAY.
"Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.
"When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.”
"He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat?
"Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent?
"I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.” (Matthew 12: 1 - 8).
Friday 19th July 2024 in the 15th Week in Ordinary Time.
What do you consider lawful to do on the Sabbath [Sunday]?
The Sabbath Rest is a key aspect of Judaism. The Sabbath day is sacred. The Sabbath Rest is one of the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai. Christianity being the daughter of Judaism adopted the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). The Sacred Magisterium of the Church (Teaching Authority) made Sunday the Day of Rest instead of the Sabbath (Saturday) because of the Resurrection of Jesus on Sunday.
Make no mistake about it, the requirement for the Sabbath Rest has not changed under Christianity. "Keep Holy the Lord's Day" is one of the most positive and beneficial commandments of the Decalogue. Let us list a few reasons:
#1 Sunday becomes a Day of Rest for the entire family.
#2 Sunday is the Day of mandatory worship of God in the Holy Eucharist.
#3 Sunday is a Day of exercise of faith in God who ordered the rest and promised to provide fully for the day.
#4 Sunday rest is rehearsal for eternal life. When this life ends, there will be no more work. It will be an eternity of enjoyment of the most beautiful liturgies and music and other things which eyes have not seen, nor eyes heard, nor has it ever entered the mind of man what God has prepared for those who love and obey Him.
Jesus observed the Sabbath scrupulously and desires His followers to do the same.
The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July.
"Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Hebrews 9: 22).
Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ purify and heal us.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions for the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ click the link below:
FEAST OF ST CAMILLUS DE LELLIS, PRIEST, NURSE AND FOUNDER.
"Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matthew 11: 28 - 30).
Thursday 18th July 2024 in the 15th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Camillus de Lellis.
St Camillus de Lellis. (1550 -1614). Italian. Priest. Camillus gave his life to Jesus after a troubled youth. He worked in Giacomo Hospital in Rome. While working here, he heard the call from God to found an order dedicated to the care of the sick. God gave St Camillus a special love for the sick. He founded the Order of the Camellians or The Servants of the Sick. He improved the treatment and care of hospital patients.
We all labor and are heavily burdened with problems of money, health, family, job, cars, etc. Jesus knows us individually and is aware of our situation. He invites us today to come to Him to find solution to our many problems.
We come to Jesus in Prayer. We come to Jesus in the Eucharist. We come to Him in spiritual Communion. We meet Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
When the Church gathers in prayer in His name, He is there. When we accept the word of God with faith, Jesus is that word and our lives and circumstances are transformed.
Pray for geniune contentment
"My God, in your creation of this world you made all things to be very good. I thank you, Lord, for all the goods of this world, and especially all those who have provided for me and my loved ones.
But remind me, Lord, that only you are the true Good, and that all earthly goods are but shadows of you. And should I become very attached to any fleeting good, and let it obstruct my love for you, grant me the holy desire to have it taken from me. Through Christ Our Lord, the King of glory who has no pillow to lay his head. Amen."
Listen to Jesus Christ, the faithful Witness.
"Set your mind on God's kingdom
and His justice before everything else,
and all the rest will come to you as well.
So do not be anxious about tomorrow; tomorrow
will look after itself. Each day has troubles
enough of its own."
(Matthew 6: 33-34).
The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July.
"But you were purchased with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a sacrificial lamb unblemished and spotless" (1 Peter 1: 19).
Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ purify and heal us.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions for the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ click the link below:
WHAT GOD REVEALS TO THE CHILDLIKE.
"At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.
"Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
"No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” (Matthew 11: 25 - 27).
Wednesday July 17th 2024 in the 15th Week in Ordinary Time.
In our short and powerful Gospel of today, Jesus praised the wisdom and modus operandi of His Father for singling out the childlike for His special favors.
Who is the childlike? Where can we find one to study? Let us take a look at the profile of St Therese of the Child Jesus, also called St Therese the Little Flower and St Therese of Lisieux.
St Therese is one of the most beloved saints in the Church. She is a powerful intercessor and her contribution to spirituality can be summarized thus:
#1 Utter simplicity in everything.
#2 Profound trust in Divine Providence.
St Therese you may say was chosen to be St Therese before she was born. At the age of 6, she had a profound faith in the Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and in the Blessed Sacrament. Asked one day how she was so sure of this, her response was disarming and profound: Jesus said: "This is My Body. This is My Blood." Since Jesus is God and Almighty, nothing is impossible for Him.
Does this not remind us of the Blessed Virgin Mary? To the word that She would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of God, she replied: "Be it done to me according to Your word." No fear. No worry. No doubt.
Is there a connection between faith and simplicity? Simplicity in thoughts and habits may facilitate the habit of believing. This seems to be the witness of many saints.
"Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 18: 3).
Be simple like Jesus and Therese. Dare to Believe. Thank You Father for teaching us through the little ones.
The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July.
"But you were purchased with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a sacrificial lamb unblemished and spotless" (1 Peter 1: 19).
Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ purify and heal us.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions for the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ click the link below:
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL.
"In the days of Ahaz, king of Judah, son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, Rezin, king of Aram, and Pekah, king of Israel, son of Remaliah, went up to attack Jerusalem, but they were not able to conquer it.
"When word came to the house of David that Aram was encamped in Ephraim, the heart of the king and the heart of the people trembled, as the trees of the forest tremble in the wind.
"Then the Lord said to Isaiah: Go out to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway of the fuller’s field, and say to him:
"Take care you remain tranquil and do not fear; let not your courage fail before these two stumps of smoldering brands, the blazing anger of Rezin and the Arameans, and of the son of Remaliah, because of the mischief that Aram, Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, plots against you, saying, “Let us go up and tear Judah asunder, make it our own by force, and appoint the son of Tabeel king there.”
"Thus says the Lord: This shall not stand, it shall not be!
"Damascus is the capital of Aram, and Rezin is the head of Damascus; Samaria is the capital of Ephraim, and Remaliah’s son the head of Samaria.
"But within sixty years and five, Ephraim shall be crushed, no longer a nation.
"Unless your faith is firm you shall not be firm!" (Isaiah 7: 1 - 9).
Tuesday July 16th in the 15th week in Ordinary Time is the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
What words do we associate with Mount Carmel? The Prophet Elijah, the Carmelite Order, St. Simon Stock.
On July 16, 1251 the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St Simon Stock, the Superior General of the Carmelites in England and gave him the brown scapula. Mary promised her protection to all those who wear the scapula. This is the origin of the devotion of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapula. The brown scapula is one of the numerous sacramentals of the Church.
Some years ago, a friend gave me a Brown Scapula. I hung it on the wall in my Prayer Area. On the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel a couple of years ago, I decided to put on that Brown Scapula for the first time. It was on my neck day and night. Then it fell apart from constant use. I prayed to Our Lady for inspiration on how to replace it. The prayer was answered immediately. That instant answer was a sign for me. Do not neglect Sacramentals like holy water, Rosary, crucifix, holy pictures, etc. They are means of graces and protection from the evil spirits.
Our key Scripture for today from Isaiah 7: 1 - 9 is one of my favorite Scriptures. They contain healing truths:
1. "Thus says the Lord: This shall not stand, it shall not be!"
You can repeat this to yourself when you are under threat and danger from a powerful foe. I have deployed it on a couple of occasions.
2. "Unless your faith is firm you shall not be firm!"
This truth should be obvious to everyone but it is not. Do you know that you are as strong as your belief on anything? To be free from fear, we need faith in a Strong Man who is more powerful than the person threatening you. That Strong Man is Jesus Christ.
The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July.
Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ purify and heal us.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions for the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ click the link below:
