Lessons from the Holy Family for us today

from Saint Andrew Daily Missal:

“Is it not fitting,” says Leo XIII, “to celebrate the royal birth of the Son of the supreme Father, of the house of David and the glorious names of that ancient line? Yet it is more consoling for us to call to memory the little house at Nazareth and the humble life lived there; thus celebrating the hidden life of our Lord. For there the divine Child received his training in Joseph’s humble trade; there hidden and sheltered, He grew up and showed Himself ready to share the toil of a carpenter’s life. Let the moisture,” he seemed to say, “trickle over my limbs before they are drenched with the torrent of my blood, and the pain of this labour shall go to atone for the sins of men.” Close to the divine Child is His tender Mother; close to Joseph stands his devoted wife…

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DEAR JUNE!

The Godly Chic Diaries

The bible declares: “There I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” — Mark 11:2

When you are filled with sadness. When your tears begin to fall and you feel there is no end. Remember this: God is with you. He will never leave you. He will never forsake you. That’s His unfailing, never-changing promise.

A few days ago I received an e-mail from a fellow blogger asking for prayer. This e-mail touched my heart in such a way that I decided to open up a prayer initiative on my blog called DEAR JUNE! Here fellow bloggers can send me their prayer requests via e-mail: @junaisha23.gmail.com — I will personally pray with/for them.

Here’s a small snippet of the e-mail: “As a woman of faith, would you add my sister, Jacque, to your prayer list until January 13.
She…

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Jesus & Paul – Different Messages? Part 13

Considering the Bible

Paul In the past few months I have noticed that there are rumblings – at least in my world – of some internet folks trying to make out the message of Paul to be different that that of Jesus.

Never mind the fact that Jesus was dealing with a nation in the last gasps of it’s life and His pleading for their repentance, and Paul’s focus on “making that tent bigger for them dirty Gentiles” (See Isaiah 54:2-3)

Why? I don’t know, and at this point I am not concerned with their motivation, since I will assume the worst, which may not be fair.

Nevertheless, as I was browsing my computer bible study files, I providentially tripped over the following information. I must have found this info years back, and will not take credit for the compiling of the verses, but for the life of me, I am not sure where…

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God’s Beloved

My Pastoral Ponderings

And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
Mark 1:11

God’s Beloved

 Such heavenly words, God speaks from above,
 Addressed to us all through God's only son:
 “You are the children I can't help but love.”
 Words not yet heard by all under the sun,
 And even when heard, we still at times doubt,
 Struggling to see what our God sees in us. 
 When we displease ourselves, inside and out,
 How then can God's love be something we trust? 
 Come to the manger, the river, the cross,
 See other sinners, loved and forgiven,
 Remember the Shepherd, seeking the lost,
 Not to judge, but that grace might be given. 
 When God looks at us, Love is all God sees,
 Daughters and sons with whom God is well pleased.

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Jesus is Coming Soon!

NarrowPathMinistries

By Dr. David R. Reagan

Read in: English (Extended Version) | Chinese | German | Portugese | Swedish

Many people believe there is nothing that can be known about the timing of the Lord’s return because Jesus said He would return like a “thief in the night” (Matthew 24:42-44).

But Paul makes it clear in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 that Jesus’ statement does not apply to believers: “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief…” He then proceeds to explain why: “for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.” Paul is referring, of course, to the light of the Holy Spirit…

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Luke- Week 7- Day 1

Study the Scriptures with Ben Jennings

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, (28) Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. (29) And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. (30) Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. (31) And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
Luke 6:27-28

Explanation:

It is helpful to understand these verses within the context of which Jesus spoke them and how Luke related them in the flow of thought of the chapter.

In Luke 6:1-5 we find that Jesus had disciples that were following him. Verses 1-5 describes a problem that the pharisees…

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God’s People, God’s Priorities [Sermon PLUS extra content]

Matthew Ruttan

We need to focus on (and listen to) the voice of God if we are to be found faithful. Can you imagine playing on a team and never listening to the coach?

But it’s hard in a world of distraction, isn’t it? There are so many other voices and factors trying to throw us off course!

This sermon is based on the story of the boy Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:41-52) and seeks to re-focus us on the voice of God if we are to truly be his people and set priorities that are consistent with his own.

In short, God’s people pursue God’s priorities.

As always, the YouTube version of the sermon is below. However, you will notice that there are TWO audio-only files underneath. The first is the sermon itself.

The SECOND is a new feature. It includes extra material. Why? Because when…

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Mother Knows Best: New Year’s Resolutions for Catholics

Clarifying Catholicism

By Nick Jones, University of Rhode Island

You know the drill. It’s the New Year, so everyone is posting or talking about their resolutions. Some seem better, or at least more actionable, than others. Regardless of the specifics, they all seem to hover around the idea of self-improvement. No one’s goal is ever to become a worse person. How should we Catholics understand this notion of self-improvement? Contrary to the culturally woke notion of self-love as an end in itself, we are called to love ourselves for God’s sake. To be sure, we ought to be constantly cooperating with God and His actual graces in order to become more like Him. Consider the Parable of the Talents (cf. Matthew 25:14–30). Much is expected of those of us to whom much has been given. The greatest talent, or gift, entrusted to us is that of the Faith. Thus, if we want…

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