Archive for September 3, 2013

From a homily on Ezekiel by Saint Gregory the Great, pope

Posted: September 3, 2013 by CatholicJules in Great Catholic Articles, Memory Book
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A man made great for and by the love of our Lord indeed – Catholicjules

From a homily on Ezekiel by Saint Gregory the Great, pope

For Christ’s love I do not spare myself in speaking of him

Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Note that a man whom the Lord sends forth as a preacher is called a watchman. A watchman always stands on a height so that he can see from afar what is coming. Anyone appointed to be a watchman for the people must stand on a height for all his life to help them by his foresight.

How hard it is for me to say this, for by these very words I denounce myself. I cannot preach with any competence, and yet insofar as I do succeed, still I myself do not live my life according to my own preaching.

I do not deny my responsibility; I recognize that I am slothful and negligent, but perhaps the acknowledgment of my fault will win me pardon from my just judge. Indeed when I was in the monastery I could curb my idle talk and usually be absorbed in my prayers. Since I assumed the burden of pastoral care, my mind can no longer be collected; it is concerned with so many matters.

I am forced to consider the affairs of the Church and of the monasteries. I must weigh the lives and acts of individuals. I am responsible for the concerns of our citizens. I must worry about the invasions of roving bands of barbarians, and beware of the wolves who lie in wait for my flock. I must become an administrator lest the religious go in want. I must put up with certain robbers without losing patience and at times I must deal with them in all charity.

With my mind divided and torn to pieces by so many problems, how can I meditate or preach wholeheartedly without neglecting the ministry of proclaiming the Gospel? Moreover, in my position I must often communicate with worldly men. At times I let my tongue run, for if I am always severe in my judgments, the worldly will avoid me, and I can never attack them as I would. As a result I often listen patiently to chatter. And because I too am weak, I find myself drawn little by little into idle conversation, and I begin to talk freely about matters which once I would have avoided. What once I found tedious I now enjoy.

So who am I to be a watchman, for I do not stand on the mountain of action but lie down in the valley of weakness? Truly the all-powerful Creator and Redeemer of mankind can give me in spite of my weaknesses a higher life and effective speech; because I love him, I do not spare myself in speaking of him.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 3, 2013 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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We the body of Christ thank you Lord for the gift of Yourself and the powerful gift of intercession whereby You graciously answer our prayers according to Your Will.

We the body of Christ thank you Lord for the gift of healing and liberation from sin and evil.

We the body of Christ thank you Lord for the gift of prayer. Where in the quiet You bless us with your loving presence.

We the body of Christ thank you Lord for the gift of Your Word. Your almighty powerful Word which creates new life, nourishes, heals, strengthens, limitless Graces for which we cannot yet fully comprehend.

Glory be to the Father, the Son, and The Holy Spirit. Amen

GOSPEL
Luke 4:38–44

After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother–in–law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them.

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 3, 2013 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys
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It takes love to teach; for teaching and instructing in faith, morals and the application of the Gospels in daily life, requires patience, discipline, knowledge, skill, a deep relationship with God and most of all His love and Graces which He readily showers, Anyone who has ever taught may agree that a student is good only as his/her teacher. Still the student must possess the desire to learn, to grow and to apply all that he/she has learnt in order to grow yet some more.

The Word of God is Love. It teaches, admonishes, if heals, it strengthens, it builds up, it nourishes, it embraces, it liberates, it is all gentle, yet powerful and more. How can we turn our backs or not make time for this greatest gift from God our loving Father? The Word made flesh sacrificed Himself that we may live. To feed and Nourish us of Himself. Sweet sacrament we thee adore, oh help us love thee more and more. Amen

GOSPEL
Luke 4:31–37

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of hi!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.