Archive for July 23, 2019

Pride

Posted: July 23, 2019 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys, Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Like many of you I struggle with pride. And sometimes with one of the worst kinds empty pride. But the most heinous of them all to me is Spiritual pride! Because with it we can say and do things such that it leads others astray.

There are many who behave as though they are holier than the Pope and sometimes even present ideas contrary to Church teachings. While there are also others who are quick to comment on the shortcomings of others labeling them as being spiritually prideful while claiming themselves to be spiritually sound by their ‘silence’. This is still PRIDE of another shade.

I have taken extra care to share the faith through study, following the teachings of the Church and striving to lead an authentic life in the Lord because I know I am accountable to Him when I pass on. What did you feed my lambs? What did you feed my sheep? He will surely ask even though He would already know…

So let us pray for one another especially, for all Spiritual leaders, priests and religious. That we do the will of our Heavenly Father always. Amen

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: July 23, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Are you a member of God’s family? It is not enough to say that I am a child of God so loved by my heavenly Father. My response to His abounding love must always be to do His Will. To love Him with all my heart, mind, strength and soul. And to love my neighbour, who may not be connected to me by blood or water. Only then can I truly say that I belong to God’s family. And the Lord our God is always there for His family. Through all difficulties and challenges He will make a way for us.

We become powerful instruments of His grace for others when we devote ourselves to doing His Will. Because of His great love for us He gives us the opportunity and allows us to participate, even to wield His power to bring about good for others. In a deeper sense we are co-redeemers, for He Wills that all be gathered unto His Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This is our call, this is our mission.

Let us therefore choose to always remain steadfast, faithful and obedient unto Him. Now and forever. Amen

First reading

Exodus 14:21-15:1 ·
The crossing of the Red Sea

Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove back the sea with a strong easterly wind all night, and he made dry land of the sea. The waters parted and the sons of Israel went on dry ground right into the sea, walls of water to right and to left of them. The Egyptians gave chase: after them they went, right into the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
In the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the army of the Egyptians from the pillar of fire and of cloud, and threw the army into confusion. He so clogged their chariot wheels that they could scarcely make headway. ‘Let us flee from the Israelites,’ the Egyptians cried. ‘The Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians!’
‘Stretch out your hand over the sea,’ the Lord said to Moses, ‘that the waters may flow back on the Egyptians and their chariots and their horsemen.’
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and, as day broke, the sea returned to its bed. The fleeing Egyptians marched right into it, and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the very middle of the sea. The returning waters overwhelmed the chariots and the horsemen of Pharaoh’s whole army, which had followed the Israelites into the sea; not a single one of them was left. But the sons of Israel had marched through the sea on dry ground, walls of water to right and to left of them.
That day, the Lord rescued Israel from the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. Israel witnessed the great act that the Lord had performed against the Egyptians, and the people venerated the Lord; they put their faith in the Lord and in Moses, his servant.
It was then that Moses and the sons sang this song in honour of the Lord:

Gospel

Matthew 12:46-50
My mother and my brothers are anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven

Jesus was speaking to the crowds when his mother and his brothers appeared; they were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.’