St. Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr

 “ I have no faste for corruptible food nor for the pleasures of this life. I desire the bread of God,

which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David and for drink;

I desire his blood, which is love incorruptible. “

 

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Romans 4:1-8

Let us consider Abraham,

  Praising God in a loud voice.....

To become more aware of God's presence, God's hand in it,

Recognize that God's presence is a consciousness to be continually and intentionally walked in.

This consciousness will shape your behavior and lifestyle.

 

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2 Kings 5:14-17

So Naaman went down

 St. Hedwig, religious

 St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, virgin

 ＂We must adore the decrees of the almighty not only in happy days,

    but also in those of sorrow and bereavement. ＂

                                                                   - St. Hedwig

 

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Romans 3:21-30

But, now

 What does the Bible say about listening to God's word?

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

 

 Blessed Virgin Mary St. John XXIII, pope

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Joel 4:12-21

 Rise up,

 Jesus criticizes those who are meticulous in outward practices but neglect "justice and the love of God."

The advice is to practice both without neglecting the former.

Embrace a selfless, sacrificial love: Following the example of Christ,

this includes serving others with all your heart and giving without expecting personal gain. 

 

 St. Teresa of Avila, virgin and doctor

“ God withholds himself from no-one who perseveres. “

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

1st Reading: Romans 2:1-11

 Therefore, you have no excuse,

 We are to welcome Christ fully into our lives."

Acceptance and Faith: It requires a genuine acceptance of the Gospel message,

believing in Christ's name, and acknowledging him as the only way to salvation. 

 

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Joel 1:13-15; 2:1-2

Gird yourselves,

 Perfectionism can lead to an overemphasis on having the "right" words or methods,

instead of the relationship itself, and it can create a sense of never being "good enough". 

 

 St. Callistus I, pope and martyr

 ＂In the Lord's hand there is abundance of all things, because He is the Lord of powers and the king of glory. ＂

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Romans 1:16-25

 For I am not ashamed at all,

 "Ask, and it will be given to you"

if you ask, seek, and knock in prayer, your requests will be answered

by a benevolent God who desires to give good gifts to his children.

Beyond Worldly Possessions:

The "treasure" that Jesus refers to is not just worldly possessions but also includes inner peace,

hope, joy, and a sense of worth and connection with others. 

 

 St. Denis, bishop, and companions, martyrs

 St. John Leonardi, priest

 St. John Leonardi

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Malachi 3:13-20b

You say

  "Let's not ignore the greatness of Jesus our Lord"

Jesus taught that greatness is not about power, but about serving others.

It is an encouragement to live in a way that reflects Jesus's example,

which includes loving without limits and giving without expecting anything in return. 

 

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Romans 1:1-7

From Paul,

 'The Lord's Prayer 'is truly the summary of the whole gospel.'

we become aware of our own frailty as we adore and worship the living God.

we are asking that God's ways happen here, as they are fully obeyed in Heaven. 

 

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1st Reading: Jonah 4:1-11

 But Jonah was greatly