Lemuel The Servant

.

St.Augusitine writing Confessions

While remembering all his youthful follies, he remembers how God's unfarthomable grace has been a shield for him, how grace leads to discover his faith into Three in One God.

Divine Illumination

St: Augustine receive divine illumination from Jesus the Son of God and Mary, the mother of Jesus, enlightening him while he is writing his discourse.

St.MONICA and St.AUGUSTINE at Ecstacy at Ostia

Two saints, mother and son receive a vision of heaven at Ostia, near Rome. It was the last moment of the two being together, looking heaven ward, and later St.Monica died and was buried there.

Seminarians on the wall.

With co-seminarians, where trying to escape the scourging sunlight, sitting on the fence and keeping ourselves calm with jokes.

Rosary Garden at Tabor Hill, Talamban

A place of prayer and peace, a place of love and charity where being together with the mother of our Divine Lord, and recitation of Holy Rosary knocks the doors of Heaven.

14 December, 2014

Daily Gospel

Sunday, 14 December 2014

Third Sunday of Advent - Year B

St. John of the Cross, Doctor of the Church (1542-1591)

Commentary of the day
Saint Augustine : “He came for testimony to testify to the Light”

Jn 1:6-8.19-28.
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites (to him) to ask him, "Who are you?"
he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, "I am not the Messiah."
So they asked him, "What are you then? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."
So they said to him, "Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?"
He said: "I am 'the voice of one crying out in the desert, "Make straight the way of the Lord,"' as Isaiah the prophet said."
Some Pharisees were also sent.
They asked him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?"
John answered them, "I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie."
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church
Sermons on the Gospel of Saint John, no.2, §5-7

“He came for testimony to testify to the Light”

In what way has Christ come? He appeared as man. But because he was a man such that God was concealed within him, a special kind of man was sent before him to make known that he was more than man, that he was the Messiah... Who was he, this man who had to give testimony to the Light in this way? The man John was truly remarkable, of great merit and outstanding grace, high above all others. Admire him in the way we would admire a mountain: the mountain would remain in shadow so long as the light did not come to envelop it – “He was not the Light”. Don't take the mountain for the light; don't break yourself against it, far less find help in it.

So what should we admire, then? The mountain, but only as a mountain. Rise up as far as him who lights up this mountain, which was erected to become the first to receive the sun's rays and to reflect them back to your eyes... We say of our eyes, too, that they are lights and yet, if we don't light the lamp at night or if the sun does not rise by day, our eyes are open in vain. John himself was in the dark before he was enlightened; he only became light through this enlightenment. If he had not received the rays of this Light he would have remained as dark as other are...

And what about the Light itself? Where is it? “The true Light which enlightens everyone coming into the world”? (Jn 1,9). If he enlightens everyone then he also enlightened John, through whom he wished to be manifested... He came for the sick of mind, for wounded hearts, for souls whose eyes are weak..., people unable to see aright. He covered John with his beams. By testifying that he himself had been enlightened, John made known He who enlightens, He who gives clarity, He who is the source of every gift.

01 November, 2014

Happy All Saints Day

DAILY GOSPEL - www.dailygospel.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:68


The whole Daily Gospel team wishes you a blessed All Saints day!

In these last weeks of the liturgical year, All Saints day unites the Church on earth (Church Militant) with the Church in heaven (Church Triumphant). This feast, dedicated to all those who share already in the eternal beatitude, is coupled with the commemoration of All Souls Day, November 2. After having sung the glory and blessedness of the Church Triumphant, the liturgy invites us to turn our regard to our faithful departed, and to those who still experience purification as they advance toward the beatific vision.

The 2nd of November is a day of remembrance, but also a day of intercession. The day where “the Church intercedes for all her members asleep in death, who suffer the last purification before entering into Glory” (Solesme martyrology) Christ by His death and resurrection has established a mutual bond between the living and the dead, a true solidarity; through the communion of saints our prayer assists them on this last journey.

So let us not forget to pray for our beloved dead, to offer the mass for their intention, to practice tithing, indulgences, and works of penance (
CCC 1032
) so that God might welcome them into His eternal Glory.

The English team of Daily Gospel, a service from evangelizo.org

06 October, 2014

Hypocrite: Modern

It has been quite a long time I stopped writing on my blog. However, a new inspiration came and I force myself to write something though I have something else to do. But it is always a pleasure to share love, kindness and everything you have with your friends. one would feel happier if your share is accepted and appreciated. 
          In my mind I am quietly asking myself if it is quite logical to say someone is peacful and yet holding arms? Is it not like a fox saying that it is vegetarian? Or like a lawyer saying that all comes out from his mouth is of all sincerity? however these examples are weak symbols which i intend to have a comparison. You know it for sure that UNITED NATIONS is doing as a intermediator for peace. Their projects are always highlighted in the news, in the journals and everywhere. Let's ask a question has UN achieved its goal as it is intended to have? Why? Is it doing its work right?
        Okay let's go to another one, let suppose that the reader has saw that there are two people quarelling at the top of their voices and they has charged themself for a physical fight. You would like to calm them down, and yet these people are picking up some objects to hurt each other. Would you grab out of their hand these objects or would you bring another objects or arms? Or would you arm yourself to involve in the fight with them in order to stop them?
          Now this is what UN does, sending their troops with arms in the the middle of the fight, lets say palestine and Isreal. If a person wants peace then he has to leave the arms. He has to be open to others, in my opinion. Arms and ammunitions will never bring peace rather it will only make people feel insecure.  Modern day philosophers have thought many great ideas about peace, how would this world embrace a peaceful situation. But they have failed.
Peace will be achieved when there are no more arms, 
                                      when there are no more insecurities, 
                                      when is no more hatred,
                                      when there  is no more jealousy,
                                      when there is no bias,
                                      when there is no more pride,
                                      when there is no more hunger for power,
                                      when there is no more greed( properties, etc)
                                      when there is no more ideas of superiority,
                                      when there is no one who is selfish.

Peace Will be there when there is contentment of one prosperity, physical appeareance, etc.
                        when everyone accepts that we all are equal,
                        when everyone loves his/her neighbour as him/herself.
                        when everyone does what is beneficial to him/herself and for others.
                        when everyone understands his/herself, interiority( what he/she really longs  
                         for).
                        when everyone love peace.
                        when everyone love nature and protects it.
                        when everyone thinks for others, even at the point of losing him/herself.
                        when everyone has respect for those who are older and younger or same 
                         age.
                        when everyone accepts the limitedness of our human nature.
                        when everyone does what he/she has to do.
                       
So, unless we get rid of arms, insecurities and thirst for power we will never achieve peace. 
If we still arm ourselves and yet claiming to achieve peace in the world is acting the hipocrite. May the Lord Jesus Give us strength.Amen.
                        

14 September, 2014

Daily Gospel Sunday, 14 September 2014

Sunday, 14 September 2014

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross - Feast
The exaltation of the Holy Cross, feast

St. Maternus, Bishop of Cologne († c. 325)

Commentary of the day
Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross [Edith Stein] : "That the world might be saved through him"

Jn 3:13-17.
Jesus said to Nicodemus : "No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross [Edith Stein] (1891-1942), Carmelite, martyr, co-patron of Europe
Poem « Signum Crucis », 16/11/1937

"That the world might be saved through him"

…Made man for love of men
He made a gift to the souls he has chosen
Of his human life in its fullness.
He who formed each human heart
Desires to make known one day
The secret meaning of each one’s being
By means of a new name that only the one who receives it understands (Rv 2,17).
He has united each chosen soul
In a mysterious and unique way.
Drawing from the fullness of his human life,
He makes a gift to us
Of the cross.

What is the cross ?
It is the sign of greatest shame.
Whoever comes into contact with it
Is rejected from among men.
People who acclaimed him before
Turn away from him with dread and know him no longer.
He has been handed over, defenceless, to his enemies.
Nothing remains for him on earth any more
Except suffering, anguish and death.

What is the cross ?
The sign pointing to heaven.
Far above the dust and mists here below
It reaches up high into pure light.
Therefore abandon what men may take away,
Open your hands, lean against the cross:
Then it will carry you
Into eternal light.

Raise your eyes to the cross :
It stretches out its wooden beams
Like a man opening wide his arms
To receive the whole world.
Come, all you who toil beneath the weight of the burden (Mt 11,28)
And you who have nothing but a cry, on the cross with him.
It is the image of the God who, being crucified, becomes pale.
It rises up from earth to heaven
Like the One who rose heavenward
And desires to bear all of us there together with himself.

Only embrace the cross and you possess him
Who is the Way, the Truth, the Life (Jn 14,6).
If you carry your cross, it will carry you;
It will be your bliss.

06 July, 2014

Daily Gospel, Sunday, 06 July 2014

Sunday, 06 July 2014

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A

St. Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr (1890-1902), St. Palladius, Bishop and Apostle of the Scots, (+ c. 450)

Commentary of the day
Saint Gregory of Nyssa : "Although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike"

Mt 11:25-30.
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."

"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 your selves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint Gregory of Nyssa (c.335-395), monk and Bishop
Catechetical Discourse 23-26 ; SC 453

"Although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike"

The fact that the all-powerful God has been able to humble himself even to the humility of the human condition constitutes a greater proof than the impact and supernatural character of miracles. Indeed, when divine power effects something of great sublimity this is, after a fashion, in conformity with and appropriate to God’s nature… On the other hand, that God descended even to our lowliness is, in a certain way, the expression of an overwhelming power that is not in the least restrained by what is contrary to its nature…

Neither the expanse of the heavens, the brightness of the stars, the governing of the universe, nor the harmony of created things reveal the splendid power of God so much as his indulgence, which leads him to lower himself to the weakness of our nature… God’s goodness, wisdom, justice and power are revealed in his plans on our behalf: goodness in his will to “save that which was lost” (Lk 19,10); wisdom and justice in his manner of saving us; power in the fact that Christ became “in the likeness of men” (Phil 2,7-8) and made himself conformable to the humility of our nature.

22 June, 2014

Daily Gospel, The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Sunday, 22 June 2014

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) - Solemnity - Year A

St. Thomas More, Martyr (1478-1535), St. John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr (1459-1535)

Commentary of the day
Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross [Edith Stein] : "Whoever eats this bread will live forever"

Jn 6:51-58.
Jesus said to the Jewish crowds:
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?"
Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.
Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day :

Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross [Edith Stein] (1891-1942), Carmelite, martyr, co-patron of Europe
Poem « I will remain with you », 1938 (trans. ©Washington Province of Discalced Carmelites, 1992)

"Whoever eats this bread will live forever"

This Heart of the Trinity,
beats for us in a small tabernacle
Where it remains mysteriously hidden
In that still, white host.

That is your royal throne on earth, 0 Lord,
Which visibly you have erected for us,
And you are pleased when I approach it.

Full of love, you sink your gaze into mine
And bend your ear to my quiet words
And deeply fill my heart with peace.

Yet your love is not satisfied
With this exchange that could still lead to separation:
Your heart requires more.

You come to me as early morning's meal each daybreak.
Your flesh and blood become food and drink for me
And something wonderful happens.

Your body mysteriously permeates mine
And your soul unites with mine: .
I am no longer what once I was.

You come and go, but the seed
That you sowed for future glory, remains behind (Mk 4,26; Jn 12,24),
Buried in this body of dust.

A luster of heaven remains in the soul,
A deep glow remains in the eyes,
A soaring in the tone of voice.

There remains the bond that binds heart to heart,
The stream of life that springs from yours
And animates each limb (1Co 12,27).

How wonderful are your gracious wonders!
All we can do is be amazed and stammer and fall silent
Because intellect and words fail.