INTERNATIONAL BEER DAY
Blessed
are you, for you have made me happy; what I feared
did not happen. Rather you have dealt with us according to your abundant mercy.
Our Holy Father
states that peace can only come when we confront the truth.[1]
Jesus
declared “I am the truth” (John 14: 6) and told Pontius Pilate “For this I was
born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth” (John 18:
37). Because he is the Son of God, Jesus is the truth about who God is, and,
because he is fully human, he is the truth about the human person.
What
is that truth? First, that God is
Love, love that is willing to give all, even life itself, for the good of the
beloved. Second, that the human
person is precious to God, precious enough to die for. When this truth is
denied, the human person becomes subhuman, an object, or a threat. It becomes
easy to destroy a mass of cells viewed as a threat. The human person may seem
like a cancer on humanity and be treated as such, rather than as an individual
for whom Jesus suffered and died.
We
are created in the image and likeness of God and we have a choice: To do good
or to do evil. Daily we must
decide if we are for ourselves and pursue the things of the world or are we
going to follow Christ by picking up our cross daily.
First
Friday[2]
The prayer of the Church venerates
and honors the Heart of Jesus . . . which, out of love for
men, he allowed to be pierced by our sins."
To those who show him love and who make reparation for sins, however, our Lord made a great pledge: "I promise you in the unfathomable mercy of my heart that my omnipotent love will procure the grace of final penitence for all those who receive communion on nine successive first Fridays of the month; they will not die in my disfavor, or without having received the sacraments, since my divine heart will be their sure refuge in the last moments of their life."
To gain this grace, we must:
·
Receive
Holy Communion on nine consecutive first Fridays.
·
Have
the intention of honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of reaching final
perseverance.
·
Offer
each Holy Communion as an act of atonement for offenses against the Blessed
Sacrament.
Considerations
The fullness of God is revealed and given to us in Christ, in the love of Christ, in Christ's heart. For it is the heart of him in whom "the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily." Were one to lose sight of this great plan of God-the overflow of love in the world through the Incarnation, the Redemption and Pentecost-he could not understand the refinement with which our Lord deals with us. So, when we talk about the heart of Jesus, we stress the certainty of God's love and the truth of his commitment to us. When we recommend devotion to the Sacred Heart, we are recommending that we should give our whole selves to Jesus, to the whole Jesus-our souls, our feelings and thoughts, our words and actions, our joys. That is what true devotion to the heart of Jesus means. It is knowing God and ourselves. It is looking at Jesus and turning to him, letting him encourage and teach and guide us. The only difficulty that could beset this devotion would be our own failure to understand the reality of an incarnate God. But note that God does not say: "In exchange for your own heart, I will give you a will of pure spirit." No, he gives us a heart, a human heart, like Christ's. I don't have one heart for loving God and another for loving people. I love Christ and the Father and the Holy Spirit and our Lady with the same heart with which I love my parents and my friends. I shall never tire of repeating this. We must be very human, for otherwise we cannot be divine. . ..
If we don't learn from Jesus, we will never love. If, like some people, we were to think that to keep a clean heart, a heart worthy of God, means "not mixing it up, not contaminating it" with human affection, we would become insensitive to other people's pain and sorrow. We would be capable of only an "official charity," something dry and soulless. But ours would not be the true charity of Jesus Christ, which involves affection and human warmth. In saying this, I am not supporting the mistaken theories-pitiful excuses-that misdirect hearts away from God and lead them into occasions of sin and perdition. . ..
But I have still a further consideration to put before you. We have to fight vigorously to do good, precisely because it is difficult for us to resolve seriously to be just, and there is a long way to go before human relations are inspired by love and not hatred or indifference. We should also be aware that, even if we achieve a reasonable distribution of wealth and a harmonious organization of society, there will still be the suffering of illness, of misunderstanding, of loneliness, of the death of loved ones, of the experience of our own limitations.
Faced with the weight of all this, a Christian can find only one genuine answer, a definitive answer: Christ on the cross, a God who suffers and dies, a God who gives us his heart opened by a lance for the love of us all. Our Lord abominates injustice and condemns those who commit it. But he respects the freedom of each individual. He permits injustice to happen because, as a result of original sin, it is part and parcel of the human condition. Yet his heart is full of love for men. Our suffering, our sadness, our anguish, our hunger and thirst for justice . . . he took all these tortures on himself by means of the cross. . ..
Suffering is part of God's plans. This is the truth; however difficult it may be for us to understand it. It was difficult for Jesus Christ the man to undergo his passion: "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." In this tension of pleading and acceptance of the Father's will, Jesus goes calmly to his death, pardoning those who crucify him.
This supernatural acceptance of suffering was, precisely, the greatest of all conquests. By dying on the cross, Jesus overcame death. God brings life from death. The attitude of a child of God is not one of resignation to a possibly tragic fate; it is the sense of achievement of someone who has a foretaste of victory. In the name of this victorious love of Christ, we Christians should go out into the world to be sowers of peace and joy through everything we say and do. We have to fight-a fight of peace-against evil, against injustice, against sin. Thus do we serve notice that the present condition of mankind is not definitive. Only the love of God, shown in the heart of Christ, will attain our glorious spiritual triumph.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of
Jesus is of great antiquity in the Church. It was St. Margaret Mary Alacoque,
however, who made this devotion widespread. In 1675, within the octave of the
feast of Corpus Christi, our Lord appeared to her and said: "Behold this
heart which, not withstanding the burning love for men with which it is
consumed and exhausted, meets with no other return from most Christians than
sacrilege, contempt, indifference and ingratitude, even in the sacrament of my
love [the Eucharist]. But what pierces my heart most deeply is that I am
subjected to these insults by persons especially consecrated to my
service."
The great promise of the Sacred
Heart is most consoling: the grace of final perseverance and the joy of having
Jesus' heart as our sure refuge and Infinite Ocean of mercy in our last hour.
Almighty
and everlasting God look upon the heart of your well-beloved Son and upon the
praise and satisfaction which he offers to you in the name of all sinners; and
grant them pardon when they seek your mercy. We ask this in the name of Jesus
Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you for ever and ever.
1. Love is revealed to us in the Incarnation, the
redemptive journey which Jesus Christ made on our earth, culminating in the
supreme sacrifice of the cross. And on the cross it showed itself through a new
sign: "One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once
there came out blood and water." This water and blood of Jesus speak to us
of a self-sacrifice brought to the last extreme: "It is
finished"-everything is achieved, for the sake of
love. . . .
2. Let us realize all the richness hidden in the
words "the Sacred Heart of Jesus." When we speak of a person's heart,
we refer not just to his sentiments, but to the whole person in his loving
dealings with others. In order to help us understand divine things, Scripture
uses the expression "heart" in its full human meaning, as the summary
and source, expression and ultimate basis, of one's thoughts, words and
actions. One is worth what one's heart is worth. . . .
3. Jesus on the cross, with his heart overflowing with
love for us, is such an eloquent commentary on the value of people and things
that words only get in the way. Men, their happiness and their lives, are so important that the very Son of God gave
himself to redeem and cleanse and raise them up. "Who will not love this
heart so wounded?" a contemplative asks in this connection. "Who will
not return love for love? Who will not embrace a heart so pure? We, who are
made of flesh, will repay love with love. We will embrace our wounded One,
whose hands and feet ungodly men have nailed; we will cling to his side and to
his heart. Let us pray that we be worthy of linking our heart with his love and
of wounding it with a lance, for it is still hard and impenitent. . .."
Pope Benedict XVI Stations of the
Cross[3]
·
Friday after sunrise
meditate
on the FIFTH STATION
FIFTH
STATION
Jesus
is judged by Pilate
A third time Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I
have found in him no crime deserving death; I will therefore chastise him and
release him”. But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be
crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave sentence that their
demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison
for insurrection and murder, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to
their will.
MEDITATION It was not the rightness of an issue that
mattered to Pilate, but his professional interests. Such an attitude did not
help him, either in this case or in his later career. He was so unlike Jesus,
whose inner rectitude made him fearless. Nor was Pilate interested in the
truth. He walks away from Jesus exclaiming, “What is truth?” Such indifference
to truth is not uncommon these days. People are often concerned about what
gives immediate satisfaction. They are content with superficial answers.
Decisions are made based not on principles of integrity, but on opportunistic
considerations. Failing to make morally responsible options damages the vital
interests of the human person, and of the human family. We pray that the
“spiritual and ethical concepts” contained in the word of God will inspire the living
norms of society in our times.
PRAYER Lord give us the courage to make
responsible decisions when rendering a public service. Bring probity (correctness) into public life and
assist us to be true to our conscience. Lord, you are the source of all Truth.
Guide us in our search for ultimate answers. Going beyond mere partial and
incomplete explanations, may we search for what is permanently true, beautiful
and good. Lord, keep us fearless before the “slings and arrows of outrageous
fortune”. When shadows grow deep on life’s wearisome paths, and the dark night
comes, enable us to hearken to the teaching of your Apostle Paul: “Be watchful,
stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.”
·
Friday around 9 am
meditate
on the SIXTH STATION
SIXTH
STATION
Jesus
is scourged and crowned with thorns
From the Gospel according to
Saint Matthew. 27:26-30
Then Pilate, having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be
crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium,
and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put
a scarlet robe upon him and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head
and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him,
saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spat upon him and took the reed and
struck him on the head.
MEDITATION Inhumanity reaches new heights. Jesus is
scourged and crowned with thorns. History is full of hatred and wars. Even
today we witness acts of violence beyond belief: murder, violence to women and
children, kidnapping, extortion, ethnic conflict, urban violence, physical and
mental torture, violations of human rights. Jesus continues to suffer when
believers are persecuted, when justice is distorted in court, corruption gets
rooted, unjust structures grind the poor, minorities are suppressed, refugees
and migrants are ill-treated. Jesus’ garments are pulled away when the human
person is put to shame on the screen, when women are compelled to humiliate
themselves, when slum children go around the streets picking up crumbs. Who are
the guilty? Let us not point a finger at others, for we ourselves may have
contributed a share to these forms of inhumanity.
PRAYER Lord Jesus, we know that it is you who
suffer when we cause pain to each other and we remain indifferent. Your heart
went out in compassion when you saw the crowds “harassed and helpless, like
sheep without a shepherd”. Give me eyes that notice the needs of the poor and a
heart that reaches out in love. “Give me the strength to make my love fruitful
in service.” Most of all, may we share with the indigent your “word” of hope,
your assurance of care. May “zeal for your house” burn in us like a fire. Help
us to bring the sunshine of your joy into the lives of those who are trudging
the path of despair.
·
Friday around 10 am
meditate
on the SEVENTH STATION
SEVENTH
STATION
After
Jesus is made an object of fun, he is led out to be crucified
From the Gospel according to
Saint Matthew. 27:31
And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and
put his own clothes on him, and led him away to be crucified.
MEDITATION Jesus, at whose name every knee in
heaven and earth bends, is made an object of fun. We are shocked to see to what
levels of brutality human beings can sink. Jesus is humiliated in new ways even
today: when things that are most Holy and Profound in the Faith are being
trivialized; the sense of the sacred is allowed to erode; the religious
sentiment is classified among unwelcome leftovers of antiquity. Everything in
public life risks being desacralized: persons, places, pledges, prayers,
practices, words, sacred writings, religious formulae, symbols, ceremonies. Our
life together is being increasingly secularized. Religious life grows
diffident. Thus, we see the most momentous matters placed among trifles, and
trivialities glorified. Values and norms that held societies together and drew
people to higher ideals are laughed at and thrown overboard. Jesus continues to
be ridiculed!
PRAYER We have faith, Lord, but not enough.
Help us to have more. May we never question or mock serious things in life like
a cynic. Allow us not to drift into the desert of godlessness. Enable us to
perceive you in the gentle breeze, see you in street corners, love you in the
unborn child. God, enable us to understand that on Tabor or Calvary, your Son
is the Lord. Robed or stripped of his garments, he is the Savior of the world.
Make us attentive to his quiet presences: in his “word”, in tabernacles,
shrines, humble places, simple persons, the life of the poor, laughter of
children, whispering pines, rolling hills, the tiniest living cell, the
smallest atom, and the distant galaxies. May we watch with wonder as he walks
on the waters of the Rhine and the Nile and the Tanganyika.
·
Friday around 11 am
meditate
on the EIGHTH and NINTH STATION
EIGHTH
STATION
Jesus
is helped by Simon of Cyrene to carry the Cross
From the Gospel according to
Saint Luke. 23:26
The soldiers led Jesus away, and as they were going, they met a
man from Cyrene named Simon who was coming into the city from the country. They
seized him, put the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.
MEDITATION in Simon of Cyrene, we have the proto
type of a faithful disciple who takes up the Cross and follows Christ. He is
not unlike millions of Christians from a humble background, with deep
attachment to Christ. No glamour, no sophistication, but profound faith. Such
believers keep rising on the soil of Africa, Asia and the distant islands.
Vocations arise from their midst. Simon reminds us of small communities and tribes
with their characteristic commitment to the common good, deep rootedness in
ethical values and openness to the Gospel. They deserve attention and care. The
Lord does not desire that “one of these little ones should perish”. In Simon we
discover the sacredness of the ordinary and the greatness of what looks small.
For the smallest has some mystic relationship with the greatest, and the
ordinary with the most extraordinary!
PRAYER Lord, it is your wonderful plan to lift
up the lowly and sustain the poor. Strengthen your Church in her service to
deprived communities: the least privileged, the marginalized, slum dwellers,
the rural poor, the undernourished, untouchables, the handicapped, people given
to addictions. May the example of your servant, Mother Teresa of Kolkata,
inspire us to dedicate more of our energies and resources to the cause of the
“poorest of the poor”. May we one day hear these words from Jesus: “I was
hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a
stranger and you welcomed me; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and
you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”
NINTH
STATION
Jesus
meets the women of Jerusalem
From the Gospel according to
Saint Luke. 23:27-28
And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of
women who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus, turning to them, said:
“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for
your children.”
MEDITATION Before the weeping women, Jesus is
self-forgetful. His anxiety is not about his pains, but about the tragic future
that awaits them and their children. The destinies of societies are intimately
linked to the wellbeing of their women. Wherever women are held in low esteem
or their role remains diminished, societies fail to rise to their true
potentiality. In the same way, wherever their responsibility to the rising
generation is neglected, ignored, or marginalized, the future of that society
becomes uncertain. There are many societies in the world where women fail to
receive a fair deal. Christ must be weeping for them. There are societies too
that are thoughtless about their future. Christ must be weeping for their
children. Wherever there is unconcern for the future, through the overuse of
resources, the degradation of the environment, the oppression of women, the
neglect of family values, the ignoring of ethical norms, the abandonment of
religious traditions, Jesus must be telling people: “Do not weep for me, but
weep for yourselves and for your children.”
PRAYER Lord, you are the Master of history. And
yet you wanted our collaboration in realizing your plans. Help us to play a
responsible role in society: leaders in their communities, parents in their
families, educators and health-workers among those who need to be served,
communicators in the world of information. Arouse in us a sense of mission in
what we do, a deep sense of responsibility to each other, to society, to our
common future and to you. For you have placed the destinies of our communities
and of humanity itself into our hands. Lord do not turn away from us when you
see women humiliated or your image disfigured in the human person; when we
interfere with life-systems, weaken the nurturing power of nature, pollute
running streams or the deep blue seas or the Northern snows. Save us from cruel
indifference to our common future, and do not let us drag our civilization down
the path of decline.
·
Friday around NOON
meditate
on the TENTH STATION
TENTH
STATION
Jesus
is crucified
From the Gospel according to
Saint Luke 23:33-37 and according to Saint Matthew. 27:46
There they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right
and one on the left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not
what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood
by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him
save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also
mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar, and saying, “If you are the
King of the Jews, save yourself!” And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a
loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”, that is, “My God, my God, why have
you forsaken me?”
MEDITATION The sufferings of Jesus reach a climax.
He had stood fearlessly before Pilate. He had endured the mistreatment of the
Roman soldiers. He had preserved his calm under the scourge and the crowning
with thorns. On the Cross itself, he seemed untouched by a shower of insults.
He had no word of complaint, no desire to retort. But then, finally, a moment
comes when he breaks down. His strength can stand no more. He feels abandoned
even by his Father! Experience tells us that even the sturdiest man can descend
to the depths of despair. Frustrations accumulate, anger and resentment pile
up. Bad health, bad news, bad luck, bad treatment – all can come together. It
may have happened to us. It is at such moments we need to remember that Jesus
never fails us. He cried to the Father. May we too cry out to the Father, who
unfailingly comes to our rescue in all our distress, whenever we call upon him!
PRAYER Lord, when clouds gather on the horizon
and everything seems lost, when we find no friend to stand by us and hope slips
from our hands, teach us to trust in you, who will surely come to our rescue.
May the experience of inner pain and darkness teach us the great truth that in
you nothing is lost, that even our sins – once we have repented of them – come
to serve a purpose, like dry wood in the cold of winter. Lord, you have a
master design beneath the working of the universe and the progress of history.
Open our eyes to the rhythms and patterns in the movements of the stars;
balance and proportion in the inner structure of elements; interrelatedness and
complementarity in nature; progress and purpose in the march of history;
correction and compensation in our personal stories. It is this harmony that
you constantly keep restoring, despite the painful imbalances that we bring
about. In you even the greatest loss is a gain. Christ’s death, in fact, points
to resurrection.
·
Friday around 1 PM
meditate
on the ELEVENTH STATION
ELEVENTH
STATION
Jesus
promises his Kingdom to the Good Thief
From the Gospel according to
Saint Luke. 23:39-43
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are
you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying,
“Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but
this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you
come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you
will be with me in Paradise.”
MEDITATION It is not eloquence that convinces and
converts. In the case of Peter, it is a look of love; in the case of the Good
Thief, it is unresentful serenity in suffering. Conversion takes place like a
miracle. God opens your eyes. You recognize his presence and action. You
surrender! Opting for Christ is always a mystery. Why does one make a
definitive choice for Christ, even in the face of trouble, or death? Why do
Christians flourish in persecuted places? We shall never know. But it happens
over and over again. If a person who has abandoned his faith comes across the
real face of Christ, he will be stunned by what he actually sees, and may
surrender like Thomas: “My Lord and my God!” It is a privilege to unveil the
face of Christ to people. It is even a greater joy to discover – or rediscover
-him. “Your face, O Lord, do I seek. Do not hide your face from me.”
Theophilus of Alexandria: 'Crucifixion and the Good
Thief'.[4]
The sun of righteousness appeared in the east and gave light to those who were in the darkness and in the shadow of death (Lk. 1:79) ...The powerful lion sprang up out of the wood; all the wild beasts hid in their dens…This, if you like, is the way of Our Lord Jesus Christ, when he saw the real enemy of the whole human race, who is the devil. For the devil invaded the whole earth, and afflicted everyone with many kinds of sins, which he spreads with these great scourges, namely, idolatry, robbery, vanity, fornication, theft, murder, slander, licentiousness, envy, hatred, contempt, anger, sorcery, pollution, fraud, arrogance, perjury, falsehood, corruption, prostitution, deceit and whatever is similar in them. These are the traps which the devil set for humanity, until he brought it to perdition and dispersed it. Well now. Let us consider in what way Christ the king made war against the devil until he released our souls from him and set them free. Let us begin, then, to penetrate the great treasure house full of the fruits of life.
The sun of righteousness appeared in the east and gave light to those who were in the darkness and in the shadow of death (Lk. 1:79) ...The powerful lion sprang up out of the wood; all the wild beasts hid in their dens…This, if you like, is the way of Our Lord Jesus Christ, when he saw the real enemy of the whole human race, who is the devil. For the devil invaded the whole earth, and afflicted everyone with many kinds of sins, which he spreads with these great scourges, namely, idolatry, robbery, vanity, fornication, theft, murder, slander, licentiousness, envy, hatred, contempt, anger, sorcery, pollution, fraud, arrogance, perjury, falsehood, corruption, prostitution, deceit and whatever is similar in them. These are the traps which the devil set for humanity, until he brought it to perdition and dispersed it. Well now. Let us consider in what way Christ the king made war against the devil until he released our souls from him and set them free. Let us begin, then, to penetrate the great treasure house full of the fruits of life.
·
This
is the great holy mystery of the wood of the cross, on which the True God,
Jesus Christ, mounted out of love. When he descended into this world, he came
to the people of Israel and preached to them saying: 'Repent for the kingdom of
Heaven is at hand.' (Mt. 4:17)
·
But
they paid no heed to his holy counsels. After this he performed all the signs
of his divinity in their presence, miracles without number. He made the blind
see, the lame walk and the deaf hear. He healed lepers. He brought the dead
back to life. He drove out demons. He made paralytics stand on their feet and
forgave their sins. He made tax gatherers repent. He straightened vainglorious
hands. He evangelized the poor. He remitted the sins of adulteresses and
purified them with his divinity, restoring them to a virginal state. It was
because an adulterous woman was made worthy of this great grace that her hands
anointed the feet of him who had created her. (Lk. 7 37-8) From the moment she
participated in the purity of his divinity, the voice of God came to her. 'Your
faith has saved you; go in peace.' (Lk. 7:50)
·
In
spite of all these things accomplished by him in their presence, they did not
give him credence, but seized him and delivered him to be crucified. Having
brought him into the court of the High Priest, they treated him with contempt
rather than honor. Then the word of scripture was fulfilled. They brought evils
upon me instead of blessings, and hatred instead of my love.' (Ps. 108:5)
·
What then are the
evils which the people he created, the people who killed him, did to him? They are terrible
to describe or to hear. My tongue trembles, my eye weeps, my spirit groans, my
soul is distressed to utter them. It is God that they have seized, the Lord
that they have bound. They have pierced with nails the hands of them who
created them. They slapped the face of their Lord. They beat his head with
their fists. They placed a crown of thorns on his head. They dressed him in a
purple cloak. They gave him vinegar and gall. On this day they did all these
things to him. They crucified him with two thieves. One of them, who was
unworthy of the division of his divinity, said to the Lord, deriding him: 'If
you are the Christ, save yourself and us.' (Lk 23:39).
·
The other replied
rebuking him with indignation: 'Do you not fear God? We are receiving
the reward of our sins which we have committed, but this man has done nothing
wrong.' And he said, 'Jesus. remember me when you come into your kingdom.' And
Jesus said to him with great joy: 'Truly, I say to you, today you will be with
me in Paradise.' The gate of Paradise has been closed since the time when Adam
transgressed, but I will open it today, and receive you in it. Because you have
recognized the nobility of my head on the cross, you who have shared with me in
the suffering of the cross will be my companion in the joy of my kingdom. You
have glorified me in the presence of carnal men, in the presence of sinners. I
will therefore glorify you in the presence of the angels. You were fixed with
me on the cross, and you united yourself with me of your own free will. I will
therefore love you, and my Father will love you, and the angels will serve you
with my holy food. If you used once to be a companion of murderers, behold, I
who am the life of all have now made you a companion with me. You used once to
walk in the night with the sons of darkness; behold I who am the light of the
whole world have now made you walk with me. You used once to take counsel with
murderers; behold, I who am the Creator have made you a companion with me. 'All
these things I will pardon you because you have confessed my divinity in the
presence of those who have denied me. For they saw all the signs which I
performed, but did not believe in me. You, then, a rapacious robber, a
murderer, a brigand, a swindler, a plunderer have confessed that I am God. That
is why I have pardoned your many sins, because you have loved much (Lk. 7:47).
I will make you a citizen of Paradise. I will wash your body so that it will
not see corruption before I resurrect it with me on the third day and take you
up with me. The other who has denied me will see you enveloped in glory, but he
will be enveloped in pain and same. He will see you surrounded by light, but he
will be surrounded by darkness. He will see you in a state of joy and
happiness, but he will be in a state of weeping and groaning. He will see you
enjoying ease and benediction, but he will be suffering oppression and
malediction. He will see you refreshed by the angels, but he will be troubled
by the powers of darkness. And in the midst of intense cold the worm that never
rests will consume him. Not only did he not confess me, but after having denied
me he reviled me. 'For this reason all will receive according to their works.
For as I have already said to them explicitly and in public: Everyone who
acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge before my Father who is in
heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who
is in heaven.' (Mt. 10:32-3).
So
now, brethren, what torment the man who denied the Lord brought upon himself?
We should therefore watch over ourselves that we should not be led astray, that
for the sake of things of this life, we should not be made strangers to him who
has created us. Perhaps there is someone today who is denying God for the sake
of riches because the love of money closes the eyes of those who are given to
it. Such a person takes the part of Judas, He has sold the Lord for thirty
pieces of silver. It is therefore good for us to direct our concerns towards
the Lord since it is he who takes care of us. Let us now turn to the goal
proposed to us by the cross. For the ladder which Jacob contemplated that was
fixed to the ground and reached up to heaven on which the angel of the Lord
ascended and descended (Gen. 28:12), is Our Lord Jesus Christ raised up on the
wood of the cross.
PRAYER My cry to you today, O Lord, in tears is
this: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” It is for this
Kingdom that I fondly long. It is the eternal home you have prepared for all
those who seek you with sincere hearts. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no
mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”. Help me,
Lord, as I struggle ahead on my way to my eternal destiny. Lift the darkness
from my path, and keep my eyes raised to the heights!
“Lead, kindly Light,
amid the encircling gloom.
Lead thou me on.
The night is dark, and I am far from home.
Lead thou me on.
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.”
amid the encircling gloom.
Lead thou me on.
The night is dark, and I am far from home.
Lead thou me on.
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.”
·
Friday around 2 PM
meditate
on the TWELFTH STATION
TWELFTH
STATION
The
Mother of Jesus and the Beloved Disciple at the foot of the Cross
From the Gospel according to
Saint John. 19:25-27
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s
sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother,
and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother: “Woman,
behold your son!” Then he said to the disciple: “Behold your mother!” And from
that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
MEDITATION In suffering we long for solidarity.
Mother Mary reminds us of supportive love and solidarity within a family, John
of loyalty within a community. Family cohesion, community bonds, ties of
friendship – these are essential for the flourishing of human beings. In an
anonymous society they grow weak. When they are missing, we become diminished
persons. Again, in Mary we do not notice even the least sign of resentment; not
a word of bitterness. The Virgin becomes an archetype of forgiveness in faith
and hope. She shows us the way to the future. Even those who would like to
respond to violent injustice with “violent justice” know that that is not the
ultimate answer. Forgiveness prompts hope. There are also historic injuries
that often rankle in the memories of societies for centuries. Unless we
transmute our collective anger into new energies of love through forgiveness,
we perish together. When healing comes through forgiveness, we light a lamp,
announcing future possibilities for the “life and well-being” of humanity.
PRAYER Lord Jesus, your Mother stood silently
at your side in your final agony. She who was unseen on occasions when you were
acclaimed a great prophet, stands beside you in your humiliation. May I have
the courage to remain loyal even where you are least recognized. Let me never
be embarrassed to belong to the “little flock”. Lord, let me remember that even
those whom I consider my “enemies” belong to the human family. If they treat me
unfairly, let my prayer be only: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what
they do.” It may be in such a context that someone will suddenly recognize the
true face of Christ and cry out like the centurion: “Truly this man was the Son
of God!”
·
Friday around 3 PM
meditate
on the THIRTEENTH STATION
THIRTEENTH
STATION
Jesus
dies on the Cross
From the Gospel according to
Saint Luke. 23:46
Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your
hands I commend my spirit!” And having said this, he breathed his last.
MEDITATION Jesus hands over his spirit to the Father in serene abandonment.
What his persecutors thought to be a moment of defeat proves, in fact, to be a
moment of triumph. When a prophet dies for the cause he stood for, he gives the
final proof of all that he has said. Christ’s death is something more than
that. It brings redemption. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of our trespasses.” With that begins for me a mystic journey:
Christ draws me closer to him, until I shall fully belong to him.
“As a deer longs for flowing
streams,
So my soul longs for you, O God…
When shall I come and behold the face of God?”
So my soul longs for you, O God…
When shall I come and behold the face of God?”
PRAYER Lord Jesus, it is for my own sins that you
were nailed to the Cross. Help me to gain a deeper understanding of the
grievousness of my sins and the immensity of your love. For “while we were
still weak, Christ died for the ungodly.” I admit my faults as the prophets did
long ago:
“We have sinned and done
wrong and acted wickedly
and rebelled, turning aside
from your commandments and ordinances;
we have not listened to your servants the prophets….”
and rebelled, turning aside
from your commandments and ordinances;
we have not listened to your servants the prophets….”
There was nothing in me to deserve your kindness. Thank you for
your immeasurable goodness to me. Help me to live for you, to shape my life
after you, to be joined to you and become a new creation.
“Christ be with me, Christ
within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.”
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.”
·
Friday before sunset
meditate
on the FOURTEENTH STATION
FOURTEENTH
STATION
Jesus
is taken down from the Cross and placed in the tomb
From the Gospel according to
Saint Mark. 15:46
Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him
in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the
rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
MEDITATION Tragedies make us ponder. A tsunami
tells us that life is serious. Hiroshima and Nagasaki remain pilgrim places.
When death strikes near, another world draws close. We then shed our illusions
and have a grasp of the deeper reality. People in ancient India prayed: “Lead
me from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, from death to
immortality.” After Jesus left this world, Christians began to look back and
interpret his life and mission. They carried his message to the ends of the
earth. And this message itself is Jesus Christ, who is “the power of God and the
wisdom of God”. It says that the reality is Christ and that our ultimate
destiny is to be with him.
PRAYER Lord Jesus, enable us, as we press
forward on life’s weary way, to have a glimpse of our ultimate destiny. And
when at last we cross over; we will know that “death will be no more; mourning
and crying and pain will be no more.” God will wipe away all tears from our
eyes. It is this Good News that we are eager to announce, “in every way”, even
in places where Christ has not been heard of. For this we work hard. We work
“night and day” and wear ourselves out. Lord make us effective carriers of your
Good News. “I know that my Redeemer lives, and at last he will stand upon the
earth; and in my flesh I shall see God.”
Exquisite
Purity
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
International Beer Day[6] another
hedonistic holiday but even the saint enjoyed a beer-check out “Pints with Aquinas”. International
Beer Day celebrates the taste of beer and the achievement of beer brewers. Beer
is an ancient alcoholic drink brewed mainly from malted barley, hops, yeast and
water although it is
possible to brew it from other grains such as maize, wheat and rice. Records of
beer date back to 4000 BC, making it one of the oldest alcoholic beverages in the
world. The three stated goals of the International Beer Day are to: appreciate
brewers and servers, enjoy the taste of all beers from around the world, and to
unite the world under the banner of beer. Founded in 2007 by the
Association of California Brewers, International Beer Day has become an
international event that is observed in more than 50 countries worldwide.
It is held annually on the first Friday of August.
International
Beer Day Facts & Quotes
·
International
Beer Day began in Santa Cruz, California, 2007. It was founded by beer
enthusiasts, Jesse Avshalomov and Evan Hamilton.
·
As
far back as ancient Egypt, beer was a staple food. Known as Hqt, heqet or
heket, beer was a thick and sweet source of nutrition including vitamins,
minerals and protein that was consumed daily by adults and children.
·
According
to the Brewers Association, the Craft Brewing Industry contributed more than
$55 billion to the U.S. economy in 2014 and provided more than 424,000 jobs.
The U.S. beer market for 2014 was more than $101 billion.
·
On
average, a can of beer contains 100-150 calories and 10-15g carbohydrates.
·
I
work until beer o'clock - Stephen King
International
Beer Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Visit
your local watering hole and try a new beer that you have never had.
·
Attend
a beer festival to taste beer from around the world and learn more about
brewing and craft beers. Some of the largest beer festivals in the
United States are:
1) Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado
2) Oregon Brewers Festival in Portland, Oregon
3) World Beer Festival held across Durham, NC; Raleigh, NC; Columbia, SC; Cleveland, OH
1) Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado
2) Oregon Brewers Festival in Portland, Oregon
3) World Beer Festival held across Durham, NC; Raleigh, NC; Columbia, SC; Cleveland, OH
·
Visit
a local craft brewery in your state. Here are our top US picks a visit
to:
1) Dogfish Head, Milton, Del.
2) Stone Brewing Company, Escondido, Calif.
3) Founders Brewing Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.
4) Oskar Blues, Lyons, Colo. and
5) Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma, Calif.
1) Dogfish Head, Milton, Del.
2) Stone Brewing Company, Escondido, Calif.
3) Founders Brewing Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.
4) Oskar Blues, Lyons, Colo. and
5) Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma, Calif.
·
Watch
a flick that pays tribute to Beer. Our top picks: Oktoberfest
(1987), Beer Wars (2009), Strange Brew (1983), Beerfest
(2006)
·
Try
an international award-winning beer. The International Brewing Awards are
recognizing outstanding achievements in the brewing industry. The winners
for 2015 include:
1. Champion Dark Beer - Black Butte Porter, Deschutes Brewery Inc., Oregon, USA
2. Champion Strong Beer - Brugse Zot Dubbel, Brouwerij De Halve Maan, Bruges, Belgium
3. Champion Specialty Beer - Red Chair NWPA, Deschutes Brewery Inc., Oregon, USA
4. Champion Keg Ale - Revisionist Rye Pale Ale, Marston’s PLC, Wolverhampton, UK
1. Champion Dark Beer - Black Butte Porter, Deschutes Brewery Inc., Oregon, USA
2. Champion Strong Beer - Brugse Zot Dubbel, Brouwerij De Halve Maan, Bruges, Belgium
3. Champion Specialty Beer - Red Chair NWPA, Deschutes Brewery Inc., Oregon, USA
4. Champion Keg Ale - Revisionist Rye Pale Ale, Marston’s PLC, Wolverhampton, UK
Daily Devotions
·
90 Days for our
Nation,
Total Consecration-Day 24
·
Fast, pray and Meditate on the Passion
of Christ.
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