Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter
NATIONAL
PRAYER DAY-ST. FLORIAN-STAR WARS DAY
Acts,
Chapter 13, verse 16
So, Paul
got up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Fellow Israelites and you others who
are GOD-FEARING, listen.
The
Apostle Paul Gestured. Most effective speaker’s gesture. A gesture is defined
by The American Heritage College Dictionary as “a motion of the limbs of
body made to express thought of to emphasize speech.” Surely, every gospel preacher should want
to emphasize his sermon. Let’s look to see what the Bible teaches about such.
As Paul was asked by the rulers of the synagogue, “. . . if you have any word
of exhortation for the people, say on. Then Paul stood up, and beckoning
with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience”
(Acts 13:15-16). The apostle Paul knew that gestures can help to enforce the
oral expression in gospel preaching. In Jerusalem, “. . . Paul stood on the
stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was
made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying . . .”
(Acts 21:40). Paul knew that gestures help communicate ideas and help get and
hold attention. It has been said that gesturing is not in keeping with
humility. Paul, who gestured, said, “Serving the Lord with all humility of
mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying-in
wait of the Jews” (Acts 20:19). Paul was a humble-gesturing preacher! When the
apostle Paul made his defense before King Agrippa, he “. . . stretched
forth the hand, and answered for himself” (Acts 26:1). The stretching
forth of one’s hand is gesturing. [1]
Paul with his gesturing desires that we really
listen.[2]
·
Listening
is one of the easiest things you’ll ever do, and one of the hardest.
·
In
a sense, listening is easy — or hearing is easy. It is
“hearing with faith” (Galatians 3:2, 5) that accents the achievements of
Christ and thus is the channel of grace that starts and sustains the Christian
life.
·
True,
sustained, active listening is a great act of faith, and a great means of
grace, both for us and for others in the fellowship.
Lessons in Good Listening
1. Good listening requires
patience.
·
Avoid:
“a kind of listening with half an ear that presumes already to know what the
other person has to say.”
·
“Poor
listening diminishes another person, while good listening invites them to exist
and matter.” – TweetShare on Facebook
·
Good
listening requires concentration and means we’re in with both ears, and that we
hear the other person out till they’re done speaking.
2. Good listening is an act
of love.
3. Good listening asks
perceptive questions.
Good listening asks
perceptive, open-ended questions that don’t tee up yes-no answers, but gently
peel the onion and probe beneath the surface. It watches carefully for
nonverbal communication but doesn’t interrogate and pry into details the
speaker doesn’t want to share, but meekly draws them out and helps point the
speaker to fresh perspectives through careful, but genuine, questions.
4. Good listening is
ministry.
5. Good listening prepares
us to speak well.
“The best ministry you
might do today is to listen to someone’s pain all the way to the bottom.” TweetShare
on Facebook
6. Good listening reflects our relationship with God.
National Day of Prayer[3]
National
Day of Prayer is an annual holiday that serves to encourage Americans to pray,
meditate and repent. It is also used to draw awareness to prayer and religious
beliefs. The origins of National Day of Prayer date back to 1787. Benjamin
Franklin asked President George Washington to open each day with prayer, and to
realize that prayer is deeply intertwined in the fabric of the United States.
However, it was not until February 1952 during the Korean War that
Reverend Billy Graham petitioned support of Representative Percy Priest to
observe a National Day of Prayer. On April 17, 1952, President Harry Truman
signed a bill proclaiming National Day of Prayer, to encourage Americans to
turn to God in prayer and meditation. National Prayer Day is celebrated every
year on the first Thursday of May.
National
Day of Prayer Facts & Quotes
·
According
to the Pew Research Center's Religious Landscape Study of 2015, 23% of
Americans have indicated that they are not part of any religion. The
survey is based on responses of more than 35,000 Americans.
·
On
October 3, 2008, The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) sued President
George W. Bush and staff to challenge the designation of a National Day of
Prayer. On April 14, 2011, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that
the National Day of Prayer did not cause harm and a feeling of alienation
cannot suffice as injury.
·
According
to the Pew Research Center, more than 55% of Americans pray every day.
60% of older Americans are likely to pray every day, compared to 45% of young
Americans.
·
Prayer
is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's
weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words
without a heart. - Mahatma Gandhi, Civil Rights and Freedom Activist
National
Day of Prayer Top Events and Things to Do
·
Attend
a religious service at your place of worship on the National Day of Prayer.
·
Offer
a prayer for your loved ones and for those who are serving at the frontlines to
protect America.
·
Attend
a spiritual retreat that appeals to your beliefs.
·
Attend
a prayer event on Prayer Day. There are many local events, some religious
based, others meditation oriented.
Saint Florian[4] is the patron saint of firefighters, and many things associated with either fire or
water. His feast day is celebrated today.
Saint
Florian was born in
the mid-third century A.D., perhaps around the year 250, somewhere around
current-day Austria. He rose through the Roman army ranks to become a
commander. Besides his duties to the military, he was charged with leading the
firefighting brigade of the day. Florian was a Christian in a time when the
Roman emperors were trying to eliminate Christianity throughout their realm. At
one point he was ordered to offer up a sacrifice to the Roman gods, something
in which he did not believe. Other stories state that he refused to participate
in the ongoing persecution of Christians, in which the army had been ordered to
participate.
In either case, Florian's
beliefs became known. When questioned, he again stated that he was a Christian.
The popular method of disposing of Christians in that day was to burn them to
death, and it was suggested that Florian suffer the same fate. He, however,
stated his intention to "climb to Heaven on the flames"
of the funeral pyre being prepared for him. The soldiers decided at that point
to dispense with him via another route: he was flogged, then flayed, then a
large stone was tied around his neck and he was thrown into the Ennis River to
drown. A faithful lady recovered and buried his body, which was later moved to
the Augustinian Abbey of St. Florian, near current-day Linz, Austria. In 1138
some of St. Florian's relics were given to King Casimir of Poland and
the Bishop of Cracow. Since his relics arrived in Poland, he has been regarded
as the patron saint of that country. Because of his association with fire, St.
Florian is the patron saint of firefighters and chimney sweeps and has been
invoked for protection from both fire and water. A statue of St. Florian
installed at the front of the main firehouse in Vienna, Austria survived a 1945
bombing with barely a scratch.
Please
pray the Stations
of the Cross for our firefighters from 911 and
The Yarnell Hill Firefighters;
which were lost in a wildfire near Yarnell, Arizona, ignited by lightning on
June 28, 2013. On June 30, it overran and killed 19 City of Prescott
firefighters, members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots.
It was the third deadliest U.S. wildfire since the 1991 East Bay Hills fire,
which killed 25 people; and the 2017 Northern California wildfires, which
killed over 40, the deadliest wildland fire for U.S. firefighters since the
1933 Griffith Park Fire, which killed 29; and the deadliest incident of any
kind for U.S. firefighters since the September 11, 2001, attacks, which killed
343. It is the sixth-deadliest American firefighter disaster overall and the
deadliest wildfire ever in Arizona.
May the Farce Be with You[5]
May 4th has become commonly known as Star Wars Day. And who could be surprised? The words, “May the 4th” seem to beg the rest of the catchphrase be uttered. Regardless of whether you prefer Star Wars or Star Trek, or if are even a sci-fi aficionado at all, the influence of George Lucas’ Star Wars on pop culture is undeniable.
The History of Star Wars Day
Star Wars, an epic space opera written
and directed by George Lucas, premiered in 1977 and became an almost instant
cult classic. Even today, almost 40 years later, Star Wars remains one of the
most financially successful films of all time. The franchise it began remains
the most successful one of all time, earning over 2.5 billion dollars since the
release of the first film. However, the money it’s earned over the years is
hardly the most impressive aspect of Star Wars. As famous film critic Roger
Ebert put it: “Like The Birth of a Nation and Citizen Kane, Star Wars was a
technical watershed that influenced many of the movies that came after.” Star
Wars was a real game-changer, beginning a new era of special effect-packed
motion pictures bursting with excitement, adventure and imagination that
appealed enormously to younger audiences as well as older ones. Many of today’s
most acclaimed film directors, such as Peter Jackson, Ridley Scott, Christopher
Nolan and James Cameron, cite Star Wars as a great influence on their careers.
Star Wars has also had enormous cultural impact on other areas besides
filmmaking, including politics–the Reagan Administration’s Strategic Defense
Program was mockingly nicknamed “Star Wars”. As recently as 2013, President
Barack Obama used the phrase “Jedi mind meld” to describe what some people were
expecting him to do on his opposition to make them accept his ideas. “May the
Fourth be with you” was first used by Margaret Thatcher’s political party to
congratulate her on her election on May 4th, 1979, and the saying quickly
caught on. However, the first celebration of May 4th took place much later, at
the Toronto Underground Cinema in 2001. This first official Star Wars Day’s
festivities included a costume contest and a movie marathon. Fans’ favorite
parodies of the franchise were also enjoyed, as were some of the most popular mashups
and remixes. Since then, Star Wars Day has gained popularity and is celebrated
by Star Wars Fans worldwide.
How to Celebrate Star Wars Day
The way you celebrate Star Wars day
will depend on how well you know this cultural phenomenon. If you are a
longtime fan of the franchise, you might want to get a group of friends
together and attend one of the many Star Wars events organized in different
parts of the world. Such events range from costume contests to museum exhibits
to tours of space centers. And if you’re not feeling up to going out, there’s
no reason why a Star Wars Day party organized by you at home should be any less
fun. Movie marathons with friends, Star Wars trivia games and even Star Wars
themed snacks (Death Star piñata, anyone?) will guarantee this day is full of
fun as well as being very educational. “Vadering” another person has also
become an extremely popular thing to do on this day, and the photos you take of
this are sure to bring a smile to your face for years to come. Because Star
Wars itself is such an enormous topic, the ways of celebrating the day
dedicated to it are virtually endless. So, choose one, have fun, and May the
4th be with you!
Thursday Feast
Thursday is the day of the week that our Lord gave himself
up for consumption. Thursday commemorates the last supper. Some theologians
believe after Sunday Thursday is the holiest day of the week. We should then
try to make this day special by making a visit to the blessed sacrament chapel,
Mass or even stopping by the grave of a loved one. Why not plan to count the
blessing of the week and thank our Lord. Plan a special meal. Be at Peace.
Feast of the day:
Drink: Summer
Herbal Drinks with Mint and Lemon Balm
Soup: Minestrone
Main dish: Ethiopian
Dinner for the Feast of St. Philip
Dessert: Grand
Marnier Cakes
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART
FOUR: CHRISTIAN PRAYER
SECTION TWO-THE LORD'S PRAYER
Article 3-THE SEVEN PETITIONS
III. "Thy Will Be Done on Earth as It is in
Heaven"
2822 Our Father "desires all men to be saved and to come
to the knowledge of the truth." He "is forbearing toward you,
not wishing that any should perish." His commandment is "that
you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one
another." This commandment summarizes all the others and expresses
his entire will.
2823 "He has made known to us the mystery of his will,
according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ . . . to gather up
all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also
obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him
who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will." We
ask insistently for this loving plan to be fully realized on earth as it is
already in heaven.
2824 In Christ, and through his human will, the will of the
Father has been perfectly fulfilled once for all. Jesus said on entering into
this world: "Lo, I have come to do your will, O God." Only Jesus
can say: "I always do what is pleasing to him." In the prayer of
his agony, he consents totally to this will: "not my will, but yours be
done." For this reason Jesus "gave himself for our sins to
deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and
Father." "and by that will we have been sanctified through the
offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
2825 "Although he was a Son, [Jesus] learned obedience
through what he suffered." How much more reason have we sinful
creatures to learn obedience - we who in him have become children of adoption.
We ask our Father to unite our will to his Son's, in order to fulfill his will,
his plan of salvation for the life of the world. We are radically incapable of
this, but united with Jesus and with the power of his Holy Spirit, we can
surrender our will to him and decide to choose what his Son has always chosen:
to do what is pleasing to the Father.
In committing ourselves to
[Christ], we can become one spirit with him, and thereby accomplish his will,
in such wise that it will be perfect on earth as it is in heaven.
Consider how Jesus Christ] teaches
us to be humble, by making us see that our virtue does not depend on our work
alone but on grace from on high. He commands each of the faithful who prays to
do so universally, for the whole world. For he did not say "thy will be
done in me or in us," but "on earth," the whole earth, so that
error may be banished from it, truth take root in it, all vice be destroyed on
it, virtue flourish on it, and earth no longer differ from heaven.
2826 By prayer we can discern "what is the will of
God" and obtain the endurance to do it. Jesus teaches us that one
enters the kingdom of heaven not by speaking words, but by doing "the will
of my Father in heaven."
2827 "If any one is a worshiper of God and does his will,
God listens to him." Such is the power of the Church's prayer in the
name of her Lord, above all in the Eucharist. Her prayer is also a communion of
intercession with the all-holy Mother of God and all the saints who have
been pleasing to the Lord because they willed his will alone:
It would not be inconsistent with
the truth to understand the words, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in
heaven," to mean: "in the Church as in our Lord Jesus Christ
himself"; or "in the Bride who has been betrothed, just as in the
Bridegroom who has accomplished the will of the Father."
PRAYERS AND TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: An
increase of the faithful
·
do
a personal eucharistic stations of the cross.
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
· Make reparations to the Holy Face
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