Thursday, November 7, 2024

 


Drink Stout while watching


Rachel’s Corner 

Return, my soul, to your rest; the LORD has been very good to you. (Psalm 116:7)

o   How to celebrate Nov 7th

o   Today is a day brimming with possibilities. Start by grabbing a hearty stout and settling in to watch some thought-provoking international films. As the credits roll, let your creative juices flow and tackle a project with newfound enthusiasm. Remember, even the most mundane tasks can be jazzed up by greeting your furry friend with a big bear hug. Don’t forget about self-care; indulge in some bittersweet chocolate with almonds to lift your spirits.

o   Feeling ambitious? Dive into the world of advertising and give a shoutout to your favorite brands on social media. Need a break? Why not pamper yourself with some retinol-infused skincare products? And when the day winds down, whip up a delicious dinner (men, this is your chance to shine!).

o   Cap it all off by finally cleaning out that cluttered drawer with the help of a trusty notary to make it official. Before you call it a night, don’t miss out on those exclusive cashback deals. So, cheers to a day filled with film, furry friends, food, and fun!

Best Place to visit in November: Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale is another favorite of "snow birds" (Notherners who head south in winter), and we can see why! It's one of the best places to visit in November in the USA to escape the chill. It's always sunny and warm in Scottsdale, but in November the desert heat is somewhat subdued, making it a perfect time to get outdoors in the area. Experience the Old West charm of Scottsdale by exploring historic Old Town, filled with art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants housed in charming adobe buildings. Don't miss the weekly ArtWalk, where you can peruse local artwork and mingle with artists.

Golf enthusiasts can tee off on some of the finest golf courses in the area, enjoying the pleasant weather and desert views. If you're seeking relaxation and rejuvenation, indulge in the city's renowned spas, offering luxurious treatments inspired by desert botanicals. November also brings the excitement of horse racing to Scottsdale with the opening of the Turf Paradise Racecourse. We also love the idea of getting out and enjoying the Sonoran desert. You can even take a hot air balloon ride for a better view of the jaw dropping landscapes and giant Saguaro cactuses.

See homes in Scottsdale

Dinner Menu


Introduction to Micah



This book consists of a collection of speeches, proclamations of punishment and of salvation, attributed to the prophet Micah which consists almost entirely of prophecies of punishment, and prophecies of salvation. The second section moves from prophecies of punishment to confidence in God’s salvation. Micah was a contemporary of the prophet Isaiah. His prophetic activity was during the reigns of three kings of Judah: Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. It identifies him as a resident of Moresheth, a village in the Judean foothills. Micah during the reign of Hezekiah went from his small town to proclaim the word of the Lord in the capital, and his announcements of judgment against Jerusalem moved the king and the people to repentance. Unlike Isaiah, who was a native of the holy city, Micah was an outsider from the countryside and must have been a controversial figure. He would have been unpopular with the leaders whom he condemned and the wealthy whom he criticized. He was quick to separate himself from priests and other prophets, whom he considered to be corrupt.

Tradition considers all of the words to be the recorded speeches of Micah, and some contemporary commentators agree. On the other hand, some modern scholars have thought of Micah as exclusively a prophet of doom, and therefore attributed as few as three of the seven chapters to him. The Book of Micah is focused on Jerusalem, Zion, and the Judean leadership. The Micah who speaks in this prophetic book knows the tradition that Zion is the Lord’s chosen place, but he is critical of the popular view that this election ensures the city’s security. Through the prophetic voice, the Lord announces the impending punishment of God’s people by means of military defeat and exile because of their failure to establish justice. After that punishment God will bring the people back to their land and establish perpetual peace.

The will of God for human beings is that they do justice, love goodness, and walk humbly with God.[1]

 

NOVEMBER 7 Thursday

BITTER CHOCOLATE WITH ALMONDS DAY 

Micah, Chapter 6, verse 9-10:

9 The LORD cries aloud to the city (It is prudent to FEAR your name!): Hear, O tribe and city assembly, 10Am I to bear criminal hoarding and the accursed short ephah? 

Israel was the chosen people, yet they did not fear the Lord. God asks through the prophet a rhetorical question. 

Is He to bear criminal hoarding and cheating during the sale of goods? 

We are to be sons and daughters of God. We must be generous as He is generous. A great example for us to aspire is Mother Teresa who showed us how mercy is the only way to find contentment through selflessness. “She chose to live amid squalor and sickness and desperation, endured hardship and endless toil, and might have been the happiest person on earth.” Mother did not flee from the Lord; nor did she fear anyone. When the Lord called her; she knew the call was authentic because it filled her with joy. The first counsel of Mother Teresa is to put your hand in His and walk all the way with Him. When you hear the call to follow-follow. To Mother Teresa it was never more complicated than that. To her care of the dying was the purest expression of love. 

Who around you are dying-physically, emotionally or spiritually? 

Love might not heal every disease, but it heals the heart. McCain notes that Mother Teresa showed that rather than chasing ambition the greatest contentment comes from having a foundation of love. “She loved and was loved, and her happiness was complete.” [2] 

Greed[3]

 

Criminal hoarding, cheating, bribing, shorting on scales and skimming are all signs of a person consumed by greed. As things become more important than people wars and genocide can ensue. One example is the horror of Rowanda. In Rowanda authorities played on popular fears and greed, some people picked up their machetes and came readily.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY

SECTION ONE-THE SACRAMENTAL ECONOMY

CHAPTER ONE THE PASCHAL MYSTERY IN THE AGE OF THE CHURCH

Article 1 THE LITURGY - WORK OF THE HOLY TRINITY

III. The Holy Spirit and the Church in the Liturgy

                   Day 148

1091 In the liturgy the Holy Spirit is teacher of the faith of the People of God and artisan of "God's masterpieces," the sacraments of the New Covenant. the desire and work of the Spirit in the heart of the Church is that we may live from the life of the risen Christ. When the Spirit encounters in us the response of faith which he has aroused in us, he brings about genuine cooperation. Through it, the liturgy becomes the common work of the Holy Spirit and the Church.

1092 In this sacramental dispensation of Christ's mystery the Holy Spirit acts in the same way as at other times in the economy of salvation: he prepares the Church to encounter her Lord; he recalls and makes Christ manifest to the faith of the assembly. By his transforming power, he makes the mystery of Christ present here and now. Finally, the Spirit of communion unites the Church to the life and mission of Christ.

The Holy Spirit prepares for the reception of Christ.

1093 In the sacramental economy the Holy Spirit fulfills what was prefigured in the Old Covenant. Since Christ's Church was "prepared in marvellous fashion in the history of the people of Israel and in the Old Covenant," The Church's liturgy has retained certain elements of the worship of the Old Covenant as integral and irreplaceable, adopting them as her own:

-notably, reading the Old Testament;
-praying the Psalms;
-above all, recalling the saving events and significant realities which have found their fulfillment in the mystery of Christ (promise and covenant, Exodus and Passover, kingdom and temple, exile and return).

1094 It is on this harmony of the two Testaments that the Paschal catechesis of the Lord is built, and then, that of the Apostles and the Fathers of the Church. This catechesis unveils what lay hidden under the letter of the Old Testament: the mystery of Christ. It is called "typological" because it reveals the newness of Christ on the basis of the "figures" (types) which announce him in the deeds, words, and symbols of the first covenant. By this re-reading in the Spirit of Truth, starting from Christ, the figures are unveiled. Thus the flood and Noah's ark prefigured salvation by Baptism, as did the cloud and the crossing of the Red Sea. Water from the rock was the figure of the spiritual gifts of Christ, and manna in the desert prefigured the Eucharist, "the true bread from heaven."

1095 For this reason the Church, especially during Advent and Lent and above all at the Easter Vigil, re-reads and re-lives the great events of salvation history in the "today" of her liturgy. But this also demands that catechesis help the faithful to open themselves to this spiritual understanding of the economy of salvation as the Church's liturgy reveals it and enables us to live it.

1096 Jewish liturgy and Christian liturgy. A better knowledge of the Jewish people's faith and religious life as professed and lived even now can help our better understanding of certain aspects of Christian liturgy. For both Jews and Christians Sacred Scripture is an essential part of their respective liturgies: in the proclamation of the Word of God, the response to this word, prayer of praise and intercession for the living and the dead, invocation of God's mercy. In its characteristic structure the Liturgy of the Word originates in Jewish prayer. the Liturgy of the Hours and other liturgical texts and formularies, as well as those of our most venerable prayers, including the Lord's Prayer, have parallels in Jewish prayer. the Eucharistic Prayers also draw their inspiration from the Jewish tradition. the relationship between Jewish liturgy and Christian liturgy, but also their differences in content, are particularly evident in the great feasts of the liturgical year, such as Passover. Christians and Jews both celebrate the Passover. For Jews, it is the Passover of history, tending toward the future; for Christians, it is the Passover fulfilled in the death and Resurrection of Christ, though always in expectation of its definitive consummation.

1097 In the liturgy of the New Covenant every liturgical action, especially the celebration of the Eucharist and the sacraments, is an encounter between Christ and the Church. the liturgical assembly derives its unity from the "communion of the Holy Spirit" who gathers the children of God into the one Body of Christ. This assembly transcends racial, cultural, social - indeed, all human affinities.

1098 The assembly should prepare itself to encounter its Lord and to become "a people well disposed." The preparation of hearts is the joint work of the Holy Spirit and the assembly, especially of its ministers. The grace of the Holy Spirit seeks to awaken faith, conversion of heart, and adherence to the Father's will. These dispositions are the precondition both for the reception of other graces conferred in the celebration itself and the fruits of new life which the celebration is intended to produce afterward.

Bitter Chocolate with Almonds Day[4]

This intriguingly specific Day celebrates a particular combination of flavors – dark, bitter chocolate and toasted almonds. This is one of the oldest recipes involving chocolate known in the English-speaking world, featuring as the only chocolate dish in an 18th-century cookbook. This festivity exists mainly as an idea circulated on the internet. It is sponsored by the National Confections Association, and celebrated and encouraged by organizations such as food.com, a site which aims to encourage cooking and the appreciation of food by holding various different food days. Both the tannins in dark chocolate and the various fatty acids in almonds have many health benefits, various studies have shown. Bitter Chocolate with Almonds Day encourages a delicious and nourishing dessert, which contributes to health and long life. Celebrate by dipping blanched almonds in the best dark chocolate you can find and serving to your friends with a glass of red wine!

Daily Devotions

·         Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Holy Bishops and Cardinals

·         do a personal eucharistic stations of the cross.

·         Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

·         Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

·         Drops of Christ’s Blood

·         Universal Man Plan

·         Rosary

 


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