DEUS É AMOR

«Gravai, pois, estas minhas palavras no vosso coração; ensinai-as aos vossos filhos, repetindo-as, quando estiverdes a descansar em casa e quando fordes de viagem, ao deitar e ao levantar» (Dt 11, 18-19)

«Que as palavras do Livro desta Lei jamais se afastem da tua boca; medita-o constantemente e observa tudo quanto nele se contém. Assim terás prosperidade em teus caminhos e serás bem sucedido» (Js 1, 8-9)

«Todo aquele escuta estas minhas palavras e as põe em prática, (disse Jesus) é como o homem prudente que edificou a sua casa sobre a rocha. Caiu a chuva, engrossaram os rios, sopraram os ventos contra aquela casa; mas não caiu porque estava fundada sobre a rocha» (Mt 7, 24-25)

«Jesus respondeu, se alguém me tem amor, há-de guardar a minha palavra; e o meu Pai o amará, e Nós viremos a ele e nele faremos morada» (Jo 14, 23).

CENTERING PRAYER

Nothing is more beautiful than the uniqueness that God has created.
… You don't have to create the beauty - you’ve got the beauty.
… You don't have to create the freedom - you’ve got it.
… You don't have to create the image of God in you - you have it.
… You don't have to win over God’s love - you have more than you know what to do with.

Thomas Keating, 'Centering Prayer,'Heartfulness: Transformation in Christ

Glória a TI SENHOR fonte de todas as maravilhas

Deus criou tudo para o homem, mas o homem foi criado, para servir e amar a Deus e oferecer-lhe toda a criação:
Quem é, pois, o ser que vai vir à existência cercado de tal consideração? E o homem, grande e admirável figura viva, mais precioso aos olhos de Deus do que a criação inteira: é o homem, é para ele que existem o céu e a terra e o mar e a totalidade da criação, e é à salvação dele que Deus atribuiu tanta importância que nem sequer poupou seu Filho único em seu favor. Pois Deus não cessou de tudo empreender para fazer o homem subir até ele e fazê-lo sentar-se à sua direita.

Seja Louvado o Seu Nome Santo, hoje e para sempre Amem

Magnificat!

A minha alma glorifica o Senhor
e o meu espírito alegre em Deus meu Salvador...

«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68

Tuesday, 06 July 2010

Tuesday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time

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

See commentary below or click here
John-Paul II: “Ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers"


Book of Hosea 8:4-7.11-13.

They made kings, but not by my authority; they established princes, but without my approval. With their silver and gold they made idols for themselves, to their own destruction. Cast away your calf, O Samaria! my wrath is kindled against them; How long will they be unable to attain innocence in Israel? The work of an artisan no god at all, Destined for the flames-- such is the calf of Samaria! When they sow the wind, they shall reap the whirlwind; The stalk of grain that forms no ear can yield no flour; Even if it could, strangers would swallow it. When Ephraim made many altars to expiate sin, his altars became occasions of sin. Though I write for him my many ordinances, they are considered as a stranger's. Though they offer sacrifice, immolate flesh and eat it, the LORD is not pleased with them. He shall still remember their guilt and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.

Psalms 115(113B):3-4.5-6.7-8.9-10.

Our God is in heaven; whatever God wills is done.
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
They have mouths but do not speak, eyes but do not see.
They have ears but do not hear, noses but do not smell.
They have hands but do not feel, feet but do not walk, and no sound rises from their throats.
Their makers shall be like them, all who trust in them.
The house of Israel trusts in the LORD, who is their help and shield.
The house of Aaron trusts in the LORD, who is their help and shield.


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 9:32-38.

As they were going out, a demoniac who could not speak was brought to him, and when the demon was driven out the mute person spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "He drives out demons by the prince of demons." Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest."

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB

Commentary of the day :

John-Paul II, Pope from 1978 to 2005
Message for the XXXVIII World Day of Prayer for Vocations, 6th May 2001 - Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana
“Ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers"


Holy Father, eternal source of existence and love,
who, in living man, show the splendour of your glory,
and who put in his heart the seed of your call,
let no-one, by reason of our negligence, ignore or lose this gift,
but may everyone walk, with wholehearted generosity,
towards the realisation of your Love.

Lord Jesus, who in your pilgrimage along the roads of Palestine,
chose and called the apostles and entrusted to them their task
of preaching the Gospel, feeding the faithful and celebrating divine worship,
ensure that today, too, your Church may not lack
numerous holy priests, who can bring to all
the fruits of your death and resurrection.

Holy Spirit, who sanctify the Church
with the constant pouring out of your gifts,
place into the hearts of those called to the consecrated life
a deep-rooted and resolute passion for the Kingdom,
so that with a generous and unconditioned "yes",
they may place their entire existences at the service of the Gospel.

Most holy Virgin, who without hesitation
offered yourself to the Almighty
for the carrying out of his plan of salvation,
pour trust into the hearts of young people
so that there may always be zealous pastors
who are able to guide the Christian people on the way of life,
and consecrated souls who may know how to witness,
in chastity, poverty, and obedience,
to the freeing presence of your risen Son.
Amen

BENTO XVI: AMAR O PECADOR, CONDENAR O PECADO

Palavras do Papa ao recitar a oração do Angelus

CIDADE DO VATICANO, domingo, 21 de março de 2010 (ZENIT.org).- Às 12 horas de hoje, quinto domingo de Quaresma, o Santo Padre Bento XVI foi à janela de seus aposentos no Palácio Apostólico Vaticano para recitar a oração do Angelus junto aos fiéis e peregrinos reunidos na Praça São Pedro.
***
Caros Irmãos e Irmãs!

Estamos reunidos neste Quinto Domingo de Quaresma, cuja liturgia nos propões, neste ano, o episódio evangélico em que Jesus salva uma mulher adúltera condenada à morte (Jo 8,1-11). Enquanto ensinava no Templo, os escribas e fariseus conduzem a Jesus uma mulher flagrada em adultério, para o qual a lei mosaica previa a pena de apedrejamento. Estes homens pedem a Jesus que julgue a pecadora, com o intuito de testá-lo e de induzi-lo a se contradizer.

A cena é carregada de dramaticidade: das palavras de Jesus depende a vida daquela pessoa, mas também sua própria vida. Os acusadores hipócritas, de fato, fingem confiar a ele o juízo, quando, na verdade, é justo Ele a quem pretendem condenar. Jesus, porém, “é cheio de graça e de verdade” (Jo 1,14): Ele sabe o que está no coração de cada homem, quer condenar o pecado, mas quer salvar o pecador, e desmascarar a hipocrisia.

O evangelista São João dá destaque a um ponto em particular: enquanto os acusadores o interrogam com insistência, Jesus se agacha e se põe a escrever com o dedo na terra. Observa Santo Agostinho que este gesto mostra Cristo como legislador divino: de fato, Deus escreveu a lei com seu dedo sobre as tábuas de pedra (cfr Comm. al Vang. di Giov., 33, 5). Jesus, portanto, é o Legislador, é a Justiça em pessoa. E qual é sua sentença? “Quem dentre vós não tiver pecado, atire a primeira pedra!”. Estas palavras estão plenas da força desarmante da verdade, que abate o muro da hipocrisia e abre a consciência a uma justiça maior, aquela do amor, à qual corresponde o pleno cumprimento de qualquer preceito (cfr Rm 13,8-10). Foi a justiça que salvou Paulo de Tarso, transformando-o em São Paulo (cfr Fil 3,8-14).

Quando os acusadores “foram saindo um por um, a começar pelos mais velhos”, Jesus, absolvendo a mulher de seu pecado, a introduz em uma nova vida, orientada para o bem: “Eu também não te condeno. Vai, e de agora em diante não peques mais”. É a mesma graça que fará o Apóstolo dizer: “uma coisa, porém, faço: esquecendo o que fica para trás, lanço-me para o que está à frente. Lanço-me em direção à meta, para conquistar o prêmio que, do alto, Deus me chama a receber no Cristo Jesus” (Fil 3,14).

Deus deseja para nós apenas o bem e a vida; Ele provê a saúde de nossa alma por meio de seus ministros, libertando-nos do mal com o Sacramento da Reconciliação, para que nenhum venha a se perder, mas que todos tenhamos meios de nos convertermos. Neste Ano Sacerdotal, desejo exortar os Pastores a imitarem o santo Cura d’Ars no ministério do Perdão sacramental, para que assim os fiéis redescubram seu significado e sua beleza, e sejam curados pelo amor misericordioso de Deus, o qual “é capaz até de esquecer voluntariamente o pecado, para nos perdoar” (Carta de proclamação do Ano Sacerdotal).

Caros amigos, aprendamos com o Senhor Jesus a não julgar e não condenar o próximo. Aprendamos a ser intransigentes com o pecado – a começar pelo nosso! – e indulgentes para com as pessoas. Que nos ajude a santa Mãe de Deus, que, isenta de toda culpa, é mediadora de graça para todo pecador arrependido.

He was lost, and is found

Luke 15:1-3 11-32 The Pharisees and the Scribes were very critical of all my activities, especially when I did not follow their customs as strictly as they expected me to. I was the perfect man, the Christ. There was something mysterious in me that they could not work out. I was the Son of God and the Redeemer and my message was everything that they needed to hear. But because of their pride they preferred to become my enemies, so in my mission as the merciful Savior of the world, I put before them the parable of the prodigal son.

What I am trying to illustrate is the reality of the life of men. I have created human beings with great love; they have become my children. It is very tragic to see how a man leaves me and turns away from good to end up living in sin, destroying his body and soul, corrupting himself and others and wasting the talents that I have given him.

He even complains about the divine providence failing him because he fails to see the damage he is doing to himself and neglects to understand the goodness of my generosity. I am your heavenly Father, the one who does not look so much to your sins but to my goodness and mercy. I desire to forgive sinners when they repent.

It is of course necessary that man abandon his evil conduct by repentance and start looking for the fountain of mercy that I have made available in my forgiveness. When someone is living in sin, he is dead to me. When he repents and comes back to me he is alive, I rejoice with his repentance, he is welcome back as my son.

For this reason I invite everyone to pray for sinners to repent so that they may also enjoy the benefits of my goodness. I am not a punitive God, I am the tender Father who has been abandoned by his children, my love is a fire burning constantly in my heart and I desire for all of you to be close to me.