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Home | Daily Word: "GRACE
The grace of God is upon me.
The grace of God enables me to meet every challenge and condition comfortably and with ease. I am no longer apprehensive, because the grace of God fills me with assurance that all is well. I rely on divine strength, wisdom and guidance--even beyond what I ask or seek--to see me through any difficulty. It is God's grace that supplies my every need.

The grace of God is upon me. I am free from worry, discord or discontent. I am free to be loving, kind and happy. I am free to enjoy life fully. Through the grace of God, I am gracious as I find my way through life's ups and downs. The grace of God is upon me, now and forever.

Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.--Hebrews 4:16"

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John 6:22-71 "The day following, when the people which stood..." KJV - Online Bible Study

John 6:22-71 "The day following, when the people which stood..." KJV - Online Bible Study:King James Version

John 6:22-71

²² The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered , and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone; ²³ (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks :) ²⁴ When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. ²⁵ And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? ²⁶ Jesus answered them and said , Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled . ²⁷ Labour not for the meat which perisheth , but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed . ²⁸ Then said they unto him, What shall we do , that we might work the works of God? ²⁹ Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent . ³⁰ They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see , and believe thee? what dost thou work ? ³¹ Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written , He gave them bread from heaven to eat . ³² Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. ³⁴ Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. ³⁵ And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger ; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst . ³⁶ But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. ³⁷ All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. ³⁸ For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. ³⁹ And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing , but should raise it up again at the last day. ⁴⁰ And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁴¹ The Jews then murmured at him, because he said , I am the bread which came down from heaven. ⁴² And they said , Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know ? how is it then that he saith , I came down from heaven? ⁴³ Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. ⁴⁴ No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard , and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. ⁴⁶ Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. ⁴⁷ Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. ⁴⁸ I am that bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead . ⁵⁰ This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof , and not die . ⁵¹ I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. ⁵² The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying , How can this man give us his flesh to eat ? ⁵³ Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁵⁵ For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. ⁵⁶ He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. ⁵⁷ As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. ⁵⁸ This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead : he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. ⁵⁹ These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. ⁶⁰ Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said , This is an hard saying; who can hear it? ⁶¹ When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? ⁶² What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? ⁶³ It is the spirit that quickeneth ; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. ⁶⁴ But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. ⁶⁵ And he said , Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. ⁶⁶ From that time many of his disciples went back , and walked no more with him. ⁶⁷ Then said Jesus unto the twelve , Will ye also go away ? ⁶⁸ Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go ? thou hast the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. ⁷⁰ Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? ⁷¹ He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

1 Chronicles 24:1-31

¹ Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ² But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office . ³ And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service. ⁴ And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided . Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers. ⁵ Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar. ⁶ And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe , one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar. ⁷ Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, ⁸ The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, ⁹ The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin, ¹⁰ The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, ¹¹ The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah, ¹² The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, ¹³ The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, ¹⁴ The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, ¹⁵ The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses, ¹⁶ The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel, ¹⁷ The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul, ¹⁸ The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah. ¹⁹ These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him. ²⁰ And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah. ²¹ Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah. ²² Of the Izharites; Shelomoth: of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath. ²³ And the sons ofHebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth. ²⁴ Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah: of the sons of Michah; Shamir. ²⁵ The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah. ²⁶ The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi: the sons of Jaaziah; Beno. ²⁷ The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri. ²⁸ Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons. ²⁹ Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel. ³⁰ The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers. ³¹ These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren.

Zechariah 10:1-12

¹ Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. ² For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled , because there was no shepherd . ³ Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds , and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle. ⁴ Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together. ⁵ And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight , because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded . ⁶ And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off : for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them. ⁷ And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad ; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD. ⁸ I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased . ⁹ And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again . ¹⁰ I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them. ¹¹ And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up : and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down , and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away . ¹² And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD.

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Praying Unceasingly

Praying Unceasingly:

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The Joy of Jesus Daily Word

Home | Daily Word: "ENERGIZED
I am energized and rejuvenated.
Each morning when I awake, I have the opportunity to start my day with prayer. Aware of my innate creative power, I am invigorated by Spirit within. I then move ahead empowered, choosing uplifting thoughts, positive statements and purposeful actions that reflect my greatest intentions.

If ever I feel sluggish or unmotivated, I pause and pray. A few minutes of communion with Spirit revives my vital energy and awakens my enthusiasm. In Spirit, I am confident, knowing that all things given to me will be accomplished, that all that is not understood will be revealed, and that all that is difficult will be made easy.

The God who has girded me with strength has opened wide my path. --2 Samuel 22:33"

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John 6:1-21 "After these things Jesus went over..." KJV - Online Bible Study

John 6:1-21 "After these things Jesus went over..." KJV - Online Bible Study

John 6:1-21

¹ After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. ² And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased . ³ And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. ⁴ And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. ⁵ When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat ? ⁶ And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do . ⁷ Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. ⁸ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, ⁹ There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? ¹⁰ And Jesus said , Make the men sit down . Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down , in number about five thousand. ¹¹ And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks , he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down ; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would . ¹² When they were filled , he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain , that nothing be lost . ¹³ Therefore they gathered them together , and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten . ¹⁴ Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did , said , This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. ¹⁵ When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force , to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. ¹⁶ And when even was now come , his disciples went down unto the sea, ¹⁷ And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. ¹⁸ And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew . ¹⁹ So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid . ²⁰ But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid . ²¹ Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went .

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New Melleray AbbeyFr. Stephen Verbest: Feast of the Transfiguation

The Ambo	Homily for the Feast of the Transfiguration Preached by Fr. Stephen Verbest
[Scripture Readings: Dan 7:9-14; 2 Pt 1:16-19; Mt 17:1-9 ] The disciples of Jesus did not know it, but they were about to witness something that had never happened before. Suddenly a blinding light flashed around them. In great confusion they turned to see where it came from. In the next moment a force rushed over them, knocking them down. This was not the little whisper of a gentle breeze like that heard by the prophet Elijah when he encountered the Lord. It was an even greater force than the frightening storm of thunder and lightning that shook Moses and the Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai. The disciples of Jesus later compared it to the fury of an enormous hurricane. One moment everything was calm and peaceful. Then a flash of light brighter than the sun and a blast of wind stronger than any hurricane swept over them and just as quickly passed away. This was not the Transfiguration, but what Dorothy Day called the "anti-transfiguration." It was the bombing of Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945, the feast of the Transfiguration. The disciples of Jesus, Fr. Pedro Arrupe and his fellow Jesuits, staggered to their feet. To see what happened they went outside and climbed the hill protecting their residence on the outskirts of the city. From the top of that little mountain they saw Hiroshima transformed into one enormous lake of fire. There were thousands upon thousands of people whose bodies were half melted by the intense heat trying to flee the inferno. Half of a 140,000 people died right away. They were spared greater agony. The other half died slowly over the next few weeks and months. Ever since that devastating day, the world has been living under the threat of what author Tom Clancy calls, "The Sum of All Fears," a nuclear holocaust. Fr. Arrupe writes, "It is at such moments one feels in need of supernatural assistance." In the time of Jesus, people did not fear nuclear attacks. What they dreaded was crucifixion. Jesus knew he would die by crucifixion. It filled his heart with such agony that he climbed Mount Tabor to prepare himself by prayer. And he was transfigured with divinity, the sum of all hopes. Jesus willingly died so that we could share his divinity. St. Peter was an eyewitness of the honor and glory that Jesus received from the Father on that holy mountain. He writes, "His divine power has given us ... his precious and very great promises ... so that you may escape from the corruption that is in the world … and become partakers in the divine nature" (2 Pet 1:3f). In the second reading Peter continues, "You do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts" (2 Pet 1:19). Whether we ever come face to face with the Sum of All Fears, a nuclear attack, or with a more limited, personal agony, today's mystery of the Transfiguration offers us the greatest of all hopes, divinization. We are called to enjoy eternity not only in a human way, but with participation in God's own nature, God's own level of existence. In the very first sentence of the Catholic Catechism we read that, "God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created mankind to make us share in his own blessed life" (#1). And in Article 1 on Revelation we read in the Catechism that, "It pleased God, in his goodness and wisdom, to make known the mystery of his will … that we should … become sharers in the divine nature." This is not just a metaphor for the greatest possible human happiness. It is a call to divine happiness. Like Jesus who is a divine Person with two natures-his divinity possessed from all eternity, and his humanity at the Incarnation-all the baptized also have two natures: a human nature from conception in our mother's wombs, and a share in the divine nature from baptism making us adopted children of God. Let us think clearly about this grace: it is not pantheism, because there are three essential differences between us and God. First, we do not become divine Persons. We remain human persons but with two natures. Second, we do not become infinite. We remain finite but with an unlimited capacity to grow in things divine. Third, we do not possess this share in the divine nature of ourselves, but in dependence on God's gift to us. How awesome is this gift, this sum of all hopes, divinization! St. Peter urges us to remember it often, like a lamp that chases away the darkness of all that we fear. Think of it! We are called to share divinity, to do what only God can do. First of all, to see at God's level of seeing, and that means the ability to see God, for not even the angels can see God by means of their own angelic nature. They also need to share in divinity to see God. Second, it means the ability to be present at any moment of time, past or future, like God is. Third, it means the ability to retain every joy forever, untarnished by time ticking away. Only divinity can do that. God never loses any joys, they never pass away. There is no nostalgia in heaven, no looking back at joys gone by, for they continue forever. And, might we also share God's ability to create from nothing? What will you create? This is the meaning of Christ's transfiguration in glory, the sum of all our hopes. St. Paul writes, "This slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure" (2 Cor 4:17). All day and night Fr. Arrupe and his fellow Jesuits ministered to the people of Hiroshima by tearing up their bed linens and even their clean underclothes to dress the wounds of the afflicted. Next morning, Fr. Arrupe celebrated the Eucharist. He writes, "In turning around to say 'Dominus Vobiscum,' I saw before my eyes many who were wounded, suffering terribly. ... I had to be careful not to touch with my feet the children who lay so close to me. I do not think I have ever offered Mass with such devotion!" We cannot live well without divine assistance. Brothers and sisters, the Mass we celebrate here this morning is one Mass with that celebrated by Fr. Arrupe at Hiroshima. It is one sacrifice with that offered by Jesus at the Last Supper and on Golgatha. We are never very far from the sum of all our fears. Let us never be very far from the sum of all that gives us hope, God's invitation to share in the divine nature. It is promised to us by the divine kiss we receive in communion, a kiss that will one day open our eyes and hearts to God's world when we also will be transfigured.

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Home | Daily Word: WORLD PEACE
I enfold myself and all beings in peace.
The commandment to love "your neighbor as yourself" is a reminder to me that my "neighbor" is not only the person living next door. My neighbor is every living being in the world. Just as I want my life to be peaceful, I want the same for my neighbors everywhere.

I may not have the authority to sign peace treaties or the power to stop war, but I do have the power of prayer and of love. When I see images of troubled people or unfortunate events in the world, I send thoughts of love, peace, comfort and understanding to all involved. It is up to me to love, to envision peace, and to believe in the power of prayer. As I do these things, I am an agent of change, an agent of peace.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart … and your neighbor as yourself.--Luke 10:27