From the book of the prophet Isaiah
45:1-13
The salvation of Israel through Cyrus
Thus says the Lord to his anointed, Cyrus,whose right hand I grasp,
Subduing nations before him,
and making kings run in his service,
Opening doors before him
and leaving the gates unbarred:
I will go before you
and level the mountains;
Bronze doors I will shatter,
and iron bars I will snap.
I will give you treasures out of the darkness,
and riches that have been hidden away,
That you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel,
who calls you by your name.
For the sake of Jacob, my servant,of Israel my chosen one,
I have called you by your name,
giving you a title, though you knew me not.
I am the Lord and there is no other,
there is no God besides me.
It is I who arm you, though you know me not,
so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun
men may know that there is none besides me.
I am the Lord, there is no other;
I form the light, and create the darkness,
I make well-being and create woe;
I, the Lord, do all these things.
Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above,like gentle rain let the skies drop it down.
Let the earth open and salvation bud forth;
let justice also spring up!
I, the Lord, have created this.
Woe to him who contends with his Maker;a potsherd among potsherds of the earth!
Dare the clay say to its modeler, “What are you doing?”
or, “What you are making has no hands”?
Woe to him who asks a father, “What are you begetting?”
or a woman, “What are you giving birth to?”
Thus says the Lord,the Holy One of Israel, his maker:
You question me about my children,
or prescribe the work of my hands for me!
It was I who made the earth
and created mankind upon it;
It was my hands that stretched out the heavens;
I gave the order to all their host.
It was I who stirred up one for the triumph of justice;
all his ways I make level.
He shall rebuild my city
and let my exiles go free
Without price or ransom,
says the Lord of hosts.
via divineoffice.org
Monthly Archives: December 2015
"O" Antiphons
The Roman Church has been singing the “O” Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative “Come!” embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.
December 17
Via USCCB
Jesus , Savior in Repose
O, my Jesus, In gentle and humble repose upon the altar, Wrap Your arms about me. My body yearns for Your embrace. Only Your Humanity can unlock The treasure trove of grace, You hold in store for me, A repentant sinner, Grace, You purchased for me By Your coming to Man as Man, In Your weakness and poverty and might. You called Yourself,"Son of Man", And by Your obedience, Suffering and Death upon the Cross, Showed us True Love. All Holy, All Human, All Love, All God, Son and Servant of God, Benefit and Benefactor of Man, Apply the fruit of Your Saving Death To my humanity, To the glory of God, And the continuous deification Of my poor, desirous body and soul. Conceive in me thoughts, words and deeds, Which bring to fulfillment our Father's plan For my life and eternity, So, that purged of all Sin and concupiscence, I might shine with radiant joy, Hidden and secure in Your Heart, As does Your Virgin Mother, Mary. "Be it done to me according to Your Word." Amen. Copyright 2011 Joann Nelander All rights reserved
Ex-Muslim talks about escaping Shariah law
Amani Mustafa talks about escaping Egypt as a Christian and how Islam does not understand human rights
Woman Raised Muslim Just Dropped Truth Bomb
So, she’s got “race” a bit mixed up with “nationality”, the rest is right on according to the Qur’an, the Hadith, and the Sira.
On humility and peace
From the Imitation of Christ of Thomas a Kempis
On humility and peace
Do not care much who is with you and who is against you; but make it your greatest care that God is with you in everything you do. Have a good conscience, and God will defend you securely; no one can hurt you if God wishes to help you.
If you know how to suffer in silence, you will surely receive God’s help. Since he knows best the time and the way to set you free, resign yourself to him, for God helps you and frees you from all confusion.
It is often good for us, and helps us to remain humble, if others know our weaknesses and confront us with them.
When a man humbles himself for his faults, he more easily pleases others and mollifies those he has angered.
God protects and frees a humble man; he loves and consoles a humble man; he favors a humble man; he showers him with graces; then, after his suffering, God raises him up to glory.
He reveals his secrets to a humble man and in his kindness invitingly draws that man to himself. When a humble man is brought to confusion, he experiences peace, because he stands firm in God and not in this world. Do not think that you have made any progress unless you feel that you are the lowest of all men.
Above all things, keep peace within yourself, then you will be able to create peace among others. It is better to be peaceful than learned. The passionate man often thinks evil of a good man and easily believes the worst; a good and peaceful man turns all things to good.
A man who lives at peace suspects no one. But a man who is tense and agitated by evil is troubled with all kinds of suspicions; he is never at peace with himself, nor does he permit others to be at peace. He often speaks when he should be silent, and he fails to say what would be truly useful. He is well aware of the obligations of others but neglects his own.
So be zealous first of all with yourself, and then you will be more justified in expressing zeal for your neighbor. You are good at excusing and justifying you own deeds, and yet you will not listen to the excuses of others. It would be more just to accuse yourself and to excuse your brother. If you wish others to put up with you, first put up with them.
Via divineoffice.org
Be Holy! 