The learning continues!!! in 3.2.1!!

So sorry about your mom, may her memory continue to be a blessing

Nov 4 Scripture
Among the many practical exhortations for Christian living that Paul gives in Rom 12:9-17, these stand out:
- Rejoice in hope,
- Endure in affliction,
- Persevere in prayer (12:12).
Both Jesus and Paul and great examples of this. Their life examples should help us be the same.

Nov 3 Scripture
If our tendency is to affirm and support the rich, powerful, and famous over the poor, the vulnerable, and helpless, then we really have not understood Christ or Christianity. As Jesus puts it, "When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind" (Lk 14:13).

All Souls Homily - "Dying with Christ, Living for Him"
“If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him” (Rom 6:8).
www.itemissaest.org/resources/su...

🙌🙌🙌

Oct 30 Scripture
Herod sought to kill Jesus. But Jesus was not threatened because his life was not in Herod's hands but in God's (Lk 13:31-35). Jesus lived what Paul later wrote, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8:31b). Don't be afraid to speak the truth. For "If God is for us..."

Oct 29 Scripture
"Strive to enter through the narrow gate" (Lk 13:24) means to walk the path Jesus trod - of empathy, mercy, clean heart, humility, non-violence, peace, righteousness, and self-sacrifice. When this is difficult, as Paul says, "The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness" (Rom 8:26).

Oct 28 Scripture - Feast of apostles Simon and Jude
Nothing is known about them except for their names mentioned along with other apostles. Does it matter? Not all of us are in the limelight. Most of us are quiet workers in the vineyard. As long as we are answering God's call, nothing else matters.

👏 🙌 Lovely!

A friend of mine sent me this photo today. Hope it makes you smile like it made me smile.

Oct 27 Scripture
In today's gospel, a woman crippled for 18 years was cured by Jesus on a Sabbath (Lk 13:1-17). The synagogue leader became indignant. What was he missing? He was missing what Paul says in Rom 8:14-15 that God's fatherly care is not about legalism but genuine love for God's children.

Sunday Homily - "Humble Prayer"
www.itemissaest.org/resources/su...
The two parables on prayer are meant to develop the right attitude during for the time of expectation and anticipation. One of them is about how to pray and the other about how not to pray.

Praying for you and your family, may her memory continue to be a blessing! My condolences

Oct 24 Scripture
Paul puts into words the dichotomy we experience within ourselves: "For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want" (Rom 7:19). But there is a cure for the dichotomy between human nature and the divine life in us - the love and mercy of God in Jesus Christ (7:25).

Oct 23 Scripture
Paul's literary tool of contrasts continues in today's reading - the "wages of sin" v/s "gift of God" & "death" v/s "life" (Rom 6:23). The free gift of God is life through faith and not our own righteousness. This life does not lie is some distant future. We live it here and now!

Oct 22 Scripture
"Freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness" (Rom 6:18). Just as Paul contrasted "sin" and "grace" in yesterday's passage today he contrasts freedom and slavery. We know the difference. "Slavery" to righteousness is more desirable than the seeming "freedom" of sinners.

Oct 21 Scripture
Paul's parallel b/w "one man (Adam)" and "one man Jesus Christ", and b/w "sin and death" and the "grace of God" (Rom 5:12-13) is simply brilliant. Each day we experience both sin and grace. But know that the grace of God in Christ is always greater than the power of sin and death.

I'll start. Gleaning from the gospel, I think that life consists of sincere love of God and genuine love of neighbor (including my enemies). Nothing is more important that these in this life and for eternity.

October 19 Scripture
Simple words today from Jesus that makes us reflect on life:
"Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions" (Lk 12:15). So, what does life consist of? It would be great if we could share our perspectives on life.

Homily Podcast - "Persistent Prayer"
Prayer without faith is meaningless, faith without prayer becomes stagnant, intercession without persistence lacks confidence, and all these without self-worth is powerless. itemissaest.podbean.com/e/october-19...

Sunday Homily - "Persistent Prayer"
The “Parable of the Persistent Widow” is about persistent intercession. But it is also about faith and how the two come together in our prayer.
www.itemissaest.org/resources/su...

🙏🏽

Rather than villainize immigrants, the Catholic Church sees them as “Pilgrims of Hope“. Immigrants and refugees are not a threat; they are a promise!

Oct 18 Scripture
Today is the Feast of St. Luke. His gospel gives us parables - prodigal son, Good Samaritan, Lazarus the poor beggar; and events and stories - Mary's magnificat, the mission of the 72, the poor widow, repentant thief - not found in other gospels. Thank you St. Luke and Pray for Us.

💕💕!

I’m so appreciative of the hometown support in Birmingham for my 1st book, Giving Up Is Unforgivable, out on the 21st. Order your copy here, today: a.co/d/7zbXKBg

The poor are not there by chance or by blind and cruel fate. Nor, for most of them, is poverty a choice. Yet, there are those who still presume to make this claim, thus revealing their own blindness and cruelty. #DilexiTe

Oct 17 Scripture
In the first reading Paul says that Abraham's FAITH is credited to him as righteousness (Rom 4:3). In the gospel, Jesus says "Do not be afraid" (Lk 12:7), especially of those who can only kill the body. The key to that kind of fearlessness is faith.
FEAR kills, FAITH restores.

❤️❤️

TEXT: Spirit Day Stand Against Bullying IMAGE: A photo of Fenway Park with a purple overlay on it and the text and the Red Sox logo on it.

We proudly join MLB in going purple for #SpiritDay as we take a stand against bullying and show our support for LGBTQ+ youth.

Learn more and take action: glaad.org/spiritday