Daily Reflection for November 14, 2014 November 14, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------- Friday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time We ought to respect the image of God in everyone. -- Blessed Raphaela Mary A SAINT A DAY ------------------------------ ST. LAWRENCE OTOOLE Confessor Information: Feast Day: November 14 Born: 1128, Castledermot, Kildare, Ireland Died: November 14, 1180, Normandy, France Canonized: 1225 by Pope Honorius III Major Shrine: St. Lawrences church in Chorley, England Confessor, born about 1128, in the present County Kildare; died 14 November, 1180, at Eu in Normandy; canonized in 1225 by Honorius III. His father was chief of Hy Murray, and his mother one of the Clan OByrne. At the age of ten he was taken as a hostage by Dermot McMurrogh, King of Leinster. In 1140 the boy obtained permission to enter the monastic school of Glendalough; in that valley-sanctuary he studied for thirteen years, conspicuous for his piety and learning. So great was his reputation in the eyes of the community that on the death of Abbot Dunlaing, early in 1154, he was unanimously called to preside over the Abbey of St. Kevin. Dermot, King of Leinster, married Mor, sister of St. Lawrence, and, though his character has been painted in dark colours by the native annalists, he was a great friend to the Church. He founded an Austin nunnery, of the reform of Aroaise, in Dublin, with two dependent cells at Kilculliheen (County Kilkenny) and at Aghade (County Carlow), in 1151. He also founded an abbey for Cistercian monks at Baltinglass, and an abbey for Austin canons at Ferns. St. Lawrence, through humility, declined the See of Glendalough in 1160, but on the death of Gregory, Archbishop of Dublin (8 October, 1161), he was chosen to the vacant see, and was consecrated in Christ Church cathedral by Gilla Isu (Gelasius), Primate of Armagh, early in the following year. This appointment of a native-born Irishman and his consecration by the successor of St. Patrick marks the passing of Scandinavian supremacy in the Irish capital, and the emancipation from canonical obedience to Canterbury which had obtained under the Danish bishops of Dublin. St. Lawrence soon set himself to effect numerous reforms, commencing by converting the secular canons of Christ Church cathedral into Aroasian canons (1163). Three years later he subscribed to the foundation charter of All Hallows priory, Dublin (founded by King Dermot), for the same order of Austin canons. Not content with the strictest observance of rules, he wore a hair shirt underneath his episcopal dress, and practised the greatest austerity, retiring for an annual retreat of forty days to St. Kevins cave, near Glendalough. At the second siege of Dublin (1170) St. Lawrence was active in ministration, and he showed his political foresight by paying due deference to Henry II of England, during that monarchs stay in Dublin. In April, 1178, he entertained the papal legate, Cardinal Vivian, who presided at the Synod of Dublin. He successfully negotiated the Treaty of Windsor, and secured good terms for Roderic, King of Connacht. He attended the Lateran Council in 1179, and returned as legate for Ireland. The holy prelate was not long in Dublin till he deemed it necessary again to visit King Henry II (impelled by a burning charity in the cause of King Roderic), and he crossed to England in September of that year. After three weeks of detention at Abingdon Abbey, St. Lawrence followed the English King to Normandy. Taken ill at the Augustinian Abbey of Eu, he was tended by Abbot Osbert and the canons of St. Victor; before he breathed his last he had the consolation of learning that King Henry had acceded to his request. (Taken from Catholic Encyclopedia) FAVOURITE QUOTES FOR DADS ------------------------------ My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say,Youre tearing up the grass. Were not raising grass, Dad would reply. Were raising boys. -- Harmon Killebrew FAVOURITE QUOTES FOR MOMS ------------------------------ Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers, and sisters, aunts and cousins, but only one mother in the whole world. -- Kate Douglas Wiggin 1ST READING (2 John 4-9) ------------------------------ There will always be challenges for anyone who seeks to be a disciple of Jesus. Powers and dominions work against the spread of the Gospel. Sometimes they are more prominent than at other times. I tend to believe that they are on the rise at the moment, as the stakes regarding faith are high in our present world. There is flux in the Islamic world as development comes to many of the countries of the Middle East and Africa; there is decline in the West as consumerism and materialism attempt to reign supreme. Asia and Latin America are catching up with the West. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION ------------------------------ Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand. GOSPEL (Luke 17:26-37) ------------------------------ Jesus reminds the people that when it comes to discipleship there is no room for complacency. A true disciple is always attentive to the call of the Spirit and does not need to have years of prior notice to prepare for an event. He trusts that whatever God calls him to do will be possible at a moment’s notice because he knows what it means to have placed his trust in the graces of the Holy Spirit. REFLECTION ------------------------------ Friday (November 14): One will be taken and the other left Meditation: What can nature teach us about the return of the Lord Jesus on the day of final judgment at the end of the world? Jesus quoted a familiar proverb to his audience: Where the body is, there the eagles (or vultures) will be gathered together. Eagles, like vultures, are attracted to carrion – the carcass of dying or dead animals. The Book of Job describes the eagle spying out its prey from afar (Job 39:29). The eagles swoop to catch their prey when the conditions are right, especially if the prey is exposed and vulnerable to a surprise attack. Severely weakened or dying prey have no chance of warding off forces that can destroy and kill. Whats the point of this analogy? Its inevitable that some life-threatening or life-changing event or cause will take place when the necessary conditions are fulfilled. The return of the Lord Jesus is certain, but the time is unknown. The Day of the Lords judgment will come swiftly and unexpectedly. Jesus warns his listeners to not be caught off guard when that day arrives. It will surely come in Gods good time! What does Jesus mean when he says that one person will be taken and another left? God judges each person individually on how they have responded to his mercy and his gracious invitation to accept or reject his kingship – to either live as loyal citizens or as traitors of his kingdom. We cannot pass off personal responsibility and accountability for how we have lived our lives to someone else, such as a close friend, spouse, or family member. No one can discharge his or her duty by proxy or by association with someone else. The good news is that God gives grace and help to all who seek him with faith and trust in his mercy. The Lord Jesus freely gives us his Holy Spirit so that we may have the wisdom, help, and strength we need to turn away from sin and to embrace Gods way of love, righteousness, and holiness. The Lords warning of judgment is a cause for dismay for those who have not heeded his warning and are now unprepared, but it brings joyful hope to those who eagerly anticipate the Lords return in glory. Gods judgment is good news for those who are ready to meet him. Their reward is God himself, the source and author of all that is good – truth, beauty, love, and everlasting life. The people in Noahs time ignored the Lords warning of impending judgment. They missed the boat, literally! Whose boat are you taking – the worlds boat to short-lived success and happiness or Gods boat to an eternal kingdom and bliss with him? Those whose hope is firmly anchored in heaven will not be disappointed when Gods judgment comes. They rejoice even now that they will see the Lord in his glory! Is your hope firmly placed in God and his kingdom? PRAYER ------------------------------ Lord Jesus Christ, I place all my hope in you because you have redeemed the world by your death on the cross and by your victory over the grave. Help me to never lose sight of the goal of heaven that I may live each day in joyful anticipation of your return in glory. -------------------------------------------------------- Lectionary for Mass is from the USCCB website located at: usccb.org/bible/readings/ -------------------------------------------------------- This reflection is courtesy of Don Schwager, whose website is located at: rc.net/wcc/readings/ -------------------------------------------------------- You can also visit mobilegabriel/ for the complete readings and reflections for the whole month. -------------------------------------------------------- A Saint A Day courtesy of EWTN Global Catholic Network at: ewtn/saintsHoly/ -------------------------------------------------------- Inspirational message courtesy of EWTN Global Catholic Network at: ewtn/Devotionals/
Posted on: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 03:23:59 +0000
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