Joy Comes Every Morning / La alegría llega cada mañana

In today’s Gospel, Jesus said to his disciples, “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.”

What a great message to receive from our merciful Jesus! He loves us and wants us to enjoy our lives. And how do we do that? Jesus says by following the commandments. The Ten Commandments are guidelines on how to live well and avoid sin, but they are also non-negotiable. We must follow them, as Jesus did when He was here on Earth as a man. Now that He is in Heaven, He expects us to do as He did so that we too can be with Him one day in Paradise. 

When you live right, joy is automatic, but many have a hard time following the commandments and the teachings of Jesus. As Peter says to the assembly in today’s first reading, they were putting God to the test. Doubters don’t believe so they might test Christians. But it doesn’t work that way. We are to have our own faith, not take it away from someone else. Faith is not earned, bought or transferred. Therefore, there should be no testing of God by seeing how a Christian reacts. That’s not how Jesus taught his disciples. He did not teach through pain or torture. If our lives are ordered, we have joy, not pain.

Here are the first three commandments:

  1. I am the Lord your God, you shall not have strange gods before Me. In the Nicene Creed we proclaim that we believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
  2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. We sometimes say things that we shouldn’t, things that God wouldn’t approve of. We’re human and we still have sin in our hearts at times. Yet the name of our Lord is holy and we are asked to use it in a holy way. 
  3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day. Be sure to spend time with God every day but especially on Sundays. We never want to forget who is most important in our day and in our lives. No one can top God. We can have family, friends, relationships, and other people that we admire, but none of them can ever go above our relationship with God himself.

This is part of our roadmap to everlasting joy. Let us ask the intercession of St. Rita of Cascia, whose feast day we celebrate today, to have the strength to do as Jesus asks and follow His example, so that our joy might be complete. 

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En el Evangelio de hoy, Jesús dijo a sus discípulos: “Les he dicho esto para que mi alegría esté en ustedes y su alegría sea plena”.

¡Qué gran mensaje para recibir de nuestro misericordioso Jesús! Nos ama y quiere que disfrutemos de la vida. ¿Y cómo lo hacemos? Jesús dice que siguiendo los mandamientos. Los Diez Mandamientos son pautas sobre cómo vivir bien y evitar el pecado, pero también son innegociables. Debemos seguirlos, como lo hizo Jesús cuando estuvo aquí en la Tierra como hombre. Ahora que está en el Cielo, espera que hagamos lo mismo que Él hizo para que nosotros también podamos estar con Él un día en el Paraíso.

Cuando vives bien, la alegría es automática, pero a muchos les cuesta seguir los mandamientos y las enseñanzas de Jesús. Como dice Pedro a la asamblea en la primera lectura de hoy, estaban poniendo a Dios a prueba. Los escépticos no creen para poder poner a prueba a los cristianos. Pero no funciona así. Debemos tener nuestra propia fe, no quitársela a alguien más. La fe no se gana, no se compra ni se transfiere. Por lo tanto, no se debe poner a prueba a Dios viendo cómo reacciona un cristiano. Así no fue como Jesús enseñó a sus discípulos. No enseñó a través del dolor o la tortura. Si nuestras vidas están ordenadas, tenemos alegría, no dolor.

A continuación se presentan los tres primeros mandamientos:

  1. Yo soy el Señor tu Dios, no tendrás dioses ajenos delante de Mí. En el Credo de Nicea proclamamos que creemos en un solo Dios, el Padre, el Todopoderoso. Creemos en un solo Señor, Jesucristo, el único Hijo de Dios. Creemos en el Espíritu Santo, el Señor, el dador de vida, que procede del Padre y del Hijo.
  2. No tomarás el nombre del Señor tu Dios en vano. A veces decimos cosas que no deberíamos, cosas que Dios no aprobaría. Somos humanos y todavía tenemos pecado en nuestros corazones a veces. Sin embargo, el nombre de nuestro Señor es santo y se nos pide que lo utilicemos de forma sagrada.
  3. Recuerden santificar el día del Señor. Asegúrese de pasar tiempo con Dios todos los días pero especialmente los domingos. Nunca debemos olvidar quién es más importante en nuestro día y en nuestras vidas. Nadie puede superar a Dios. Podemos tener familiares, amigos, relaciones y otras personas que admiramos, pero ninguna de ellas puede superar nuestra relación con Dios mismo.

Esto es parte del mapa que nos guía a la alegría eterna. Pidamos la intercesión de Santa Rita de Casia, cuya festividad celebramos hoy, para tener la fuerza para hacer lo que Jesús pide y seguir su ejemplo, para que nuestra alegría sea plena.

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Christine Arata is a San Francisco, California native. She lives a few blocks away from the ocean and a park. She finds nature inspiring. Her cat brings her comfort. She loves being creative not only with her writing but with almost everything, including her home cooking. Her studies in the Catholic faith are ongoing. In 2019, when she discovered St. Hildegard of Bingen was underrepresented by Catholics, she found a purpose. Her latest website, St. Hildegard’s Wisdom features blog posts about all of that: https://sthildegardswisdom.com.

Feature Image Credit: Melissa Askew, unsplash.com/photos/girl-sitting-on-daisy-flowerbed-in-forest-8n00CqwnqO8

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

The post Joy Comes Every Morning / La alegría llega cada mañana appeared first on Diocesan.

Connected to Jesus / Conectados con Jesús

What beautiful images the Gospel evokes. It’s all about connection. Jesus desires us to be one with Him, to be connected to Him, to remain in Him. And when we do that, when we remain in Him, we have abundant life. In my mind’s eye I see a beautiful, lush vineyard, sturdy branches, and vines growing every which way on a trellis, beautiful purple grapes hanging down, ready to be eaten or crushed for wine. When I was a little girl, my great-uncle grew grapes in his backyard (in Queens NY), and we sat under the vines for many a meal. 

The two readings today create an ironic tone. In the first reading, the people are arguing about circumcision. And Paul and Barnabas must leave their evangelization efforts to go to Jerusalem to sort out the problem. Then the Gospel so clearly states what is necessary: to remain close to Christ, to allow the word to prune you, so that you may have abundance. 

When we are connected to Jesus, we are fully alive. His life gives us life, His words lead us to be who we are created to be. God is glorified when we bear much fruit and live as Jesus’ disciples. There is no need or place for division among us. We can do nothing when we are separated from Jesus. We are meant to live in unity with God and with each other. One branch and vine do not make a vineyard. When we are together, helping each other grow, we bear good fruit.  

Jesus wants us to remain in Him out of love for us. He calls us to Himself to teach us how to be whole. For me, prayer is the best way to stay close to Jesus – not rote prayers but meditating on Scripture. As we continue in this Easter season and can see Pentecost approaching, think about what gift you would like from the Holy Spirit that will help you remain close to Jesus.

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Qué imágenes tan hermosas evoca el Evangelio. Todo se trata de conexión. Jesús desea que seamos uno con Él, que estemos conectados con Él, que permanezcamos en Él. Y cuando hacemos eso, cuando permanecemos en Él, tenemos vida abundante. En mi mente veo un hermoso y exuberante viñedo, ramas robustas y vides que crecen por todos lados en un enrejado, hermosas uvas moradas colgando, listas para comer o para aplastadas y hacer vino. Cuando era niña, mi tío abuelo cultivaba uvas en su patio trasero (en Queens, Nueva York), y muchas veces nos sentábamos bajo las vides para comer.

Las dos lecturas de hoy crean un tono irónico. En la primera lectura, la gente está discutiendo sobre la circuncisión. Y Pablo y Bernabé deben dejar sus esfuerzos de evangelización para ir a Jerusalén a resolver el problema. Luego, el Evangelio establece claramente lo que es necesario: permanecer cerca de Cristo, permitir que la palabra te pode, para que puedas tener abundancia.

Cuando estamos conectados con Jesús, estamos completamente vivos. Su vida nos da vida, sus palabras nos llevan a ser quienes fuimos creados para ser. Dios es glorificado cuando damos mucho fruto y vivimos como discípulos de Jesús. No hay necesidad ni lugar para la división entre nosotros. No podemos hacer nada cuando estamos separados de Jesús. Estamos destinados a vivir en unidad con Dios y con los demás. Una rama y una vid no hacen una viña. Cuando estamos juntos, ayudándonos mutuamente a crecer, damos buen fruto.

Jesús quiere que permanezcamos en Él por amor a nosotros. Nos llama a sí mismo para enseñarnos cómo ser completos. Para mí, la oración es la mejor manera de permanecer cerca de Jesús, no oraciones de memoria sino meditando en las Escrituras. A medida que continuamos en esta temporada de Pascua y vemos que se acerca Pentecostés, piensa en cuál don te gustaría recibir del Espíritu Santo para ayudarte a permanecer cerca de Jesús.

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Deanna G. Bartalini, M.Ed.; M.P.A., is a certified spiritual director, writer, speaker and content creator. The LiveNotLukewarm.com online community is a place to inform, engage and inspire your Catholic faith. Her weekly Not Lukewarm Podcast gives you tips and tools to live out your faith in your daily life.

Feature Image Credit: Suda Guan, unsplash.com/photos/selective-focus-photography-of-grapes-at-daytime-y_8ncYPfa0g

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

The post Connected to Jesus / Conectados con Jesús appeared first on Diocesan.

St. Isidore


St. Isidore

Feast date: May 15

Isidore was born in 1070 in Madrid, Spain. His family was poor, and he labored as a farmer on the land owned by a rich man named John de Vergas. He was very pious and such a good worker that de Vergas allowed him to worship daily in the chapel on his property, and because of thes he was often accused by his fellow workers of neglecting his duties because he made prayer a higher priority.

Isidore eventually married a woman named Mary, and together they had a son. However their son died while still very young, and through this they realized that it was the will of God for them not have children, so they lived together chastely the rest of their lives, doing good works.

Although he remained poor, he gave whatever he could spare to the poor. One tale says that as he walked to the mill one day, he stopped and gave half of the corn in his sack to the hungry birds. By the time he got to the mill, his sack had miraculously filled up again. He died in 1130 of natural causes.

Many miracles and cures have been reported at his grave, in which his body remains incorruptible. His wife, too, was canonized—Saint Mary de la Cabeza.

He is the patron saint of agricultural workers and the United States National Rural Life Conference.

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Reading 1 Acts 13:13-25

From Paphos, Paul and his companions
set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia.
But John left them and returned to Jerusalem.
They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia.
On the sabbath they entered into the synagogue and took their seats.
After the reading of the law and the prophets,
the synagogue officials sent word to them,
“My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation
for the people, please speak.”

So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said,
“Fellow children of Israel and you others who are God-fearing, listen.
The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors
and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt.
With uplifted arm he led them out,
and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert.
When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan,
he gave them their land as an inheritance
at the end of about four hundred and fifty years.
After these things he provided judges up to Samuel the prophet.
Then they asked for a king.
God gave them Saul, son of Kish,
a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
Then he removed him and raised up David as their king;
of him he testified,
I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will carry out my every wish.

From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise,
has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.
John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance
to all the people of Israel;
and as John was completing his course, he would say,
‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold, one is coming after me;
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.'”

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 and 27

R.(2) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
“I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
That my hand may be always with him,
and that my arm may make him strong.”
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
“My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,
and through my name shall his horn be exalted.
He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.'”
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia See Revelation 1:5ab

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus Christ, you are the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead,
you have loved us and freed us from our sins by your Blood.
R. Alleluia, alleluia

Gospel John 13:16-20

When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master
nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.
If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.
I am not speaking of all of you.
I know those whom I have chosen.
But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.
From now on I am telling you before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe that I AM.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send
receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

 

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Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.