All the people of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”
Daniel 4:35 NIV
A quote from the Saints:
The transfiguration of the Lord
Grace is nothing else but a certain beginning of glory in us;
St. Thomas Aquinas
A Christian’s goal should be to create the Kingdom of God here on earth, as it is in Heaven. Not only, to get to Heaven.
To finish the Bible in one year, Read Proverbs 25-27 and John 11:1-44.
Verses for today – Listen here:
Reflection for Today.
Also read the verses, if you like.
Proverbs 25
1 Here are some more of Solomon’s proverbs, transcribed at the court of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2 To conceal a matter, this is the glory of God, to sift it thoroughly, the glory of kings.
3 The heavens for height and the earth for depth, unfathomable, as are the hearts of kings.
4 From silver remove the dross and it emerges wholly purified;
5 from the king’s presence remove the wicked and on uprightness his throne is founded.
6 In the presence of the king do not give yourself airs, do not take a place among the great;
7 better to be invited, ‘Come up here’, than be humiliated in the presence of the prince.
8 What your eyes have witnessed do not produce too quickly at the trial, for what are you to do at the end should your neighbour confute you?
9 Have the quarrel out with your neighbour. but do not disclose another’s secret,
10 for fear your listener put you to shame, and the loss of repute be irremediable.
11 Like apples of gold inlaid with silver is a word that is aptly spoken.
12 A golden ring, an ornament of finest gold, is a wise rebuke to an attentive ear.
13 The coolness of snow in harvest time, such is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him: he revives the soul of his master.
14 Clouds and wind, but no rain: such is anyone whose promises are princely but never kept.
15 With patience a judge may be cajoled: a soft tongue breaks bones.
16 Eat to your satisfaction what honey you may find, but not to excess or you will bring it up again.
17 Do not set foot too often in your neighbour’s house, for fear the neighbour tire of you and come to hate you.
18 A mace, a sword, a piercing arrow, such is anyone who bears false witness against a companion.
19 Decaying tooth, lame foot, such is the fickle when trusted in time of trouble:
20 as well take off your coat in bitter weather. You are pouring vinegar on a wound when you sing songs to a sorrowing heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if thirsty, something to drink.
22 By this you will be heaping red-hot coals on his head, and Yahweh will reward you.
23 The north wind begets the rain, and a backbiting tongue, black looks.
24 Better the corner of a roof to live on than a house shared with a quarrelsome woman.
25 Cold water to a thirsty throat; such is good news from a distant land.
26 A churned — up spring, a fountain fouled; such is the upright person trembling before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat too much honey, nor to seek for glory on top of glory.
28 An open town, and without defences: such is anyone who lacks self-control.
Proverbs 26
1 Snow no more befits the summer, nor rain the harvest-time, than honours befit a fool.
2 As the sparrow escapes, and the swallow flies away, so the undeserved curse will never hit its mark.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and for the backs of fools, a stick.
4 Do not answer a fool in the terms of his folly for fear you grow like him yourself.
5 Answer a fool in the terms of his folly for fear he imagine himself wise.
6 He wounds himself, he takes violence for his drink, who sends a message by a fool.
7 Unreliable as the legs of the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 As well tie the stone to the sling as pay honour to a fool.
9 A thorn branch in a drunkard’s hand, such is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 An archer wounding everyone, such is he who hires the passing fool and drunkard.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool reverts to his folly.
12 You see someone who thinks himself wise? More to be hoped for from a fool than from him!
13 ‘A wild beast on the road!’ says the idler, ‘a lion in the streets!’
14 The door turns on its hinges, the idler on his bed.
15 Into the dish the idler dips his hand, but is too tired to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The idler thinks himself wiser than seven people who answer with discretion.
17 He takes a stray dog by the ears, who meddles in someone else’s quarrel.
18 Like a madman hurling firebrands, arrows and death,
19 so is anyone who lies to a companion and then says, ‘Aren’t I amusing?’
20 No wood, and the fire goes out; no slanderer, and quarrelling dies down.
21 Charcoal for live embers, wood for fire, and the quarrelsome for kindling strife.
22 The words of a slanderer are tasty morsels that go right down into the belly.
23 Base silver-plate on top of clay: such are fervent lips and a wicked heart.
24 Whoever hates may hide it in speech, but deep within lies treachery;
25 do not trust such a person’s pretty speeches, since in the heart lurk seven abominations.
26 Hatred may disguise itself with guile, to reveal its wickedness later in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit falls into it, the stone comes back on him that rolls it.
28 The lying tongue hates its victims, the wheedling mouth causes ruin.
Proverbs 27
1 Snow no more befits the summer, nor rain the harvest-time, than honours befit a fool.
2 As the sparrow escapes, and the swallow flies away, so the undeserved curse will never hit its mark.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and for the backs of fools, a stick.
4 Do not answer a fool in the terms of his folly for fear you grow like him yourself.
5 Answer a fool in the terms of his folly for fear he imagine himself wise.
6 He wounds himself, he takes violence for his drink, who sends a message by a fool.
7 Unreliable as the legs of the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 As well tie the stone to the sling as pay honour to a fool.
9 A thorn branch in a drunkard’s hand, such is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 An archer wounding everyone, such is he who hires the passing fool and drunkard.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool reverts to his folly.
12 You see someone who thinks himself wise? More to be hoped for from a fool than from him!
13 ‘A wild beast on the road!’ says the idler, ‘a lion in the streets!’
14 The door turns on its hinges, the idler on his bed.
15 Into the dish the idler dips his hand, but is too tired to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The idler thinks himself wiser than seven people who answer with discretion.
17 He takes a stray dog by the ears, who meddles in someone else’s quarrel.
18 Like a madman hurling firebrands, arrows and death,
19 so is anyone who lies to a companion and then says, ‘Aren’t I amusing?’
20 No wood, and the fire goes out; no slanderer, and quarrelling dies down.
21 Charcoal for live embers, wood for fire, and the quarrelsome for kindling strife.
22 The words of a slanderer are tasty morsels that go right down into the belly.
23 Base silver-plate on top of clay: such are fervent lips and a wicked heart.
24 Whoever hates may hide it in speech, but deep within lies treachery;
25 do not trust such a person’s pretty speeches, since in the heart lurk seven abominations.
26 Hatred may disguise itself with guile, to reveal its wickedness later in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit falls into it, the stone comes back on him that rolls it.
28 The lying tongue hates its victims, the wheedling mouth causes ruin.
Proverbs 27
1 Do not congratulate yourself about tomorrow, since you do not know what today will bring forth.
2 Let someone else sing your praises, but not your own mouth, a stranger, but not your own lips.
3 Heavy is the stone, weighty is the sand; heavier than both — a grudge borne by a fool.
4 Cruel is wrath, overwhelming is anger; but jealousy, who can withstand that?
5 Better open reproof than feigned love.
6 Trustworthy are blows from a friend, deceitful are kisses from a foe.
7 The gorged throat revolts at honey, the hungry throat finds all bitterness sweet.
8 Like a bird that strays from its nest, so is anyone who strays away from home.
9 Oil and perfume gladden the heart, and the sweetness of friendship rather than self-reliance.
10 Do not give up your friend or your father’s friend; when trouble comes, do not go off to your brother’s house, better a near neighbour than a distant brother.
11 Learn to be wise, my child, and gladden my heart, that I may have an answer for anyone who insults me.
12 The discreet sees danger and takes shelter, simpletons go ahead and pay the penalty.
13 Take the man’s clothes! He has gone surety for a stranger. Take a pledge from him, for persons unknown.
14 Whoever at dawn loudly blesses his neighbour — it will be reckoned to him as a curse.
15 The dripping of a gutter on a rainy day and a quarrelsome woman are alike;
16 whoever can restrain her, can restrain the wind, and take a firm hold on grease.
17 Iron is sharpened by iron, one person is sharpened by contact with another.
18 Whoever tends the fig tree eats its figs, whoever looks after his master will be honoured.
19 As water reflects face back to face, so one human heart reflects another.
20 Sheol and Perdition are never satisfied, insatiable, too, are human eyes.
21 A furnace for silver, a foundry for gold: a person is worth what his reputation is worth.
22 Pound a fool in a mortar, among grain with a pestle, his folly will not leave him.
23 Know your flocks’ condition well, take good care of your herds;
24 for riches do not last for ever, crowns do not hand themselves on from age to age.
25 The grass once gone, the aftergrowth appearing, the hay gathered in from the mountains,
26 you should have lambs to clothe you, goats to buy you a field,
27 goat’s milk sufficient to feed you, to feed your household and provide for your serving girls.
John 11:1-44
1 There was a man named Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister, Martha, and he was ill.
2 It was the same Mary, the sister of the sick man Lazarus, who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair.
3 The sisters sent this message to Jesus, ‘Lord, the man you love is ill.’
4 On receiving the message, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will not end in death, but it is for God’s glory so that through it the Son of God may be glorified.’
5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus,
6 yet when he heard that he was ill he stayed where he was for two more days
7 before saying to the disciples, ‘Let us go back to Judaea.’
8 The disciples said, ‘Rabbi, it is not long since the Jews were trying to stone you; are you going back there again?’
9 Jesus replied: Are there not twelve hours in the day? No one who walks in the daytime stumbles, having the light of this world to see by;
10 anyone who walks around at night stumbles, having no light as a guide.
11 He said that and then added, ‘Our friend Lazarus is at rest; I am going to wake him.’
12 The disciples said to him, ‘Lord, if he is at rest he will be saved.’
13 Jesus was speaking of the death of Lazarus, but they thought that by ‘rest’ he meant ‘sleep’;
14 so Jesus put it plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead;
15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there because now you will believe. But let us go to him.’
16 Then Thomas — known as the Twin — said to the other disciples, ‘Let us also go to die with him.’
17 On arriving, Jesus found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days already.
18 Bethany is only about two miles from Jerusalem,
19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother.
20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming she went to meet him. Mary remained sitting in the house.
21 Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died,
22 but even now I know that God will grant whatever you ask of him.’
23 Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’
24 Martha said, ‘I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the last day.’
25 Jesus said: I am the resurrection. Anyone who believes in me, even though that person dies, will live,
26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?
27 ‘Yes, Lord,’ she said, ‘I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world.’
28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in a low voice, ‘The Master is here and wants to see you.’
29 Hearing this, Mary got up quickly and went to him.
30 Jesus had not yet come into the village; he was still at the place where Martha had met him.
31 When the Jews who were in the house comforting Mary saw her get up so quickly and go out, they followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb to weep there.
32 Mary went to Jesus, and as soon as she saw him she threw herself at his feet, saying, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’
33 At the sight of her tears, and those of the Jews who had come with her, Jesus was greatly distressed, and with a profound sigh he said,
34 ‘Where have you put him?’ They said, ‘Lord, come and see.’
36 and the Jews said, ‘See how much he loved him!’
37 But there were some who remarked, ‘He opened the eyes of the blind man. Could he not have prevented this man’s death?’
38 Sighing again, Jesus reached the tomb: it was a cave with a stone to close the opening.
39 Jesus said, ‘Take the stone away.’ Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, ‘Lord, by now he will smell; this is the fourth day since he died.’
40 Jesus replied, ‘Have I not told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?’
41 So they took the stone away. Then Jesus lifted up his eyes and said: Father, I thank you for hearing my prayer.
42 I myself knew that you hear me always, but I speak for the sake of all these who are standing around me, so that they may believe it was you who sent me.
Sermons by various teachers about these verses.
Catholic Daily Readings and Reflections
Reading 1, Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
9 While I was watching, thrones were set in place and one most venerable took his seat. His robe was white as snow, the hair of his head as pure as wool. His throne was a blaze of flames, its wheels were a burning fire.
10 A stream of fire poured out, issuing from his presence. A thousand thousand waited on him, ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was in session and the books lay open.
13 I was gazing into the visions of the night, when I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, as it were a son of man. He came to the One most venerable and was led into his presence.
14 On him was conferred rule, honour and kingship, and all peoples, nations and languages became his servants. His rule is an everlasting rule which will never pass away, and his kingship will never come to an end.
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 97:1-2, 5-6, 9
1 Yahweh is king! Let earth rejoice, the many isles be glad!
2 Cloud, black cloud enfolds him, saving justice and judgement the foundations of his throne.
5 The mountains melt like wax, before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his saving justice, all nations see his glory.
9 For you are Yahweh, Most High over all the earth, far transcending all gods.
Gospel, Luke 9:28-36
28 Now about eight days after this had been said, he took with him Peter, John and James and went up the mountain to pray.
29 And it happened that, as he was praying, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became sparkling white.
30 And suddenly there were two men talking to him; they were Moses and Elijah
31 appearing in glory, and they were speaking of his passing which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem.
32 Peter and his companions were heavy with sleep, but they woke up and saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
33 As these were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what he was saying.
34 As he was saying this, a cloud came and covered them with shadow; and when they went into the cloud the disciples were afraid.
35 And a voice came from the cloud saying, ‘This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him.’
36 And after the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. The disciples kept silence and, at that time, told no one what they had seen.
Reading 2, Second Peter 1:16-19
16 When we told you about the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not slavishly repeating cleverly invented myths; no, we had seen his majesty with our own eyes.
17 He was honoured and glorified by God the Father, when a voice came to him from the transcendent Glory, This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour.
18 We ourselves heard this voice from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mountain.
19 So we have confirmation of the words of the prophets; and you will be right to pay attention to it as to a lamp for lighting a way through the dark, until the dawn comes and the morning star rises in your minds
Audio Drama: Old Testament New Testament Each book is read in its entirety. You can listen to the bible, one book at a time in contemporary English.
Dr. Myles Munroe
I am including a video by Dr. Myles Munroe, I’ve listened to him back in the nineties, and rediscovered him recently. Now his perspective seems to be a good way to also look at scripture. In Pursuit of Purpose – Book Highlights
Sermons Rosary Prayers Catholic Answers
Did Mary have other children? No, Listen here
Called to Communion
Pray the Rosary
Rosary Mysteries
The following 4 videos are the 4 Mysteries that we pray on certain days of the week. I like these videos, because I can pray it alone, with only the images, or go along with the sound. The images help me to focus on the particular mystery that I am contemplating as I say the Hail Mary on each bead.
Joyful Mysteries
Luminous Mysteries
Sorrowful Mysteries
Glorious Mysteries
Prayers of the Rosary
Links to “How to pray the rosary” Popular Catholic Prayers
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried,
He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
(this prayer is optional and may be said after all Glory Be to the Fathers…..)
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell.
Lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of thy mercy.
Console the souls in Purgatory, particularly those most abandoned. Amen
Hail Mary,
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
The Hail, Holy Queen
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
That we maybe made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Closing Prayer
O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation.
Grant, we beseech Thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
that we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(The Fatima Prayer:)
Most Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – I adore thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifference’s whereby He is offended. And through the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners.
Prayer to St. Michael
Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
Thurzo Gizella Bible Study 
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