Following Him

Posted byValerie Parisi January 20, 2024  EditFollowing Him

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Following Him

“You must be selfless, for we will entrust you with a great mission and you will be up to the task. However, this is only possible if you remain totally selfless, abjuring yourself. That mission can be bestowed upon you only if you also want it out of your free will.” (Jesus) (Biography 1962)

Today’s Readings: As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. (Mark 1)

Prayer Meditation- Lord You ask us to follow You and You ask us to come after You but do You really mean leave it all behind? Do you really just want us to throw whatever it is we are doing down and walk with You? Well for most of us, the lay faithful, the call is not leaving the world behind but we are called to be in it but not of it (John 17:6). Lord, You know well what attachments still tether us to the Earth- it does not matter if it is a chain or a little string, (St. John of the Cross), we are still not totally free. Lord help us as we enter Lent in a few short weeks to examine what it is that needs to be abandoned out of love for You. Let us desire to walk ever closer to You every day holding nothing back!

Out Of Our Minds

Posted byValerie Parisi January 19, 2024  EditOut Of Our Minds

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Saturday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time

Out Of Our Minds

After this, I placed my daughter C in charge of the house: “From now on, you will be the little owner of this house and I will not cook anymore.” She was surprised and asked what I would do. “Whatever you ask, I will do and I will eat whatever you give to me.” – “Mother,” she said, “you are acting like a hermit.” (Elizabeth 1961-1962)

Today’s Readings: Jesus came with his disciples into the house.
Again the crowd gathered,
making it impossible for them even to eat.
When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him,
for they said, “He is out of his mind.” (Mark 3)

Prayer Meditation- Sometimes Lord we can be surprised when serving You conflicts with others’ ideas of who we ought to be and what we ought to be doing, even those closest to us. To our family they just do not understand- Church every day, really? Zoom Rosary over whatever we used to idolize and watch on TV? And mom, what’s with that Mary statue in the garden and Divine Mercy picture on the door? Have you gone crazy they say? Since when did you become a holy roller! Even Your relatives thought You were out of Your Mind Lord! And yet You have asked us to be in the world and not of the world (John 17) and to put on the Mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). And as long as it is not just exterior but interior change as well You call us to keep changing and giving up our attachments as You change us from glory to glory! (2 Corinthians 3:18). Even if we may seem a bit weird these days in this increasingly secular world our families can be assured that they have our prayers and sacrifices and our love as we lay ourselves down so that Your Flame would ignite in all hearts!

Free From Harm

Posted byValerie Parisi January 18, 2024  EditFree From Harm

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Friday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time

Free From Harm

My adorable Jesus.” He said, “I am that one. Do you see? The time you spend with Me should not harm your family.” We walked home together in silence. I speak thus because He filled me with His presence. Immersed in Him, I kept adoring Him. (Elizabeth/Jesus) (February 14, 1965)

Today’s Readings: Have mercy on me, O God; have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. In the shadow of your wings I take refuge, till harm pass by. (Psalm 57)

Prayer Meditation- Lord how many times do we find ourselves in situations that we wonder, how did I get here? Arguments, dilemmas, work problems, habits we can’t break. Lord, when we are in these sticky situations it is pretty much guaranteed that we have not prayed first and asked for Your Saving Help. Because without prayer cover, we can be picked off by the enemy like low hanging fruit. Thank You Lord Jesus that even in the midst of our busy duties we can stay in constant conversation with You and remain in the shadow of Your Wings. And when we have wandered off the narrow path, thank You Jesus, for Your Mercy for every fall and stumble along the way. Lord as You told St. Faustina, the cause of our falls is that we rely too much on ourselves and too little on You. But let that not sadden us so much, You told us, because we are dealing with the God of mercy which our misery cannot exhaust! (Divine Mercy in My Soul) Let us throw ourselves on the Throne of Grace with hearts full of sorrow (St. Therese) ready to begin again!

Tears In A Flask

Posted byValerie Parisi January 17, 2024  EditTears In A Flask

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Thursday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time

Tears in a Flask

I broke forth in tears. This increased my sorrow for sins. Who would not cry in the presence of such goodness and kindness? (Elizabeth) (September 1, 1963)

Today’s Readings: My wanderings you have counted;
my tears are stored in your flask;
are they not recorded in your book?
Then do my enemies turn back,
when I call upon you. (Psalm 56)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, so many tears we shed! Sorrow for sin, sadness over circumstances, worries and fears, we can hold it in so long that sometimes it can feel like such a relief when the tears come. We can wander so far but we can hold on to hope because every tear is stored in a flask! You have never left our sides- Lord help us praise You in whatever storms we are in because Your goodness and kindness are endless and Your mercy reaches to the skies. (Psalm 36).

Bringing Stones To A Sword Fight

Posted byValerie Parisi January 16, 2024  EditBringing Stones To A Sword Fight

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbott

Bringing Stones To a Sword Fight

“If there were no battle, what would then give value to things? Always try to go higher.” (Jesus) (June 29, 1964)

Today’s Readings: All this multitude, too, shall learn that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves. For the battle is the LORD’s and he shall deliver you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, we face many battles every day, we can have many giants in the way, obstacles and problems that seem insurmountable. Every day is a fight but how easily we forget that if we are in You, the battle is not ours but Yours and You will deliver us as You train our hands for war (Psalm 144). Lord each us of can pick up five smooth stones, we have been given every spiritual blessing under heaven (Ephesians 1:3). These stones are prayer, Mass, confession, fasting, and reading The Bible, because, Lord our battles are Yours and You will fight for us if only we be still (Exodus 14:14)

Heart To Heart

Posted byValerie Parisi January 15, 2024  EditHeart To Heart

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Tuesday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time

Heart to Heart

“What I am saying now is for you and all mothers who work according to My Heart. Your work is not of less value than that of persons raised to the highest priestly dignity. (Jesus) (February 29, 1964)

Today’s Readings: Not as man sees does God see, because he sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.”(1 Samuel 16)

Prayer Meditation- O Lord I thank You that You do not see how we see but You see our hearts. How quick are we to judge by appearance- but You see deep down into the core of who we are! You know our thoughts, when we sit and when we rise (Psalm 139). Lord You see us even though we may not seem important in the eyes of the world- we are mothers, fathers, grandparents, volunteers, the disabled and the elderly, people just trying to make ends meet. In all of it if we are faithful we can rest assured that we work according to Your Heart (Colossians 3) and that it is in our littleness that we will inherit the Kingdom of God (Luke 18:16).

Fresh Wineskins

Posted byValerie Parisi January 14, 2024  EditFresh Wineskins

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Monday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time

Fresh Wineskins

Your living faith in Me keeps your soul in a continual freshness and makes you ready to receive abundant graces. Hence, My little one, do not serve anyone but Me.” (Jesus) (August 1, 1963)

Today’s Readings: Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.” (Mark 2)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, we thank You today that You long to pour the new wine of Your Spirit into our hearts and souls! But Lord, are we presenting to you fresh wineskins or the stinky old ones that really just need to go? Do we have the old wineskin of legalism that makes us worry about following devotional practices to a T but our heart is not in them, we are far away, just phoning it in as we check the box on our list for the day? Do we have the old wineskin of judging others instead of praying for them, of unforgiveness, of a complaining spirit that is never satisfied when things don’t go our way? Of despair and discouragement and fear instead of continual trust in Your Mercy? Lord help us examine ourselves today and help us take out the trash- create in us a clean heart (Psalm 51) that we are ready to receive the new wine of Your Spirit living in us in a fresh new way! Mother Mary, You who were first to see when the wine ran out for the young couple at the wedding, intercede for us that we would truly do whatever Your Son tells us today (John 2).

Learning To Listen

Posted byValerie Parisi January 13, 2024  EditLearning To Listen

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Leaning to Listen

Let each word be like a seed planted so those listening produce an abundant harvest.” (Mary) (July 26, 1971)

Today’s Readings: When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the LORD came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, we say so many words, we will give an account some day for every careless word that we say (Matthew 12). But how much are we really listening to You? We may even say, the Lord does not speak to me, maybe the prophets or people in the Bible or very holy saintly people hear from God, but not me. But we know that is not true because You told us that Your sheep hear Your Voice! (John 10). Lord, please help us to really listen to You- to pick up the Gospels each day and put ourselves in the scene, what are You saying to me today? And as we meditate, we will be led to mental and silent prayer where we speak to You from the heart just like the Friend that You are. Help us listen in the silence of our hearts to what You want to say to us! Lord, help us to take what limited time we may have to open our hearts and minds to Your Word and Your Presence in our time of prayer and even in Adoration or at Mass if we can get there each day!

Feeling Righteous?

Posted byValerie Parisi January 12, 2024  EditFeeling Righteous?

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Saturday of the First Week of Ordinary Time

Feeling Righteous?

My Elizabeth, I want you to pray so the number of repentant and grateful souls may grow from day to day.” (Jesus) (August 7, 1963)

Today’s Readings: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” (Mark 2)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, who are we at this dinner party- who do we identify with as we meditate on this scene? Do we see ourselves as the sinners? Or are there days quite honestly when we act like the scribes and the Pharisees? Are we just part of some Christian/Catholic Club that prays the right prayers and spends time in our parishes with people like us in ministries where we preach to the choir? Do we get even righteously angry about the state of affairs in the Church and our world but spend our time on the Internet reading and not time in Adoration praying? Because I don’t know about you but I am feeling guilty as charged! Because Lord the truth is I was Matthew- I was all things unholy (St. Francis of Assisi) when You called me to follow You and anything good in me comes from You and You Alone! Lord the key I believe is to remember our littleness and helplessness in the light of Your Grace which reaches down to fill our souls with what we need in every moment of every day. And when we walk in that Grace, we can then extend that Grace to all that we meet and pray and sacrifice for them, not for ourselves. Then the number of repentant and grateful souls will grow from day to day because You have increased in us and we have decreased. (John 3:30)

He Saw Their Faith

Posted byValerie Parisi January 11, 2024  EditHe Saw Their Faith

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Friday of the First Week of Ordinary Time

He Saw Their Faith

Jesus: “Oh, how this pleases Me! So few times have I enjoyed participating in such an intimate banquet. The souls that make reparation and faithfully follow My desires are so few. (Jesus) (October 18, 1962)

Today’s Readings: They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2)

Prayer Meditation- Lord today we read in the Gospel about the persistence of four friends who would not take no for an answer- too crowded, no worries, let’s just open up the roof and break through! We all want friends like that and we all want to be friends like that because we know that while there may be many obstacles in the way, what our loved ones really need is You! So how are we doing with this? Because in these days it is very common to have even the closest family members away from faith- We say we want the best for our family. But do we really if we are not paying attention to their souls? Lord please help us- if we can’t do the merciful deed or say the merciful thing let us at least say the merciful prayers (Divine Mercy in My Soul) and make sacrifices so that our loved ones would respond to Your Grace! Thank You Lord for the means You are giving us in our times through the Flame of Love to blind Satan and bring everyone to safety on the Ark of Mary! So let’s raise the roof and let’s leave no one behind.