Perseverance

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

Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Perseverance

He asked a favor of her, “My Elizabeth, suffer with heroism, with perseverance and constancy.” (Jesus) (December 5, 1964)

Today’s Readings: You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” (Luke 21)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, today we read about not only how it was to be for the Apostles after Your Death and Resurrection but how it will be for all of us in these “end times” which started when You ascended to Heaven. Persecution of the Church has waxed and waned and certainly in many parst of the world it is a stronger force than ever. Here in our country, we feel the effects of increasing secularism and materialism. Lord, You have asked us to persevere, whether the Gospel is in season or out of season (2 Timothy 4:2). You have also asked us to persevere in our individual lives as all of us deal with suffering and pain in one form or another be it great or small. Lord help us to suffer with heroism, perseverance, and constancy because You care about every hair on our heads!

Calling Out Day And Night

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

Saturday of the Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

Calling Out Day and Night

Jesus asked, “Cannot I work a miracle?” “But I am not worthy, Lord.” “Nevertheless, I will work a miracle. I will so bless the problem which seems impossible that all will be straightened out.” (Jesus) (August 3, 1962)

Today’s Readings: The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.
Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones
who call out to him day and night?
Will he be slow to answer them? (Luke 18)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, how often we are afraid to ask for what we really need. We say the same little prayers each day afraid to ask for the big things we really need with faith and trust. We speak but we do not release our faith. Yet, this is not how You asked us to pray in the Gospels. You want us to call out to You day and night- to pray from the heart! More than anything Lord, You respond to humble and contrite hearts that pour themselves out to You like a little child to her Abba Father! Let us depend on You because without You we have nothing. Let us depend on Your Holy Will which is love and mercy itself!

Thy Kingdom Come

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

Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

Thy Kingdom Come

“Each night, My little one, ask yourself what you have done for the coming of My Kingdom. Never be content with yourself. There is no room on earth for self-satisfaction. (Jesus) (August 28, 1962)

Today’s Readings: Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come,
Jesus said in reply,
“The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed,
and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’
For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.” (Luke 17)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, sometimes I think, maybe because we have gotten so used to being entertained, that we expect Your Kingdom to be only big things. Thunder and lightning, fire and brimstone, some event that will come and really shake things up. And yes, someday, You will make all things new and there will be a new Heaven and a new Earth. Lord we are in the time of now but not yet. Because Your Kingdom of God is among us and has been since the Incarnation. Emmanuel- God with us! It is so easy to get discouraged in the darkness of living in the world because we are not yet seeing clearly (1 Corinthians 13). But Lord, You are among us in Your Word, in prayer, in the Sacraments, and in the “sacrament” of the present moment every moment of our lives. It is so easy to be complacent and accept mediocrity, but Lord help us to never be content but to seek You in all things so that we can then bring Your Kingdom to so many that are in desperate need of You!

Gratitude to the God Who Loves Us in Every Moment

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

Memorial of Saint Josaphat

Gratitude to the God Who Loves Us in Every Moment

On one occasion, when Elizabeth needed bread, Jesus did her a special favor. Jesus said, “Leave now. You must get bread for your family.” I had forgotten this completely. With deep gratitude, I thanked Him that His attention extended also to our earthly needs. (Elizabeth) (February 14, 1965)

Today’s Readings: “Ten were cleansed, were they not?

Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” (Luke 17)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, how often are we like the lepers who just went on their merry way after being healed. Every day You shower Your Grace on us and we barely notice. Even worse, we grumble, murmur, and complain (Philippians 2) as we go about our day and our duties! We have bad attitudes. Yet You care about us and are concerned for us in every moment of our day- from the small temporal concerns to the big problems we think are so insurmountable Your Eyes never leave us. Lord, help us in each moment to be grateful and to thank You for all things great and small today!

Fire Tried Gold

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

Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours

Fire Tried Gold

So now, the drops of oil squeezed from your sufferings float on top of the fountain of My graces. See how your drops of oil are shining upon the mirror of silvery water! They shine like pure gold. This vision flows from My Divinity. You also find it beautiful, do you not? Immerse yourself in this beauty.” (Jesus) (November 17-18, 1964)

Today’s Readings: Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them
and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
In the time of their visitation they shall shine,
and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; (Wisdom 2)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, sometimes it is so difficult to see the value of our suffering, the really hard times and hard things, the “chastisements” of our lives if you will. For whom You love You chastise (Hebrews 12:6-7).  Illness, failures, loss of loved ones, children off course, and yes, even our sins. And yet Lord we know that You bring all things together for good for those who love You! And that You try us like fire tried gold and make a masterpiece of our sufferings so that they shine for all Eternity in the light of Your Grace! O Lord may we always see the beauty in Your Will for us trusting that You will take us to Yourself where we will shine for all Eternity!

He Knows It All

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

Memorial of Saint Leo The Great

He Knows It All

As a working mother with six children, burdened with a thousand preoccupations, you needed enormous effort to study. You surprised yourself by becoming the top student. Although you did not think of Me, My hand was upon you.” (Jesus) (November 10, 1962)

Today’s Readings: O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar. (Psalm 139)

Prayer Meditation- Lord there is not anything in our lives that you do not know. Not a moment when we have struggled in our daily lives that You have not seen and do not understand. You know everything we will do, think and say and all we have done in the past. We do not think of You, but Your Hand is always upon us. Lord, help us surrender to You- may our feet journey together today and everyday  aware of Your Presence and Your Loving Call on our lives!

Streams of Living Water

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

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

Streams of Living Water

This stream of water is My grace which purifies, which destroys when need be, or saves and gives life. It must run because God wills it. (Jesus) (June 15, 1964)

Today’s Readings: There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,
the holy dwelling of the Most -High.
God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;
God will help it at the break of dawn. (Psalm 46)

Prayer Meditation- Lord today we honor the Lateran Basilica, a symbol of The Church as Mother and Bride. We read in the first reading from Ezekiel today about the water flowing from every side, watering the river bank resulting in fresh fruit that serves for both food and medicine for our souls. This river, this living water is the Sacraments. The Blood and Water which flowed from Your Pierced Side, Your living water purifies, destroys when need be, and saves and gives life. Lord, keep us close to Your Bride, The Church and to fill us with Your Living Water that we may never thirst again! (John 4).

Small Matters

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

Saturday of the Thirty First Week of Ordinary Time

Small Matters

You are a small instrument, just like the little match that you hold in your hand. Do not be surprised by what I tell you. With one strike of the match, I will enkindle in millions of souls the Flame of Love of My Mother.” (Jesus) (January 16, 1966 )

Today’s Readings: The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; (Luke 16)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, sometimes You trust us with small matters first. We ask You to use us or to be kind and loving to others and those small opportunities come to us in unexpected ways. The whining child who is on our last nerve but really needs a hug more than anything. The elderly person in front of us in the express check out with twenty items when we are running late. The coworker who needs five minutes of our time because their life is falling apart and they really need to talk but we are on a strict deadline. How many times Lord have we failed in those situations- been impatient, lost our cool, or been too busy. But Lord if we let You use us in these small matters we can be the spark that enkindles the Flame of Love in the hearts of those around us. Lord help us always be attentive to small matters so that You can then trust us with great ones for Your Glory!

We Are The Lord’s (Seeking the Lost)

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

Thursday of the Thirty First Week in Ordinary Time

We Are The Lord’s (Seeking the Lost)

All during this time, the Lord’s presence fills me to such a degree that my soul is lifted above my bodily activities, because my soul remains next to the Lord without any interruption.(Elizabeth) (July 17, 1965)

Today’s Readings: For if we live, we live for the Lord,
and if we die, we die for the Lord;
so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. (Romans 14)

Prayer Meditation- Today Lord, we have a treasure trove of readings. Because You remind us every day that we are Yours! In the Psalm (Psalm 27) we are reminded to wait for You with courage and be stouthearted. In the Gospel  (Luke 15) we are reminded that You seek the lost. Lord we are all lost and You never stop seeking us. Lord, St. Paul reminds us that whether we live or we die we belong to You- we are the Lord’s! Help us Lord today to hold onto that promise and may we walk in Your Presence today and help us to remember that we are never truly lost if we turn to You in total trust and surrender.

Renounce What?

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

Wednesday of the Thirty First Week in Ordinary Time

Renounce What?

Yet Our Lord kept urging me, “Renounce yourself completely.” (Elizabeth/Jesus) (1961-1962)

In the same way,
every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14)

Prayer Meditation- Lord today we read the terms of discipleship in today’s Gospel. On the surface, especially to our modern ears, it seem rather harsh. Hate our families? Count the cost because we might not have what it takes? Renounce all possessions? Really who does this? But Lord as we meditate on Your life and Your Passion we see Your total self -emptying so that we can be free from sin and death. And we can look to the Blessed Mother and to the lives of the saints. So yes, there are people, our brothers and sisters in faith, who did live lives of renunciation. But really Lord, what does this look like- I believe the key is trust and surrender. Nothing must come before You- we are to be free from all attachments but we cannot free ourselves. Only You can set us free. So, Lord we bring ourselves to You empty handed- putting first the Kingdom of God because all the things we truly need will be given us besides (Matthew 6:24-34). So let us not worry or feel discouraged because You want us to succeed in our spiritual lives more than we do! Jesus we trust in You!