Vigilant

Posted byValerie Parisi October 23, 2023  EditVigilant

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

Tuesday of the Twenty Ninth Week of Ordinary Tim

Vigilant

“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: Jesus said to his disciples:
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.” (Luke 12)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, today we hear in today’s Gospel about the vigilant servants ready for the Master’s arrival. In fact, that is the watchful and waiting attitude that You expect of those who are Your followers and disciples. Because as no one can know the hour or the day when  You may return no one can know when we may appear before You at the end of our own earthly lives. Are we ready to appear before You and tell You about ourselves? Lord, may we live confidently in living faith and ready to receive Your abundant graces each day! Let us serve no one or nothing but You!

Rich In What Matters To God

Posted byValerie Parisi October 22, 2023  EditRich In What Matters To God

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

Monday of the Twenty Ninth Week of Ordinary Time

Rich in What Matters to God

“You see My riches. I need you and I enrich you. Therefore, may our hands gather in unity since our thoughts are one and our souls are in harmony.” (Jesus) (October 15, 1962)

Today’s Readings: But God said to him,
‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;
and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’
Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself
but is not rich in what matters to God.” (Luke 12)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, today we read about a man who is much like many of us. He makes plans and thinks to himself what to do with the material things and possessions he has. He is thinking ahead of a future with overflowing barns and eating and drinking and being merry. How many of us think like that- plans for retirement and some future time where we will have our paradise here. But it does not work that way really- even those who retire well for example will have to die and leave behind all earthly treasures. And how many times do we hear of those who die suddenly or become sick or disabled and none of those things that were so important really matter very much anymore. Lord, help us to see Your Riches, may we walk, no matter our state in life and how blessed we may be here, hand in hand with You because You are our only treasure! Living well also means dying well- living forever with You in Heaven.

Give To God What Belongs To God

Posted byValerie Parisi October 21, 2023  EditGive To God What Belongs To God

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

Twenty Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Give to God What Belongs to God

Nevertheless, a silent withdrawal dominates my soul and I feel as if I did not belong to the earth. (Elizabeth) (July 17, 1965)

Today’s Readings: At that he said to them,

“Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” (Matthew 22)

Prayer Meditation: Lord, we work hard every week to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s but how hard are we trying to give to You what belongs to You? Because what belongs to You is our hearts, our souls, our everything! Lord, helps us to let down all of our walls and give to You what belongs to You alone- our praise, our worship, our adoration not only on Sundays but every day, giving You time each day in prayer and offering our days to You as a living sacrifice for Your Glory and for the salvation of souls!

The Holy Spirit Will Teach You

Posted byValerie Parisi October 20, 2023  EditThe Holy Spirit Will Teach You

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

Saturday of the Twenty Eighth Week of Ordinary Time

The Holy Spirit Will Teach You

We also must remember that we are responsible for every spoken word. Therefore, we should walk and live in God’s presence, pondering each word that we say. Our Father gave the gift of speech and you must make use of your gift. Do not be afraid to speak!” (Jesus) (July 26, 1971)

Today’s Readings: When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities,
do not worry about how or what your defense will be
or about what you are to say.
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.” (Luke 12)

Prayer Meditation- Lord we are responsible for every word that comes or our mouths. We will have to account for each one of them-a very scary thought. Lord You make it clear in today’s Gospel that everyone who acknowledges You before others will be acknowledged in Heaven. Lord, we can be so worried in today’s world. Will we offend someone if we speak of the hope that is within us? As Toby Mac sings, what will people say if they find out I’m a Jesus Freak. We can worry so much about human respect totally forgetting that every hair on our heads is precious to You! You tell us today that we are never to worry about our own defense- the Holy Spirit will teach us at that moment what to say. Few of us will be hauled in front of rulers or authorities but we are to use the gift of speech as the Spirit prompts us to win souls for You! Lord get us out of our own way and our own heads and show us who today needs to hear Your Good News today. Give us Your Words to speak!

Even The Hairs On Your Head

Posted byValerie Parisi October 19, 2023  EditEven The Hairs On Your Head

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

Friday of the Twenty Eighth Week of Ordinary Time

Even The Hairs On Your Head

Jesus: “Come, My little one, bow your head towards Me and let us talk about something that is difficult for you. Will the sufferings you do for Me be many?” (Jesus) (October 15, 1962)

Today’s Readings: Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, You remind us so beautifully today that no one has escaped Your notice. Every hair on our heads has been counted. There is nothing that we are going through that You do not know about, nothing that is a surprise to You. Lord there is so much that may be difficult for us- many of us are walking through illness, loss, worries, fears, so deep in the valley we are not even sure there is a mountaintop. Will our sufferings be many? We do not know but we know that You hold us in the palm of Your Hand. Lord, we cannot have courage without total trust and surrender to You. How comforting to know that no matter what happens today that You hold the future and that life is worth the living just because You live! (Because He Lives, hymn).

Faith And Confidence

Posted byValerie Parisi October 18, 2023  EditFaith And Confidence

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

Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues

Faith and Confidence

The Lord Jesus told me that He had just given me, with wonderful strength, the grace of faith and confidence, because without these two virtues, no other virtues can take root in either me, or in any other soul. (Elizabeth) (May 24, 1963)

Today’s Readings: What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out. On what principle, that of works? No, rather on the principle of faith. For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (Romans 3)

Prayer Meditation- O Lord, all have sinned and fallen short of Your Glory (Romans 3). We cannot save ourselves- we cannot boast of working our way to Heaven, it is all filthy rags (Isaac 64:6) compared to Your Righteousness. Lord Jesus- the Way, the Truth, and The Life- we boast of nothing but You crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). Lord fill us with the grace of faith and confidence in You! We offer ourselves to You Lord Jesus because we believe in You! Fill us with Your Holy Spirit more and more so that virtue would take root in our souls!

The Laborers Are Few

Posted byValerie Parisi October 17, 2023  EditThe Laborers Are Few

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

Feast of St. Luke

The Laborers are Few

The souls that make reparation and faithfully follow My desires are so few.”(Jesus) (October 18, 1962)

Today’s Readings: He said to them,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest. (Luke 10)

Prayer Meditation- Lord today we celebrate St. Luke. St. Luke’s Gospel ,of the four, is the Gospel of Your Mercy and Love and desire for healing for the lost and the broken. In the Gospel today we see the sending of the 72- today Lord You send us out today in this broken world, just a few laborers in an ever growing harvest of souls in need of Your Grace. Lord, help us to be the ones who make reparation and faithfully follow Your desires for the salvation of souls! Let us be merciful in our words and deeds and never discount the power of prayer and intercession to bring in the harvest of souls for You!

Not Ashamed of the Gospel

Posted byValerie Parisi October 16, 2023  EditNot Ashamed of the Gospel

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

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch

Not Ashamed Of The Gospel

Jesus: “Do you see how much I love you? I reward your perseverance to do good and convert it into blessing for My work of Redemption. I need your sacrifices so you ceaselessly give momentum to our messages and offer reparation to My offended Sacred Heart. (September 18, 1965).

Today’s Readings: Brothers and sisters:
I am not ashamed of the Gospel.
It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. (Romans 1)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, today it seems so many are ashamed of the Gospel. We do not acknowledge, You Our Creator and have given into vain reasoning which has darkened our minds (Romans 1). We have become self -reliant and we think we can define all sorts of things it seems- we believe in no one but ourselves and our intellects. Even Christians live a subtle atheism- listening to one thing on Sunday and living in the world the rest of the week. We seem to want to hide our light under a bushel (Matthew 5:15) not willing to show that hope that lives in all of us (1 Peter 3:15) and yet You have asked us to be in the world but not of it (John 15). A people set apart. Lord let us be persevering in prayer and in doing good, ceaselessly offering the sacrifices of our daily life for Your Glory and to save souls. Let us not be ashamed of the Gospel but let us live it loudly each day for all to see even if we do not say a word!

Something Greater

Posted byValerie Parisi October 15, 2023  EditSomething Greater

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

Monday of the Twenty Eighth Week of Ordinary Time

Something Greater

Jesus: “My little Carmelite, I complain because seeing so many indifferent souls grieves My Heart. Now, as First Friday again approaches, thinking of them fills Me with sadness. The love overflowing from My Heart receives no response from these souls. You, My daughter, must love Me even more. Embrace Me ever more closely in your heart. Offer your soul and serve Me with profound submission. Do this in place of those who do not, even though they are consecrated to Me.” (Jesus) (July 30, 1962)

Today’s Readings: At the judgment
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and there is something greater than Jonah here.” (Luke 11)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, in today’s Gospel we read about how, despite the great things done by You in various towns, Your own did not recognize You. (John 1). And how sad You must have been when You reminded the indifferent crowds that “something greater” was in their midst. The same thing happens today because You come to us in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass every day. Yet how many sadly do not recognize You in the breaking of the bread (Luke 24). Lord, You are the Something Greater that has come to redeem us and sanctify us and to fill our hearts with Your Body, Blood Soul and Divinity so that we will walk with You forever.

Jesus Passing By

Posted byValerie Parisi October 14, 2023  EditJesus Passing By

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

Twenty Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Jesus Passing By

“You see how much I walk with souls but they do not want to perceive Me. They look at Me for a moment. Then, when they see My sad look, they quickly turn their head. Some tell Me: ‘We have compassion for You, but it will wait for another day.’ The vast majority do not even notice.” (Jesus) (November 29, 1962)

Today’s Readings: Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”‘ Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.  (Matthew 22)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, You invite us to a life lived in Communion with You- life abundant (John 10:10) but we would rather go after what the thief has come to kill and destroy. The temporal, the business of life, work, family obligations, entertainment- who has time in all of this busyness to pray or read the Bible and take time to hear Your Voice? Lord how foolish we are- our barns can be full but You may ask our lives of us tonight (Luke 12:20)? Will we be able to say that we saw You in all the circumstances of our lives, that we heard Your whisper, that we obeyed Your inspirations, that we united all that You have given us in our individual vocations to You for Your Glory? Or did we just pass You by- too busy to notice that You were walking with us all this time?