The Cross of Difficult Trials

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

Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

The Cross of Difficult Trials

Listen, my daughter, you are also the mother of a large family. Through your children you know all the pains and problems of a family. Many times you were close to falling beneath the cross of difficult trials, and you still experience many sorrows over your children. Bearing such ordeals is meritorious for you and for any mother. (Mary) (November 19, 1962)

Today’s Readings: Jesus said to his Apostles:

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household. (Matthew 10)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, how many families today have conflict and today You promise us a sword- often our own “enemies” may be in our own household. Lord, You know all the pains and problems of a family and the sorrows that fill the hearts of so many mothers and fathers today over our children. The crosses of these difficult trials can threaten to overwhelm us and yet we know we do not carry our burdens alone! Lord, may our feet journey together as we take up our crosses confident that You will give us the rest we seek because Your yolk is easy and Your burden light! (Matthew 11). Mother Mary take us by the hand and place our families under Your Mantle so that the Flame of Love would be ignited in their hearts!

Moved with Compassion- The Heart of Our God

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

Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Moved with Compassion- The Heart of Our God

At that same instant, he lifted up my soul from the earth while the sound of His words kept ringing in me. He added, ‘It is only the soul purified of its sins that I raise to Me in this way.’ (Elizabeth) (January 13, 1966)

Today’s Meditation- But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. (Luke 10)

Prayer Meditation- Lord we so often see ourselves as the Good Samaritan, and we ought to because we are to love and be charitable to all, even when it is inconvenient or even repugnant. Samaritans and Jews were not on friendly terms. But what we miss is that we are the ones that have needed and even now need You to look on us with compassion and to care for us and lift us from our sins into Your loving care. We need a Savior! The inn is a symbol of the Church whose mission is the salvation of souls. As we look at ourselves, let us ask You where we still need healing and purification, let us come to You for healing and then let is take this healing to all because all are our neighbors!

Meant for Good

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

Saturday of the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time

Meant for Good

For a long time, He allowed me to feel His presence filled with goodness and majesty. As an insignificant person, really less than nothing, I felt great emotion. I could only babble: “Depart from me, O Lord, I am a great sinner.” (Elizabeth) (August 16, 1962)

Today’s Readings: Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve his present end, the survival of many people. (Genesis 49)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, we have been reading all week about Joseph who was left for dead by his brothers then sold into slavery. But You had plans for him- plans for hope and a future and not for harm. (Jeremiah 29:11). You meant everything for good for Joseph and You mean that for us too no matter how difficult life may seem or circumstances may be. All things work together for good for those who love You (Romans 8:28). We are less than nothing and yet You hold us all in the Palm of Your Hand!

Taking Delight In The Lord

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

Memorial of Saint Benedict

Taking Delight in The Lord

“Understand the ardent longing of My Divinity that I want to satisfy here with you. I delight to be with you because I feel that every beating of your heart is Mine.” (Jesus) (February 26, 1964)

Today’s Readings: Trust in the LORD and do good, that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security. Take delight in the LORD, and he will grant you your heart’s requests. (Psalm 37)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, help us to delight in You- to know we are fully known and fully loved! Help us to trust in You more and more and know that You want only our good! That You delight to be with us and to live in our hearts! Lord Jesus please breathe in our breathing and beat in our heartbeats because we are all Yours!  Jesus, we love You and know that You will grant our heart’s requests in line with Your Most Holy Will which is love and mercy itself.

Let Your Peace Return

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

Thursday of the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time

Let Your Peace Return

“I feel compassion for you. My little one. I see your great efforts. Do not think they are in vain. I bless your family greatly. I free them from the Evil One who disturbs the family peace. Just trust in Me.” (Jesus) (August 3, 1962)

Today’s Readings: As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you.(Matthew 8)

Prayer Meditation- Lord it seems that peace can be so hard to find these days. So many things can disturb our peace and peace in our homes- troubles within and without. We make efforts to be peacemakers but it seems sometimes to be in vain. How easily we let our peace leave us- and that is where we lose the battle. Because Lord, You tell us in today’s Gospel that we are to let our peace return to us- circumstances may not always be as we would have them but none of that should ever allow us to lose our peace. That is because You are our peace! Lord, we know You see all and You have compassion on us- Lord bless us and our families greatly as we trust in You!

Going To The Lost Sheep

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

Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time

Going To The Lost Sheep

“I first entrusted to you the abundance of my graces. Only a mother can truly share my sorrows. I am the Mother of Sorrows, I suffer greatly because of the souls being lost. (Mary) (November 19, 1962)

Today’s Readings: Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (Matthew 10)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, in our vocations we have all been given a mission. To seek the lost and to proclaim the Kingdom. It is not reserved for just priests or missionaries. We are now being called, in these critical times, in our vocations as mothers and fathers and lay people to pray, sacrifice, and intercede for others in union with You and the Flame of Love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary! Lord may we answer Your Call- Come Holy Spirit, Come by the means of the power of the Flame of Love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary!

Courage

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

Monday of the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time

Courage

Jesus said, “My little one, take courage and gaze at Me. May our eyes look at each other and our glances melt in one another.” (Jesus) (January 14, 1963)

Today’s Readings: Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured. (Matthew 9)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, we can feel so afraid, like the woman with the hemorrhage for twelve long years in today’s Gospel, to approach You and yet like her, we know You are our only hope. And You invite us, not turning us away, but calling us closer and closer saying to us courage, your faith has saved you! Like the Psalm today, You gather us under the shadow of Your Wings, You are our refuge and fortress, Our God in whom we trust! (Psalm 91). Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace (Hebrews 4) with courage and trust!

Of Sinners and Pharisees

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

Friday of the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time

Of Sinners and Pharisees

“My little one, work hard so that many sinners come to Me. Cry and repent for their sins also.” (Jesus) (January 14, 1963)

Today’s Readings: The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”( Matthew 9)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, I have to admit it, it is so easy to sit back from my comfortable perch, looking at the evil in the world, and just get right into that Pharisee mode. Sinners are those “others” that like the proud Pharisee in prayer (Luke 18: 9-14) we condemn and proceed to thank You that we are not like “them”. Who am I kidding? Because You know where I came from and who I was before You picked me up from the dirt and told me to sin no more! Lord, I needed You to heal me then and I still do- Lord heal us of the disease of self -righteousness that causes us not to see others as You see them. Break our hearts for what breaks Yours!