Who Do You Say He Is?

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

Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time- Our Lady of Sorrows

Who Do You Say He Is?

For you, only one thing is necessary, your uninterrupted sharing in My work of Redemption. Let this be your diversion! Do not say that I am very strict. Have I not asked you many times to renounce yourself? You must do this moment by moment. You cannot stop doing this even for a short time. I am your way and your life. Everything passes away, only your work for souls remains.” (January 18, 1964)

Today’s Readings: Jesus and his disciples set out
for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. 
Along the way he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that I am?” (Mark 8)

Prayer Meditation- Lord the answer to the question You asked the disciples is the question we must all answer and the one we have to get right! Who do I say You are? You are The Way, The Truth, and The Life! My beginning and my end! The only Name that matters and the One I want on my lips as I pass from this world! If we get this question right, the rest falls into place, even the hard stuff, the stuff that like Peter we want to run away from, our own crosses. But You have promised us that You will never leave us or forsake us! Jesus, I trust In You! Who are You- You’re everything to me! Mother of Sorrows, pray for us!

For God So Loved The World

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

Feast of the Exaltation of The Cross

For God So Loved The World

Did I not shed all the drops of My Blood for all of you? My Will is to save everyone. (Jesus) (August 13, 1965)

Today’s Readings:

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. (John 3)

Prayer Meditation: O Lord You so loved the world that You gave Your only Begotten Son so that we can have everlasting life! You did not come to condemn us but to save us! How can we not take up our crosses and follow You- only You have the Words of Eternal Life!

Eye On The Prize

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

Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom

Eye On The Prize

You no longer doubt that I have chosen you to be a worker of Redemption. Many missionary priests cannot do more than you do. Your constantly renewed sacrifices and unceasing efforts are most pleasing to Me.” (Jesus) (August 1, 1963)

Today’s Readings:

Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race,
but only one wins the prize?
Run so as to win.
Every athlete exercises discipline in every way.
They do it to win a perishable crown,
but we an imperishable one. (1 Corinthians 9)

Prayer Meditation: Lord we are all running the race to win the prize- the imperishable crown of Your Glory! This is not a sprint, it is a marathon and we win by never ever giving up in our efforts to be saints! Yes You have called us all to be great saints- especially in these times- let us renew our sacrifices and efforts no matter how small they may seem in the natural knowing that You will multiply these efforts for the salvation of souls. Let us not grow lazy or weary in doing good! (Galatians 6:9).

Packed Together, Shaken Down and Overflowing- Measure for Measure

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

Thursday of the Twenty Third Week of Ordinary Time

Packed Together, Shaken Down and Overflowing- Measure for Measure

“My little one, your acceptance of sacrifices and your faithfulness stir me to pour out upon all in a greater measure the effect of my Flame of Love, but first of all and in a greater measure on you, because you are the first to receive it.” (Mary) (November 6-7 1962)

Today’s Readings: Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.” (Luke 6)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, You ask us to show mercy so that You will shower Your Merciful Love on us in greater measure! It is as simple as ABC- Ask for mercy, Be merciful, Confidence and complete trust in Your Mercy (Diary of St. Faustina)! We give with our little sacrifices and faithfulness each day and You give back more than we can ever ask or think (Ephesians 3:20)! Lord help us to be ready to receive all that You have to give us, all of the Graces, in good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing! All good gifts come from You Lord and everything belongs to You and will return to You! Mary, Mediatrix of all Graces, may we rejoice to receive all of His Great Gifts through Your Hands (Legion of Mary Catena)!

In A World Of Woe

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

Wednesday of the Twenty Third Week of Ordinary Time

In A World Of Woe

“They avoid what is difficult, and as the years go on, their soul becomes grey and covered with dust. Woe to them, because through example they influence others. (Jesus) (December 22, 1963)

But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
But woe to you who are filled now,
for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will grieve and weep.
Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for their ancestors treated the false 
prophets in this way.” (Luke 6)

Prayer Meditation- Lord we live in a world of woe- woes that are of our own making. We love comfort, escape, food, drink, entertainment, the esteem of others as if all of these things could possibly fill the God sized hole in our souls! Lord we lay it all down- empty us so that we can be filled with You and You alone- our one true Love!

Power Came Forth

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

Tuesday of the Twenty Third Week of Ordinary Time

Power Came Forth

Bring Me the problems of your neighbor and the difficulties in your family. I will set everything right. How can I set everything in order if you do not trust Me with your concerns? Trust in My power. I want your unconditional trust.” (Jesus) (August 1, 1962)

Today’s Gospel: And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground.
A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people
from all Judea and Jerusalem
and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon
came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases;
and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured.
Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him
because power came forth from him and healed them all. (Luke 6)

Prayer Meditation: I think sometimes Lord, we think that healing and casting out unclean spirits was something You just did in the New Testament. Oh sure, we hear about healings in Church history and even now and then from friends or maybe we have even had miracles in our own life but how easily we forget. And we think we are all alone again, left stranded to figure out all of our difficulties in our families by ourselves. We can get so tired and worn out we just don’t even really ask you anymore, at least not with expectant faith. But that power, the New Testament power, that healed and cured and brought such hope is the same power that lives in us through Your Holy Spirit and in Your Church! Miracles happen every day, we just don’t always see them! So let us trust always in Your power with unconditional trust and let You work in all of our concerns, difficulties, and circumstances! Jesus we trust in You!

Saving Life Rather Than Destroying It

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

Memorial of Saint Peter Claver

Saving Life Rather Than Destroying It

Therefore, all must share in this great saving work whose purpose is to save souls.” (Jesus) (Easter Monday 1964)

Today’s Gospel: Then Jesus said to them,
“I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath
rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?” (Luke 6)

Prayer Meditation-O Lord we thank You we praise You and we adore You for the Saints such as  St. Mother Teresa who went to the margins to do good- to save life rather than destroy it. She saw You in the distressful disguise of the poor. Most of us will not do that heroic work but we are all called to work right where we are in our homes and our parishes to save souls. Mother Teresa taught us that the greatest disease in the West is being unwanted, unloved and uncared for. That we have a hunger for love and a hunger for You Lord. And we see it everywhere in our homes and families, this spiritual poverty all around us. And like the Pharisees in today’s Gospel, we can think of all kinds of loopholes that excuse us from doing anything about it but Lord You are asking all of us no matter our vocation, station, even the sick to pray and sacrifice for our brothers and sisters. These are the spiritual works of mercy that You told St. Faustina, another great saint, that anyone can do. So let us Lord all share in Your great saving work to save souls and let us begin today and every day!

Here Comes Our God

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

Twenty Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

Here Comes Our God

Be not of little faith. Remember what I told you: If you need strong support, say ‘Father, I need Your strong, fatherly support.’ He will extend His strong, fatherly arm. Take courage and grab His arm, not only you, but all those souls that I entrust to you.” (Jesus) (August 8, 1962)

Today’s Readings: Thus says the LORD: Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. (Isaiah 35)

Prayer Meditation- Lord it seems there is so much to be frightened about these days- illness, the economy, family strife, children away from Church, so many things can make our hearts frightened. Yet, Lord You call us and You whisper to us, be not afraid, because You come to save us- You are the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Lord Jesus may we keep our eyes fixed on You trusting in the only One who saves and heals! Let us take courage and grab Your Holy Arm because we need Your Fatherly Support. Lord we praise You in whatever storms we are in and lift up our voices- here is Our God! As we call for You let us grab Your Holy Arm with courage as You always come running to us with Fatherly support!

Fools For Christ

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

Memorial of Saint Gregory The Great

Fools For Christ

I am either a fool and a liar or what is happening in me is true. If it is true, then I cannot stand around with my arms folded while souls are perishing. (Elizabeth) (June 18, 1965)

Today’s Readings:

When ridiculed, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
when slandered, we respond gently.
We have become like the world’s rubbish, the scum of all,
to this very moment. (1 Corinthians 4)

Prayer Meditation: O Lord, what is foolish to the world is wise in Your eyes! Either You are the Truth, The Way, and The Life or we are deluded- and how often the world sees us as deluded indeed or even worse as St. Paul tells us! But we can’t stand around waiting for the world to love us and worrying about human respect- souls perish while we drag our feet! O Lord let us be fools for You- use us to shame the wise for Your Glory!

Heart Motives

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

Friday of the Twenty Second Week of Ordinary Time

Heart Motives

Our Lady said, “I am the one giving you the strength to begin. In spite of many objections and bad intentions my Cause will succeed.” (Mary) (August 16, 1962)

Today’s Readings: Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God. (1 Corinthians 4)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, it is so often that we can do good things but do them with all the wrong motivations. We want people to like us and to notice us, to affirm us. We work for men and not unto God (Colossians 3). Yet only The Lord knows our hearts! Lord, purify our motives so that we can offer all we do today for love of You and for the salvation of souls! Let us work together with Our Blessed Mother working with and in Her Heart today while we serve Jesus in others!