Preaching and Not Practicing

Posted byValerie Parisi August 25, 2023  EditPreaching and Not Practicing

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

Saturday of the Twentieth Week of Ordinary Time- Our Lady of Czestochowa

Preaching and Not Practicing

My thoughts go in a special way towards those souls consecrated to Me. Those are the chosen ones of My Heart. Even though they are chosen, they do not want to be intimately united with Me. They are distracted by their worldly concerns. Immerse yourself in Me. Take their place, not just for one hour but continuously. Do not ask Me what to do. Be creative! Take advantage of every opportunity to quench My thirst with your desire to save souls.” (Jesus) (April 8, 1962)

Today’s Readings: Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice. (Matthew 23)

Prayer Meditation- O Lord, how easy it is to read the two above readings from the Gospel and the Diary and just shake our heads at “those Pharisees” or “those clergy and religious” who are not walking the walk. Criticizing the Church and clergy has become a cottage industry for some. But Lord, You have asked us to look first in a mirror (James 1:23) because we will see that we too have become distracted by worldly concerns including the media. What are we doing as the lay faithful- are we spending time in the Word or on Facebook? Are we praying for one hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament as we are able to for the life of the Church and the world? For our priests, religious, and also our families- for all trying to live a faithful life in their vocation? Are we sacrificing and praying for all who aren’t including making up for all the lost time when we were just living for the world? So let us not be those who preach and do not practice- let our lights shine for all to see in a dark world. Our Lady of Czestochowa, pray for us!

Love, Love, Love!

Posted byValerie Parisi August 24, 2023  EditLove, Love, Love!

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

Friday of the Twentieth Week of Ordinary Time

Love, Love, Love!

Why do you prefer some passing goal? Do you not trust the value of sufferings? I give value to your sufferings and it causes Me sorrow if you do not appreciate them. I would think that you are not accepting them with love. Without love, even great things have no value.” (Jesus) (August 16, 1962)

You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22)

Prayer Meditation- Lord in today’s Gospel, the Pharisees tried to trip You up by asking You which is the greatest law. You told them as You tell us now that the greatest of these is love! (1 Corinthians 13). Love for You with all that we have followed by love for our neighbor because You created them and loved them first! Lord, love can be a word that gets thrown around- the Beatles sing love, love, love, all you need is love! How many songs on the radio about love? But Lord, Your Love is perfect- it drives out all fear (1 John 4:18) and You ask us to return that love to You with all of our hearts! Because even the smallest acts done for You and our neighbor with great love is what You are asking of us!

What Does He See When He Looks At You?

Posted byValerie Parisi August 23, 2023  EditWhat Does He See When He Looks At You?

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

Feast Of Saint Bartholomew

Who Does He See When He Looks at You?

“Earlier, the Lord Jesus again strengthened me with an amazing grace. He does not make me feel His presence, but He looks at me and accompanies me with the penetrating gaze of His eyes.” (Jesus) (January 14, 1963)

Today’s Readings: “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” (John 1)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, like Nathaniel in the Gospel, Saint Bartholomew, we can be so amazed that You know and love us so completely, and yet Your Eyes do not turn away. You look into our hearts and You see us for who we are. Lord who do You see when You gaze into our hearts? You see our hurts, our disappointments, our hang ups, our joys, our sorrows, and our fears. You know things about us things no one else knows because You know it all.  As it says in Psalm 139, LORD, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand;^*  you understand my thoughts from afar. You sift through my travels and my rest; with all my ways you are familiar. Even before a word is on my tongue LORD, you know it all. Lord.  Strengthen us with Your Amazing Grace so that we would indeed see the greater things You have in store for us because despite the broken vessels that we are, You have chosen us for the good works You have planned for from the beginning of time (Ephesians 2:10).

It’s Five O’ Clock Somewhere

Posted byValerie Parisi August 22, 2023  EditIt’s Five O’ Clock Somewhere

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

Wednesday of the Twentieth Week of Ordinary Time

It’s Five O’ Clock Somewhere

Jesus: “My little Carmelite, your continual sacrifices give witness to your continual fidelity to Me and to My work of Salvation. These make you walk on the path of martyrdom. Do not fear, our feet journey together, and even though you grieve, let us continue walking together. I am giving you abundant graces, My little one, because My Heart overflows with love and prompts Me to be lavish. I fill each of your efforts with graces that are a thousand times greater. Would that many souls loved Me as you do. What great joy I would experience if I could give to many souls the abundant graces which I give to you.” (Jesus) (October 2, 1962)

Today’s Readings:

Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ (Matthew 20)

Prayer Meditation: O Lord, You want no one to be lost- even the five o’clock laborers, the ones who are late to Your table. O Lord let us make our efforts to bring those five o’clock souls to You- who have we not invited? Let us not pick and choose who should come! And if like me Lord, we are the “late” ones who are paid the same let us be confidant in your abundant graces and may we love You for those who do not. May our continual sacrifices of praise, prayer, and thanksgiving bring souls to You!

It Starts With A Yes And Ends With A Crown

Posted byValerie Parisi August 21, 2023  EditIt Starts With A Yes And Ends With A Crown

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

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

It Starts with a Yes and Ends with a Crown

Yes, my little one, we will put out fire with fire: the fire of hatred with the fire of love. (Mary) (December 6, 1964 )

Today’s Readings: Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1)

Prayer Meditation- Today we celebrate the Queenship of Mary, Our Mother. Lord, She gave Her Yes, not knowing what would lie ahead but in humble trust and faith! As the first disciple She gained the Crown and lives in Heaven with You, interceding for us, more Mother than Queen (St. Therese). Today, if we have the opportunity, let us pray all four mysteries with Mary, from Her Yes to Her Crown, and let us follow Her and imitate Her virtues as we meditate on Your Incarnation Lord knowing that we will live forever with You in following this sure path!

The Heart Of God

Posted byValerie Parisi August 20, 2023  EditThe Heart Of God

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

Memorial of Saint Pius X

The Heart of God

“I broke forth in tears. This increased my sorrow for sins. Who would not cry in the presence of such goodness and kindness? In the silence, He remained next to me and then left. “Rest in peace. I am going to look for hearts.” (Jesus/Elizabeth) (September 1, 1963)

Today’s Readings: Many times did he rescue them, but they embittered him with their counsels. Yet he had regard for their affliction when he heard their cry. (Psalm 106)

Prayer Meditation- Lord today in the Readings we see Your Heart. Because despite our falling away again and again and again You never give up on us. We go after all kinds of things instead of the One Thing that can fill that great big hole in our hearts! Yet when we cry in our affliction, You hear us and You always give us a way out and a way forward. You do not turn Your back ever on those who turn back to You. I like to think the Rich Young Man in today’s Gospel who could not let go of the one thing that kept him enslaved remembered that day that You looked on him with love not with regret at the end of his life but with thanksgiving because that was the day he knew he had to give you everything and he eventually responded generously to Your call on his life. Lord let that be the choice we make as we let go of the one thing that keeps us from You!

Scraps From The Table

Posted byValerie Parisi August 19, 2023  EditScraps From The Table

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

Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Scraps From The Table

I did not dare go to the Lord’s Table even though the person next to me took me by the arm and said, “Come on, let’s go.” (Elizabeth) (1961-1962)

Today’s Readings: She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.(Matthew 15)

Prayer Meditation- O Lord You know this Gospel is very personal for me today. You see, I was a Methodist and not a particularly good one, when sixteen years ago I came begging for scraps when my daughter was critically ill. Lord, what You want from us is lively faith, perseverance, boldness at the Throne of Grace! It may seem like what we are hearing is a no- like You don’t hear or us or don’t care but Lord, like this lady, I would not take no for an answer! I told You I would do anything if You would just walk with me- our feet have been journeying together ever since! Well now I am Catholic and involved in ministry- another story for another day! I would like to think the Canaanite Woman also became a disciple and brought along friends and family!

As For Me And My House We Will Serve The Lord

Posted byValerie Parisi August 18, 2023  EditAs For Me And My House We Will Serve The Lord

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

Saturday of the Nineteenth Week of Ordinary Time

As For Me and My House We Will Serve The Lord

“It is to the warm solidarity of the family sanctuary that souls come back to, after having strayed far. It is there that they come to find themselves and they once more return to God. It is necessary for you, mothers, to extend the warm understanding of your hearts to your children even after they have established their own homes. (Jesus) (January 17, 1964)

Today’s Readings: If it does not please you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24)

Prayer Meditation- Lord in these days where the culture seems against us and families can be so divided, we are comforted in knowing that You love each and every one of our family members, especially the prodigals and that You never give up on them. You have asked us as mothers and fathers to stay faithful to our vocation, to keep our homes and our hearts open because we have trained our children in the way that they should go and You have promised that when they are older ,they will not depart from it (Proverbs 22). Even if we are less than perfect, if we but ask, You fill in those deficiencies with Your Grace if we bring all of these problems to You. So let us believe and declare that yes, as for me and my house we shall serve the Lord! Mama Mary keep us all safe under Your Mantle until all find their way home!

Cities We Did Not Build

Posted byValerie Parisi August 17, 2023  EditCities We Did Not Build

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

Friday of the Nineteenth Week of Ordinary Time

Cities We Did Not Build

Time is short, little sister, and never returns. What you do not accept at a given moment will never again become available to you, because I think that you would not receive it willingly. On everything you do, place the mark of your love and the seal of your decision. Do everything with a selfless love. In this way, you will joyfully share in My work of Salvation. (Jesus) (July 24, 1963)

Today’s Readings: “I gave you a land that you had not tilled
and cities that you had not built, to dwell in;
you have eaten of vineyards and olive groves
which you did not plant. (Joshua 24)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, we glorify You, worship You and adore You because You are so generous. You give us everything we need and we do not have to work for it or earn it- You give us everything we need for our salvation and the salvation of others. Lord, You ask us to accept many things- You bring us daily inspirations, You speak to us in Your Word and through others but are we listening? Are we willing to do everything we do with selfless love to save souls? Lord You have given us everything- let us return love for the Love that knows no limits when it comes to loving us!

As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us

Posted byValerie Parisi August 16, 2023  EditAs We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us

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

Thursday of the Nineteenth Week of Ordinary Time

As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us

As a Man, I experienced every type of suffering, and I walked the road of sorrow motivated by the hope I had in all of you. I saw many infidelities as well as your loving commitment. It was your commitment which motivated Me, and even today it still moves Me to mercy and forgiveness. Whenever I encounter one righteous soul, I forgive many. Therefore, do penance so that My hope placed in you may produce for you the fruit of salvation.” (Jesus) (December 15, 1963)

Today’s Readings: Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, like the servant in the parable, we owe a debt we cannot possibly pay. We will never be able to earn our own salvation! And Lord, if we repent, You will forgive and forget- as far as the East is from the West, You will throw our transgressions away! (Psalm 103:12). Lord we know this ,but like this servant we forget the next part- we are to forgive others as we have been forgiven and we are to do this as often as they sin against us. Because Lord, we have been forgiven everything and we walk in Your Grace! Lord let us walk today in the sweet freedom from the chains of resentment, anger, and unforgiveness- Lord grant us the necessary grace to love others with Your Heart of Mercy today!