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September 26, 2015 Saturday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Zec 2:5-9, 14-15a I, Zechariah, raised my eyes and looked:there was a man with a measuring line in his hand.I asked, “Where are you going?”He answered, “To measure Jerusalem,to see how great is its width and how great its length.” Then the angel who spoke with me advanced,and another angel came out to meet him and said to him,“Run, tell this to that young man:People will live in Jerusalem as though in open country,because of the multitude of men and beasts in her midst.But I will...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Character Studies From The Bible Esther 7 So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, 2 and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.” 3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. 4 For I and my people have...

September 25, 2015   Friday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Hg 2:1-9 In the second year of King Darius,on the twenty-first day of the seventh month,the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai:Tell this to the governor of Judah,Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel,and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak,and to the remnant of the people: Who is left among youthat saw this house in its former glory?And how do you see it now?Does it not seem like nothing in your eyes?But now take courage, Zerubbabel, says the LORD,and take courage, Joshua, high...

Pray For Our American Heroes and Our Nation Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me— those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches? Joel 2:13 (NIV) ----

Country legend Glen Campbell has been struggling with severe memory loss due to Alzheimer’s disease. A horrible disease in which there is yet not a cure. Now, we learned from his wife Kim that the legend is in the sixth of the seven stages of Alzheimer’s, which means he has lost all ability to communicate. This is tragic! He is responsive to family, but the disease can make him extremely combative at times:Kim, Campbell’s wife of 33 years, says the Country Music Hall of Famer has entered the sixth of the disease’s seven stages so his communication has diminished...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Character Studies From The Bible Esther 6 That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. 2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 3 “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked. “Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered. 4 The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman...

Pray For Our American Heroes and Our Nation Stand Firm Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

September 24, 2015   Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Hg 1:1-8 On the first day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius,The word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggaito the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel,and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak: Thus says the LORD of hosts: This people says:“The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.”(Then this word of the LORD came through Haggai, the prophet:)Is it time for you to dwell in your own paneled houses,while this...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Character Studies From The Bible Esther 9 Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, 11 Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. 12 “And that’s...

September 23, 2015 Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest Reading 1 Ezr 9:5-9 At the time of the evening sacrifice, I, Ezra, rose in my wretchedness,and with cloak and mantle torn I fell on my knees,stretching out my hands to the LORD, my God. I said: “My God, I am too ashamed and confounded to raise my face to you,O my God, for our wicked deeds are heaped up above our headsand our guilt reaches up to heaven.From the time of our fathers even to this daygreat has been our guilt,and for our wicked deeds we have been...

Matt Drudge...sent a message Sunday morning excoriating Pope Francis during his trip to Cuba, depicting the head of the Catholic Church alongside Raul Castro and suggesting Francis would rather ignore the plight of political dissidents than endanger his warm welcome from the Castro regime. A prayer for those locked up in cruel Cuba this morning for dissent, as pope basks in glow of adulation from masses.. Activists have criticized the Pope for failing to plan any meetings with Cuban political dissidents during his visit to the Communist Caribbean nation–while the government flagrantly and contemporaneously persecutes its Catholics. Just last week, the...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Character Studies From The Bible Esther 5 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. 2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. 3 Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is...

If it had not been the LORD who was on our side . . . Psalm 124:1

September 22, 2015   Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 EzR 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20 King Darius issued an order to the officialsof West-of-Euphrates:“Let the governor and the elders of the Jewscontinue the work on that house of God;they are to rebuild it on its former site.I also issue this decreeconcerning your dealing with these elders of the Jewsin the rebuilding of that house of God:From the royal revenue, the taxes of West-of-Euphrates,let these men be repaid for their expenses, in full and without delay.I, Darius, have issued this decree;let it be carefully executed.” The elders...

Psalm 5:11 Let All who Take Refuge in You be Glad, Let them Ever Sing for Joy; And May You Shelter them, That those who Love Your Name May Exult in You.

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Rembrandt's Interpretation of Esther Character Studies From The Bible Esther 4 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4 When Esther’s eunuchs...

September 21, 2015 Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist Reading 1 Eph 4:1-7, 11-13 Brothers and sisters:I, a prisoner for the Lord,urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,with all humility and gentleness, with patience,bearing with one another through love,striving to preserve the unity of the Spiritthrough the bond of peace:one Body and one Spirit,as you were also called to the one hope of your call;one Lord, one faith, one baptism;one God and Father of all,who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of...

My niece had a baby 2 weeks ago, Ezra, strapping little boy. Six days ago he stopped eating. Four days ago he had surgery to repair what was thought to be a bad Pyloric valve in his stomach. Surgery went 'well' but it did not solve the problem, still will not keep anything down. Today they are doing ultrasound, again. Little guy is now 1.5 pounds below his birth weight and still not keeping any food down. Doctors say not to panic, yet. Mom and dad are beside themselves already, and the little one is hooked up to machines, scary....

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Character Studies From The Bible Esther 3 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor. 3 Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” 4 Day after day they spoke to him but...