Open your hearts to my mercy

Notes of meeting on 14 June 2016

Picture of Jesus' heart weeping tears of blood.
This group is asked to open their hearts. This takes an act of will. We are to be immersed in his will, not ours.
As we open our hearts He fills them with His tears of blood. It is as though we are enwrapped in Him, His thoughts, His feelings. We make them our own. We can feel His sorrow, we can feel His bereftness of the souls He wishes to claim as His. We can feel the love of His Precious Heart poured out for us. These feelings convict us to walk in His ways, to obey His commands, to love others as He loves them, to draw all men to Him to try and do His will.
These tears of blood received will enable us to be lovers of all things good. These tears will perfect us so that we will abhor all that is evil. To this end we must open our hearts.
Jesus says:
"My people for the great love I bear thee open your hearts to my mercy, to my teaching, to my love and in so doing you will draw others to My Sorrowful Heart so that My Heart is comforted, for I love you so. Your Jesus."

Mark 10 v 13 - 16
¹³ People were bringing little children to him, for him to touch them. The disciples scolded them,
¹⁴ but when Jesus saw this he was indignant and said to them, 'Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.
¹⁵ In truth I tell you, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.'
¹⁶ Then he embraced them, laid his hands on them and gave them his blessing.

Luke 9 v 46 - 48 
⁴⁶ An argument started between them about which of them was the greatest.
⁴⁷ Jesus knew what thoughts were going through their minds, and he took a little child whom he set by his side
⁴⁸ and then he said to them, 'Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. The least among you all is the one who is the greatest.'

Yahweh watches over the path of the upright

Notes of meeting on 7 June 2016

Picture of two roads.
One meandered around a mountain and was green and lush with many nice places to visit and beautiful scenery, lots of good hotels to stay the night with good food and all the luxuries you could wish for.
The other road was barren with many obstacles, not much food but enough to sustain you but you had to harvest it yourself.
Both roads appeared to be going to the same city on the hill top.
Many chose the easy path with riches, surprisingly nearly as many took the spartan path, these people were joyful and happy in the knowledge that they were going to Jesus. The luxuriant path came to a dead end.
Jesus says:
"My people do not be fooled by the Evil One, the pleasures of this world count for nothing compared with the paradise waiting for you. You have entered a time of fasting, your trials will be great but you have Me your Jesus to sustain you and My Mother to guide you.
Nothing is insurmountable, call on the Holy Spirit He will enlighten your minds and your spirits making you even more holy on the road to freedom and Heaven.
I bless you in the Fathers name.
Jesus."


Psalm 1
¹ How blessed is anyone who rejects the advice of the wicked and does not take a stand in the path that sinners tread, nor a seat in company with cynics,
² but who delights in the law of Yahweh and murmurs his law day and night. 
³ Such a one is like a tree planted near streams; it bears fruit in season and its leaves never wither, and every project succeeds.
⁴ How different the wicked, how different! Just like chaff blown around by the wind
⁵ the wicked will not stand firm at the Judgement nor sinners in the gathering of the upright.
⁶ For Yahweh watches over the path of the upright, but the path of the wicked is doomed.
 
Mark 16 v 15 -20
¹⁵ And he said to them, 'Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation.
¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.
¹⁷ These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues;
¹⁸ they will pick up snakes in their hands and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.'
¹⁹ And so the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven; there at the right hand of God he took his place,
²⁰ while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.

Magnificat

Notes of meeting on 31 May 2016

Luke 1:39-56

³⁹ Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the hill country to a town in Judah.

⁴⁰ She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
⁴² She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
⁴³ Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?
⁴⁴ Look, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy.
⁴⁵ Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.'
⁴⁶ And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
⁴⁸ because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant. Yes, from now onwards all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹ for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name,
⁵⁰ and his faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him.
⁵¹ He has used the power of his arm, he has routed the arrogant of heart.
⁵² He has pulled down princes from their thrones and raised high the lowly.
⁵³ He has filled the starving with good things, sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his faithful love
⁵⁵ -according to the promise he made to our ancestors -- of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.
⁵⁶ Mary stayed with her some three months and then went home.

Reflection on Luke 1:39-56  •  Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Feast) - from Bible Alive
http://www.alivepublishing.co.uk/2016/05/tuesday-31-may/

The Magnificat is a hymn of praise and celebration of God’s great mercy. In this special and extraordinary Year of Mercy, Mary our Mother in Faith, the Mother of God, watches over us and intercedes for us that each of us would rediscover the joy and tender mercy of God. Her hymn of praise reflects a unique insight into the mystery of our salvation. To pray the Magnificat is a great privilege because in it we touch Mary’s profound insight into the mercy of God. Her hymn of praise, sung as it was at the threshold of the home of Elizabeth, was dedicated to the mercy of God which extends from ‘generation to generation’ (v. 50). Her prayer of praise was the fruit of her experience of God.
The Holy Spirit moves us to make this holy prayer our own. We too can sing the Magnificat because when we contemplate and meditate on what God has done for us in Christ we can but glorify the Lord and rejoice in God our Saviour. The Mighty One has done great things for us too – we have received baptism, the sacraments, the Eucharist, the teaching of the Church, the many graces and blessings. God’s mercy has rained down on every generation. We were hungry but God has filled us with good things – the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
We venerate this special prayer in the Church’s life and especially so in the Year of Mercy, because Mary, although conceived immaculately, rejoices in God’s mercy towards her. How much more can we, who were born into original sin but blessed with the grace of baptism and the forgiveness of our sins, sing a song of praise, thanksgiving and gratitude to the God of mercy and compassion.
‘Therefore it is an excellent and fruitful custom of holy Church that we should sing Mary’s hymn at the time of evening prayer. By meditating upon the incarnation, our devotion is kindled, and by remembering the example of God’s Mother, we are encouraged to lead a life of virtue. Such virtues are best achieved in the evening. We are weary after the day’s work and worn out by our distractions. The time for rest is near, and our minds are ready for contemplation.’ (St Bede)

June Prayer Intention 2016

June Prayer Intention 2016

Eternal Father I offer you the body, blood, soul and divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ in atonement for our sins and the sins of the whole world.

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One have mercy on us and on the whole world.