Matthew 7:9-11 -

Matthew 7:9-11 -

Or what man is there among you, of whom if his son shall ask bread,
will he reach him a stone? Mat 7:10  Or if he shall ask him a fish,
will he reach him a serpent?  If you then being evil, know how to give
good gifts to your children: how much more will your Father who is in
heaven, give good things to them that ask him?  [Matthew 7:9-11] DRB
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Christ is showing us the heart of God the Father. God is not selfish,
begrudging or stingy, and we don't have to beg or grovel as we come with ou=
r
requests. He is a loving Father who understands, cares and comforts. If
humans can be kind, imagine how kind God, the Creator of kindness, can be!

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August 31: - Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne, Apostle of the English
(died 651)

"His life is in marked contrast to the apathy of our times."
(Venerable Bede on Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne)

Today we celebrate the feast day of Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne , known
as the Apostle of the English (or the Apostle of Northumbria). Saint
Aidan was the founder and first bishop of the monastery on the island
of Lindisfarne. He is credited with restoring Christianity to the
region. It is said of him, by Bishop Lightfoot, =E2=80=9CAugustine was the
Apostle of Kent, but Aidan was the Apostle of the English." Saint Bede
the Venerable would write of Saint Aidan in his biography: "he was a
pontiff inspired with a passionate love of virtue, but at the same
time full of a surpassing mildness and gentleness."

Aidan was born in Ireland, probably in Connacht, and studied as a monk
at the monastery on the Island of Iona in Scotland. While Christianity
had spread into Britain centuries earlier, during the invasion of the
Romans, gradually paganism had reclaimed the region. When Oswald of
Northumbria regained the kingship, he sought to re-establish
Christianity, and bring the light of Christ to the peoples living
there. (Oswald is likely to have converted himself, upon a visit to
the monastery on Iona).

Based upon his experience on Iona, King Oswald requested missionaries
be sent to work amongst the peoples. At first the monastery sent a new
bishop named Corm=C3=A1n, but he met with no success and soon returned to
Iona, reporting that the Northumbrians were too stubborn to be
converted. Saint Aidan criticized Bishop Corm=C3=A1n's methods and was sent
as a replacement in 635.

Upon arrival in Northumbria, Aidan established Lindisfarne=E2=80=94an islan=
d
similar to Iona=E2=80=94as the center of his diocese. Here Aidan establishe=
d
an Irish-type monastery of wooden buildings: a small church, small,
circular dwelling huts, perhaps one larger building for communal
purposes and in time, workshops as needed. The monks lived a life of
prayer, study and austerity, but spent the majority of time preaching
and engaged in activities of conversion. Through translation efforts
of the royal family=E2=80=94first Oswald, and then Oswine of Deira after th=
e
death of Oswald=E2=80=94Aidan and his fellow monks preached the Gospel to a=
ll
who would listen. Over time, he came to be recognized for his piety
and gentleness, and respected by even the harshest critics of
Christianity.

Gentle and unassuming, Aidan traveled on foot from one village to
another, engaging those he met in polite conversation, and slowly
raising their interest in Christianity. According to legend, the king
gave Aidan a horse so that he wouldn't have to walk, but Aidan instead
gave the horse to a beggar, modeling the charitable love of Christ.
Through patience and wisdom, Christianity took root in these rural
communities, and began to grow, fanned by the flames of love and zeal
of Aidan and his companions. To further the growth of the faith, Aidan
took in twelve English boys to train at the monastery, hoping to
ensure that the area's future religious leadership would be English.
The monastery he founded grew and helped found churches and other
monasteries throughout the area. By his death, it was widely
recognized as a center of Christian faith and learning throughout the
regions.

Numerous miracles were attributed to him while alive, including his
intercession to save the city of Bamburgh during attack by pagans. As
holy legend tells us, when the pagans attacked the city, they set the
walls on fire. Aidan prayed for respite, and the winds turned against
the invaders, blowing the smoke from their own fires over the invading
army. They were forced to flee, and the city was saved.

After 16 years as bishop, Aidan died at Bamburgh. In his life we see
the zeal and the spirit of the first Apostles=E2=80=94a spirit based in
generosity and dedication, in passing along the gifts of grace one
possesses to all encountered. The Venerable Bede wrote of Saint Aidan:
"He neither sought nor loved anything of this world, but delighted in
distributing immediately to the poor whatever was given him by kings
or rich men. He traversed both town and country on foot, never on
horseback, unless compelled by some urgent necessity. Wherever on his
way he saw any, either rich or poor, he invited them, if pagans, to
embrace the mystery of the faith; or if they were believers, he sought
to strengthen them in their faith and stir them up by words and
actions to alms and good works."
 by Jacob


Saint Aidan=E2=80=99s Prayer:

Leave me alone with God as much as may be.
As the tide draws the waters close in upon the shore,
Make me an island, set apart,
alone with you, God, holy to you.

Then with the turning of the tide
prepare me to carry your presence to the busy world beyond,
the world that rushes in on me
till the waters come again and fold me back to you.

O holy Bishop Aidan, Apostle of the North and light of the Celtic
Church, glorious in humility, noble in poverty, zealous monk and
loving missionary, intercede for us sinners that Christ our God may
have mercy on our souls.

Thou didst teach and preserve Christ=E2=80=99s doctrine and didst spread th=
e
faith throughout Northumbria, O holy Aidan. Unceasingly pray to God
for us for thou dost worship before His throne for ever. Amen.


Saint Quote:
Let us stand fast in what is right, and prepare our souls for trial.
Let us wait upon God's strengthening aid and say to him: "O Lord, you
have been our refuge in all generations."
-- Saint Boniface

Bible Quote:
"The hope of the wicked is as dust, which is blown away with the
winds, and as a thin froth which is dispersed by the storm; and a
smoke which is scattered abroad by the wind."  (Wis. 5:15).


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Alas, my dear brethren

Alas, my dear brethren, the man who lives according to the direction
of his passions and abandons the service of God is both unhappy and
capable of so little! Put an army of one hundred thousand men around a
dead man and let them employ all their power to bring him back to
life. No, no, my dear children, he will not come to life again. But
let someone who is despised by the world, but who enjoys the
friendship of God, command this dead man to take up life again;
immediately you will see him arise and walk. We have other proofs of
this too. If it were necessary to be wealthy or to be very learned to
serve God, a great many people would be unable to do it. But, no, my
dear children, extensive learning or great wealth are not at all
necessary for the service of God. On the contrary, they are often a
very big obstacle to it. Yes, my dear brethren, let us be rich or
poor, in whatever state we may be, learned or otherwise, we can please
God and save our souls.
   -- Excerpt from sermon of St. John Vianney