Brandon E Taylor's Weblog Cogitations, Meditations, and Ruminations

Words to Live By

1 Peter 2:1

So put away all malice and all guile and insincerity and envy and all slander.
( Apr 17 2005, 09:38:14 AM PDT ) Permalink Comments [0]

Words to Live By

"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin." - Mother Theresa of Calcutta
( Apr 10 2005, 04:16:44 AM PDT ) Permalink Comments [0]

Words to Live By

Pope John Paul II (1920-2005):

"Man is called to a fullness of life which far exceeds the dimensions of his earthly existence, because it consists in sharing the very life of God. The loftiness of this supernatural vocation reveals the greatness and the inestimable value of human life even in its temporal phase."

"Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence."

"As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live."

"The future starts today, not tomorrow."

"Truth must be the foundation stone, the cement to solidify the entire social edifice."
( Apr 03 2005, 11:04:08 PM PDT ) Permalink Comments [0]

Pope John Paul II (1920-2005)

The Holy Father was a gift from Heaven and has now been called home to dwell eternally in God's presence.

This is a day of both tremendous sadness - for the loss to the Church and the world - and tremendous joy - for his Holiness' eternal reward.

I expect to devote some time this month to blog about the life and legacy (ecclesiastical, ecumenical, social, and political) of a man that meant so much to so many.
( Apr 02 2005, 02:00:59 PM PST ) Permalink Comments [0]

Words to Live By

John 20:1-21

1: Now on the first day of the week Mary Mag'dalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
2: So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."
3: Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb.
4: They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first;
5: and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
6: Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying,
7: and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself.
8: Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;
9: for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
10: Then the disciples went back to their homes.
11: But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb;
12: and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.
13: They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him."
14: Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.
15: Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."
16: Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rab-bo'ni!" (which means Teacher).
17: Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."
18: Mary Mag'dalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
19: On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
20: When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
21: Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."
( Mar 27 2005, 09:11:01 PM PST ) Permalink Comments [0]

Words to Live By

Mark 11:1-11

And when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Beth'phage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, and said to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat; untie it and bring it.
If any one says to you, `Why are you doing this?' say, `The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.'"
And they went away, and found a colt tied at the door out in the open street; and they untied it.
And those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?"
And they told them what Jesus had said; and they let them go.
And they brought the colt to Jesus, and threw their garments on it; and he sat upon it.
And many spread their garments on the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields.
And those who went before and those who followed cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest!"
And he entered Jerusalem, and went into the temple; and when he had looked round at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

( Mar 20 2005, 06:09:42 AM PST ) Permalink Comments [0]

Words to Live By

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
( Mar 13 2005, 01:12:25 AM PST ) Permalink Comments [0]

Words to Live By

Isaiah 55:6

Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near
( Mar 06 2005, 04:20:06 PM PST ) Permalink Comments [0]

Caleb's First Mass

Tiffany and I took Caleb to his first Mass this evening. He was wide awake for most of the Mass and very well behaved. His mother and I were very proud.

This Sunday's Readings:

• Exodus 17:3-7
• Romans 5:1-2,5-8
• John 4:5-42

Words to Live By

"Christ, 'the living bread which came down from heaven,' is the only one who can satisfy man's hunger at all times and in all parts of the earth." - Pope John Paul II, Year of the Eucharist Homily, 06/10/04
( Feb 27 2005, 07:48:07 PM PST ) Permalink Comments [0]

Words to Live By

Ecclesiastes 7:14

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.
( Feb 20 2005, 11:58:01 PM PST ) Permalink Comments [0]

Words to Live By

1 John 4:8

He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.
( Feb 13 2005, 03:36:45 PM PST ) Permalink Comments [0]

Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Today is a day for penitence and the contemplation of our mortality.

Resources:
Ash Wednesday FAQ
Wikipedia Article
Catholic Observance of Ash Wednesday

( Feb 09 2005, 08:32:23 AM PST ) Permalink Comments [0]

Words to Live By

Psalm 37:5

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act.
( Feb 06 2005, 09:51:37 AM PST ) Permalink Comments [0]

Words to Live By

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God
( Jan 30 2005, 01:43:50 PM PST ) Permalink Comments [0]