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Let the first act on waking be to place yourself, your heart, mind, faculties, your whole being, in God's hands. Ask Him to take entire possession of you, to be the Guide of your soul, your Life, your Wisdom, your Strength. He wills that we seek him in all our needs, that we may both know Him truly, and draw closer and closer to Him; and in prayer we gain an invisible force which will triumph over seemingly
hopeless difficulties.
- Sidney Lear
("Ask Him to take entire possession of you . . " Go ahead, ask. . . )
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2 Kgs 2:1, 6-14; Psalm 31:20, 21, 24
Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door,
and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to others to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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“He picked up Elijah’s mantle.” —2 Kings 2:13
Elijah passed on his mission, ministry, and power to Elisha. Do you have a mission to pass on? Do you know your mission? If you are doing something of long-term significance for the Lord, you need to disciple others to carry on that mission. In this way, the Church may be built up as an ever more effective instrument of establishing God’s kingdom on earth.
To build the Church and to leave behind us a great spiritual legacy, we must:
1) be doing something of long-term significance, that is, doing God’s will for our lives,
2) seek God’s will about those He has chosen to carry on the mission after we leave this earth,
3) specifically encourage these people to move forward in this mission as disciples of Jesus (1 Kgs 19:19ff), and
4) pray with others in the Christian community for those who have accepted God’s call. Pray that they receive a “double portion” of the Spirit (see 2 Kgs 2:9).
If we do these simple things, we serve as witnesses to strengthen our families, parishes, seminaries and convents in their commitment to the Lord. Make disciples (Mt 28:19) now and for the future.
Prayer: Father may much of my work be continuing when Jesus returns.
Promise: “In that way no one can see you are fasting but your Father Who is hidden; and your Father Who sees what is hidden will repay you.” —Mt 6:18
Presentation Ministries
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Poems from the Little Flower of Jesus: Saint Therese of Lisieux
- by Athanasius Press, 2018
Part One: To Live of Love
"If any man love Me, he will keep My word and My Father will love him and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. . . My peace I give unto you . . . Abide in My love."
(St. John 14:23, 27, -- 15:9)
5.
To live of love, 'tis without stint to give,
An never count the cost, nor ask reward;
So, counting not the cost, I long to live
And show my dauntless love for Thee, dear Lord!
O Heart Divine, o'erflowing with tenderness,
How swift I run, who all to Thee has given!
Naught but Thy love I need, my life to bless.
That love is heaven!
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Paperback
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