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For it is no small thing that God is going to give to those who thus yearn (for God); no half-efforts will get them to the goal. What God is going to give them is not something he has made; he is going to give himself. . . Toil, then, to lay hold of God; yearn long for what you are going to possess forever.
- St. Augustine
(How do you experience this yearning for God that the Saint speaks of? How do you seek to have it fulfilled?)
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Acts 5:27-33; Psalm 34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20
Jn 3:31-36
The one who comes from above is above all.
The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things.
But the one who comes from heaven is above all.
He testifies to what he has seen and heard,
but no one accepts his testimony.
Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy.
For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God.
He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.
The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,
but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life,
but the wrath of God remains upon him.
Praying the Daily Gospels: A Guide to Meditation, by Philip St. Romain, 2018 (3rd ed.)
John 3: 31-36 (Jesus is Lord of all)
John proclaims that Jesus is formed from above, meaning Jesus is God. He does not see Jesus as merely an enlightened or wise man or a prophet. Rather, Jesus is one who speaks God's own words, and our response to him should be one of reverent obedience.
* Many saints have said that obedience to Jesus allowed them to fully experience freedom. Do you experience the truth of this paradox in your own life?
* In what area of your life are you most obedient to Jesus? Most disobedient?
* Pray for the grace to allow Jesus to be Lord of your life.
Treatise on the Love of God, by St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
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BOOK II: THE HISTORY OF THE GENERATION AND HEAVENLY BIRTH OF DIVINE LOVE
Chapter 20: How the mingling of love and sorrow takes place in contrition
Now because this loving repentance is ordinarily practised by elevations and raisings of the heart to God, like to those of the ancient penitents: I am thine, save thou me. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me: for my soul trusteth in thee! Save me, O God; for the waters are come in even unto my soul! Make me as one of thy hired servants! O God be merciful to me a sinner!--it is not without reason that
some have said, that prayer justifies; for the repentant prayer, or the suppliant repentance, raising up the soul to God and re-uniting it to his goodness, without doubt obtains pardon in virtue of the holy love, which gives it the sacred movement. And therefore we ought all to have very many such ejaculatory prayers, made in the sense of a loving repentance and of sighs which seek our reconciliation with God, so that by these laying our tribulation before Our Saviour, we may pour out our souls
before and within his pitiful heart, which will receive them to mercy.
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