|
|
- On the re-emergence of the evil power, Sauron . . .
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
(We were born to serve during the period in which we live. What does this mean for you at this time in life?)
|
JER 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13; PS 36:6-7AB, 8-9, 10-11
MT 13:10-17
The disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?”
He said to them in reply,
“Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven
has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.
To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich;
from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
This is why I speak to them in parables, because
they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.
Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:
You shall indeed hear but not understand,
you shall indeed look but never see.
Gross is the heart of this people,
they will hardly hear with their ears,
they have closed their eyes,
lest they see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their hearts and be converted
and I heal them.
“But blessed are your eyes, because they see,
and your ears, because they hear.
Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people
longed to see what you see but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
Praying the Daily Gospels: A Guide to Meditation, by Philip St. Romain, 2018 (3rd ed.)
Matthew 13: 10-17 (More on parables)
Although the parables are relatively simple stories, they are nevertheless rich in symbolism. To appreciate their meaning, we must allow them to confront our lives as a mirror reflects lack to us our bodily image. The more time and effort we put into the struggle of meditating on the parables, the greater will be our reward.
• “In the spiritual life, if you’re not progressing, you’re regressing.” Do you agree with this? Why? Why not? In what area of your life have you made progress recently?
• Pray for the grace to hunger for growth.
Treatise on the Love of God, by St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
____________
BOOK III: OF THE PROGRESS AND PERFECTION OF LOVE
Chapter 2: How easy our Saviour has made the increase of love
Do you see, Theotimus, that glass of water or that piece of bread which a holy soul gives to a poor body for God's sake; it is a small matter, God knows, and in human judgment hardly worthy of consideration: God, notwithstanding, recompenses it, and forthwith gives for it some increase of charity. The goat's-hair which was anciently presented to the Tabernacle was received in good part, and had place amongst
the holy offerings; and the little actions which proceed from charity are agreeable to God, and have their place among merits. For as in Araby the Blest, not only the plants which are by nature aromatic, but even all the others, are sweet, gaining a share in the felicity of that soil; so in a charitable soul not only the works which are excellent of their own nature, but also the little actions, smell of the virtue of holy love, and have a good odour before the majesty of God, who in
consideration of them increases charity. And I say God does it, because Charity does not produce her own increase as a tree does, which by its own virtue produces and throws out, one from another, its boughs: but as Faith, Hope and Charity are virtues which have their origin from the divine goodness, so thence also they draw their increase and perfection, not unlike bees, which, having their extraction from honey, have also their food from it.
|
|
|
