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During painful times, when you feel a terrible void, think how the capacity of your soul is being enlarged so that it can receive God -- becoming as it were, infinite as God is infinite.
- Elizabeth of the Trinity
(God is with us and at work within us during times of suffering and dryness. Patience!)
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JER 31:1-7; JER 31:10, 11-12AB, 13
MT 15:21-28
At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,
“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!
My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
But he did not say a word in answer to her.
His disciples came and asked him,
“Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”
He said in reply,
“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”
He said in reply,
“It is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs.”
She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps
that fall from the table of their masters.”
Then Jesus said to her in reply,
“O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish.”
And her daughter was healed from that hour.
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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“Carrying your festive tambourines, you shall go forth dancing with the merrymakers.” —Jeremiah 31:4
The joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh 8:10). The Lord tells us to “praise His name in the festive dance” and to “sing praise to Him with timbrel and harp” (Ps 149:3). “Then the virgins shall make merry and dance, and young men and old as well” (Jer 31:13). So, this applies to all God’s people, not only the young.
As we dance and make a joyful noise to the Lord (Ps 100:2), we are to “shout with joy” and proclaim His praise (Jer 31:7, 12). Shouting, singing, dancing, and clapping are human ways of expressing praise. If we can do these things for athletes, politicians, and celebrities, how much more worthy is our God of such acclaim!
Consider what the Lord has done for us. He died to save us from sin, slavery, death, damnation, and Satan (see Mt 15:22). He rose from the dead and poured out the Spirit. He is with us always (Mt 28:20). He will never forsake us. “With age-old love,” He has loved us (Jer 31:3). He constantly forgives, heals, feeds, and frees those who call on Him. He alone is worthy to be praised (Rv 5:12), praised in every way,
with all our strength, praised forever.
Prayer: Father, send the Spirit of praise so that I may worship You with abandon as David did (2 Sm 6:14).
Promise: “Jesus then said in reply, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your wish will come to pass.’ That very moment her daughter got better.” —Mt 15:28
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."
(John 14:23, 27, -- 15:9)
12.
To live of love, 'tis Mary's part to share,
To bathe with tears and odorous perfume
Thy holy feet, to wipe them with my hair,
To kiss them; then still loftier lot assume, --
To rise, and by Thy side to take my place,
And pour my ointments on Thy holy head.
But with no balsams I embalm Thy Face!
'Tis love, instead!
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