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(This struggle and search) affirmed my life experience of hearing a particular inner voice which guides me with simple clarity, and renews my conviction that, at our center, we are each created around a spark of God, and have the Divine dwelling within.
- Rose Bigelow Huntley, A Bridge of Faith
(God dwelling within . . . Just be aware of this wondrous truth. Be alert for inner guidance this day.)
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Jer 31:31-34; Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19
Mt 16:13-23
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
and he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply,
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Then he strictly ordered his disciples
to tell no one that he was the Christ.
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
"God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you."
He turned and said to Peter,
"Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."
Praying the Daily Gospels: A Guide to Meditation, by Philip St. Romain, 2018 (3rd ed.)
Matthew 16: 13-23 (Jesus, Peter, and the Church)
Of the four evangelists, only Matthew speaks of Jesus founding the Church. He also speaks of the privileged place of Peter as leader of the Church—a responsibility so important that Peter’s words would become binding for the salvation of souls. When Peter tries to sway Jesus from his destiny, Jesus rebukes him; as leader of the Church, Peter must learn to submit his will to God’s.
• Spend some time with the passage, "Who do you say that I am?” Respond as honestly as you can.
• How do you feel about the manner in which Church authorities exercise power? On what issues do you respect their leadership most? Least?
• Pray that our Church leaders may exercise authority wisely.
Treatise on the Love of God, by St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
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BOOK III: OF THE PROGRESS AND PERFECTION OF LOVE
Chapter 1: That holy love may be augmented more and more in each one of us
Theotimus, bees make the delicious honey which is their chief work; but the wax, which they also make, does not therefore cease to be of some worth, or to make their labour valuable. The loving heart ought to endeavour to bring forth works full of fervour, and of high value, that it may powerfully augment charity: yet if it bring forth some of lesser value, it shall not lose its recompense; for God will be
pleased by these, that is to say he will love us ever a little more for them. Now God never loves a soul more without bestowing also upon her more charity, our love towards him being the proper, and special effect, of his love towards us.
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