|
|
Love is saying yes to belonging. That's my definition of love, pure and simple. Anything that we call love, as far as I can see, is in some way related to this
yes. . . And that saying yes is not just an intellectual assent; it has profound moral implications. It means . . . acting the way people act when they belong together.
- David Steindl-Rast, Belonging to the Universe
(With whom/what do you experience bonds of belonging? What does this tell you about love's presence
in your life?)
|
GAL 3:1-5; LK 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75
LK 11:5-13
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Suppose one of you has a friend
to whom he goes at midnight and says,
‘Friend, lend me three
loaves of bread,
for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey
and I have nothing to offer him,’
and he says in reply from within,
‘Do not bother me; the door has
already been locked
and my children and I are already in bed.
I cannot get up to give you anything.’
I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves
because of their
friendship,
he will get up to give him whatever he needs
because of his persistence.
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
What father among you would hand his son a snake
when he asks for a fish?
Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit
to those who ask
him?”
Praying the Daily Gospels: A Guide to Meditation, by Philip St. Romain, 2018 (3rd ed.) Luke 11: 5-13 (The value of persistence)
Jesus often taught about God by using analogies in human behavior. One of his most frequent themes is that God is at least as good as good human beings. God is therefore approachable, interested, and willing to help us if we take the time to pray. * "The poor man is not he who
is without a cent, but he who is without a dream," Harry Kemp wrote. What are some of your dreams for the future? How do you keep these dreams alive? * What are you doing to keep yourself growing and learning about the spiritual life? * Pray for the grace to dream "the impossible
dream."
Treatise on the Love of God, by St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) ____________ BOOK III: OF THE PROGRESS AND PERFECTION OF LOVE Chapter 3: How a soul in charity makes progress in it Do you not mark the young man of the gospel, whom Our Saviour loved, and who, consequently, was in charity? Certainly, he never dreamed of selling all he had to give it to the poor, and following Our Saviour: nay though Our Saviour had given him such an inspiration, yet had he not the courage to put it into execution. For these great works, Theotimus, we need not only to be inspired, but also to be fortified, in order to effect what the inspiration inclines us
to. As again in the fierce assaults of extraordinary temptations, a special and particular presence of heavenly succour is absolutely necessary. For this cause holy church makes us so frequently cry out:
"Excite our hearts O Lord:"
"Prevent our actions by thy holy inspirations and further them with thy
continual help:"
"O Lord, make haste to help us:"
and the like, in order by such prayers to obtain grace to be able to effect excellent and extraordinary works, and more frequently and fervently to do ordinary ones; as also more ardently to resist small temptations, and boldly to combat the greatest. S.
Antony was assailed by a hideous legion of devils, and having long sustained their attacks, not without incredible pain and torment, at length saw the roof of his cell burst open, and a heavenly ray enter the breach, which made the black and darksome troop of his enemies vanish in a moment, and delivered him from all the pain of the wounds received in that battle; whence he perceived God's particular presence, and fetching a profound sigh towards the vision--"where wast thou, O good Jesus," said
he, "where wast thou? Why wast thou not here from the beginning to have relieved my pain? It was answered him from above: "Antony, I was here: but I awaited the event of thy combat: and since thou didst behave thyself bravely and valiantly, I will be thy continual aid." But in what did the valour and courage of this brave spiritual combatant consist? He himself declared it another time when, being set upon by a devil who acknowledged himself to be the spirit of fornication, this glorious saint
after many words worthy of his great courage began to sing the 7th verse of the 117th Psalm: "The Lord is my helper: and I will look over my enemies." |
|
|
