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A providence is shaping our ends; a plan is developing in our lives; a supreme and loving Being is making all things work together for good. In
the sequel of our life's story we shall see that there was a meaning and necessity in all the previous incidents, save those which were the result of our own folly and sin, and that even these have been made to contribute to the final result. Trust Him, child of God: He is leading you by a right way to the celestial City of Habitation; and as from the terrace of eternity you review the path by which you came from the morning-land of childhood, you will confess that He hath done all things
well.
- F. B. Meyer (God's providence rules our lives. Trust . . . ) |
Gn 4:1-15, 25; Ps 50:1, 8, 16bc-17, 20-21
Mk 8:11-13 The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus,
seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.
He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said,
“Why does this generation seek a sign?
Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
Then he left them, got into the boat
again,
and went off to the other shore.
Praying the Daily Gospels: A Guide to Meditation, by Philip St. Romain, 2018 (3rd ed.) Mark 8: 11-13 (Pharisees seek a
sign) The Pharisees expected the Messiah to manifest certain glorious signs, and their request for such a sign from Jesus is an attempt to test him. Jesus rejects their request, hurt at their distrust and disturbed that their faith is so shallow. • If you were to ask God
to manifest some sign to deepen your faith, for what would you ask? How would this help you? What would it say about God? • Pray for faith in God.
Treatise on the Love of God, by St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) ____________ BOOK III: OF THE PROGRESS AND PERFECTION OF LOVE Chapter 7: That the charity of saints in this moral life equals, yea sometimes surpasses, that of the blessed. It is not usual for shepherds to be more valiant than soldiers; and yet David, when a little shepherd, coming to the army of Israel, while he found every one more expert in the use of arms than himself, yet he was more valiant than all. So it is not an ordinary thing for mortals to have more charity than the immortals, and yet there have been some mortals, inferior to the immortals
in the exercise of love, who, notwithstanding, have surpassed them in charity and the habit of love. And as, when comparing hot iron and a burning lamp, we say the iron has more fire and heat, the lamp more flame and light; so if we parallel a child in glory with S. John while yet prisoner, or S. Paul yet captive, we must say that the child in heaven has more brightness and light in the understanding, more flame and exercise of love in the will, but that S. John or S. Paul had even on earth more
fire of charity, and heat of love.
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