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There’s a self-expansive aspect of gratitude. Very possibly it’s a little known law of nature: the more gratitude you have, the more you have to be grateful
for.
- Elaine St. James (Give thanks for ordinary and extraordinary gifts, and even for your struggles.) |
Dgs 2:11-19; Psalm 106:34-40, 43ab and 44
Mt 19:16-22 A young man approached Jesus and said,
“Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”
He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good?
There is only One who is good.
If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
He asked him, “Which ones?”
And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
honor your father and your mother;
and you shall love your
neighbor as yourself.”
The young man said to him,
“All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?”
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go,
sell what you have and
give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad,
for he had many
possessions.
Praying the Daily Gospels: A Guide to Meditation, by Philip St. Romain, 2018 (3rd ed.) Matthew 19: 16-22 (The rich young man) This is a parable for today’s people. Jesus tells the rich young man that it is not enough to keep the Law. Jesus challenged him to throw away false securities and become a disciple. Unfortunately, the young man found this invitation too difficult to accept. • The philosopher Schopenhauer stated that life vacillates
between suffering (the fate of the poor and broken) and boredom (the fate of the rich and secure). Do you agree? • Paul stated that the love of money is the root of all evil. How much money do you need to support the lifestyle to which you believe Christ is calling you? • Pray
for the grace to be more attached to the things of God.
Treatise on the Love of God, by St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) ____________ BOOK IV: OF THE DECAY AND RUIN OF CHARITY Chapter 1: That as long as we are in this mortal life we may lose the love of God.
It is impossible to see the Divinity and not love it, but here below where we do not see it, but only have a glimpse of it through the clouds of faith, as in a mirror, our knowledge is not yet so perfect as not to
leave an opening for the surprises of other objects and apparent goods, which through the obscurities which are mixed with the certainty and verity of faith, steal in unperceived, like little fox cubs, and demolish our flourishing vineyard. To conclude, Theotimus, when we have charity our free-will is clothed with her wedding garment, which, as she can still keep it on if she please by well-doing, so she can put off if she please by
offending.
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