|
Message of the Day
|
|
God is nearer to us than anyone at any time. He is nearer to me than my raiment, nearer than the air or light, nearer than my wife, father, mother, daughter, son, or friend. I live in Him, soul and body. I breathe in Him, think in Him, feel, consider, intend, speak, undertake, work in Him. “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being.”
- John of Kronstadt (The nearness of God . . . what is your response?)
|
|
Readings of the Day
|
All Saints Day Rv 7:2-4, 9-14; Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6; 1 Jn 3:1-3 Mt 5:1-12a
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for
they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in
heaven." USCCB lectionary
|
|
Reflection on the Scripture
|
“Who are these people all dressed in white? And where have they come from?” —Revelation 7:13
Today we thank God for saving and sanctifying the saints on earth and in heaven. We especially thank Him for taking our family members, relatives, and friends to be with Him in heaven. We look forward to becoming holy and joining Jesus and the family in heaven. We cannot do this by our own power but we can let it be done to us (see Lk 1:38).
The Father and the Son have sent
the Holy Spirit to make us holy. All we have to do is obey by following the lead of the Spirit (Gal 5:25). However, this is difficult to do because our flesh (human nature) lusts against the Spirit (Gal 5:17). There is a strong opposition between what we naturally want and what the Spirit wants. Therefore, to let the Spirit make us saints, we must allow the Spirit to crucify our flesh with its passions and desires (Gal 5:24). We must let the Holy Spirit take us to the cross to crucify us to the
world (Gal 6:14). In this way, we become holy, able to be like our Father and “see Him as He is” (1 Jn 3:2; see also Heb 12:14). Holiness is the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of our efforts. All saints have been produced by the Spirit. Life in the Spirit leads to life in heaven. “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn 20:22). Prayer: Holy Spirit, guide me to all truth (Jn 16:13). Guide me to heaven. Promise: “Everyone who has this hope based on [Jesus] keeps himself pure, as He is pure.” —1 Jn 3:3 Praise: “Saints of the Lord, bless the Lord. Praise and exalt Him above all
forever!” Presentation Ministries
|
|
Spiritual Reading
|
|
|
|
-Readings from Jesus Alive in Our Lives, by Philip St. Romain. Ave Maria Press, 1985. Contemplative Ministries, Inc. 2011. Part Two, Encountering the Risen Christ Chapter 7: The Cosmic Christ, part
I - Selected quotes How do you encounter Christ in creation? An early 20th century Irish poet named Joseph Mary Plunkett described his experience of this in his poem, I See His Blood Upon the Rose. I see his blood upon the rose
And in the stars the glory of his eyes,
His body gleams amid eternal snows,
His tears fall from the skies.
I
see his face in every flower;
The thunder and the singing of the birds
Are but his voice—and carven by his power
Rocks are his written words.
All pathways by his feet are
worn,
His strong heart stirs the ever-heating sea,
His crown of thorns is twined with every thorn,
His cross is every tree. I consider this to
be an outstanding example of encountering Christ in his cosmic aspect. The poet—a little-known Irish mystic from the turn of the 20th century—is a person who must have had a deep sense of encounter with Jesus through the first three modes we spoke of in previous chapters. He obviously loves Jesus, and has a lively sense of the sacramental as well. Trees don’t really speak of the cross of Christ for those who don’t know him in his passion, as related in scripture; they’re just
trees, evoking a sense of appreciation and wonder, perhaps, but not necessarily a reminder of the cross. Nevertheless, Plunkett’s poem is a beautiful testimony to a mystical sense of the personal Christ present to us in nature. For those who have gone deeply into the first three modes of encounter, this is a real possibility, and a wonderful one to hope for.
Paperback and eBook versions
|
Please support this outreach with a tax-deductible donation.
|
|
|
