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Message of the Day
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Faith is to the soul what life is to the body. Prayer is to faith what breath is to the body. How a person can live and not breathe is past my comprehension, and how a person can believe and not pray is past my comprehension too.
- James Charles J. C. Ryle (Believing without praying is sort of like trying to be in a
relationship without communication. It doesn’t work. Easy enough to correct that situation, however.)
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Readings of the Day
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Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10; Psalm 29:1 - 4,
9c-10 Mark 8:14-21 The disciples had forgotten to take any food and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Then he gave them this warning, ‘Keep your eyes open; be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.’ And they said to one another, ‘It is because we have no bread.’ And Jesus knew it, and he said to them, ‘Why are you talking about
having no bread? Do you not yet understand? Have you no perception? Are your minds closed? Have you eyes that do not see, ears that do not hear? Or do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of scraps did you collect?’ They answered, ‘Twelve.’ ‘And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of scraps did you collect?’ And they answered, ‘Seven.’ Then he said to them, ‘Are you still without
perception?’ USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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“His heart was grieved.” —Genesis 6:6
God regretted that He had made man on the earth, and “His heart was grieved” (Gn 6:6). Jesus was frustrated. After
twice multiplying loaves and fish, Jesus was exasperated that His disciples still did not understand (Mk 8:21).
God, in a manner of speaking, has a vulnerable, breakable heart. When He became man, His heart was literally breakable and broken. Even after Jesus’ Resurrection and glorification, He can continue to be crucified (Heb 6:6). Thus, the prophecy of the image of Jesus’ Sacred Heart depicts God with a broken, bleeding, wounded
heart. Although God doesn’t need us — He is all-powerful and totally self-sufficient — God Who is Love (1 Jn 4:16) desires to be loved. Even if billions of people continue to reject His love, God is looking for the Noahs (Gn 6:8), Elijahs, Jobs, and Marys who love Him passionately even in this culture of death, sin, and selfishness. Be a Noah; love Love. Kiss God’s broken
heart. Prayer: Father, by Your grace I will never stop loving You. I will never love You less. Promise: “Give to the Lord, you sons of God, give to the Lord glory and praise.” —Ps 29:1 Presentation Ministries
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Spiritual Reading
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The Practice of the Presence of God: The Best Rule of Holy Life, by Brother Lawrence (1611 - 1691). Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
https://ccel.org/ccel/lawrence/practice/practice Fourth Conversation
That the greater perfection a soul aspires after, the more dependent it is upon Divine grace. Being questioned by one of his
own society (to whom he was obliged to open himself) by what means he had attained such an habitual sense of GOD? he told him that, since his first coming to the monastery, he had considered GOD as the end of all his thoughts and desires, as the mark to which they should tend, and in which they should terminate. That in the beginning of his novitiate he spent the hours appointed for private prayer in thinking of GOD, so as to convince his
mind of, and to impress deeply upon his heart, the Divine existence, rather by devout sentiments, and submission to the lights of faith, than by studied reasonings and elaborate meditations. That by this short and sure method, he exercised himself in the knowledge and love of GOD, resolving to use his utmost endeavour to live in a continual sense of His Presence, and, if possible, never to forget Him
more.
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