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"The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls.”
- Elizabeth Cady Stanton What fears might be keeping you from speaking out on a matter of importance these days? Ask for the grace to overcome fear with courageous love.
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Acts 25:13b-21
Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab John 21:15-19 Jesus showed himself to his disciples, and after they had eaten he said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?’ He answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to
him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He replied, ‘Yes, Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Look after my sheep.’ Then he said to him a third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was upset that he asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and said, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. ‘I tell you most solemnly,
when you were
young
you put on your own belt
and walked where you liked;
but when you grow old
you will stretch out your hands,
and somebody else will put a belt round you
and take you where you would rather not go.’ In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God. After this he said, ‘Follow
me.’
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Reflection on the Scriptures
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In Jesus Christ we see the perfect love of God - a God who cares intensely and who yearns over men and women, loving them to the point of laying down his life for them upon the Cross. Jesus is the revelation of God - a God who loves us completely, unconditionally and perfectly. Do you hunger to know God personally and to be united with the Father in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, through the unity of the Holy Spirit
who dwells with us? The Lord Jesus invites each of us to enter more deeply into a personal relationship of love and oneness of mind, heart, and spirit with the eternal Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who created us in love for love. If only I possessed the grace, good Jesus, to be utterly at one with you! Amidst all the variety of worldly things around me, Lord, the only thing I crave is unity with you. You are all my soul needs. Unite,
dear friend of my heart, this unique little soul of mine to your perfect goodness.You are all mine; when shall I be yours? Lord Jesus, my beloved, be the magnet of my heart; clasp, press, unite me for ever to your sacred heart. You have made me for yourself; make me one with you. Absorb this tiny drop of life into the ocean of goodness whence it came. (Prayer of Francis de Sales, 1567-1622)
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The Interior Castle (or, The Mansions), by St. Teresa of Avila Benedictines of Stanbrook translation. 1921.. Paperback, Hardcover Kindle, Audio Book.
https://amzn.to/41RmJFb THE THIRD MANSIONS Chapter ONE Treats of the insecurity of life in this exile, however high we may be raised, and of how we must always walk in fear (of over-confidence). Contains some good points. 12. Let us try ourselves, my sisters, or let our Lord try us; He knows
well how to do so (although we often pretend to misunderstand Him). We
will now
speak of these well-ordered souls. Let us consider what they
do for God and we shall see at once what little right we have to murmur
against His Majesty. If we turn our backs on Him and go away
sorrowfully like the youth in the Gospel [93] when He tells us what to
do to be perfect, what can God do? for He must proportion the reward to
our love for Him. This love, my daughters, must not be the fabric of
our imagination; we must prove it by our works. Yet do not suppose that
our Lord has need of any works of ours; He only expels us to manifest
our goodwill. [94]
13. It seems to us we have done everything by taking the religious
habit of our own will, and renouncing worldly things and all our
possessions for God (although they may have been but the nets of St.
Peter, [95] yet they
seemed much to us, for they were our all). This
is an excellent disposition: if we continue in it and do not return,
even in desire, to the company of the reptiles of the first rooms,
doubtless, by persevering in this poverty and detachment of soul, we
shall obtain all for which we strive. But, mark this--it must be on one
condition--that we hold ourselves for unprofitable servants,' [96] as
we
are told either by St. Paul or by Christ, and that we do not
consider that our Lord is bound to grant us any favours, but that, as
we have received more from Him, we are the deeper in His debt.
14. How little is all we can do for so generous a God, Who died for us,
Who created us, Who gives us being, that we should not think ourselves
happy to be able to acquit ourselves of part of the debt we owe Him
for
having served us, without asking Him for fresh mercies and favours? I
am loath to use this expression, yet so it is, for He did nothing else
during the whole time He lived in this world but serve us.
15. Think well my daughters, over some of the points I have treated,
although confusedly, for I do not know how to explain them better. Our
Lord will make you understand them, that you may reap
humility from
your dryness, instead of the disquietude the devil strives to cause by
it. I believe that where true humility exists, although God should
never bestow consolations, yet He gives a peace and resignation which
make the soul happier than are others with sensible devotion. These
consolations, as you have read, are often given by the Divine Majesty
to the weakest souls who, I suppose would
not exchange them for the
fortitude of Christians serving God in aridities: we love consolations
better than the cross! Do Thou, O Lord, Who knowest all truth, so prove
us that we may know ourselves.
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