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Message of the Day
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The Word of God is the informing power of the revelation of God in the finite world. It is not, by any figure, to be identified solely with a book, or a temple, or a minister, or a shrine. ... Elisha Mulford, The Republic of God
(The Word as God's formative influence, present everywhere: open your heart to be formed by this creative
power.)
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Readings of the Day
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Colossians
2:6-15
Psalm 145:1b-2, 8-9, 10-11 Luke 6:12-19 Jesus went out into the hills to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them ‘apostles’: Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James
son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became a traitor.
He then came down with them and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and from Jerusalem and from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. People tormented by unclean spirits were also cured,
and everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him because power came out of him that cured them
all. USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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“At daybreak He called His disciples and selected twelve of them to be His apostles.” —Luke 6:13
Jesus chose twelve apostles in whom He invested
the last three years of His life. We, as followers of Jesus, are also called to invest our lives in not just a nuclear family or a circle of friends, but in a small Christian community. By virtue of our Baptisms, we are called to live as brothers and sisters in Christ. We should be brothers and sisters not only in name but in practice. We are called to devote ourselves “to the apostles’ instruction and the communal life, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). “The community of
believers were of one heart and one mind” (Acts 4:32), and we are called to be the same. “Behold, how good it is, and how pleasant, where brethren dwell at one!” (Ps 133:1) We are not only called to go to church together, work together, and pray together. Our unity is not to be superficial. We are called to Trinitarian unity — to be one as Jesus and the Father are one (Jn 17:21). The Holy Spirit makes us one (Eph 4:3). Repent! Stir into
flame the gift of the Holy Spirit (2 Tm 1:6-7). In obedience to the Lord, accept twelve disciples with whom the Lord is calling you to share your life. Be one. Be holy. Be Christian. Prayer: Father, free me to live my baptismal brotherhood or sisterhood to the fullest. Promise: “Continue, therefore, to live in Christ Jesus the Lord, in the spirit in which you received Him.”
—Col 2:6 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 Fourteenth Letter Gratitude, for mercies to his correspondent,
and measure of relief while he has himself been near death, but with consolation in his suffering. I RENDER thanks to our LORD, for having relieved you a little, according to your desire. I have been often near expiring, though I was never so much satisfied as then. Accordingly I did not pray for any relief, but I prayed for strength to suffer with courage, humility, and love. Ah, how sweet is it to suffer with GOD! however great the
sufferings may be, receive them with love. 'Tis paradise to suffer and be with Him; so that if in this life we would enjoy the peace of paradise, we must accustom ourselves to a familiar, humble, affectionate con- versation with Him: we must hinder our spirits wandering from Him upon any occasion: we must make our heart a spiritual temple, wherein to adore Him incessantly: we must watch continually over ourselves, that we may not do, nor say, nor think anything that may displease Him. When our
minds are thus employed about GOD, suffering will become full of unction and consolation. I know that to arrive at this state, the beginning is very difficult; for we must act purely in faith. But though it is difficult, we know also that we can do all things with the grace of GOD, which He never refuses to them who ask it earnestly. Knock, persevere in knocking, and I answer for it that He will open to you in His due time, and grant you
all at once what He has deferred during many years. Adieu. Pray to Him for me, as I pray to Him for you. I hope to see Him quickly. |
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