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Message of the Day
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It is a fact of Christian experience that life is a series of troughs and peaks. In his efforts to get permanent possession of a soul, God relies on the troughs more than the peaks. And some of his special favourites have gone through longer and deeper troughs than anyone else. - Peter Marshall
Peak or trough: what is it for you at this time in life? How is God with you, and how are you with God?
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Readings of the Day
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James 1:1-11
Psalm 119:67, 68, 71, 72, 75, 76 Mark 8:11-13 The Pharisees came
up and started a discussion with Jesus; they demanded of him a sign from heaven, to test him. And with a sigh that came straight from the heart he said, ‘Why does this generation demand a sign? I tell you solemnly, no sign shall be given to this generation.’ And leaving them again and re-embarking, he went away to the opposite
shore. USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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“My brothers, count it pure joy when you are involved in every sort of trial.” —James 1:2 For about thirty years I have taught the Lord’s command to
consider various trials “all joy.” Today I read this in my hospital room. I haven’t been allowed to eat or drink even water or ice chips for about a day. I’ve had an IV stuck in me for hours. And I have had four enemas. It has never been more clear to me that the command to consider trials “all joy” is truly a miracle. This command is not a burdensome challenge to our will-power but a call to rise above ourselves and live in the
supernatural dimension by utterly depending on the Lord. This grace strengthens our faith, producing perseverance which can result in our becoming “fully mature and lacking in nothing” (Jas 1:4). How privileged we are to be commanded to do things that we cannot do! How blessed we are to move from grace to grace and not just from human limitation to human limitation! May we let the Lord repeatedly do the impossible in our lives. Let us rejoice in sufferings (Col 1:24; 1 Pt 4:13), love our enemies
(Lk 6:27, 35), deny our very selves (Lk 9:23) and generally do things we cannot do. Live the new, abundant, eternal life in the Lord. Prayer: Father, fill me with joy through living in You. Promise: “If any of you is without wisdom, let him ask it from the God Who gives generously and ungrudgingly to all, and it will be given him.” —Jas
1:5 Presentation Ministries
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Spiritual Reading
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Dilexi Te: On the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ, by Pope Francis (completed by Pope Leo XIII), 2025.
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/20241024-enciclica-dilexit-nos.html
CHAPTER TWO
ACTIONS AND WORDS OF LOVE
32. The heart of Christ, as the symbol of the deepest and most personal source of his love for us, is the very core of the initial preaching of the Gospel. It stands at the origin of
our faith, as the wellspring that refreshes and enlivens our Christian beliefs. Jesus' Words 43. Although the Scriptures preserve Jesus’ words, ever alive and timely, there are moments when he speaks to us inwardly, calls us and leads us to a better place. That better place is his heart. There he invites us to find fresh strength and peace: “Come to me, all who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give
you rest” (Mt 11:28). In this sense, he could say to his disciples, “Abide in me” (Jn 15:4). 44. Jesus’ words show that his holiness did not exclude deep emotions. On various occasions, he demonstrated a love that was both passionate and compassionate. He could be deeply moved and grieved, even to the point of shedding tears. It is clear that Jesus was not indifferent to the daily cares and concerns of people, such as their weariness or hunger: “I
have compassion for this crowd... they have nothing to eat... they will faint on the way, and some of them have come from a great distance” (Mk 8:2-3). |
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