A simple rule, to be followed whether one is in the light or not, gives backbone to one’s spiritual life, as nothing else can.
- Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941), The Letters of Evelyn Underhill
(By “rule,” here, she means a set of principles and practices
which, if followed, will enable deepening relationship with God and a life of holiness. Do you have such a "rule" to help you focus?) |
ACTS 25:13B-21; PS 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20AB
JN 21:15-19
After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them,
he said to Simon Peter,
"Simon, son of John,
do you love me more than these?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
He said to him the third time,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,
"Do you love me?" and
he said to him,
"Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go."
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow
me."
Reflection on the
Scriptures |
Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome. Like Jesus, they left home to speak words of new life to strangers. Some were hostile; others listened and their hearts were moved. A string of communities sprang up with local leaders instructed to “feed my sheep.” Religious and political authorities often mistrust travelers who arrive with new teachings. Troublemakers.
Apostates.
Faced with harsh opposition, what keeps people from fleeing? What is more powerful than fear? We draw courage from the witness of others. If she speaks up, maybe I won’t remain silent. Jesus was buoyed by feisty figures like John the Baptist. Jesus’ followers shared
stories that kept his memory strong. Remember the passion? We too can persevere. In the call to “follow me” Jesus promises to be with us through it all. Paul and Peter were not alone on the road that led to Rome. In dark hours, Jesus assures us that “the Holy Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of all I told you.”
God asks each person: do you love me? To answer God’s eager question takes us into our being. There at the core is love, the rock on which we stand. Emboldened by love, we go forth.
- by Jeanne Schuler Revelations of Divine
Love - by Julian of Norwich
Thirteenth Revelation, Chapter 39
“Sin is the sharpest scourge. . . .
By contrition we are made clean, by compassion we are made ready, and by true longing towards God we are made worthy”
SIN is the sharpest scourge that any chosen soul may be smitten with: which scourge thoroughly beateth man and woman, and maketh him hateful in his own sight, so far forth that afterwhile he thinketh himself he is not worthy but as to sink in hell,—till [that time] when contrition
taketh him by touching of the Holy Ghost, and turneth the bitterness into hopes of God’s mercy. And then He beginneth his wounds to heal, and the soul to quicken [as it is] turned unto the life of Holy Church. The Holy Ghost leadeth him to confession, with all his will to shew his sins nakedly and truly, with great sorrow and great shame that he hath defouled the fair image of God. Then receiveth he penance for every sin [as] enjoined by his doomsman that is grounded in Holy Church by the
teaching of the Holy Ghost. And this is one meekness that greatly pleaseth God; and also bodily sickness of God’s sending, and also sorrow and shame from without, and reproof, and despite of this world, with all manner of grievance and temptations that we be cast in, bodily and ghostly.
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