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Instead of allowing yourself to be so unhappy, just let your love grow as God wants it to grow. Seek goodness in others. Love more persons more—love them more impersonally, more unselfishly, without thought of return. The return, never fear, will take care of itself.
… Henry Drummond
(1851-1897)
(Love is its own "reward." Be more open to love and loving this day.)
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ACTS 11:1-18; PS 42:2-3; 43:3, 4
JN 10:1-10
Jesus said:
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate
but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.
But whoever enters through the
gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice,
as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
When he has driven out all his own,
he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him,
because they recognize his voice.
But they will not follow a stranger;
they will run away from him,
because they do not recognize the voice of strangers."
Although Jesus used this figure of speech,
they did not realize what he was
trying to tell them.
So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
I am the gate for the sheep.
All who came before me are thieves and robbers,
but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate.
Whoever enters through me will be saved,
and will come in and go out and find pasture.
A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy;
I came so that they might have life and have
it more abundantly."
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture |
"Who was I to be able to hinder God?" —Acts
11:17
St. Peter asks an excellent question: "Who was I to be able to hinder God?" It's God's plan to work through people like St. Peter and people like you and me. It's a great mystery that God, Who is all-powerful, would put Himself in such a position that we humans have the capability to hinder Him!
Peter's question should also be on our lips as well. How many times and ways have we been able to hinder God in His work on earth? As the leader of this One Bread, One Body ministry, I am in a position to be able to hinder some of God's work through this book, and, sad to say, I have hindered God occasionally. Yet He continues to use this booklet fruitfully both because of me and despite me. I often imagine what God could do with this booklet if I never hindered Him, but
always helped Him, and even hastened His work (2 Pt 3:12).
Think of the work God wants to do through you. He has placed you in a unique situation on earth. No one has the same influence on your family, vocation, parish, workplace, school, etc. as you have. The Lord has special plans to accomplish His will through you. You can hinder his work, help it, or hasten it. God can work all things to the good
despite you (Rm 8:28), but His plan is to work through You because of your loving obedience and joyful service (see Heb 11:40). His will be done (Mt 6:10).
Prayer: Father, may I never be an obstacle to You. Use me to bear abundant and lasting fruit for You (Jn 15:5).
Promise: "I came that they might have life and
have it to the full." —Jn 10:10
Presentation Ministries
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Abandonment to Divine Providence - by Jean-Pierre de Caussade Take notice
that they are in complete harmony with those which Our Lord desires that we should have always on our lips and in our hearts: “fiat voluntas tua.” It is true that what was required of Mary at this great moment, was for her very great glory, but the magnificence of this glory would have made no impression on her if she had not seen in it the fulfillment of the will of God. In all things was she ruled by the divine will. Were her occupations ordinary, or of an elevated nature, they were
to her but the manifestation, sometimes obscure, sometimes clear, of the operations of the most High, in which she found alike subject matter for the glory of God. Her spirit, transported with joy, looked upon all that she had to do or to suffer at each moment as the gift of Him who fills with good things the hearts of those who hunger and thirst for Him alone, and have no desire for created things. — Book 1, Chapter 1, Section 1
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