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See how nature -- trees and flowers and grass -- grow in silence. See the stars, the moon, and the sun, how they move in silence. The more we receive in silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life."
- St. Teresa of Calcutta
(Silence renews. Is there enough silence in your life? How can you reduce the "noise" you're exposed to each day?)
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JB 1:6-22; PS 17:1BCD, 2-3, 6-7
LK 9:46-50
An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
"Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest."
Then John said in reply,
"Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company."
Jesus said to him,
"Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you." USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture |
"Is it for nothing that Job
is God-fearing?" —Job 1:9
Job was the holiest person on the face of the earth. There was "no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil" (Jb 1:8). Because he was so open to God's graces, he was able to receive from God a beautiful family and many other blessings. So Satan accused Job of serving God for the benefits and not from pure love. God let Job prove Satan wrong
by letting Satan destroy Job's family and bankrupt Job all in one day. Job continued to love God even in severe adversity. Job proclaimed: "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!" (Jb 1:21) Job served God not for perishable benefits (see Jn 6:27), but from true love. Job's motives for serving God were not mixed but pure motives. Job loved God unconditionally, as God loved him.
Why are you a Christian? Would you love the Lord even if there was no heaven or hell? Would you love God if He let your spouse or children die tragically? Would you love God if He permitted you to experience adversity instead of prosperity? Would you praise God even if you were confused about what He was allowing in your life? Are you willing to say: "Though the fig tree blossom not nor fruit be on the vines,
though the yield of the olive fail and the terraces produce no nourishment, though the flocks disappear from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet will I rejoice in the Lord and exult in my saving God"? (Hab 3:17-18)
Look at Jesus on the cross. Love God unconditionally.
Prayer: Father, may my love for You be pure. Do whatever necessary to purify it.
Promise: "Whoever welcomes this little child on My account welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes Him Who sent Me; for the least one among you is the greatest." —Lk 9:48
Presentation Ministries
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Abandonment to Divine Providence - by Jean-Pierre de Caussade Section VII: To
estimate degrees of excellence
The perfection of souls, and the degree of excellence to which they have attained can be gauged by their fidelity to the order established by God. ____
To compare the different states as they are in themselves can do nothing to improve us, since it is neither in the amount of work, nor in the sort of duties given to us that perfection is to be found. If self-love is the motive power of our acts, or if it be not immediately crushed when discovered, our supposed abundance will be in truth absolute poverty because it is not supplied by obedience to the will of God. However, to decide the question in some way, I think that
holiness can be measured by the love one has for God, and the desire to please Him, and that the more His will is the guiding principle, and His plans conformed to and loved, the greater will be the holiness, no matter what may be the means made use of.
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