The love I bear Christ is but a faint and feeble spark, but it is an emanation from Himself: He
kindled it and He keeps it alive; and because it is His work, I trust many waters shall not quench it.
- John Newton (1725-1807)
(God's love never fails. Ask, and you shall
receive.)
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PHIL 3:3-8A; PS 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
LK 15:1-10
The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
"This man welcomes
sinners and eats with them."
So Jesus addressed this parable to them.
"What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them
would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert
and go after the lost one until he finds it?
And when he does find it,
he sets it on his shoulders with great joy
and, upon his arrival home,
he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them,
'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'
I tell you, in
just the same way
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous people
who have no need of repentance.
"Or what woman having ten coins and losing one
would not light a lamp and sweep the house,
searching carefully until she finds it?
And when she does find
it,
she calls together her friends and neighbors
and says to them,
'Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.'
In just the same way, I tell you,
there will be rejoicing among the angels of God
over one sinner who repents."
Reflection on the Scriptures |
The first reading from Paul to the Philippians (written while he was possibly in prison) begins, Brothers and sisters: We are the circumcision, we who worship through the Spirit of God, who boast in Christ Jesus and do not put our confidence in flesh, although I myself have grounds for confidence even in the flesh, is an echo from
Paul’s earlier lament to the Galatians a few weeks ago. Here again Paul is stressing that it is not the faithful observance of customs and traditions of the Church that are going to get one closer to Jesus, but truly living with and in the Spirit. Paul is again stating and trying to impress upon the early followers of Christ that they should realize the key to growing their relationship with Christ is living a life that is directed by the Holy Spirit and not necessarily centered on the law. .
.
Pope Francis says we have to leave room for the Spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to be the soul and guide of our lives in our every decision. If we are willing to “leave room for the Holy Spirit,” we need to become better at listening with our heart to God’s often soft voice calling us to respond to his plans for us, to open our eyes wider to the joy and
love that God bestows upon us each and every day, often in the smallest of ways, and we have to open our mouths and say yes to the Holy Spirit who is calling us to a closer and deeper relationship with our God. To live with the Spirit we must follow the Spirit.
- by Julie Kalkowshi
Revelations of Divine
Love - by Julian of Norwich
Fourteenth Revelation, Chapter 52
“We have now matter of mourning: for our
sin is cause of Christ’s pains; and we have, lastingly, matter of joy: for endless love made Him to suffer” The other manner of Regard was shewed inward: and that was more highly and all [fully] one. For the life and the virtue that we have in the lower part is of the higher, and it
cometh down to us [from out] of the Natural love of the [high] Self, by [the working of] grace. Atwix [the life of] the one and [the life of] the other there is right nought: for it is all one love. Which one blessed love hath now, in us, double working: for in the lower part are pains and passions, mercies and forgiveness, and such other that are profitable; but in the higher part are none of these, but all one high love and marvellous joy: in which joy all pains are highly restored. And in this
[time] our Lord showed not only our Excusing [from blame, in His beholding of our higher part], but the worshipful nobility that He shall bring us to [by the working of grace in our lower part], turning all our blame [that is therein, from our falling] into endless worship [when we be oned to the high Self above].
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