|
|
When my body is pained, it is not wrong to wish for relief. When overtaken by sickness, it is not wrong to send for the physician. You may call this selfishness, which He who made us what we are, and who gave us these instincts, expects us to act upon; and in acting on which, we may count upon his blessing, not his rebuke. It is not wrong to dread hell, to desire heaven, to flee from
torments, to long for blessedness, to shun condemnation, and to desire pardon.
- Horatius Bonar
(Self-love! How is this different from selfishness? How can you be more self-loving these days?)
|
|
|
1 JN 5:5-13; PS 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20
LK 5:12-16
It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was;
and when he saw Jesus,
he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said,
"Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean."
Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said,
"I do will it. Be made clean."
And the leprosy left him immediately.
Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but
"Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing
what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them."
The report about him spread all the more,
and great crowds assembled to listen to him
and to be cured of their ailments,
but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.
USCCB lectionary
|
Reflection on the Scripture |
"There are three that testify, the Spirit and the water and the blood." —1 John 5:7-8
To be baptized in the Holy Spirit means to be immersed in the Holy Spirit and therefore in the Father and the Son (see Mt 28:19). This means we are no longer immersed in our own concerns, feelings, and thoughts but have died to ourselves (see Lk 9:23). To be baptized in the Spirit is to be crucified with Christ (Gal 2:19-20) and to "live no longer" for ourselves but for Him (2 Cor 5:15). Knowing this, will you still pray: "Come, Holy Spirit"?
The Holy Spirit testifies, that is, gives witness for Jesus (1 Jn 5:6; Jn 15:26). The word for "witness" in Greek is "martyr." This shows that witnesses for Jesus are often persecuted or even killed, as was Jesus. If you pray for the Holy Spirit, you are volunteering to be a witness for Jesus. You are getting yourself in trouble, putting yourself in danger, and risking your life. Nevertheless, will you pray: "Come, Holy Spirit"?
Will you have the true Christmas Spirit, the Holy Spirit? You will have the Spirit only as much as you die to self and accept the cross. In this new year, pray, Come, Holy Spirit!
Prayer: Father, on this Epiphany, give me the Christmas Spirit no matter what. May I want the Spirit more than I want pleasure, comfort, and acceptance from others.
Promise: "Whoever possesses the Son possesses life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not possess life. I have written this to you to make you realize that you possess eternal life — you who believe in the name of the Son of God." —1 Jn 5:12-13
Presentation Ministries
|
|
|
Abandonment to Divine Providence
- by Jean-Pierre de Caussade
CHAPTER II. THE DIVINE ACTION WORKS UNCEASINGLY FOR THE SANCTIFICATION OF SOULS.
SECTION III. How to Discover what is the Will of God.
The divine action places before us at every moment things of infinite value, and gives them to us according to the measure of our faith and love.
The whole creation cannot fill the human heart, for it is greater than all that is not God. It is on a higher plane than the material creation, and for this reason nothing material can satisfy it. The divine will is a deep abyss of which the present moment is the entrance. If you plunge into this abyss you will find it infinitely more vast than your desires. Do not flatter anyone, nor worship your own illusions, they can neither
give you anything nor receive anything from you. Receive your fulness from the will of God alone, it will not leave you empty. Adore it, put it first, before all things; tear all disguises from vain pretences and forsake them all going straight to the sole reality. The reign of faith is death to the senses; it is their spoliation, their destruction. The senses worship creatures; faith adores the divine will. Destroy the idols of the senses and they will rebel and lament, but faith must triumph
because the will of God is indestructible. When the senses are terrified, or famished, despoiled, or crushed, then it is that faith is nourished, enriched and enlivened. Faith laughs at these calamities as a governor of an impregnable fortress laughs at the useless attacks of an impotent foe. When a soul recognises the will of God and shows a readiness to submit to it entirely, then God gives Himself to such a soul and renders it most powerful succour under all circumstances. Thus it experiences
a great happiness in this coming of God, and enjoys it the more, the more it has learnt to abandon itself at every moment to His adorable will.
|
|
Paperback, Hardback, Kindle
|
|
Please support this outreach with a tax-deductible donation.
|
|
|
