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The great question for us now is, “Do we believe in that love of God which Christ taught by His words, and of which His followers saw in His voluntary death a crowning manifestation?” And remember that even belief in the love of God will do us no good unless it awakes answering love in ourselves—unless it adds to our hatred of the sin which separates us from God and increases our love of other men.
- James Hastings Rashdall (1858-1924), Principles and Precepts
(Let God's love awaken "answering love" in you this day.)
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LV 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34B-37; PS 81:3-4, 5-6, 10-11AB
MT 13:54-58
Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue.
They were astonished and said,
"Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?
Is he not the carpenter's son?
Is not his mother named Mary
and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
Are not his sisters all with us?
Where did this man get all this?"
And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them,
"A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and in his own house."
And he did not work many mighty deeds there
because of their lack of faith.
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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"Isn't this the carpenter's Son? Isn't Mary known to be His mother and James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas His brothers? Aren't His sisters our neighbors? Where did He get all this?" —Matthew 13:55-56
Jesus' hometown folk rejected Him because they judged Him based on his relatives. People make the same mistake to the present day. Gandhi, for example, was very impressed by Jesus, but never became a Christian because he was unimpressed with Jesus' relatives, that is, us, Jesus' brothers and sisters. Many people say they quit the Church because of the hypocrites in it. They too reject Jesus because of His so-called followers. How many people turn their backs on Jesus because they were offended
by a pastor or some other person in their church?
Judge Jesus based on His crucifixion and Resurrection for love of you. Judge Jesus based on His nail-scarred hands and thorn-crowned head. Judge Jesus for Himself and not for us, His relatives.
Judge yourself for any sins by which you deface and obscure the image of Jesus in your life. Judge yourself for not fully responding to His crucified and risen love, for Jesus will judge you on Judgment Day.
Prayer: Father, help me fix my eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2).
Promise: "Jesus said to them, 'No prophet is without honor except in his native place, indeed in his own house.' " —Mt 13:57
Presentation Ministries
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Abandonment to Divine Providence
- by Jean-Pierre de Caussade
CHAPTER II. THE DIVINE ACTION WORKS UNCEASINGLY FOR THE SANCTIFICATION OF SOULS.
SECTION XII. The Divine Word, Our Model
The divine action alone can sanctify us, for that alone can make us imitate the divine Example of our perfection.
I will now become Your disciple, and will frequent no other school than Yours. Like the Prodigal Son I return hungering for Your bread. I relinquish the ideas which tend only to the satisfaction of mental curiosity; I will no longer run after masters and books but will only make use of them as of other things that present themselves, not for my own satisfaction, but in dependence on the divine action and in
obedience to You. For love of You and to discharge my debts I will confine myself to the one essential business, that of the present moment, and thus enable You to act.
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