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The rule of justice is plain, namely, that a good person ought not to swerve from the truth, nor to inflict any unjust loss on anyone, nor to act in any way deceitfully or fraudulently.
- St. Ambrose
(Where in your life might you be doing so in word or deed? Resolve to change course if need be.)
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BAR 1:15-22; PS 79:1B-2, 3-5, 8, 9
LK 10:13-16
Jesus said to them,
"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would long ago have repented,
sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon
at the judgment than for you.
And as for you, Capernaum, 'Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the netherworld.'
Whoever listens to you listens to me.
Whoever rejects you rejects me.
And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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"We have been disobedient to the Lord, our God, and only too ready to disregard His voice." —Baruch 1:19
Jesus commented that His sheep "recognize His voice" and "follow Him" (Jn 10:4). Jesus' followers "will not follow a stranger; such a one they will flee, because they do not recognize a stranger's voice" (Jn 10:5). Sometimes the Lord's voice is not easy to hear. Jesus speaks softly, not crying out (Mt 12:19). The Lord often speaks most powerfully in "a still small voice" (1 Kgs 19:12, RSV-CE)
Like Mary of Bethany, we must choose the better part, put everything aside, sit at Jesus' feet, and listen to His voice (Lk 10:39). We must repent of disregarding His voice and diligently listen for it. We must shut off the TV and turn off our phones, tablets, and computers. If we don't turn off the voices of those competing with God for our attention, those voices may prevail (see Lk 23:23ff). We must rise
early while it is still quiet and listen for His voice. Otherwise, we will be "only too ready to disregard His voice" (Bar 1:19).
"Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 133) and of His voice. We will hear His voice if we are committed to hearing Him and committed to the truth (Jn 18:37).
On Judgment Day, all will hear and recognize Jesus' voice (Jn 5:28). Then it will be too late to repent and change (Jn 5:29). Will Judgment Day be the first time you recognize His voice? "Oh, that today you would hear His voice" (Ps 95:7).
Prayer: Jesus, like St. John the Baptizer, I will listen for you and rejoice greatly at the sound of Your voice (Jn 3:29).
Promise: "He who hears you, hears Me. He who rejects you, rejects Me. And he who rejects Me, rejects Him Who sent Me." —Lk 10:16
Presentation Ministries
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Abandonment to Divine Providence
- by Jean-Pierre de Caussade
BOOK II,
CHAPTER I. ON THE NATURE AND EXCELLENCE OF THE STATE OF ABANDONMENT
SECTION V. The Great Merit of Pure Faith
By the state of abandonment and of pure faith the soul gains more merit than by the most eminent good works.
That which is wonderful in the saints is the constancy of their faith under every circumstance; without this there would be no sanctity. In the loving faith which makes them rejoice in God for everything, their sanctity has no need of any extraordinary manifestation; this could only prove useful to others who might require the testimony of such signs; but the soul in this state, happy in its obscurity, does in
no way rely on these brilliant manifestations; it allows them to show outwardly for the profit of others, but keeps for itself what all have in common, the will of God, and His good pleasure. Its faith is proved in hiding, and not in manifesting itself, and those who require more proof have less faith.
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