In the rush and noise of life, as you have intervals, step within yourselves and be still. Wait upon God and feel his good
presence; this will carry you through your day's business.
- William Penn
(Mini-sabbaths: a practice for re-focusing in God through the day.)
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IS 26:1-6; PS 118:1 AND 8-9, 19-21, 25-27A
MT 7:21, 24-27
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,'
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
"Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined."
Reflection on the Scriptures |
I know that I am much better at listening to the Gospel than to my physician. (I still need to improve my diet, get more exercise and lose weight.) I am concerned with trying to understand the message in context. Again, this leads me to consider the various ways Jesus’ message could be understood rather than a literal acceptance of the text. I do not enjoy the ambiguity that this
creates or relish the extra effort that it requires.
I see the foundation in today’s Gospel as corresponding to one’s character. I see Jesus as asking, “How does one respond to challenges and difficulties?”. Does one respond with grit and resilience or is one willing to give up when faced with unpleasant demands or adversity? I recall the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and
fear of the Lord. They seem well matched to such an understanding of today’s Gospel.
by Mike Cherney
Revelations of Divine Love
- by Julian of Norwich
Fifteenth Revelation, Chapter 66
“All was closed, and I saw no more.” “For the folly of feeling a little bodily pain I unwisely lost for the time the comfort of all this blessed Shewing of our Lord God”
AND after this the good Lord shewed the Sixteenth [Revelation] on the night following, as I shall tell after: which Sixteenth was conclusion and confirmation to all fifteen.
Then came a Religious person to me and asked me how I fared. I said I had raved to-day. And he laughed loud and heartily. And I said: The Cross that stood afore my face, methought it bled fast. And with this word the person that I spake to waxed all sober and marvelled. And anon I was sore ashamed and astonished for my recklessness, and I thought: This man taketh in sober earnest
the least word that I might say. Then said I no more thereof. And when I saw that he took it earnestly and with so great reverence, I wept, full greatly ashamed, and would have been shriven; but at that time I could tell it no priest, for I thought: How should a priest believe me? I believe not our Lord God. This [Shewing] I believed verily for the time that I saw Him, and so was then my will and my meaning ever for to do without end; but as a fool I let it pass from my mind. Ah! lo, wretch that
I am! this was a great sin, great unkindness, that I for folly of feeling of a little bodily pain, so unwisely lost for the time the comfort of all this blessed Shewing of our Lord God. Here may you see what I am of myself.
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