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The Divine Wisdom has given us prayer, not as a means whereby to obtain the good things of earth, but as a means whereby we learn to do without them; not as a means whereby we escape evil, but as a means whereby we become strong to meet it.
- Frederick W. Robertson (1816-1853)
(How does this speak to your experience of prayer these days?)
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1 SM 24:3-21; Psalm 57:2, 3-4, 6 AND 11
MK 3:13-19
Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted
and they came to him.
He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles,
that they might be with him
and he might send them forth to preach
and to have authority to drive out demons:
He appointed the Twelve:
Simon, whom he named Peter;
James, son of Zebedee,
and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges,
that is, sons of thunder;
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus;
Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean,
and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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David said: "I decided, 'I will not raise a hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.' " —1 Samuel 24:11
David spared Saul's life when he had a perfect chance to kill his tormentor. David was a seasoned warrior who had killed many opponents (e.g. see 1 Sm 23:5; 30:17ff). The only reason David held back his hand was because Saul carried the anointing of leadership from God. Saul had been chosen by God (1 Sm 10:1).
Jesus "summoned the men He Himself had decided on" (Mk 3:13). It wasn't that the twelve apostles were especially qualified for their position; their only qualification was that they were chosen by the Lord (Jn 15:16). Saul looked like a poor choice by God. Likewise, it often appeared that the Lord had chosen His apostles poorly. They made mistake after mistake, and at times completely failed to understand Jesus (Mk
6:52).
It's not unusual to hear people remark today that church leaders are incompetent. These leaders may seem foolish to some, but "God's folly is wiser than men, and His weakness more powerful than men" (1 Cor 1:25). God speaks through those He anointed and chose (Jn 15:16). For example, if God wishes to speak about marriage through celibate men, that doesn't make His message any less truthful. It is arrogance to assert
that God is not powerful enough to lead and teach accurately through those He chooses, even those who appear unqualified.
May all God's people imitate David, who so respected God's choice of Saul that he preferred to be persecuted rather than do any harm to the Lord's anointed (1 Sm 24:14; 26:19).
Prayer: Lord, may I walk by faith in You, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7).
Promise: "In the shadow of Your wings I take refuge, till harm pass by." —Ps 57:2
Presentation Ministries
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Abandonment to Divine Providence
- by Jean-Pierre de Caussade
BOOK II,
CHAPTER II. THE DUTIES OF THOSE SOULS CALLED BY GOD TO THE STATE OF ABANDONMENT
SECTION I. Sacrifice, the Foundation of Sanctity. The first great duty of souls called by God to this state is the absolute and entire surrender of themselves to Him.
________________
The soul, in the state of faith, which knows the secret of God, dwells always in peace. All that takes place interiorly, instead of alarming, reassures it. Deeply convinced that it is guided by God, it takes all that happens as so much grace, and overlooking the instrument with which God works, it thinks only of the work that He is doing.
It is actuated by love to fulfill faithfully and exactly all its duties. All that is distinct in a soul abandoned to God, is the work of grace, with the exception of those defects which are slight, and which the action of grace even turns to good account. I call that distinct of which a soul receives a sensible impression either of sorrow or consolation through those things applied to it unceasingly by the
divine will for its improvement. I call it distinct because it is more clearly distinguished by the soul from all else that takes place within it. In all these things faith sees only God, and applies itself solely to become conformed to His will.
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