If we are to accept the teaching of Jesus at all, then the only test of the reality of a one's religion is his attitude to others. The only possible proof that one loves God is the demonstrated fact of love of neighbor.
- William Barclay (1907-1978), In the Hands of God
(Such a simple way to evaluate where we are with God. Keep this norm before you all day today.)
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EST C:12, 14-16, 23-25; Ps 138:1-2AB, 2CDE-3, 7C-8
MT 7:7-12
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which one of you would hand his son a stone
when he asked for a loaf of bread,
or a snake when he asked for a fish?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father give good things
to those who ask him.
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the law and the prophets.”
Reflection on the Scriptures |
In speaking of this gospel Pope Francis noted, “That’s an almost incredible guarantee that our prayers will always be heard.” But, Francis continued, “He doesn’t tell us ‘Ask and you’ll get whatever you ask for.’ He instructs us to seek but he doesn’t tell us exactly what we’ll find. He tells us to knock but he doesn’t say what will be waiting for us on the other side of the
opened door. But he promises us that our prayers will be heard and God will respond.”
So, while we don’t know how our prayers will be answered, we do know they will be heard. Our faith tells us that God is really listening to us. And this might be the year to reframe the season of Lent, from one of “giving up something” to one of asking God what gift he wants to give us this Lent.
I can knock on the door, I can seek and ask for the help to love more generously. If I can pray with that every day in Lent and make that my Lent commitment, that will deepen my experience of Lent and my own relationship with Jesus.
- by Maureen McCann Waldron
Revelations of Divine Love
- by Julian of Norwich
Sixteenth Revelation, Chapter 72
Three manners of looking seen in our Lord's Countenance
Glad and joyous and sweet is the Blissful lovely Cheer of our Lord to our souls. For He [be]holdeth us ever, living in love-longing: and He willeth that our soul be in glad cheer to Him, to give Him His meed. And thus, I hope, with His grace He hath [drawn], and more shall draw, the Outer Cheer to the Inner Cheer, and make us all one with Him, and each of us with other, in true lasting joy that is
Jesus.
I have signifying of Three manners of Cheer of our Lord. The first is Cheer of Passion, as He shewed while He was here in this life, dying. Though this [manner of] Beholding be mournful and troubled, yet it is glad and joyous: for He is God.—The second manner of Cheer is [of] Ruth and Compassion: and this sheweth He, with sureness of Keeping, to all His lovers that betake them to His mercy. The third is the
Blissful Cheer, as it shall be without end: and this was [shewed] oftenest and longest-continued.
And thus in the time of our pain and our woe He sheath us Cheder of his passion and His Cross, helping us to bear it by His own blessed virtue. And in the time of our sinning He sheweth to us Cheer of Ruth and Pity, mightily keeping us and defending us against all our enemies. And these be the common Cheer which He sheweth to us in this life; therewith mingling the third: and that is His Blissful Cheer, like, in
part, as it shall be in Heaven. Andthat [shewing is] by gracious touching and sweet lighting of the spiritual life, whereby that we are kept in sure faith, hope, and charity, with contrition and devotion, and also with contemplation and all manner of true solace and sweet comforts.
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