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Our religious activities should be ordered in such a way as to have plenty of time for the cultivation of the fruits of solitude and silence.
- A. W. Tozer
(What fruits do you experience from time spent in solitude and silence?)
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WIS 2:1A, 12-22; Ps 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 AND 23
JN 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
Jesus moved about within Galilee;
he did not wish to travel in Judea,
because the Jews were trying to kill him.
But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.
But when his brothers had gone up to the feast,
he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret.
Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said,
“Is he not the one they are trying to kill?
And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him.
Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ?
But we know where he is from.
When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.”
So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said,
“You know me and also know where I am from.
Yet I did not come on my own,
but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true.
I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.”
So they tried to arrest him,
but no one laid a hand upon him,
because his hour had not yet come.
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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"With revilement and torture let us put Him to the test that we may have proof of His gentleness and try His patience. Let us condemn Him to a shameful death." —Wisdom 2:19-20
"At this they tried to seize Him, but no one laid a finger on Him because His hour had not yet come." —John 7:30
Jesus suffered for love of us not only during His long hours on the cross but also in His three years of public ministry. Even early in Jesus' ministry, there were attempts to kill Him (see Lk 4:29-30). This continued throughout His ministry with even greater intensity (see Jn 7:1, 30; 8:59). Although some people accepted Jesus at least temporarily, for the most part Jesus was the Keystone of the structure Who was rejected by the builders (Mt 21:42; Ps 118:22). Incredibly, Jesus was accused of
being in league with the devil (Mk 3:22). Even His relatives thought He was crazy (Mk 3:21). Peter, the leader of Jesus' apostles, denied Jesus three times. Judas betrayed Jesus by selling Him for thirty pieces of silver. Furthermore, Jesus, Who is God and therefore lives outside of time, was rejected and brutalized by the sins of each one of us.
Jesus suffered more than anyone has ever suffered. It is impossible for any creature to conceive of the magnitude of His suffering. Jesus loves more than anyone has ever loved. He is literally Love Himself (see 1 Jn 4:16). As we have personally caused His sufferings, may we take personally His crucified love. Give yourself totally to Jesus and worship Him forever.
Prayer: Father, send the Holy Spirit to lead me more deeply into the mystery of Christ's sufferings.
Promise: "They knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls' reward." —Wis 2:22
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 V. The Common Way of All Souls
The soul that aims at union with God should value all the operations of His grace, but should only attach itself to that of the present moment.
It is by union with the will of God that we enjoy and possess Him; and it is an illusion to endeavour to obtain this divine enjoyment by any other means. Union with the will of God is the universal means. It does not act by one method only, but all methods and all ways are, by its virtue, sanctified. The divine will unites God to our souls in many different ways, and that which suits us is always best for us. All ways
should be esteemed and loved, because in each we should behold that which is ordained by God accommodating itself to each individual soul, and selecting the most suitable method of effecting by it the divine union. The duty of the soul is to submit to this choice, and to make none for itself; and this without dispensing itself from esteeming and loving this adorable will in its work in others. For instance, if this divine will should prevent me saying vocal prayers, having sensible devotion, or
receiving lights on mysteries, I should still love and esteem the silence and bareness induced by the sight of the faith of others; while for myself I should make use of the present moment, and by it should become united to God. I should not, as the Quietists do, reduce all religion to personal inaction despising all other means; because what makes perfection is obedience to the law of God which always renders the means it applies suitable to the soul. No! I should not admit of obstacles or
bounds to the will of God, neither should I take anything in place of it, but should welcome it in whatever way it was made manifest to me, and should revere it in whatever way it was pleased to unite itself to others.
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