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O plain, and easy, and simple way of salvation, wanting no subtleties of art or science, no borrowed learning, no refinements of reason, but all done by the simple natural motion of every heart, that truly longs after God. For no sooner is the finite desire of the creature in motion towards God, but the infinite desire of God is united with it, co-operates with it. And in this united desire of God, and the
creature, is the salvation and life of the soul brought forth.
- William Law (1686-1761), The Spirit of Prayer
(God meets us more than halfway in any prayer or spiritual longing. Rest in the awareness of God's longing for you.)
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Heb 4:1-5, 11; Psalm 78:3 and 4bc, 6c-7, 8
Mk 2:1-12
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days,
it became known that he was at home.
Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them,
not even around the door,
and he preached the word to them.
They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd,
they opened up the roof above him.
After they had broken through,
they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him,
“Child, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?”
Jesus immediately knew in his mind what
they were thinking to themselves,
so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”
–he said to the paralytic,
“I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”
He rose, picked up his mat at once,
and went away in the sight of everyone.
They were all astounded
and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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“When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, ‘My son, your sins are forgiven.’ ” —Mark 2:5
When Jesus saw the roof being dismantled, He spoke of the forgiveness of sins. When He saw paralysis, He thought of forgiveness. When He hung on the cross, He said: “Father, forgive them” (Lk 23:34). Jesus clearly has forgiveness on His mind.
If we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16), we also will be preoccupied with forgiveness. When we watch or read objectionable material, we will pray: “Father, forgive us.” When we feel sick, we’ll go to Confession before going to the doctor. When the phone rings, the word “forgiveness” will be on the tip of our tongues.
How many times have you said the word “forgiveness” today? Since forgiveness is the solution to our problems, we should be frequently telling the Good News that forgiveness is available to all through Jesus’ blood shed on Calvary. If we’re not speaking of forgiveness, we’re not dealing with the heart of our problems but speaking only on a superficial level.
Receive forgiveness; give forgiveness; proclaim forgiveness.
Prayer: Father, “forgive us the wrong we have done” (Mt 6:12).
Promise: “Let us strive to enter into that rest, so that no one may fall, in imitation of the example of Israel’s unbelief.” —Heb 4:11
Presentation Ministries
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Abandonment to Divine Providence
- by Jean-Pierre de Caussade
BOOK II,
CHAPTER IV. CONCERNING THE ASSISTANCE RENDERED BY THE FATHERLY PROVIDENCE OF GOD TO THOSE SOULS WHO HAVE ABANDONED THEMSELVES TO HIM
SECTION IV. The Most Ordinary Things are Channels of Grace.
In the state of abandonment God guides the soul more safely the more completely He seems to blind it.
Without method, yet most exact; without rule, yet most orderly; without reflexion, yet most profound; without skill, yet thoroughly well constructed; without effort, yet everything accomplished; and without foresight, yet nothing better suited to unexpected events. Spiritual reading with the divine action, often contains a meaning that the author never thought of. God makes use of the words and actions of others to infuse
truths which might otherwise have remained hidden. If He wishes to impart light in this way, it is for the submissive soul to avail itself of this light. Every expedient of the divine action has an efficacy which always surpasses its apparent and natural virtue...
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