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This power of being outwardly genial and inwardly austere, which is the real Christian temper, depends entirely upon the time set apart for personal religion. It is always achieved if courageously and faithfully sought; and there are no heights of love and holiness to which it cannot lead.
... Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941)
(Spiritual discipline bears good fruit if practiced regularly. What have you noticed lately?)
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Acts 25:13b-21; Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab
Jn 21:15-19
After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them,
he said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,
“Do you love me?” and he said to him,
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go.”
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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“Be on guard, therefore. Do not forget that for three years, night and day, I never ceased warning you individually even to the point of tears.” —Acts 20:31
St. Paul warned the Ephesian Christians individually for three years, night and day. He warned them of “savage wolves” from their own number who would distort the truth and lead astray any who follow them (Acts 20:29-30).
Guarding Christians against false teaching is a major emphasis in the New Testament. Jesus warns us against wolves in sheep’s clothing (Mt 7:15) and hireling shepherds who don’t protect the sheep (Jn 10:12-13). Paul told St. Timothy to “stay on in Ephesus in order to warn certain people there against teaching false doctrines” (1 Tm 1:3). He warned Timothy: “The time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but,
following their own desires, will surround themselves with teachers who tickle their ears. They will stop listening to the truth and will wander off to fables” (2 Tm 4:3-4).
Using the sword of the Spirit (see Eph 6:17), the Church is to be “the pillar and bulwark of truth” (1 Tm 3:15). In the power of “the Spirit of Truth” (see Jn 16:13), we are “to fight hard for the faith delivered once for all to the saints” (Jude 3). We “must hold fast to the authentic message, so that [we] will be able both to encourage men to follow sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it. There are many
irresponsible teachers” (Ti 1:9-10). “Their lustful ways will lure many away. Through them, the true way will be made subject to contempt” (2 Pt 2:2).
Therefore, “guard the rich deposit of faith with the help of the Holy Spirit Who dwells within us” (2 Tm 1:14).
Prayer: Father, on this sixth day of the novena to the Holy Spirit, send the Spirit of truth.
Promise: “I consecrate Myself for their sakes now, that they may be consecrated in truth.” —Jn 17:19
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 10. We must see God in all creatures!
In the state of abandonment the soul finds more light and strength, through submission to the divine action, than all those possess who resist it through pride.
Of what use are the most sublime illuminations, the most divine revelations, if one has no love for the will of God? It was because of this that Lucifer fell. The ruling of the divine action revealed to him by God, in showing him the mystery of the Incarnation, produced in him nothing but envy.
On the other hand a simple soul, enlightened only by faith, can never tire of admiring, praising, and loving the order of God; of finding it not only in holy creatures, but even in the most irregular confusion and disorder. One grain of pure faith will give more light to a simple soul than Lucifer received in his highest intelligence. The devotion of the faithful soul to its obligations; its quiet
submission to the intimate promptings of grace; its gentleness and humility towards everyone; are of more value than the most profound insight into mysteries. If one regarded only the divine action in all the pride and harshness of creatures, one would never treat them with anything but sweetness and respect. Their roughness would never disturb the divine order, whatever course it might take. One must only see in it the divine action, given and taken, as long as one is faithful in the practice
of sweetness and humility. It is best not to observe their way of proceeding, but always to walk with firm steps in our own path. It is thus that by bending gently, cedars are broken, and rocks overthrown. Who amongst creatures can resist a faithful, gentle, and humble soul? These are the only arms to be taken if we wish to conquer all our enemies. Jesus Christ has placed them in our hands that we may defend ourselves; there is nothing to fear if we know how to use them.
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