|
When we enter a place of solitude, all the things that seemed so important to us recede in significance; what is truly important emerges
into clarity. It is difficult to imagine any real breakthroughs without a solitary element in one's spiritual life.- Wayne Teasdale, The Mystic Heart(What role does solitude play in your life? What treasures might be awaiting you there?)
|
|
|
LV 19:1-2, 11-18; PS 19:8-10, 15; MT 25:31-46 R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
USCCB lectionary
|
|
|
Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? As we embark on another Lent, it's time to assess how we're doing in the practice of our faith. This includes more than avoiding sin. Faith demands actively doing good. Especially in our society of immediate gratification, it is good and necessary to practice self-denial; and it's arguably even better to help provide for people who are enduring hardship. Sure, allow yourself to be a little hungry -- but also do something for the chronically hungry. Put your faith and love into action. Walk the walk with Jesus this Lent and humbly serve as he did. Lord, give us the grace to follow after you.
Let the sight of our brothers and sisters in need move us to action, we pray. - by Patricia Russell
My Daily Bread
|
|
|
The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage, by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
Here there arise and begin an eternal going out and an eternal work which is without beginning; for here there is a beginning with beginning. For, after the Almighty Father had perfectly comprehended Himself in the ground of His fruitfulness, so the Son, the Eternal Word of the Father, came forth as the second Person in the Godhead. And, through the Eternal Birth, all creatures have come forth in eternity, before they were created in time. So God has seen and known them in Himself, according to distinction, in living ideas, and in an otherness from Himself; but not as something other in all ways, for all that is in God is God. This eternal going out and this eternal life, which we have and are in God eternally, without ourselves, is the cause of our created being in time. And our created being abides in the Eternal Essence and is one with it in its essential existence. And this eternal life and being, which we have and are in the eternal Wisdom of God, is like unto God. For it has an eternal immanence in the Divine Essence, without distinction; and through the birth of the Son it has an eternal outflowing in a distinction and otherness, according to the Eternal Idea. And through these two points it is so like unto God that He knows and reflects Himself in this likeness without cessation, according to the Essence and according to the Persons. For, though even here there are distinction and otherness according to intellectual perception, yet this likeness is one with that same Image of the Holy Trinity, which is the wisdom of God and in which God beholds Himself and all things in an eternal Now, without before and after. In a single seeing He beholds Himself and all things. And this is the Image and the Likeness of God, and our Image and our Likeness; for in it God reflects Himself and all things. In this Divine Image all creatures have an eternal life, outside themselves, as in their eternal Archetype, and after this eternal Image, and in this Likeness, we have been made by the Holy Trinity. And therefore God wills that we shall go forth from ourselves in this Divine Light, and shall reunite ourselves in a supernatural way with this Image, which is our proper life, and shall possess it with Him, in action and in fruition, in eternal bliss.
- Third Book, Chapter 3: How our spirit is called to go out in contemplation and fruition. Paperback (kindle edition available)
|
|
|
|