Message of the Day
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The evil of riches, then, for institutions, for nations, for individuals, is that those who possess or seek to possess almost invariably overvalue possessions and so cease to live creatively. They stop loving God with all the heart and all the soul and all the strength and all the mind. They stop loving their neighbors, too. When you find a person of means who is not either a self-centered bore or a low creature, you may know that God has worked a miracle.
- Bernard Iddings Bell (1886-1958), God is Not Dead
(What attachments prevent you from loving fully? How might you let them go to become more fully open to trusting in God?)
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Readings of the Day
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JGS 2:11-19; PS 106:34-37, 39-40, 43-44; MT 19:16-22 R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people. They did not exterminate the peoples,
as the LORD had commanded them,
But mingled with the nations
and learned their works.
They served their idols,
which became a snare for them.
They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to demons.
They became defiled by their works,
and wanton in their crimes.
And the LORD grew angry with his people,
and abhorred his inheritance.
Many times did he rescue them,
but they embittered him with their counsels.
Yet he had regard for their affliction
when he heard their cry.
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Gospel
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When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Compared to many throughout the world, we have great resources and wealth, more than we need. People need money to bring clean water to villages, build schools in rural areas and provide sanitation and medical clinics to the poor. By selling 10 or 20 percent of our possessions and giving that money to the poor, we could be less like that rich but sad young man of the Gospel. Lord, help us find joy in living more simply and providing resources to others, we pray. - Portia Clark
My Daily Bread
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Spiritual Reading
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The Sparkling Stone, by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
If we are born of the Spirit of God, we are the sons of grace; and so our whole life is adorned with virtues. Thereby we overcome all that is contrary to God; for St John says, Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. In this birth all good men are sons of God. And the Spirit of God kindles and stirs each one of them in particular to those virtues and to those good works for which he is in readiness and of which he is capable. And so they please God all in common, and each in particular, according to the measure of his love and the nobleness of his exercise; nevertheless, they do not feel established nor possessed of God, nor assured of eternal life, for they may still turn away and fall into sin. And that is why I call them rather servants and friends, than sons. But when we transcend ourselves, and become in our ascent towards God, so simple that the naked love in the height can lay hold of us, where love enfolds love, above every exercise of virtue that is, in our Origin, of Which we are spiritually born, then we cease, and we and all our selfhood die in God. And in this death we become hidden sons of God, and find a new life within us: and that is eternal life. And of these sons, St Paul says: You are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
- Chapter 9: "How we may become hidden sons of God and attain to the God-seeing life."
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