Message of the Day
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". . . Christ ensures our freedom. In the desert he rejected the temptations of riches, magic, and power that would have drawn people after him like tamed animals. He did not come down from the cross. He rose from the dead in secret, and is recognized only by those who love him. In the Holy Spirit, he walks at everyone's side, but he waits for the response of loving faith, that 'Yes' like Mary's, by which
our freedom is set free.
- Olivier Clement, The Roots of Christian Mysticism
(The risen Christ walks at your side. What kind of "yes" do you need to give him this day?)
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Readings of the Day
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ACTS 4:23-31; PS 2:1-9; JN 3:1-8
R. Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples utter folly?
The kings of the earth
rise up,
and the princes conspire together
against the LORD and against his anointed:
"Let us break their fetters
and cast their bonds from us!"
He who is throned in heaven laughs;
the LORD derides them.
Then in anger he speaks to them;
he terrifies them in his wrath:
"I myself have set up my king
on Zion, my holy mountain."
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD.
The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall rule them with an iron rod;
you shall shatter them like an earthen dish."
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Gospel
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Why do the nations so furiously rage together?
As I read Peter and John quoting the second psalm in today's first reading, I hear that fabulous baritone solo
from Handel's "Messiah." The music conveys the ferocity of raging nations. It's easy to imagine this music playing as background to a movie battle scene. The world has known war for hundreds of years, nay thousands. Sometimes it seems like only the technology has changed. But maybe there is a little bit more outrage, a little bit more concern about the victims, a little more challenge to the idea that violence is a righteous response.
Lord, make me a means of your peace.
Paige Byrne Shortal
Daily Bread
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Spiritual Reading
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The Book of Supreme Truth, by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381) So likewise is God in the being of the soul; and whenever the soul's¸ highest powers are turned inward with active love, they are united with God without means, in a simple knowledge of all truth, and in an essential feeling and tasting of all good. This simple knowing and feeling of God is possessed in essential love, and is practised and preserved through active love. And therefore it is accidental to our powers through the dying introversion in love; but it is
essential to our being, and always abides within it. And therefore we must perpetually turn inwards and be renewed in love, if we would seek out love through love. And this is taught us by St John, where he says: He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him. And though this union of the loving spirit with God is without means, yet there is here a great distinction, for the creature never becomes God, nor does God ever become the creature; as I explained to you heretofore in the
example of the iron in the fire. And if material things, which have been made by God, may thus be united without means; so much the more may He, whenever such is His pleasure, unite himself with his beloved, if they, through His grace, submit to it and make themselves ready for it. And so in such an inward man, whom God has adorned with virtues, and, above that, has lifted up into a contemplative life, there is no intermediary between himself and God in his highest introversion but his
enlightened reason and his active love. And through these two things, he has an adherence to God; and this is "becoming one with God," says St Bernard. But above reason, and above active love, he is lifted up into a naked contemplation, and dwells without activity in essential love. And there he is one love and one spirit with God, as I said heretofore. In this essential love through the unity which he has essentially with God, he infinitely transcends his understanding; and this is a life
common to all God-seeing men. For in this transcendence such a man is able to see in one sight - if it be God's pleasure to show it to him - the creatures in heaven and on earth, with the distinction of their lives and their rewards. But before the Infinity of God, he must yield, and must follow after It essentially and without end; for this no creature, not even the soul of our Lord Jesus Christ, which yet received the highest union above all other creatures, can either comprehend or
overtake. - Chapter 8: Showing how the inward man should handle himself, that he might be united with God without means. Amazon.com link
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