Message of the Day
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For it is no small thing that God is going to give to those who thus yearn (for God); no
half-efforts will get them to the goal. What God is going to give them is not something he has made; he is going to give himself. . . Toil, then, to lay hold of God; yearn deeply for what you are going to possess forever.
- St. Augustine -
(How do you feel about belonging so deeply to God as the Saint describes? Express yourself to God on
this matter, and pray for the graces you think you need at this time.)
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Readings of the Day
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ACTS 14:5-18; PS 115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16; JN 14:21-26
R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name give glory
because of your mercy, because of your truth.
Why should the pagans
say,
"Where is their God?"
Our God is in heaven;
whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the handiwork
of men.
May you be blessed by the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Heaven is the heaven of the LORD,
but the earth he has given to the children of men.
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Gospel
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Why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you,
human beings.
Paul's attempts to proclaim the good news almost had him killed in one city, and glorified like a god in another. We still have a tendency to demonize or idolize those who step forward to offer their talents or leadership. Our communities work best, however, when we recognize and accept that we all have imperfections, and respect the fact that we have all been graced with gifts of value. We may feel
our individual gifts are too small to offer, but Jesus calls us to offer them anyway. He assures us that all of our imperfect gifts will fit and work together into something far greater than we could ever offer on our own.
Into your hands, O Lord, I offer my gifts, though they seem cracked and small.
Mary Joshi
Daily Bread
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Spiritual Reading
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The Book of Supreme Truth, by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
For God's grace is made ready for all men, and awaits the conversion of every sinner, and whenever a sinner, urged by grace, renounces himself and will call upon God with faith, he finds pardon. And likewise, whosoever through grace with loving contentment turns towards the Eternal Contentment of God, he is enwrapped and embraced in the abysmal love which is God Himself. And thereby he is perpetually renewed in love and in the virtues; for, between our contentment in God and
God's contentment in us there abides an activity of love and of eternal life.
- Chapter 10: Of the mutual contentment
of the Divine Persons, and the mutual contentment between God and good people. Amazon.com link
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