Message of the Day
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"No one is really happy merely because of having what they want, but only if they want things they ought to want."
- Augustine of Hippo -
(To want what God wants for you: let this be your prayer this day.)
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Readings of the Day
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ACTS 19:1-8; PS 68:2-7; JN 16:29-33
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
God arises; his enemies are scattered,
and those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so are they
driven;
as wax melts before the fire.
But the just rejoice and exult before God;
they are glad and rejoice.
Sing to God, chant praise to his name;
whose name is the LORD.
The father of orphans and the defender of widows
is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Gospel
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Jesus answered [the disciples], "Do you believe now? Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone."
Some say it's easy to believe when life is going our way, but as soon as hardship arrives, then our faith weakens. That's not my experience. I find it easy to ignore God when life is good, other than maybe offering up a quick "Deo Gratias." But when life is hard, I have felt the presence of God, and my faith is strengthened. Perhaps it is not the presence or absence of trial that is difficult. It is the perception of the absence of God. When Jesus seems distant, when it seems that our prayers fall on deaf ears, when our faith seems foolish, then we really suffer.
For the grace to remain constant when we do not feel love. by 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)
There the
Father and the Son and all the beloved are enfolded and embraced in the bonds of love; that is, in the unity of the Holy Ghost. And this is that same unity which is fruitful in the outgoing activity of the Persons, and forms in Their return an eternal bond of love which shall never be untied: and all who know themselves to be bound up in it shall be blessed throughout eternity, and they are rich in virtue, and clear in contemplation, and simple in fruitive rest. For in their introversion, the
Love of God is revealed to them, pouring forth with all good, and drawing back again into the Unity, and above all being and beyond all conditions abiding in eternal rest. And so they are all united with God, through means, and without means, and also without distinction.
- 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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