|
|
One day a soldier asked an elder whether God grants pardon to sinners. The elder answered, 'Tell me, my good friend, if your cloak is torn do you throw it away?' the soldier replied, 'No. I mend it and continue to use it.' The elder concluded, 'If you take good care of your cloak, will not God be merciful to his own image.?'
- Sayings of the Desert Fathers -
(Meditative exercise: After a few minutes of quiet prayer, envision yourself as a cloak worn by Christ. Where is the cloak torn? What has caused these tears? Hold these up to Christ, and ask Him to mend and care for them. Feel His healing love restoring your wholeness.)
|
|
1 KGS 17:7-16; PS 4:2-5, 7-8; MT 5:13-16
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
When I call, answer me, O my just God,
you who relieve me when I am in distress;
Have pity on me, and hear my prayer!
Men of rank, how long will you be dull of heart?
Why do you love what is vain and seek after falsehood?
Know that the LORD does wonders for his faithful one;
the LORD will hear me when I call upon him.
Tremble, and sin not;
reflect, upon your beds, in silence.
O LORD, let the light of your countenance shine upon us!
You put gladness into my heart,
more than when grain and wine abound.
USCCB Lectionary
|
Reflection on the Scriptures |
"Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they will be called children of God"
"Blessed are the Peacemakers" was the message chosen by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI for the 46th World Day of Peace on January 1, 2013. Pope Francis also wrote about "Blessed are the peacemakers"
in The Joy of the Gospel on page 111. In the World Day of Peace message, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said it is "alarming" the ways in which we find ourselves involved with conflict such as the inequality between rich and poor, selfishness, individualism and fundamentalism and fanaticism which distort the true nature of religion. I was encouraged when his message reminded us of all the different efforts that people make at peacemaking. This is a testament to "mankind's
innate vocation to peace."
- by Jan Schnak
Creighton Online Ministries
|
|
Selected Quotes from the Writings of St. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
A human being is a vessel that God has built for himself and filled with his inspiration so that his
works are perfected in it.
- letter to Elisabeth of Schönau, c. 1152
|
|
|
