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Message of the Day
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One can believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ and feel no personal loyalty to Him at all-indeed, pay no attention whatever to His commandments and His will for one's life. One can believe intellectually in the efficacy of prayer and never do any praying.
- Catherine Marshall (1914-1983), Beyond Our Selves
("Belief"
of this kind is obviously worthless. What helps you to move from "beliefs" to actions?)
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Lectionary Readings
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JER 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13; PS 36:6-9, 10-11;
MT 13:10-17
R. With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.
O LORD, your mercy reaches to heaven;
your faithfulness, to the clouds.
Your justice is like the mountains of God;
your judgments, like the mighty deep.
How precious is your mercy, O God!
The children of men take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They have their fill of the prime gifts of your house;
from your delightful stream you give them to drink.
For with you is the fountain of life,
and in your light we see light.
Keep up your mercy toward your friends,
your just defense of the upright of heart.
USCCB Lectionary
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Reflection on the Gospel
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God can only reveal the secrets of his kingdom to the humble and trusting person who acknowledges their need for God and for his truth. The parables of Jesus will enlighten us if we approach them with an open mind and heart,
ready to let them challenge us. If we approach God's word with indifference, skepticism, and disbelief, then we, too, may "hear but not understand" and "see but not perceive." God's word can only take root in a receptive heart that is ready to believe and willing to submit. If we want to hear and to understand God's word, we must listen with reverence and faith. Do you believe God's word and do you submit to it with trust and reverence?
Jerome, an early church bible scholar who lived between 342-419 AD, wrote: "You are reading [the scriptures]? No.Your betrothed is talking to you. It is your betrothed, that is, Christ, who is united with you. He tears you away from the solitude of the desert and brings you into his home, saying to you, 'Enter into the joy of your Master.'"
"Holy
Spirit, be my teacher and guide. Open my ears to hear God's word and open my eyes to understand God's action in my life. May my heart never grow dull and may my ears never tire of listening to the voice of Christ."
DailyScripture.Net
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Spiritual Reading
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The Cloud of Unknowing, by Anonymous That in this work a soul is cleansed both of his special sins and of the pain of them, and yet how there is no perfect
rest in this life.
Nevertheless, herefore shalt thou not go back, nor yet be overfeared of thy failing. For an it so be that thou mayest have grace to destroy the pain of thine foredone special deeds, in the manner before said-or better if thou better mayest-sure be thou, that the pain of the original sin, or else the new stirrings of sin that be to come, shall but right little be able
to provoke thee.- Chapter 33
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