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What health and sickness are to the body, virtue and wickedness are to the soul, and knowledge and ignorance to the intellect. The greater our devotion to the practice of the virtues, the more our intellect is illumined by knowledge. It is in this way that we are accounted worthy of mercy, that is, through the fifth beatitude: 'Blessed are the
merciful, for they will receive mercy' (Mt. 5:7).
- St. Peter of Damaskos
(How do you experience virtue leading to knowledge and mercy? What virtue do you need to work on at this time?)
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JB 9:1-12, 14-16; PS 88:10-15; LK 9:57-62
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
Daily I call upon you, O LORD;
to you I stretch out my hands.
Will you work wonders for the dead?
Will the shades arise to give you thanks?
Do they declare your mercy in the grave,
your faithfulness among those
who have perished?
Are your wonders made known in the darkness,
or your justice in the land of oblivion?
But I, O LORD, cry out to you;
with my morning prayer I wait upon you.
Why, O LORD, do you reject me;
why hide from me your face?
EZ 34:1-11; PS 23:1-6; MT 20:1-16
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my
soul.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you
are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my
foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Only goodness and kindness will follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
USCCB Lectionary
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Are you ready to follow the Lord wherever he may lead you? With the call the Lord gives the grace to respond and the strength to follow all the way to the end. Why does Jesus issue a challenge with the call? Jesus was utterly honest in telling people what it would cost to follow him. When a would-be disciple approached Jesus and said he was
ready to follow, Jesus told him it would require sacrifice - the sacrifice of certain creaturely comforts. Jesus appealed to this man's heart and told him to detach himself from whatever might hold him back. Spiritual detachment is a necessary step for following the Lord. It frees us to give ourselves without reserve to the Lord and his service. While many of us may not need to give up the comfort of our own home and bed to follow Jesus, we, nonetheless, must be willing to part with anything
that might stand in the way of doing God's will.
"Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess you have given me. I surrender it all to you to be disposed of according to your will. Give me only your love and your grace - with these I will be rich enough and will desire nothing more." (Prayer of Ignatius
Loyola, 1491-1556)
DailyScripture.net
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The Way of Perfection, by Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) Continues to describe methods for achieving this Prayer of Recollection. Says what little account we should make of being favoured by our
superiors.
If she can, let her practise recollection many times daily; if not, let her do so occasionally. As she grows accustomed to it, she will feel its benefits, either sooner or later. Once the Lord has granted it to her, she would not exchange it for any treasure.
Nothing, sisters, can be
learned without a little trouble, so do, for the love of God, look upon any care which you take about this as well spent. I know that, with God's help, if you practise it for a year, or perhaps for only six months, you will be successful in attaining it. Think what a short time that is for acquiring so great a benefit, for you will be laying a good foundation, so that, if the Lord desires to raise you up to achieve great things, He will find you ready, because you will be close to Himself. May
His Majesty never allow us to withdraw ourselves from His presence. Amen.
- Chapter 29 (Keep in mind that she is writing to sisters in a cloistered contemplative order.) Paperback (Kindle edition available)
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