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And so the grace of God always co-operates with our will for its advantage, and in all things, protects and defends it, in such a way as sometimes even to require and look for some efforts of good will from it that it may not appear to confer its
gifts on one who is asleep or relaxed in sluggish ease . . .
- John Cassian [5th C.], Third Conference of Abbot Chaeremon
(What “efforts of good will” is necessary at this time in your life to grow in grace? Ask the Spirit to help you see what this effort might
be.)
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PHIL 3:3-8; PS 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7; LK 15:1-10
R. Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his
wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons
of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
USCCB Lectionary
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What does Jesus' story about a lost sheep and a lost coin
tell us about God and his kingdom? Shepherds normally counted their sheep at the end of the day to make sure all were accounted for. Since sheep by their very nature are very social, an isolated sheep can quickly become bewildered and even neurotic. The shepherd's grief and anxiety is turned to joy when he finds the lost sheep and restores it to the fold. The housewife who lost a coin faced something of an economic disaster, since the value of the coin would be equivalent to her husband's daily
wage. What would she say to her husband when he returned home from work? They were poor and would suffer greatly because of the loss. Her grief and anxiety turn to joy when she finds the coin. Both the shepherd and the housewife "search until what they have lost is found." Their persistence pays off. They both instinctively share their joy with the whole community. The poor are particularly good at sharing in one another's sorrows and joys. What was new in Jesus' teaching was the insistence
that sinners must be sought out and not merely mourned for. God does not rejoice in the loss of anyone, but desires that all be saved and restored to fellowship with him. That is why the whole community of heaven rejoices when one sinner is found and restored to fellowship with God. Seekers of the lost are much needed today. Do you persistently pray and seek after those you know who have lost their way to God?
"Lord Jesus, let your light dispel the darkness that what is lost may be found and restored. Let your light shine through me that others may see your truth and love and find hope and peace in you. May I never doubt your love nor take for granted the mercy you have shown to me. Fill me with your transforming love that I may be merciful as you are merciful."
DailyScripture.Net
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The Cloud of Unknowing, by
Anonymous How and why that short prayer pierceth heaven See by ensample. He that is thy deadly enemy, an thou hear him so afraid that he cry in the height
of his spirit this little word “fire,” or this word “out”; yet without any beholding to him for he is thine enemy, but for pure pity in thine heart stirred and raised with the dolefulness of this cry, thou risest up—yea, though it be about midwinter’s night—and helpest him to slack his fire, or for to still him and rest him in his distress. Oh, Lord! since a man may be made so merciful in grace, to have so much mercy and so much pity of his enemy, notwithstanding his enmity, what pity and what
mercy shall God have then of a ghostly cry in soul, made and wrought in the height and the deepness, the length and the breadth of his spirit; the which hath all by nature that man hath by grace? And much more, surely without comparison, much more mercy will He have; since it is, that that thing that is so had by nature is nearer to an eternal thing than that which is had by grace.
- Chapter
38 |
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