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To live by faith is to live joyfully, to live with assurance, untroubled by doubts and with complete confidence in all we have to do and suffer at each moment by the will of God. We must realize that it is in order to stimulate and
sustain this faith that God allows the soul to be buffeted and swept away by the raging torrent of so much distress, so many troubles, so much embarrassment and weakness, and so many setbacks. For it is essential to have faith in God behind all this. The divine life is neither seen nor felt, but there is never a moment when it is not acting in an unknown but very sure manner.”
- Jean-Pierre de Caussade: Abandonment to Divine Providence
(Whatever the circumstance of our lives, God is there, loving and guiding us. Trust!) |
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2 COR 11:18, 21-30;
PS 34:2-7; MT 6:19-23
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.
I will bless the LORD at all
times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.
Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name. I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me
from all my fears.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. When the poor one called
out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.
USCCB Lectionary
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Only Jesus Christ can free us from the spiritual darkness of sin, unbelief, and ignorance. That is why Jesus called himself the light of the world - the one true source of light that can overcome the darkness of sin and the lies and deception of
Satan.
What can blind or distort our "vision" of what is true, good, lovely, pure, and eternal (Philippians 4:8)? Certainly prejudice, jealousy, and self-conceit can distort true and clear judgment of ourselves and others and lead to moral blindness. Prejudice and self-conceit also destroys good judgment and blinds
us to the facts and to their significance for us. Jealousy and envy make us despise others and mistrust them as enemies rather than friends. We need to fearlessly examine ourselves to see if we are living according to right judgment and sound principles or if we might be misguided by blind prejudice or some other conceit. Love is not jealous ...but rejoices with the truth (1 Corinthians 13:4-6). Do you live your life in the light of God's truth?
"Lord Jesus, you have the words of everlasting life. May the light of your truth free me from the error of sin and deception. Take my heart and fill it with your love that I may desire you alone as my Treasure and my All." DailyScripture.net
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The Way of Perfection, by Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
Continues the same subject. This is very suitable for reading after the reception of the Most Holy Sacrament.
In using the words "this day" He seems to me to be thinking of a day of the length of this life. And a day indeed it is! As for the unfortunate souls who will bring damnation upon themselves and will not have fruition of Him in the world to come, they are His own creatures, and He did everything to help them on, and was with them, to strengthen them, throughout the "to-day" of this life, so it
is not His fault if they are vanquished. They will have no excuse to make nor will they be able to complain of the Father for taking this bread from them at the time when they most needed it. Therefore the Son prays the Father that, since this life lasts no more than a day, He will allow Him to spend it in our service. As His Majesty has already given His Son to us, by sending Him, of His will alone, into the world, so now, of that same will, He is pleased not to abandon us, but to remain here
with us for the greater glory of His friends and the discomfiture of His enemies. He prays for nothing more than this "to-day" since He has given us this most holy Bread. He has given it to us for ever, as I have said, as the sustenance and manna of humanity. We can have it whenever we please and we shall not die of hunger save through our own fault, for, in whatever way the soul desires to partake of food, it will find joy and comfort in the Most Holy Sacrament. There is no need or trial or
persecution that cannot be easily borne if we begin to partake and taste of those which He Himself bore, and to make them the subject of our meditations. - Chapter
34
(Keep in mind that she is writing to sisters in a cloistered contemplative order.) Paperback (Kindle edition available)
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