Message of 10-23-15

Published: Fri, 10/23/15

God has promised forgiveness to your repentance; but he has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.
- St. Augustine

(What have you been procrastinating? Resolve to address this issue today.)

Readings of the Day

ROM 7:18-25A; PS 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94; LK 12:54-59

R. Lord, teach me your statutes.

Teach me wisdom and knowledge,

for in your commands I trust.

You are good and bountiful;

teach me your statutes.

Let your kindness comfort me

according to your promise to your servants.

Let your compassion come to me that I may live,

for your law is my delight.

Never will I forget your precepts,

for through them you give me life.

I am yours; save me,

for I have sought your precepts.

USCCB Lectionary

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Gospel Reflection

Jesus used a very vivid illustration of a threatening lawsuit to show the urgency of settling a bad case outside of court before a worse sentence could passed against us. Why did the neighbor in Jesus' story make an effort to come to an agreement with his adversary before the matter was sent to court for judgment? The accused knew that he had a bad case which would likely go against him in court. He quickly tried to come to an agreement with his adversary to avoid receiving a worse sentence of being thrown into prison and given a costly fine as well.

We all stand in need of God's mercy, grace, and protection. The Lord Jesus is our physician and healer and he is ready to set us free from any sinful patterns of thinking, acting, and speaking. If we give our lives over to him he will fill us with his Holy Spirit and give us a new heart and a transformed mind that is filled with his truth, love, and goodness. If you want lasting peace and joy with God, then allow the Lord Jesus to transform every area of your life, your home, your work, your relationships, and possessions so that he may truly be the Lord and Giver of abundant life. Are you ready to surrender all to him - and to receive all from him?

"Lord Jesus, flood my heart with your love and free me from all that would keep me from doing your will. Transform my mind that I may discern what is right and choose what is good and pleasing to you."

DailyScripture.net

Spiritual Reading

The Way of Perfection, by Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)

Treats of these words in the Paternoster: "Dimitte nobis debita nostra."

For the love of God, sisters! We have lost our way; we have taken the wrong path from the very beginning. God grant that no soul be lost through its attention to these wretched niceties about honour, when it has no idea wherein honour consists. We shall get to the point of thinking that we have done something wonderful because we have forgiven a person for some trifling thing, which was neither a slight nor an insult nor anything else. Then we shall ask the Lord to forgive us as people who have done something important, just because we have forgiven someone. Grant us, my God, to understand how little we understand ourselves and how empty our hands are when we come to Thee that Thou, of Thy mercy, mayest forgive us. For in truth, Lord, since all things have an end and punishment is eternal, I can see nothing meritorious which I may present to Thee that Thou mayest grant us so great a favour. Do it, then, for the sake of Him Who asks it of Thee, and Who may well do so, for He is always being wronged and offended.

- Chapter 36

(Keep in mind that she is writing to sisters in a cloistered contemplative order.)

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