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The highest perfection consists not in interior favors or in great raptures or in visions, or in the spirit of prophecy, but in the bringing of our wills so closely in conformity with the will of God that, as soon as we realize that He wills anything, we desire it ourselves with all our might, and take
the bitter with the sweet, knowing that to be His Majesty’s will.
— Teresa of Avila
(We will have had a very good Lent if this has happened to us to some degree.)
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Lent is only a week away. What will you do during this special time of retreat for the Christian church? Here are a few options to consider:
The Dominican Genius: Integrity and Balance Five Webinars by Carla Mae Streeter, OP February 16, 23, 24; March 1, 2, 2016 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. CST Free-will donation. For more information and registration options, click here.
Christian Prayer Methods Online Course Specific guidance on the practice of prayer from Christianity's rich tradition on this
topic. 10 presentations with handout resources and discussion option. $9.00. Work at your own pace. No expiration after registration. Click here for course page with gift certificate and group options.
SpiritLife Online Podcasts and handouts for all six SpiritLife
courses * Includes access to all 60 presentations, with 16 different presenters * Special Lenten discount of $9 per course, or $40 for the entire program (all six courses) - For discount, use coupon code: LENT2016 when registering;
this code is valid only until March 26. http://heartlandspirituality.teachable.com
Lessons in Loving: Developing Relationship Skills Four podcasts and PDF copy of the book, Lessons in Loving, by Philip St. Romain Topics include: A. Relationships and Intelligence B. Relating with oneself C. Relating with others D. Relating with God Special $9.00 Lenten rate. Click here for more information and registration. |
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Is 58:1-9a; Ps. 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 18-19; Mt
9:14-15
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.
For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always: "Against you only have I
sinned, and done what is evil in your sight."
For you are not pleased with sacrifices; should I offer a burnt offering, you would not
accept it. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
USCCB Lectionary
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Matthew 9: 14-15: Jesus the bridegroom
Jesus viewed his coming as a time of grace, and he believed that this ought to be
celebrated. Many times he likened God’s kingdom to a wedding feast, where people rejoiced and had fun. The day would come, however, when fasting would be appropriate. That time is now.
* Read Isaiah 58:1-9, today’s first reading for a better understanding of the kind of fast that God desires.
How can you better exemplify this spirit of fasting in your lifestyle?
* Pray for the grace to hunger for the things of God.
Paperback, Kindle
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The Way of Perfection, by Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) Treats of the great need which we have to beseech the Eternal Father to grant us what we ask in these words: “Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo.” Explains certain temptations. This chapter is noteworthy. Where the devil can do great harm without our realizing it is in making us believe that we possess virtues which we do not: that is pestilential. For, when consolations and favours come to us, we feel that we are doing nothing but receive, and have the greater obligation to serve; but when we suffer from this other delusion we think that we are
giving and serving, and that the Lord will be obliged to reward us; and this, little by little, does us a great deal of harm. On the one hand, our humility is weakened, while, on the other, we neglect to cultivate that virtue, believing we have already acquired it. We think we are walking safely, when, without realizing it, we stumble, and fall into a pit from which we cannot escape. Though we may not consciously have committed any mortal sin which would have sent us infallibly to hell, we have
sprained our ankles and cannot continue on that road which I began to speak about and which I have not forgotten. You can imagine how much progress will be made by anyone who is at the bottom of a huge pit: it will be the end of him altogether and he will be lucky if he escapes falling right down to hell: at best, he will never get on with his journey. This being so, he will be unable to help either himself or others. It will be a bad thing for others, too, for, once the pit has been dug, a
great many passers-by may fall into it. Only if the person who has fallen in gets out of it and fills it up with earth will further harm to himself and others be prevented. But I warn you that this temptation is full of peril. I know a great deal about it from experience, so I can describe it to you, though not as well as I should like. What can we do about it, sisters? To me the best thing seems to be what our Master teaches us: to pray, and to beseech the Eternal Father not to allow us to fall
into temptation. - Chapter 36 (Keep in mind that she is writing to sisters in a cloistered contemplative order.) Paperback, Kindle
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