Message of 3-4-16

Published: Fri, 03/04/16

You will find something more in woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters.

- St. Bernard

(We need both, of course. Which would do you more good at this time?)

Readings of the Day

Hos 14:2-10; Ps. 81:6-11, 14 and 17; Mk 12:28-34

R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.

An unfamiliar speech I hear:
"I relieved his shoulder of the burden;
his hands were freed from the basket.
In distress you called, and I rescued you."

"Unseen, I answered you in thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Hear, my people, and I will admonish you;
O Israel, will you not hear me?"

"There shall be no strange god among you
nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt."

"If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
I would feed them with the best of wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would fill them."

USCCB Lectionary

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Scripture Reflection

Mark 12: 28-34: The greatest commandment

True religion is much simpler than we usually make it. In this passage, Jesus teaches us that God is not a philosophical proposition to be figured out, but a Being to be loved. Likewise, other human beings are to be loved even as we love ourselves.

* Make a list of the people and things you love most in this world, according to their importance to you. Where does God come in? How can you draw closer to God?

* Do you love yourself? How does your self-love affect your relationships?

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Spiritual Reading

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.

And now you must take note of this other piece of advice. The devil makes us believe that we have some virtue -- patience, let us say -- because we have determination and make continual resolutions to suffer a great deal for God's sake. We really and truly believe that we would suffer all this, and the devil encourages us in the belief, and so we are very pleased. I advise you to place no reliance on these virtues: we ought not to think that we know anything about them beyond their names, or to imagine that the Lord has given them to us, until we come to the test. For it may be that at the first annoying word which people say to you your patience will fall to the ground. Whenever you have frequently to suffer, praise God for beginning to teach you this virtue, and force yourself to suffer patiently, for this is a sign that He wants you to repay Him for the virtue which He is giving you, and you must think of it only as a deposit, as has already been said.

- Chapter 36

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

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